Have you ever run out of wood? It must be a common issue with sellers, because new people often ask if I have enough for future orders.
Keeping a rotating supply of dry bundle quality wood is a PITA. The stack i emptied a month ago was supposed to last until 2023. Pulling oak heartwood and mixing with dead ash and a cottonwood split in each one for volume. Ideally id like to have 50% shoulder season wood with "normal" hardwood the balance, BUT, being pot luck with where, when, and what species i score its a crap shoot. I did some recent figures and need roughly 16 cords for bundle wood annually. Plus im picky about the split quality that goes into them. Can get stressful in the busy season. I assemble them as orders come in. Making an order up for one store, another calls today and is out! Just brought him a partial load Tuesday. Ive actually rationed between them. Cold spells and Christmas ramp up sales. Sorry for the rant. Stick with bulk sales.
I usually end up with extra general cordage come March as im sure not to sell in case regulars need more. Lost one one cord regular (divorced and sold house) and another wont need til late Winter if he does at all. Long time regular took his but moving out of state next year so lose him too. Couple regulars have yet to call, plus one BL regular. They take half cords and call when they need more.
I do some bundles, but don’t like the extra effort and wouldn’t want to keep up with the amount you’re doing. I’d be happy to sell 16 cords of pickup loads
Honestly i dont like doing them. Kinda started by accident a few years back. Ive thought of using mesh bags instead but that raises my cost a lot. It would lower my assembly time. I figure about .15c per with stretch wrap. Bags are .50-60c each. My wholesale price is roughly $3.85 each. I got into the bundles to keep sales year round. Slow in the warm weather but an extra buck here and there. If i was motivated enough id have a stock pile of ready made on hand, but that comes to my storage issue again.
What are they getting for them retail? Do you have competition? That is too cheap for the work and quality. I’ve tried tying up and stuffing bags and they suck equally.
I think my one main guy gets 5.99 and ive told him to go up, but he doesnt. I think the others get 6.99. Todays delivery. He was empty.
I can see why they sell like hot cakes. The grocery stores and most places I see selling bundles are at $8-9. I sell my Charlie Brown bundles for $7.
Ive seen the competition and crap bundles for the most part. Random sized, pine mixed in. Some are done by tree companies, some fly by night sellers. Honestly store owners care about the bottom line and not quality.
I provide a free 1 cuft mesh bag bundle of kindling for free with every order. Stuffing the bags is my least favorite task in selling firewood. However, my customers love them for starting fires and I write my name and number on each bag as my business card. I even sell them for $5 to repeat customers when very close to their address when out on deliveries. Selling bundles doesn't make sense for me since I am 60-80 miles one-way from most of my customers and getting $280 a rick/face cord. I am always checking out bundles at gas stations and grocery stores. They are very expensive and mostly garbage wood sitting out in the rain/snow. People who hate bundle wood and the prices are my new customers.
Delivered these three bundles and a box of wood chips for $15. After diesel and $3 for the bags, made about $5 a hour. But made $840 in selling a cord of white oak to him two months ago.
