I've been selling chopped and seasoned hardwoods of my area for about 6 years. Not a huge amount of stock, just what I can fit in the side yard of my house in the suburbs. I sell 20 half cords per year. I post on craigslist in Aug. and am sold out each year around the end of Sept. It's happened like that every year. Multiple return customers, never a complaint. I take a lot of pride in what I sell. This year I've only sold a total of 7 half cords and we are almost to October. Not sure what the deal is this year as to why sales are so off. My prices are the same as last year and the wood is just as good. Had to completely wrap all the half cords so the sides don't get wet. I've never had to do that before, takes a lot of plastic. I'm in western WA and the cold is already here as of this week. Just curious how others are doing with sales this year?
People might be trimming luxuries. If they are burning for ambience in open fireplaces. It’s a weird business imo. People want it cheap, but buy Joe cords all day. You can be selling 4+ yr aged oak, but they’ll buy more split the day it was delivered oak. In some areas price point is more important than quality. The question I get the most is “do you still have/sell wood?” That tells me there former suppliers ran out or quit. Someday I won’t want to make this much firewood. It could be December before we get a cold snap that motivates more people to buy firewood. Good Luck, I hope your business picks up.
About this time last year we saw more fresh cut firewood going by than ever before. I assumed it was due to a colder than average forecast and high fuel prices. It was a mild Winter. This year we've seen very little wood going by, so maybe lots of leftovers?
We've only sold a 1/3 cord so far but have a lot of circumstances in play including the loss of Lefty who did the majority of the of the sales. His widow is trying and needs the money but does not help her kids keep blocking in our inventory. Had a message from a new to us customer that Edwin sent over. Sounds like a 4 cord sale but haven't decided what to tell him. The fun has really run out for me and firewood.
Ya, I figure it's probably the economy catching up with people finally. Gotta start paying those student loans again and I don't take plastic.
So far this year I'm slightly ahead (in dollars) for what I sold all of last year and cold weather isn't here yet. Bear in mind I sell from a roadside stand 24/7/365. Almost nothing delivered. Last week was slower but overall still looking pretty strong. NOBODY complains about price except the people that message me looking for truckloads/cord deliveries. I price that pretty high so I don't have to mess with it.
Didnt you folks have record hot Summers the last couple years? Maybe folks think its too warm? Another thought is economics? That $200 they spend on firewood could be used for something else more important? Just a thought. Do you keep a list of customers and their numbers? Call them and find out. Ill do that. Worst they could say is no or not even answer. Will you list on CL or FBM? One theory: burners will buy "fresh split" wood thats nice, clean looking and 99% of the time not dry enough. When they see "dirty" weathered wood its a turn off even though i educate burners that the weathering is a good thing. I always stop and look at "factory made" wood bundles where the wood is nice, perfect and clean kinda wishing my bundles looked like that. Another theory: Firewood and making a fire are still WORK. Folks like the fire but groan about the work of stacking and moving it indoors. Messy too! I lost four regular customers last year....death, retirement, divorce and old age. Amounts to 4-5 cords that i have to make up. Have 2-3 new ones lined up. Ive delivered to a couple regulars already. My bundle sales are always steady. Keeping a steady supply of dry bundle quality wood the problem.
I've been selling wood for 28 years now. The economy hasn't played much of a role in my immediate area as plenty of people around me have money. What I am noticing is, I am still busy but order sizes are down. Many have cut from 3 to 2 cords or 2 to 1.5 or even 1 because they have so much leftover from last year.
85%+ of my sales are to recreational burners. If I sold exclusively to people that heat with wood...I wouldn't even bother firing up one of my saws. What I'm saying is if you advertise smaller quantities, specific species for smoking/cooking and other ways to differentiate yourself from the rest of the guys selling wood, it might bring in a few more dollars.
I don't know where you are in western WA but I'm in the south sound and have deliveries every day this week. Some days multiple. I haven't sold for a while and I'm surprised at the demand. How are you advertising? I am selling smaller loads, 1/3 cord, but people keep asking for 1-2 cords.
Had a call for 4 cords today. He would come and load his dump trailer for $200 a cord. Not sure I will sell as it would be most of our wood that has been split/stacked for most of the year. Also, the way Bunny's place is kept the wood tends to be buried behind equipment, wagons, other stuff. Will get back to him this weekend as he would also take a couple of cords to start. Also need to quiz him as 4 cords would be hard to fit in one dump trailer. Did not ask the size of it.
Juniper Hill , Wyoming is having a late fall. Are you having a late fall too? Combine that with what Dennis said might be the reason?
Doesn’t it feel warmer this year here? Until yesterday, we still had some windows in the house open. No one in the family has mentioned it being too cold inside yet. Hopefully now that it’s cold and wet your phone will start ringing.
That's what I'm hoping for. Customers have always bought early, Aug/Sept. I've split up my posting. We'll see. Either that or I'm stacked for a 4yr plan.
Always sell half cords. If they want more they will ask and have in the past. I'm north of Seattle, about 10 miles. What do your prices look like? What kind of wood? I'm selling half cords of maple for $300 and have always sold out at this price by the end of September. Advertise on Craigslist but maybe I'll go to offer up too.
Ive been moving 1/3 cord loads of fir for 200$ and though this seems high to me but it’s the same as your 1/2 cord for 300$. I use only fbm. My wood has never been stacked under the sky, in the shed since June 2022. I think the smaller price of a smaller amount of wood is appealing. I’m not getting two benjamins. It’s not rich people. The ones asking for cords are probably good at math and expect a discount for the large quantity. Do you charge less for quantities larger than half cords? The bundle guys certainly charge more on a per cord basis. Our weather just turned crappy this week. Rain all the time. Maybe your folks are waiting for a break in the weather.
Stephiedoll, I've found in my area that if I don't get back to a potential customer ASAP, they find wood somewhere else. Right now, I'm out of dry Lodgepole and Ponderosa, and I'm losing customers. I'm bringing in roughly two cords a week of dead standing Lodgepole that's 10-15% moisture content. I'm selling as fast as I can get it. Another thought on dump trailers. I had a family bring a dumper trailer 7x14 with 30" sides, we tossed in one cord loose and it was entirely full with a mounded top. I've seen similar dump trailers advertised as 2+ cords of firewood tossed loose and know it's too good to be true.
Do you list on CL/FBM? If you dont sell out list for sale until you do? Always someone looking for decent firewood in the Winter.
