I need wood this year, been sooo busy with the business change-over I haven't gone cutting. And I have a friend that I set up with some really good pricing on steel to build his new firewood processor. He made me the offer to bring as much as I wanted, split and delivered. I'm planning on 20 cord for now. What's a fair price? He has to drive 2 hrs. one way, over both Hoosier Pass and the Divide. Wood will all be dead standing Lodgepole. He can deliver 28 cord in one load. Looking for opinions. I'll tell you all what his asking price was after a bit. Thanks, JB edit- Local price averages $165/ cord- you pick up, $2-220 delivered.
So you are going to buy 20 full cord from him? Or 28 full cord? Or are you talking face cord? Seasoned or freshly cut?
Sounds like your going to get some great wood at a fair price... I have no idea what bulk lodge pole pine goes for in CO. I hear great things about it though... How many pounds can he carry? You should be able to back into the volume with what his rig can carry weight wise.
If you guys are friends and you gave him a good price on his steel for the build, I will say 20 cords for $3000?
He told me $75.00/cord. Mind you, that's split, delivered, palletized, off-loaded with his grapple, and placed with his little off-road forklift. Some green wood will be in there, but mostly standing dead (M/C- about 18%) I think $75 is too cheap, I want to be fair. Final cost determines actual delivered amount. $2K is all I can spend.
We all know pine burns alot faster so you need more....Even with that, $75 cord split and delivered would be a bargain in my experience.
He's supposed to be by tomorrow, Wed. at the latest. Picking up some MC 12 x 40 for the splitter backstop. I'll nail him down then as to a final cost. I also plan on offering my free space to store wood. We'll work it out. Gonna make my closest neighbors really jealous, heh, heh.
If you & he feel good about the price. That's the best way to remain friends. If you feel guilty, & he won't let you pay more, you can always get him a new saw or something down the road. He wants to pay you back for the favor. It's OK , it's what friends do. Like you wanting to pay him more, you're a good friend & not want to risk the friendship . Betting he feels the same . Good friends & "Jealous neighbors" both are ""Priceless"
He just left the shop, told him $2K worth, that $75/ cord was too cheap, and now the ball is in his court. He kept trying to persuade me that $75 was fine for him so I basically just said "whatever". He'll probably show up with 30 cord. Glad I have the room.
Beetle-Kill, as I was reading the posts I had pretty much determined what I wanted to post. However, Bogydave beat me to the punch as he said almost exactly what I had in mind. Thanks Dave. Good luck on this transaction and I hope both parties come out smiling.
update:- He may get here over the next week, not certain. He hasn't had time to finish the processor, so I'll get log- length. I'm playing this bye ear at this point but he'll follow through, just not on a set time frame.
Big change from what you described earlier; you are taking on a lot of work in the exchange. I congratulate you on your patience and flexibility. Looking forward to pictures of the load.
If you buy Lodgepole pine here (Southern BC) by the logging truck full (approx 10 cord, full logs) it cost about $50 (Canadian funds) a cord. $36.71 (US funds). The $75 for cut and split would have been an exceptional deal. To me most of the value of firewood is in the processing. Are you still paying that $75 a cord?
I'd wait him out for the cut and split stuff if you can. A log load is a big departure from where you started negotiating.
Yeah, I'm thinking there won't be more than 13 cord in one load (truck and pup, full, in this neck of the woods). I'd be sure everyone is talking the same definition of cord before the truck hit the road. Reminds me of when I was first out of school, bought a semi-load of hay, and it arrived with wire ties - none of us were happy for a while.
If you are talking a real cord of wood, you have a heck of a good deal. But I would make sure you reward his work and that long delivery. Hope it is all you anticipated.
Ok, so I can clarify this a bit. The original deal is still on the table as far as I know. Recently, I've sent some people his way for wood and everyone's been happy with the outcome. The log length he's planning on bringing over is green. He hinted he would like to move it. "Bring it all, I have the room." so this wood isn't for this season. I don't know what will show up, may find out next week. Without that processor working, he knows he'll run out of room soon enough. So, I'll help where I can. I'll pay his fuel costs at a minimum regardless. Remember- one way for him is 2, 11K passes and about 2hr. drive time. Lots of time and effort on his part.
