Guys who sell firewood for a living, I have a question...

As I write this, it's 2pm local time and ots 77 degrees!

 

I did the same thing last year. It was my first year and only had 8 or 9 cords. No problem selling it and no complaints. Though I always worried that someone would stack tighter than me and have a problem with it. Hence the reason I asked about the stacking in this fhread.

 

Sounds like a good system you got big frank. Pretty consistent market price too depending on where your at for hardwood. I’ve sold wood the last three years. Advertised the first three years, progressively selling more each year. Always sold everything I wanted to in less than a month. If I were to sell the same amount I sold last year, I wouldn’t need to advertise. So far, everybody has been a repeat customer the following year. People appreciate a service like the one you described. Moisture meter proof really hooks someone who understands the benefit of burning dry wood. Enjoyed your pics...good looking firewood

 

I find that skies the limit with the specifics people want. Dumf is right about stacking. I always ask the customer how close I am able to get to where I am stacking if I stack so I can charge appropriately. Some people want just splits. Some people only want a certain species of wood. Some want the splits a certain size (length or diameter). For each specific, the price goes up. Sometimes goes down like customers who want green wood. Heck, saves me taking it home and stacking it and drying it. I’ll give ya a break!

 

I would like to do about 15-20 cords a year. Won't do that this year for sure, but don't think I would want to more than that.

 

For sure I would give a discount for green wood. CSS into the dump trailer and deliver it, and it never hits my property? That would be AWESOME!

 

For the customer with the forethought but not the ability!

 

My first year, I think I sold 38 face cord. Second year, I sold 30 or so. Last year, I sold almost 70. This year I should sell about 120. For me, I seem to work harder each year for the increased yield, but a lot of it is just getting better at the gathering process. It’s a lot of fun meeting new people and seeing how much they appreciate what you’re doing. I can tell you enjoy it too!

 

Whenever I sold, it was pretty consistent splits but I split the hottest burning wood smaller. I sold both cords and by the wheel barrow. One guy came out looking for fruit wood as his business ran out of wood to cook at a weekend function.

It didn’t matter by how big the splits really were for some as they were interested in firepit wood so I sold wheelbarrows of pine and fir. Lots of people noticed because I was in a high traffic area, every stack was visible in some way so it was a quick approach to the fence that usually got me a text and often a return on that before the weekend or a nice Saturday night. That was then.

What I know around here is there is a large range of price depending on the wood. I like to let the market set itself but when you know you have wood that is set for a special time in the winter here, the price for that is usually higher with respect. Price gouging is often here too.

Trees are plentiful here and if possible to make sure that the cord is a “Cord” that 4x4x8 with extra on top is going to pay dividends off for future sales. People come back because of honesty and upfront service, even if they don’t know what a cord is. Showing them that they bought quality wood, no rotting pieces, no bugs if possible(not always is it but do the best you can). Not all splits can be straight but the knots and larger “overnighters” are the ones that may need some explanation. They’ll benefit from those by a long shot.

I have oak I may sell or not but those large splits will take some dandy sun and wind to dry them out. But once they do, whew. I get stove envy thinking about it, weighing the “do I wanna sell or keep it” as that wood is going to be a split of heaven when its time.

 

I totally agree with everything your saying! Because of this, I often end up burning the less desirable stuff myself. The rounds, the stuff with a little punk,and the knotty stuff. I figure it all heats and keep the good stuff for thise willing to pay

 

Especially the “undesirable” stuff burns that much better. Chunkies are actually a community FHC favorite in ways because they are often the first ones burned in the season. I actually burn them all the time if I’m pulling from different stacks and they all provide that heat and pack well too. The only undesirable logs are actually the ones that don’t fit in the stoves but they work fine in the pit or bbq(if the wood works out for that).

 

In my ads last year, I showed the moisture content of my wood and explained the difference between wet and dry wood. I got some message from a guy or two that also sold wood trying to belittle my ads. I think they were just pizzed that I exposed what they should be doing and what the customer should look for when buying wood. I also either showed the customer the stacks (face cords) that they were going to get, or it was stacked in the dump trailer and I would pull out the tape measure and show them the calculations. I think people appreciate that. At least I feel that they know what they are getting.

 

I actually have a pellet stove and have been running it for over 20 years. I use firewood money to buy pellets. the wood that I wouldn't sell (the culls) are thrown in a pile and I'll either use them for fire pit wood, or give it to friends if the need a little wood to get them over the cold months.

 

You’re doing the right thing that way and honestly the seller folks telling you otherwise can sod off. How you do it is how many should do it, ethical and honestly. If someone’s attacking you for doing the right one for customers, then it makes you wonder how their customers stay their customers. One of ours here does sell wood and explains how wood being dry and wet burns to customers. I don’t know if he sells wood wet but if he does, he publicly explained that to his buyers the signs of wet wood and to dry it out. It’s not illegal to sell wet wood but at least if buying wet wood cheap would work if that stays elsewhere to dry to right percentages.

So my standard measurement same as yours: the trailer fits just about 2/3 of a cord and then the truck bed fits the other 1/3 and then some. The consistency helps but then tools for delivery don’t always match up. At least showing the customer your measurements is always better confirmation. Showing them the stacks before it gets in the trailer makes them feel better about what they are buying and you ultimately feel better that you know the work was done right.

Don’t let anyone else tell you you’re doing it wrong when you’ve been doing it right. I didn’t bring out the moisture meter for them but I had told the buyers that when I got the wood, usually when I have it all split and stacked up begins the accurate drying timeline. The MM is a great tool, used correctly it can be a confirmation tool but time is the ultimate test.

 

So are you stacking at the customers house? I rarely do that because I dont have the time - sold 180 full cords last year. There is money in stacking, just not my thing. To be successful just deliver what you promise when you say you will. If your wood is quality, the rest will take care of itself. I try to keep my splits pretty consistent. I have found that most people don’t like the bigger splits around here.

 

I don't personally stack at customer's house. I have a dump trailer and I just dump where they want it.

I do stack at my house (my wood lot) some firewood for two reasons. One, I want to know how much of a certain wood I have, and two, I need the room. Most ofnthe oak I leave in a big pile and stack in the dump trailer before I deliver so I know there is a full cord being delivered.

 

When I first got my dump truck I stacked a measured cord. Tossed it in and spray painted the insides of the body where the wood filled it. Been tossing it in ever since. Stacking takes up too much time for me.

 

I have it stacked at my place so I know how much the customer is getting but I agree that for me, it takes too much time to stack it in the trailer. I imagine some of that depends on how much firewood one is selling. If I were only selling a few cords to a few people over the burning season, I might be more apt to do it. I can haul a cord at a time though, and for the $50 dollars that I’m charging the customer to load it, drive it there, and then unload it, I gotta make it as worth the time as possible.

 

For those of you selling firewood, what’s your preference? Would you prefer a client come and pick the wood up for the cost of the wood or deliver it to them for a fee. I’ve only sold firewood for three seasons now, if I remember correctly, and here are some of the pros and cons I have discovered in that time:

pros to them getting it:
1) I’ll help them load it and so I only have to touch the wood once more.
2)Avoid wear and tear on my truck and trailer.
Cons to them getting it:
1)Sometimes difficult to schedule.
2)Some sketchy people coming to my property.
Pros to delivery:
1)They don’t have to worry about me showing up, and if they want the wood, I find them to be more flexible to my schedule.
2) Make a little more money per face cord. (My favorite delivery is a customer wanting a face cord delivered! I can fit a face cord in my pickup, so I don’t have to hook up my trailer. I can throw a face cord in loose and it takes no time to do. i can go the speed limit without having to worry about some falling out, and the fee is the same for everyone wanting it. $100 I can do it on my way to or from work. It just seems to be the best deal for me too. People are happy to pay it, and it helps drive up my average dollar per face cord for the season)
Cons to delivery:
Depending On how much I’m doing and how far I’m driving, this can be very time consuming.


Still refining the way I sell firewood, but for now, I am content with a mix of customers who want it delivered and those who come and get it.

Couple questions for those of you who have been doing this for a while:
1) How do you charge for delivery? Per cord....per face cord.... per mile
2) How far are you willing to deliver to?

I don’t feel I have this quite have a solid system for this figured out. For this next season, I was thinking of charging delivery per face cord. I can haul a face with just the truck and up to three with the truck and trailer. Face cord $30. Two face cord $45. Three face cord $60. This would be for delivery within 10 miles, and then I can customize for further delivery if they are set on getting it from me. Whatcha think?

Thanks for any input you have!

 

Haftacut. Lots of variables in you post. I'll give you my scenario. First off we can't sell face cords here. Has to be cubic feet or a fraction of a cord. I started out delivering 1/2 cords 25 or so years ago but that got old pretty quick because i had to cater to the customers schedule. I only deliver now to a couple of customers that have been buying for 20 or so years. I hear what you are saying about sketchy customers showing up but that's the chance you take . Most of mine are pretty decent. The only thing i sell now are 1/4 cord bins that the customer comes and picks up . I help load. I also sell a bunch of $20 dollar "trunk loads" of fire pit wood. I never liked a "delivery charge when I see it in firewood adds. I want people to know what their wood is going to cost them. I probably sold around 30 cords this season and delivered around 5. I am on a fairly busy road and have my bins displayed so people can see them but most of my customers are repeat business. Most pickups are on my schedule. This is a pic of the bins i sell.