Hey there, I get wood from tree services and end up with more in a year than I can burn in 5. so I figured I'd sell bulk and bundles. I made my own bundler, and sold on the honor system. things went well for a couple years even sold some almost every weekend during the winter. I sell for $3 per bundle or 2 for $5. so really its 2.50 per bundle. the bundles measure out to .6 cubic feet. so if my math is correct that works out to $533 per cord. some bundles walked away (of course). I planned to loose 10-30 percent. but it got so bad I was loosing 90% to someone who was coming almost every night. most likely the same person. I leave some singles in the box for anyone who needs to make change. but no one ever took the money, just the bundles. Then I pulled the sign, and the bundles. Figured why give em away? About a month later I put the sign and bundles back up, cause it was memorial day. Usually 3 day weekends are big sellers. I'm clearly not getting rich by any means. I'd say I sell $10-$20 per week average. and after keeping closer track of the count. I think ppl like to grab an extra bundle or 2 when they buy some. I also work full time so after coming home after a 10-12 hr work day sometimes I gotta make more bundles. sometimes I think I could just throw the logs on a pile have a bonfire and not the headache. Then selling in bulk. I usually had one helper paid him 12 per hour. split with a super splitter. pre-split the great big rounds with a skid loader mounted splitter. we could cut split and stack. 6 cords in an 8 hour day. well we did that once. usually 4 cords cut stacked and split in about 7 hrs was about average. I kept track of my hrs and time. not counting any expenses for fuel, or parts, or the cost of buying the supersplit I made $11.48 per hour selling 100% oak. the 2 things that really hurt me were buying the logs for 30 per cord, and paying someone to help me load and unload the firewood. I could really go either way. I like cutting and splitting wood. But I also think why go thru the hassle. Thanks for reading, any input would be appreciated.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve been considering selling some myself as I get more than enough just cleaning up dead trees off of my 14 acres. Sounds like basically everything I’ve feared has already happened to you - sorry to hear about the thieves. I’m in a very rural area but it’s about 5 miles from the lake and State Park, so we do get a fair amount of camper traffic in the summer. I planned to offer smaller bundles, but really hoped to use those to hook people into buying full face cords, or their stash for the winter. I don’t have my stand up yet but I did sell 2 face cords this winter to my neighbor. I’m still on the fence about the whole thing though. I’d much rather keep it all for myself than give it away to random strangers.
Have you considered a camera? Lousy thing to have to do, but would likely deter some thieves, even if it was just there and not actually hooked up to anything. If it LOOKS like it will capture a face and a license plate, I'd think most thieves will just turn tail or pay.
Yes - and make it obvious by having a sign stating the area is under surveillance. Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
Think I'd stick with bulk firewood sales before dealing with all that mess. That said, it may still be worth trying a camera...
I'd go with the cameras and be willing to post a pic of a thief on local social media. A lot of towns have a FB page that allows such things. That said my business is in waste and recycling . 10 years ago I set up a self serve pay as you throw garbage and recying drop off site. It went well for about a year and then people started ripping me off. I went through bags of trash and couldn't get names so I bought cameras . Best invesent ever. Go with multiple cameras at different angles and one right at your pay box . Empty your pay box every day. I Have one guy that brings a whole trailer load of garbage in once a month. When he puts money in the box he hides the bills In his fist till he gets past the camera view. I've got him pegged and social media waits .
I can think of a lot of things I would rather do for free and even more if it was going to cost me money ................
I've been asked hundreds of times if I sell wood & the answer is no! I've got plenty too, but for the time & effort to make it I want $ 550.00 per cord for good Oak or similar. I'm in a resort/tourist area, state park etc. Every house sells campfire wood here & most of the local businesses as well. I'll give wood away to someone in need, & provide campfire wood to a local scout troop free of charge. As far as selling, there's a lot easier ways to make a buck, & I like making firewood.
I would establish a few solid customers to buy either or, no onesie twosie stuff. People are more likely to rip you off if they'll never see you again. Make some money selling to those return customers to cover your costs for your own wood, after that, have a couple years stored, after that, have a couple bonfires! Just my take on it. Spend the time your spending cutting wood for free (or even at a loss) on something else, family or work some overtime. To me firewood is to much work to sell even at $70 a face cord. I cut my own, or trade my welding services for someone else to drop off wood that I only have to cut or split instead. If I ever have to much which shouldn't be a problem with the boiler, then I may consider selling some. Either way, best of luck!
Thanks for the plug Eric, We owe a lot of our success to theft or "shrinkage" and the closer parks are to a big city the worse the problem......seems crazy that people would go to a State park and know that the profits go back into making the parks better and then steal one of their only ways to make money for that park to make those improvements. We went into a big park right after the Easter weekend (2017) when someone cut off the locks to the Friends Groups honor boxes and took off with about $2000......The President of the group said that was almost 2 years profit. Now he gets a check from me every month that averages about $600.
Thanks for sharing your situation. I hear ya, sounds like you really enjoy splitting and cutting wood like we all do which is why we are all mostly here. But in the same breath you don't want to be taken advantage of either, that kinda takes the enjoyment out of it. Sounds like selling in bulk is a lot of work, maybe more than it's worth and selling the smaller bundles isn't as much overhead and more enjoyable. So if possible & cost effective perhaps as others mentioned a camera to deter folks and your loss would hopefully go down and you can get back to enjoying it.
In my experience most ppl either buy bundles or bulk. its very rare to see someone burn both. just my .02
I checked out your website. I was wondering after I purchase the woodshax modules. and start selling bundles what percent do you keep of the total sales?
I think I missed your call today..... Zero, nothing, Nada.... (I do not do the franchise thing and I won't sell to anyone in your immediate area ) you get control of the POS system...I show you how to use and get the most out of the back office (the POS company charges $7.95 a month for air time and the back office plus swipe charges) and we are here to help you anyway we can. We figured out how to sell firewood for $1200 a full cord.....I think that can be replicated in other areas.
I tell people the same thing. Usually they stop by and stand in front of my woodpile, then come up and ask if I would "want to haul some to their house". I use to say no. Get off your backside and get to it. Winter is coming. Now I tell them yes for five hundred cash. In the round, not stacked. Sold one load so far! You can get a cord here for 100 bucks delivered. Most typically, lodgepole sells for 125 a cord year round. I have brought by 3 cord for an 90 year old lady for free, and my friend who is 72 and still working will get 3 more, just because I respect his american work ethic. People get mad when they find out. The invaders want everything free. I help those that deserve it. Build houses for a living
