Fire wood= To stack or not???

farmer2009 · Jul 23, 2014

After reading through all this. I would have to say you should charge the first tier customers for stacking. Maybe get rid of it by combining the two tiers. Call them ahead of time and tell them you've had to start charging for the service. Might even make a new first tier "the ones that complaint about your stacking". They get the benifit of paying more for your stacking service. If you have someone you know can't stack it because of health or something and want to volunteer to stack for them then do it. That would be up to you.

YardBikeBob · Jul 23, 2014

Huh. So you would charge extra for a good stack job like this?

Sheesh.

Bob

namesray · Jul 23, 2014

Bob, that is some nice art work with firewood. Are you going to burn your fire wood or enjoy looking at it all winter? How long did it take you to do that?

My prices are right in line with the average for this area. The only difference is I seem to offer a bit more customization and service then the other fire wood contractors here. We don't get quite the $200 to $250 per full cord (3 face cord) in our area, but not too far off.

I feel if I stopped all stacking, the customers who got upset would find out there isn't another that would stack it. I am good friends with 4 other dealers and they laugh at me that I stack. They all say NO stacking. Now that doesn't mean a customer might not find a person just doing a few extra cord for the year and selling it and might stack it for them. However, I have found that those guys are very inconsistent if they can keep delivering the wood time after time.

I think I am going to stop stacking all customers starting next year. I feel I am not being unfair. It is a matter of supply and demand and time. I feel this would be a fair way of thinning down to a more efficient amount of fire wood per year too. It is a lot to do 300 to 400 face cord. I would like 100-200 face cord better. And if most of the customers go somewhere else, I have other things to fall back on. I could expand my mowing business that I have wanted to do, but didn't have the time. And if all customers were ok with no stacking, it would still go quicker. It is about half an hour to an hour depending on location to stack a truck load, but less then 20 minutes to just throw off and less then that with the dump truck, and a lot easier on my body.

YardBikeBob · Jul 23, 2014

namesray said:
Bob, that is some nice art work with firewood. How long did it take you to do that?

Shoot, work like that doesn't take me any time at all.

See picture on Internet
Steal picture off Internet
Post picture here.

I had read this thread and then stumbled across the picture later. Heck of an artist. I'd board up the fireplace if that was my only wood pile.

As for the wood stacking, are you a one-man operation? Too bad a young, strong back couldn't be motivated to follow along behind your deliveries and stack the firewood for those wanting the service. Time is money and bitching is free; known by all. Quote a separate stacking price and take the fee up front then cell phone the strong back to come up behind and stack it for the customer.

If the kid was any good he'd do professional, courteous work and leave a card behind for handyman services.

But dealing with hired help can sure take the fun out of an enterprise.

Bob

mikehaugen · Jul 23, 2014

Perhaps even find a trustworthy young person to deliver and stack?

bcp · Jul 23, 2014

Firewood stacking art:

The Art of Firewood

Stacking Firewood

Bruce

Deere Dude · Jul 23, 2014

Does the owner put the wood in the rack to carry it to the house by himself? Does he lift it and put it in the fireplace by himself? He should have to fun of stacking it so he can get all the enjoyment from the fireplace.
I wouldn't stack it for free. You just need to find out what your time is worth doing that job and charge accordingly and let the chips fall where they may.

YardBikeBob · Jul 23, 2014

mikehaugen said:
Perhaps even find a trustworthy young person to deliver and stack?

I would not put my equipment at risk letting someone else drive it.

The way I read it, though, he is one of 5 firewood dealers who just want to dump the wood on the ground. To a handyman with a wheelbarrow that is money just laying there. The firewood dealer should get a cut, too, as a commission for rustling up new clients for the handyman.

If a fellow won't stack his own wood, there is likely plenty of other chores around the place, too, where a fellow can make a little money.

Bob

ultrarunner · Jul 23, 2014

Enjoyed seeing the variations of stacking...

As a young child visiting my Grandfather's dairy farm I was always looking to be helpful...

As much as I wanted to go out in the woods and chainsaw the the men... he said I was not old enough.

So, I started to stack the wood they brought in... when my Grandfather finished for the day he was really impressed... he was not one to compliment... on this day he made an exception.

In Scouts we would offer to stack wood to elderly for free as a community service project.... sometimes they made a donation to the troop... much appreciated never expected.