Just Unlucky ?

[Daniël Bos]

tbh, I think the OP is a genuine frustrated log buyer.

 

Normally when I get bad service from a business I cant be bothered complaining and I just don't go back. However, the OP has taken a fair bit of time to post his concerns about the UK firewood industry.

 

Perhaps his post is an opportunity for log sellers to consider the log industry from the customers perspective....

Matelot,

wtf, god almighty, **** me dead!

I fully agree with everything in your post:confused1:

 

 

It seams to me the amount of disbelieving, sarcastic replies can only have two reasons.

Either you are so fed up with hearing about your competitors rubbish product and service that it's just getting too much to bear.

or...

You do indeed recognise most if not all of the op's issues because you are indeed no different.

 

I have been a log customer in the past, having come home to a couple of wheelbarrow loads of slimy willow chucked on my drive, advertised as "premium seasoned hardwood" I can fully sympathise with TK.

phoning up the supplier to have a moan should sort it, but then the log business isn't really regulated, many sellers both good and bad are small fish, often logs aren't the main or only business all of which means that often a slick customer relation just isn't as easy as for say a dedicated online retailer.

Now technically, when buying anything unseen over the phone or interweb, I believe you are supposedly protected by distance seller regulations. But realistically, trying to get your money back from the chap that left you the crap logs is a whole lot less easy than returning your faulty personal massager to the online electro-sodomist suppliers for a full refund!

[Daerve]

Interesting thread.

 

I must state I haven't read it all but have to agree with a lot of what has been written in the first post.

 

I got my wood burner fitted last year and apart from the one crate of kiln dried stuff have had a nightmare with wood suppliers. I can cope with the vagaries of volume but if a supplier says it's seasoned, I expect it to be seasoned.

 

I don't even care if it's not seasoned as long as the price is right, I'm a patient man but if a supplier says it's seasoned I expect to be able to burn it straight away and with just one exception barring the kiln dried it has been wetter than an otter's pocket.

 

I don't like buying kiln dried, air dried is IMO a better burn,supports local businesses and is more environmentally friendly but if it's flogged as dry and isn't then I'm afraid I won't be buying again and will have to resort to the imported kiln dried rubbish so I can actually burn what I buy this year.

 

Partly through processing a load of arb waste and unscrupulous suppliers I have about 3 years worth of wood, none of which is any good for burning now.

[peatff]

I will be entitled to my OAP next January . I have enough arb waste to last me until I am at least 70 .....

 

This June for me, I've got to start looking for some wood as the store is nearly empty but I had the second hernia done a fortnight ago and it's still a bit tender so I look like sending my wife out instead.

[Mark Bolam]

You only have to see the amount of people asking for 'seasoned cord' to realise that there are a few problems in the firewood game.

[LogDesperate]

It's a wind up, it's like asking to buy a perfect steak every time from the supermarket. Just doesn't happen.

I agree, delivered logs should ALWAYS be ready to burn, but as to the occasional misshapen one, cheeky softwood one, slightly longer one, bit of mud on the side one, heavens above, get a grip....

 

Buy the imported crate, " oh my god, there's a smaller log in the corner with half the bark missing"

 

Don’t get me wrong , there is nothing puts a bigger grin on me face than a cheeky softwood log or two , in what is sold as a hardwood only load ! I welcome it

In fact , I will tell you what is even cheekier . Few years back I ordered a “ load “ , when I found out there were at least 20 – 30 scaffold tower plank pieces cut up and included kindly in with my load , I said to myself I said “ Now , that IS Cheeky that is ! “ and burst out laughing so hard, crapped me pants in the process

Edited March 14, 2017 by LogDesperate

[gensetsteve]

I prefer TK instead of John , that’s what my friends call me !

 

To all who think I was / am a potential Kiln dried crate importer to UK , do you really think I would come in here to try to sell ? Especially if I was trying to convert end users , if this is what you think I am trying to do with my posts ?

 

I would target End user forums for that , plenty of them online , and tell them how great my product is , come buy them from me or here is a distributor.

 

OR , I would come here , as I did and just say , “ People , we are exporters from such and such , this is the product , this is the price , how many crates can we put you down for sir ? “

 

Where am I ? OK, so , that was one small delicate area , I was not entirely sure how to respond to , hence delay , I was not ignoring it.

 

To be perfectly honest it is irrelevant which area I am in , I have been expressing truthful opinions and experiences that I have had.

I have not said I have exhausted ALL my options in my area , so yes , probably still more I should / could try .

 

It is just the fact that so many not so great experiences in a row , for what should be a simple purchase , on a product that really should not be complicated , nor over the top expensive , I guess I felt the need to come here and vent little and share , to see what the industry is thinking as well.

Also , it is not just about me , “ saving the poor soul and help him out issue “ necessarily . I already guessed there are problems in this industry , as far as quality and quantity is concerned , which some of your members acknowledge and confirm.

 

Between so many of you , majority of your industry probably actively participate in these forums , can you not get together / put heads together and come up with some sort of solution to at least volume issue ?

Someone mentioned, according to Trading Standards , selling / using cubic metre measurement is a no no , but to use “ loads “ as a unit of measurement . I am not disputing this , but can someone provide some links as I have had a quick look but unable to verify this?

 

If true , perhaps it is a strange old British law that stayed from middle ages like .. “ You’re not allowed to be drunk in a pub “ ?

If this is the case , it needs to be challenged and changed

“ thou shall not sell logs by universally accepted volume measurements , thus let it be sold as a load “ ??

 

 

Here is an idea for example , if indeed metric measurements are a no go ( research will need to be done on this still ) , come up with a universally accepted new measurements for log industry , call it “ dumpy crate “ or whatever you wish , which had specific measurements , fill it loose to exact level , let that be known as the measurement , so everyone would know what it is when / if I order 2 of those , I know what loose total volume is , when people order it in up in Highlands , it is same unit as in Wales or in central London

 

I don’t know , or something , its just the bag or load etc methods just not cutting it.

 

I understand , yes, it is a physically demanding job , you need machinery , you need space . Well every business has its challenges and difficulties.

 

And British produce , does it really have to be so expensive , compared to imports ?

Take tree surgery for example , logs are your by product , you have already charged accordingly for felling etc. I had one tree felled and the bill was good few hundred a while back

 

So , technically you have the logs for free , if it is a decent tree , one you can sell the logs , what do you need to do , cut / split and dry ( whatever method )

You are saying you cannot compete with these “ exporters “ , who need to BUY the logs , do same processes as you need to do , cut / split , dry , not to mention supply them in crates ( which would cost a few quid as well ) , then SHIP them from hundreds ( thousands ? ) miles away ( would have thought big cost ) and sell them cheaper than here ?

 

Sure even if the labour was free where they are coming from , how long does it take for you to produce 1 cubic metre logs , with all the Pro equipment you guys have 15 minutes flat or less ? I know I can probably do it in around 2 hours with my laughable but capable ! equipment So labour does not really come up to much surely.

 

So , have fair but competitive price , supply fair volume and quality , have satisfied customers and hold on to them , that way un-satisfied frustrated buyers don’t have the need to look elsewhere .

 

I thought it is better to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, includes pinpoint location where I am from.

 

But anyway , I am from sunny Essex

 

I better Log-Off for now .

 

See what I did there ? Was that a pun ?!

 

I seem to remember the government added a tax of £10 a tonne to cord extracted from forest commission sites around 2010. Many other land owners then chucked an extra tenner on.

 

I am no expert on Poland or Latvia but I do know minimum wage is around £25 a day and they have the cheapest diesel in Europe.

I would imagine their health and safety is lax so you don't need to spend an hour writing 4 sides of a4 to wipe your arse.

I doubt they test their lifting equipment or have mots for their vehicles.

I bet they don't pay £28,000 + vat for a hilux pick up

Does the government hand out a whole raft of eu grants so the country keeps exporting one of their few raw materials.

I know the average price for a three bed house is not £278,000 and cost of living is much lower.

With all these things I found we were £10 more expensive on 2 cu metres of 3 year seasoned beech logs and even the owner of our local fish and chip shop bypassed us to buy from Latvia. Luckily he is not the only chippy in town.

[better dayz]

Don’t get me wrong , there is nothing puts a bigger grin on me face than a cheeky softwood log or two , in what is sold as a hardwood only load ! I welcome it

In fact , I will tell you what is even cheekier . Few years back I ordered a “ load “ , when I found out there were at least 20 – 30 scaffold tower plank pieces cut up and included kindly in with my load , I said to myself I said “ Now , that IS Cheeky that is ! “ and burst out laughing so hard, crapped me pants in the process

 

Did you phone and complain?

[matelot]

Matelot,

wtf, god almighty, **** me dead!

I fully agree with everything in your post:confused1:

 

LOL, it wouldn't surprise me if we end up facebook friends and even exchange Christmas cards!

[eggsarascal]

LOL, it wouldn't surprise me if we end up facebook friends and even exchange Christmas cards!

 

I don't do facebook but I'd happily swap Christmas cards with you if you would send me some of that stuff you drink.

[matelot]

Home Bargains sell verdo logs. tbh, I'd rather people buy them than imported logs...

 

A ton is £279 and they are made in the UK.