Fair competition?

[Bolt]

We are based on a farm that we share with a tree surgeon/gardener and stables. Since we set up down there the gardener has tried to order wood cords from our supplier (who refused) and then got them from elsewhere. He has basically copied everything we are doing and is supplying wet unseasoned softwood to his clients. Personally I would punch his lights out , but the other half has got to work down there until we can find an other farm. What would you do?

 

Season, dry out it's all the same to me. Our wood is dry, under cover, we have had no complaints and plenty of re orders.

 

If you have plenty of re-orders, and his logs are 'pants', he is probably not competition then (fair or otherwise )

[reluctant]

Oh and our competitors wood is high 30's moisture content, not good!

[skyhuck]

Season, dry out it's all the same to me. Our wood is dry, under cover, we have had no complaints and plenty of re orders.

 

So why are you so upset about this other guy???

[reluctant]

So why are you so upset about this other guy???

 

It is a long story....

[Bolt]

It is a long story....

 

.... and the night is young, proceed

[18 stoner]

Oh and our competitors wood is high 30's moisture content, not good!

 

If yours is seasoned properly dont worry about it.

 

There's suppliers around here saying 25% is fine but they are not real competition. Customers vote with their feet, once they realise its wet they will come to you for seasoned stuff:thumbup:

[Gareth Dalzell]

'totally normal reaction - there's always a bad feeling when someone threatens your business for whatever reason - we've all been there. What you need to do now is focus on your business. Push yourself in a more productive direction. Like others have said - competition exists in many forms. My initial reaction - probably blow his kneecaps, burn the buildings and disappear his wood. That's probably not going to get you anywhere though. Keep splitting timber and get it sold.

[skyhuck]

If yours is seasoned properly dont worry about it.

 

There's suppliers around here saying 25% is fine but they are not real competition. Customers vote with their feet, once they realise its wet they will come to you for seasoned stuff:thumbup:

 

TBH, I think 25% is fine, after a few days in the log basket in the house they will be around 22% which is what is often used by stove manufactures when giving their KWH outputs.

[18 stoner]

The two biggest stove installers near us are promoting kiln dried and insist on burning below 15% so i think 25% is way off that.

 

Having said that, they do tend to promote kiln dried and say NO air dried stuff is dry enough. That alone does get my goat a bit as mine is presently 15 or 16%.

[reluctant]

.... and the night is young, proceed

 

My partner went into a lettings agency looking for a new yard. The lone woman said they had nothing, but her husband worked on a farm where there was a barn and storage/cutting area. We went down, met her husband and the farm owner, her husband seemed very nice. At this time he wasn't selling wood other than a little bit that he cut down occasionally. He had no processing kit either. He told my partner he had loads of work on and if my partner gave up his full time job (in a trade) he would give him work when the wood was quiet. We agreed when we got busy we would return the compliment. I even lined up some gardening work for him.

Then suddenly it all changed, he said he wouldn't have enough work for my partner. Then he sold his landrover and bought a load of softwood (he pinched our suppliers number, who told him where to go as we have relatives in the wood trade who are big customers and he backed us up). He also bought a splitter and said the wood was for him and the farm owner (who only burns hardwood). Then he said he was really busy with work. He has also been seen working with a couple of other guy, all lies!

We realise now that his wife saw an opportunity and sucked us in, my partner being far too nice to be so devious.

Unfortunately, I am not a woman to be conned or crossed in this way, hence my wanting to teach him a lesson.

We are looking for another farm for the New Year.

We have met another firewood supplier who has been very kind, sending some business our way. We have returned the favour by selling him kindling at a good price. We have also offered to send him customers if he goes quiet (not much chance of that though, he is very busy too).

Am I being reasonable to be pissed off?