At a crossroads, can anyone help?

[paulcumberland]

Fine for manufactured products for you have easily measured variables, logs have just to many variables even from the same supplier, most are loose loads, and although they can be roughtly the same length not all will be and most will be a different diamenter and then different ratio of wood spieces to each mixed load, even the moisture content is hightly likely to be different, yes I understand averages can take place but what error will you be publishing for your calculations. Then their is the service element from the supplier which is often not costed seperatly but in the order price. The biggest problem for comparission is how many of the public can tell if you delivery Horse Chustnut, Sweet chestnut, Ash, English Oak, Holm Oak, Turkey Oak, Beech, Field Maple, Hornbean, Walnut, just to name some of the hardwoods that not starting on the Spruces, by log only let alone bark, and as already said the volume or weight, and almost non of then have a moisture meter.

So in the end its down to trust between the client and supplier, when the suppliers offfers a good deal the client often stayes with then, the best rule of retailing, after the first three rules. Location location location.

[ShooTa]

just throwing out some thoughts -

you could in theory ask customers - on a trial basis to give up a few peices of wood - which could then be tested- the customer would rate their merchant, and combined with your testing of their logs (mc + btu output) combined with a load volume (aka dumpy, m3 bag, hilux etc.) you could begin to get a rating system - with a leader board - PEOPLE love leader boards - especially businesses.

 

the only downside is how to test customers who buy 1x per year.