LogDesperate

Thanks to everyone’s input and comments in this thread Sorry , it looks like I have upset some people along the journey, was not my intention Thanks to those who could see where I was coming from and issues trying to highlight , for their support. To others , still have not figured out what those points were , well , thanks for participating still , whether I agreed with your opinions or not. Admins , you feel free to delete my account , so that will hopefully help dismiss the “ troll “ theory . Bye and all the best

That is very reassuring ... Oh sure, " customer from hell " , right ?

Guessing you meant " wind up " , I certainly am not " wined up " ! Well, perhaps a little in the evenings Wow After all my posts ( because I really have nothing better to do with my time ) , conspiracy theory continues !

I am in Essex ( and have been for past 30 years ) Reason I said Hertfordshire, because we are near enough to its border and technically London as well , I think enough clues there so you can work out roughly where approximate area is

Woodworks , just looked at your website . OMG™ ! Look at them beauties , that’s what I call logs I might move to Devon , can I come and live in your barn ? Essex boys and girls , post your log business websites or pictures please ! ( And Hertfordshire ! )

Really? Interpretation? LoL I thought principle is the same . You have goods , money changes hands , goods are SOLD You can call yourself , merchant , supplier , dealer , seller , flogger or whatever else. Principle is the same , and same ethics should apply , if you have pride in the work you do or products you sell.

You are not the only one , on the suprise front ! Hence this thread

Steve ? I stated this few times already , I am not saying log suppliers all here or elsewhere are the same , maybe not even single one of the official registered users / posters here. Not my intention to “ brand “ all the same. I already know many fantastic people here that have integrity and ethics , I can tell The “ cowboy “ types are most likely mainly the lurker ones , which you don’t hear a peep out of , but I am sure they are around here and watching / reading ! By the way , I don’t and have not always bought my logs from the “beer money unemployed chancers “ . I actually don’t always go for the absolute possible cheapest , “ cheap is dear “ Some of my purchases were made with people who had web presence , what appeared to be a reputable and reliable business , with similar results. And where does it end anyway ? Can’t buy the cheapest , don’t buy medium priced . Do we always have to assume it is ALWAYS the most expensive one that we must buy if we want quality ? And even with that is there a guarantee ? I think it all boils down to ethics. I want what is advertised / promised . I don’t mind crap , if price is right , sure , why not ? It is my decision to make . Tell me it’s crap leylandii for proper cubic meter , seasoned for 2 years , £20 a cube delivered , I might be tempted !

Sure , I can have “ intelligent “ debates / discussions with every single one of the suppliers I had pleasure of making their acquaintances , every time I had a thing or two to say about the quality and/or quantity of the goods , that would probably earn me eventually the claim to fame 3 minute window in Crimestoppers ! I have done my fair share of the complaints, with few of the suppliers in the past , in me youth , thankfully without becoming that statistic. Now , the reason I am here “ bitching “ , as you very delicately put , I believe words are mightier than the sword ! Trying to put my opinions across and share my experiences here within the biggest platform I could think of, perhaps at least make some of the culprits understand and change their ways , who think the customers are mugs , is that a bad thing ? “ Bitching “ here , my voice ( and others ) is heard little louder and to a wider audience .

Call me TK Gary ! I am not that hard to please

No , I did not. My blood pressure is more important to me than few scaffold plank " logs " If the whole load was like that of course , that is another story. However , suffice to say he did not get my business again. Besides , I could just picture how that complaint phone call would have gone. Me .. " Hello Mr Log Supplier , I have found some Scaffold Tower Plank Logs in with me load , are they supposed to be in there or accidentally fell in to the bag while you were travelling near a building site perhaps ? " Him .. " Well , ya did not ask , I did not feel the need to tell you , they are good hardwood , will burn great mate , goodbye "

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

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 ?!

Gary , oh Gary , you were quick to post in this thread saying got bored and did not bother to read my first post in its entirety , you come back with a sarcastic second post ( most probably not even read others either ) , but I still like you ! You are quick to post but alas with little to no substance I have four words for you . “ Ignorance is a bliss “ … no offense . Which applies to few others here as well , who appear to be in denial Please read all my posts , and you will probably get the answer you are looking for. But sure , if I were to do log trade , I would do it with pride , ethics , supply quality products which are fit for purpose and fair quantity / volume . If you are a log seller or whatever business you are in , you do what you are good ( hopefully you are ) at , and I will do what I am good at , I have no intention of starting log trade and steal business from you guys !

Looks what you guys did to me , now I have the boss key ready at work sneak and send replies , I think I am hooked ! Thanks for the compliment! I don't think I am that clever Lots of equipment ?? I have a log splitter that cost me £150 , 8 years ago , Electric Bosch Chainsaw , £50 I think it was , couple of axes, I swear that is it OK, I feel I need to come clean on the 20 years thing, maybe it is more like 17 , and out of those 17 years perhaps 2 or 3 years I did not need to buy logs in . So now , does that make it little more plausible? I can assure you it is not a wind up … I have 50-60 hour work weeks , trust me I would not ordinarily bother with this kind of stuff , but I hoped you guys could see the frustration and listen to a buyers experiences and perhaps a find a common ground within community to address and resolve , since I think this is the biggest platform in UK that Tree Surgery and related product suppliers gather and discuss , what better place is there ? Because I like to sit by the stove to have a few cigarettes in the evenings , open the door let the smoke sucked up so room doesn’t stink , poke and admire the fire at the same time ! I can do without the ones spit in my eye. “I have had oak, ash, sycamore alĺ spit. You just cannot guarantee it “ Have you tried “ seasoning “ them properly ? Those varieties should not spit , if properly dry. I suppose any log will spit , I am not referring to spitting as in once in a blue moon. Have you tried burning chestnut or pine .. ?