Deliver or Come & Get It....

[Circle B MN]

Question for you firewood sellers out there. How many of you do not offer delivery of your firewood compared to those that do?

I've done it both ways myself, and currently do not deliver. I don't think I sell quite as much when I do not deliver but at the same time I don't put the extra miles on the trucks or have to spend a lot of time on the road or handling wood. It's a toss up for me as to whether or not it is worth it to offer that service.

 

[moondoggie]

Maybe 1 in 100 people want to pick wood up here.

 

[stihlslinger]

i think it would depend on the volume of wood your selling if you sell maby a cord a week it would be wort it but if you are selling 7-10 cord a week it wouldn't.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Maybe 1% of my sales are "pick up" out of around 500 cords a year.

Most people buying wood either aren't setup to haul it or don't have the time/energy. Unless they have sideboards or a flatbed, not going to get much over 1/2 a cord at a time. Some of my customers buy 10-15 cords.

As for the miles, I do 10 mile delivery for free, and charge after that. If your worried about just racking up mileage on a truck, you probably need to setup a different truck... flatbed with dump, at least a sturdy 1 ton, 1.5 ton even better, something that the bed will handle the wear and tear.

Also I'd rather not have alot of people in the yard, as it'd just take one accident to really open a can of worms.

 

[jrider]

I discourage pick up because most people won't show up when they say they will and I don't just sit around waiting for them. I run like clockwork and if you're much more than 5-10 minutes late, I'm not happy about it. I also sell the wood from my moms farm which is 8 miles away. When I get back home to my house, my kids are excited to see me and I will be damned if I'm going to turn around and drive back over to meet someone who couldn't keep their word on time.

 

[stihlslinger]

in our area people want it delivered stacked free I don't mind 4-5 miles but ive had people want it delivered 50+ miles away and that keeps me from selling to the people that are coming to pick up their wood so I just don't do it but when people say their gonna come at 5-530 and they call at 8 I tell them ittl have to be the next day.

 

[Hinerman]

I charge more for delivery period, it doesn't matter the distance. People don't mind to pay extra and I have made the most in tips from deliveries and helping stack. In fact, I can't recall ever being tipped by people who pick up their wood. I help load too when they pick up. I do not expect tips, just relating my experience. I used to not stack, just drop off only. Then I helped stack a couple times and was tipped very nicely IMO, so I have reconsidered my "no stack" policy.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I don't normally stack, my back doesnt do well. Couple times I have it was $30/cord provided it was pretty much right there, no trekking 1/4 mile across the yard with a wheelbarrow.

I don't help to load, there's the pile, come to the shop once you have what you want.

50 miles isn't too bad. Most of my deliveries are about that or under, but I run some loads out that's around 300-350 miles round trip.
I can go 150 air miles radius from the shop on my truck registrations.

 

[Big_Al]

I get maybe 1 per year out of 40-50 customers that want to pick up. Started charging $20 for delivery within 25 miles and 25 for stacking. If it's an older couple or someone with physical issues I'll work with them on the stacking fee. I prefer to just toss it all off.

 

[blades]

I was just looking around the other day at delivery charges in my area, base is about $30 goes up from there- discount for volume from some of the operations that have a large truck/trailer. Stacking charges start at about $25 for 1/3 cord , more than 1/3 by the hour. Moving wood other than deposited on drive is another chargeable area dependent on access. Frankly if I have to deliver it, move it again, and stack it, it is going to get pricy.

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Stacking,

No way. Way to much time and handling for any profit. Location, terrain, pallet condition, building corners, etc. all factor in. Many don't just want their wood stacked, they want the perfect, quaint, New England setting type stacked pile. Then they want all the bark, small bits and chips raked up and hauled off. I'm a wood guy, not a lawn care / landscaper.

As to pickup or delivered, by far delivery is the most popular option. Last year I delivered approximately 46 cord and had 6 picked up in the landing. (I get more people coming to pick up splitter trash for kindling than for firewood), Price is $200/cord picked up, $240-$250 / cord delivered. Deliveries over 15 miles are $1.00 additional per loaded mile.

As a lesson learned the hard way, any pick up orders, get identification, name, address, and phone number, and take a pic of the vehicle with a clear shot of the license plate as they're loading.

Take Care

 

[rhwace]

Ace I always provide free delivery


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[rhwace]

[emoji91] [emoji39]

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[stihlslinger]

As a lesson learned the hard way, any pick up orders, get identification, name, address, and phone number, and take a pic of the vehicle with a clear shot of the license plate as they're loading.

what happened?

 

[rhwace]

Hes right never allow any pick ups, delivery only or meet in a neutral location. Never let them see your supply, had over 3 cords stolen one time

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[Circle B MN]

How many of you that delivery wear a DOT number on the truck and carry commercial insurance? While there are risks involved in buyer pickup, delivery is not exactly a worry free proposition. An accident on the road while loaded or clipping the corner of a customers garage could take a serious bite out of the profit.

 

[sb47]

For me, it's more cost effective to just do pick only, except for a few BBQ restaurants that I supply.
The time spent loading, hauling, gas, wear and tear, and wheelbarrow the wood to where they want it stacked.
Plus the liability, is just not worth it. Plus the time spent away from the wood lot and the missed sales from people that stop by, add up to a loss for most delivery's. If there cold enough, they will find a way to come get it.

 

[FLRA_Dave]

How many of you that delivery wear a DOT number on the truck and carry commercial insurance? While there are risks involved in buyer pickup, delivery is not exactly a worry free proposition. An accident on the road while loaded or clipping the corner of a customers garage could take a serious bite out of the profit.

I don't have a DOT number yet, but I do carry commercial insurance on the truck/trailer, and that set's me back $270/mo ($3230/yr). I've only sold/delivered 46 cord this year. This is only a moonlight gig right now. Taking baby steps.

Oh yeah, 100% delivered so far. Thinking soon I will start having stacks by the rd with a box for them to leave the money in and see how that goes.

 

[stihlslinger]

Thinking soon I will start having stacks by the rd with a box for them to leave the money in and see how that goes

i wouldent try that people will try to sneak wood any way they can i had a guy and his girlfriend was supposed to be getting the money for the wood while we loaded the truck. i had to tell hin about half way through that i wanted my money cause he just went and started the truck for no reason. now before i even let the first pice of wood leave the stack i have my money in hand.

 

[jrider]

Just because you deliver doesn't mean you have to wheelbarrow and stack. I can hand load a cord of wood in just under 20 minutes- that's thrown in loose.