Flushcut said it best

[isaaccarlson]

"I see work everywhere, but nobody wants to pay to have it done."

YUP. I just saw an ad on craigslist for free firewood. Here is the copied text.

Several Larger Pine Trees - Firewood! (Nelson)
If yiu are looking to make some firewood for next year, and have th equipment and skill to safely fell these trees, they are yours. Three are dead, I have four others that I would like removed. Person is responsible for cleanup, although if you have a wood chipper you can leave a pile of chips onsite, I can use it as mulch. Located outside of Nelson.

 

[KenJax Tree]

They wanna pay they just don't wanna pay what it costs to have it done RIGHT.

 

[KenJax Tree]

People actually think they're doing you a favor but letting you have the wood.

 

[sgreanbeans]

We get this all the time, but with walnut, everyone thinks they are going to get a mint at the mill. They get pissed when I tell them its only good for firewood.

 

[bootboy]

We get this all the time, but with walnut, everyone thinks they are going to get a mint at the mill. They get pissed when I tell them its only good for firewood.

I agree. But that said, my father once took down a walnut that yielded dozens of boards that are 24"-36" x 6-8' and made many pieces of beautiful furniture that are all over my extended family. I still have mountains of huge milled boards in my garage with even more at my moms house. it seems to never run out.The guy that helped him got paid in cash. But my dad wasn't a full time tree guy.

But it's annoying when someone tries to get you cut a bid in half by telling you you can keep the wood. I do with it as I see fit (see: dump) and it doesn't change my bid. I'm inclined to charge them a stupid fee for offering to let me keep the mountains of cottonwood for fire. They forget, I have to PAY to get rid of it. It's not like big chunks of nanny'ol cottonwood are a commodity...

 

[NEKS Tree Svc]

Happens all the time

One customer had a huge walnut hanging over the neighboring building and posted it to the first person that wanted the firewood. I simply said i can't cut it for free because my commercial insurance isn't free. So I gave a quote, she didn't want to pay thousands to remove that one, but I did get a call to trim the trees in front. They may not have thousands, but they at least have hundreds. Remember that one.

 

[NEKS Tree Svc]

**Should have said couldn't

couldn't pay thousands, but I am going to take that tree down soon. I wont post the customers' personal situation but its serious, and i understand. My customers always call me back when they are ready.

 

[treeclimber101]

My new tactic I use is as they offer hundreds less , I counter with hundreds more , I had a Chinese couple spitting fire at one another as we dueled over price for what felt like hours , finally I left , they were fighting each other in my rear view mirror as I drove away

 

[CanopyGorilla]

We have this one lady who has become kinda famous around our office. We did a removal for her last fall, big subalpine fir. Bid was for removal and full clean up. This spring (like late february) she starts calling us around 4pm and saying we stole her wood. Now it is about once a week that she calls pissed drunk mid afternoon and starts yelling at our secretary about us steeling her wood. One day the owner goes out to her place after a hand full of irate messages to see what can be done. She just wants to get drunk with him, he kindly declines and thought he settled the issue, but shur as #### she is on the phone the next afternoon asking why we still haven't droped her valuable fir back off at her house yet. Not exactly the same as this thread but funny non the less.

 

[MSgtBob66]

I like Treeclimber's tactics

Counter their counter the other way by the same amount. Because if they knew the costs involved, don't you would think they would tell you that?

I had an import ask me to bid on about 5 small removals, grind stumps & clean up. I quoted him something like $300. He freaked out! "That's too much!" So I said thanks for you're (MINE) time and left.

A lot of people just don't get it.

Semper Fidelis & Good Luck!

BOB

 

[jefflovstrom]

Quit crying,,
choose your market.
Jeff :msp_wink: