Free chips/wood

[Toddppm]

When you give away free chips/wood etc. do you make the people sign a disclaimer?
In case they don't realize how much they're really getting, quality, quantity, where it's going to be dumped, what time, not repsonsible for lawn damage, driveway damage etc., etc, etc, ...you know what I mean.
Some people will complain about getting something for free now matter how good it is.

 

[Grace Tree]

No; not ever. But we try to talk to people and find out if there's a potential for trouble. I carry a bag of chips so the people know exactly what they're getting. We give them a piece of caution tape or one of those utility marking flags and tell them to put it in their yard in the middle of where they want the pile. We're pretty small potatoes so we rarely make more than a load of chips per day and for us it's less complicated and less expensive to just haul them back to the yard and dump. Things have changed in the last couple of years and most people keep their hardwood or know somebody that wants it so we probably have to haul less than 5%. The junk wood gets hauled to the yard and Craigslist makes that disappear. When we did give away a lot of wood we never had any problems and never made anybody sign anything.
Phil

 

[Mikecutstrees]

same here no contract for that sorta thing. I size people up pretty well. If they are gonna be a pita, I skip bringing them free stuff. I rarely drive on lawns because of the hassles it can cause. People have no idea how heavy a loaded truck is. They will tell you a 100 times to do it but when you leave marks they will be pissed...... Mike

 

[sgreanbeans]

:agree2:
I never have had any problems, have a deal with a Landscaper who uses my chips to pack his nursery trees,
Craigslist gets rid of the wood. Have a underground of wood burners who take it right from the job, chips always go to the nursery unless some one in the neighborhood wants them, often have people who want me to dump it in a weird spot, I just say no

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

You can bring me about 10 yards any time you want to, Todd. No contracts, no worries about driveway damage, no hassles. I'll even thank you for it!

 

[alanarbor]

It helps if you make clear to people how much you can deliver. People who say "I'll take all the chips you can can give me" don't really mean it (usually)

I recall when I was working a pipeline clearing job many years ago a homeowner told us they would take all the chips we could give them. The Pipeline rep who was with us said "Ma'am are you sure about that? Because these guys will bury your house." Homeowner: "Oh? My! well maybe just one or two loads then."

Then there was they guy who said "Keep bringing chips until I tell you to stop" and then promptly went on vacation. DOH!

Good times.

 

[Toddppm]

If you were closer Mark, I'd do it no problem....

I know a guy that was renting a property and letting people dump all over the place it was a mess. And guys who get permission 1 time and anytime they're in the area keep on dumping until the police are called or worse.

 

[treeclimber101]

Honestly anymore people are such scoundrels that I try to limit my interaction with anyone not directly paying me for a service . In fact if people ask for free wood or such I just decline taking my equipment into there yard period , because next thing ya know you get a call about a crack in the concrete tire marks and every other damn thing .. Its a shame that a few WILL ruin it for others , I hate to have such apprehension buts it sometimes beats the quick fix. And the "HANSHAKE" understanding will do nothing but backfire in your face , I have had verbal permission to be on a neighboring property and somehow found myself replacing turf and other things in the past..

 

[Rudedog]

I have taken wood from three tree businesses in Montgomery County Md. None of them made me sign a waiver. I actually went to the job and picked it all up. One of the jobs I told the owner I'd pick it up 24 hrs. after he was done with the job. I was kinda surprised he trusted me to follow through. I certainly did not want to fail him. He was a great guy. I made sure I picked everything up and didn't leave a mess. I even left a message with his business that I finished the pick up. I want to make sure I get called again for something good.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I have taken wood from three tree businesses in Montgomery County Md. None of them made me sign a waiver. I actually went to the job and picked it all up. One of the jobs I told the owner I'd pick it up 24 hrs. after he was done with the job. I was kinda surprised he trusted me to follow through. I certainly did not want to fail him. He was a great guy. I made sure I picked everything up and didn't leave a mess. I even left a message with his business that I finished the pick up. I want to make sure I get called again for something good.

That's because us jugheads still have this antiquated concept known as honor. You are an exception these days, I have had so many wood scavengers let me down that if I leave a pile I will tell several people and say first come...

As for dumping, none of my clients do it for free anymore, it costs too much with labor/equipment costs. There is alwys a trip fee and invoice.

 

[Rudedog]

I have had so many wood scavengers let me down that if I leave a pile I will tell several people and say first come...

As for dumping, none of my clients do it for free anymore, it costs too much with labor/equipment costs. There is alwys a trip fee and invoice.

Can't say I blame ya.

 

[Blakesmaster]

I have had so many wood scavengers let me down that if I leave a pile I will tell several people and say first come...

That's why I won't deal with them at all. I don't want the last taste of my company in my customers mouth to be that of a toofless redneck with a beat up truck and trailer picking wood up after his day job.

 

[alanarbor]

That's why I won't deal with them at all. I don't want the last taste of my company in my customers mouth to be that of a toofless redneck with a beat up truck and trailer picking wood up after his day job.

I don't notify wood scavengers either for the same reason. What I do is suggest that the client can post it on Craig's list or Freecycle. That way it's out of my hands, and won't reflect on me.