I'm trying to find a good metaphor for firewood values

[Grace Tree]

I often get in situations where the customer thinks that by offering to let me take the wood from a removal they'll save money. They're usually surprised when I tell them it will increase the job bid. Then I have to go into the explanation and it ends up sounding like BS. I'd like to find a really good metaphor (I guess that the correct word) that in one sentence would describe the value of trunk wood on the ground to firewood split and stacked. Something like "that's like looking at a wheat field and seeing loaves of bread on the grocer's shelf". If you have a good "That's like.............. and............." expression, I'd love to hear it.
Phil

 

[tree MDS]

Not a metaphor but..

I just tell them we get so much wood, that we have to give it away a lot of times.. and say time is money! usually leads to talking about how there is not enough money in firewood to make it worth messing with it.

 

[Biker Dude]

Why not hook up with a local firewood seller and have him pay your customer a little bit for the wood and haul the wood away? As a firewood cutter I would love to be able to just show up somewhere, toss a couple of bucks at the homeowner and load up a load of wood. It would save me all the time/effort of dropping the tree and brushing it out.

 

[Gypo Logger]

You could simply tell the customer that you already have wood growing out of your ears.
Then tell them you could block, split and pile it for them for the going rate of a cord and they can either use it or flip to a neighbor.
It's important not to hurt the customers feelings by saying something like: "It's a long way from the gold in the ground to People's Credit Jewelers. Lol
If the wood is really big and gooney, you could just quarter it with a chainsaw, but you'll have a p/u load of curly fries.
John

 

[treemandan]

When then fog clears I will try to think of a funny metaphor but for the time being I am pretty much dry. I gotta say it looks like this could be a long a fun post.
But you have to admire a company that just takes IT ALL back to the yard and has an profitable outlet for it.
I do hate a " cut and leave", longer on the job, leaves a mess people will talk about dam it.

Now poplar?

There is a hundred bucks right there

All I gotta do is load it and haul it, if you bring a big truck or something you can have it for free.


But we really do need a solid metaphor to get the point across quickly to the HO about this wood deal. Well, I don't mind conversing with the HO about it and will go into depth honestly. The people who are looking to just get a job done and move on seem to understand, I mean there are a lot of variables here, I hoard the good stuff to split myself. Its the people who think you are making big bank of their trees and keep pushing that don't jibe. And we all know what do with them.
I have come right out and said to clients " I have no interest in these logs" or " I really like these logs" so they would get the idea. That's as close to a metaphor as I ever remember coming. What? Treeco? Can't think of one? I figured it was in your book.

Now I gotta go load them poplar logs, I gotta one guy with an equipment trailer who will come right to the site and take it all or I could run 2 loads for hundred. What should I do? Do YOU want it?

 

[DangerTree]

I ask the client how much they would charge me for them to clean it up. I then proceed to explain that I donate un-split rounds to folks in need "which I do" so there is only expense to me. I love it when people think there is value in a single or maybe two trees. I explain that after removal hauling and milling you could go to the hardware store and get it cheaper. Oh no my son is a forester he said blah blah blah.

 

[DangerTree]

Two hours to clean it up and an hour to get rid of it or a match which ones cheaper?

 

[lxt]

I dont even tolerate a home owner trying to pull the " you can sell it" crap!! I tell them if you want it gone & dont wanna pay me & my crew....you can load it in my truck & my crew & I will watch, you`ll save x amount of dollars!!

Had one guy take me up on that, funny...he thought he was a badazz.....hows those rounds of sugar maple feel? nice wagon wheel sized chunks at 6-8 inches thick!!!....he loaded 3....said he would pay double rather than load anymore!! lesson learned.

I always use the: so where you work the boss will do the hard stuff & dock your pay accordingly?????? Ohhhhh its the other way around, same with that pile of wood right there!!!!



LXT................

 

[lone wolf]

Tell them to load it all and then tell you how much it was worth!

 

[treeclimber101]

I often get in situations where the customer thinks that by offering to let me take the wood from a removal they'll save money. They're usually surprised when I tell them it will increase the job bid. Then I have to go into the explanation and it ends up sounding like BS. I'd like to find a really good metaphor (I guess that the correct word) that in one sentence would describe the value of trunk wood on the ground to firewood split and stacked. Something like "that's like looking at a wheat field and seeing loaves of bread on the grocer's shelf". If you have a good "That's like.............. and............." expression, I'd love to hear it.
Phil

I tell them large wood is like a case of "CRABS" really hard to get rid and easy to find , at least they'll laugh alittle ....

 

[TrillPhil]

LMAO! That's awesome.

I always explain the value of firewood isn't the wood but the time, labor, and storage to get it to the state of firewood.

It's like wine, grape juice is a dollar at the store, good wine is much more. Same ingredients.



These fools I worked with once actually wanted this big dumbass red oak and when the customer said they could leave the rounds they said they bid the job to be firewood for themselves for next year. So maybe it comes from hacks thinking it's valuable?

 

[Cutler tree]

LMAO! That's awesome.

I always explain the value of firewood isn't the wood but the time, labor, and storage to get it to the state of firewood.

It's like wine, grape juice is a dollar at the store, good wine is much more. Same ingredients.



that's it that's the quote

 

[TrillPhil]

I like tree climbers explanation more. Although one of ten customers (that you would want to be customers) wouldn't be offended by it.

 

[flushcut]

I always bid with the wood being removed and if they say can we do it cheaper? Okay the big wood stays. Or I tell them they can try and sell it on CL or post free wood, gone. It has been that most of my customers want the wood not the brush.

 

[ckliff]

My written bids have a clause which states, "Price includes cleanup. If customer keeps wood, bid may go UP or DOWN."

Some wood I like, some I don't.

 

[capecodtree]

cut for the wood

I have to deal with a company called "trees for free". They will cut down hardwood trees for free and take the wood, chipping and clean up is extra. they charge to take down soft woods. people get drawn in by the trees for free concept, even though it's not true. I always quote the job in total, includes wood removal, unless the client wants the wood, I will then leave it where it lay in 4' lengths. cutting to 16" is xtra. When potential clients ask about "trees for free" I tell them good luck, you usually get what you pay for.

 

[DangerTree]

I say I donate wood to needy families ( which I do ) but bucking, loading and hauling is your expense but I will give you a match for free!

 

[sgreanbeans]

If they want the wood, I will cut it and stack it, somewhere nice and clean, no discount for me not taking the wood, the amount of time to cut it, clean up all the saw dust from rips, and gas and oil, sometimes is more expensive than leaving it big and loading in the dump trailer. Big and gone or small and neat, their choice. same price.

Hear me on this, u have a big Oak, has tons of Iron (the blue spots) Sometimes, its like trying to cut re-bar, your trying to buck up a log and you run into this, takes forever to get thru. The time you took to cut this one piece, you could have loaded ten. Not to mention the amount of wear and tear on YOU and your saws to cut it all up VS. leaving it as big as you can and loading it with a machine.

 

[sgreanbeans]

and to all who dont know.
USE CRAIGSLIST!!!!!!
I call my wife at the office, she post "Free firewood" gives the address, they come in droves. On the post I make sure to tell them not to bug the HO, and if it is by the curb it is free for the taking, DO NOT ENTER WORK ZONE. They will obey if they want wood, and they WANT wood!I currently have about 5 guys that I call, tell them where I'm at, they will show, my guys get it to a safe area, and the wood takers load every bit. Save on my guys health, money for gas, and when the HO asks what's up, I tell them that I am donating this wood so these people can heat their homes. Its like free labor and gas!

I never leave the job, unless everything is gone, the one thing I never do is leave wood in a HO's yard for someone to come later "Ill get by after work, I PROMISE". Nope! If you dont get by while we are there, then you'll have to wait. I never leave wood on site for someone else, always bites me in the butt, as Ill have to come back later and get it.

 

[Treetom]

Usually...

I tell potential clients that it will save them some money if they keep the wood. This doesn't include cutting it to firewood length, which would take more labor than hauling the same wood. Cutting a 10 ft log at 20" diameter takes longer than picking up the same log with the grapple and setting it on the dump truck. And I rarely cut the trunk of a yard tree into rounds, that's where all the metal is: clothesline hooks, cable, nails, flagpole hardware. I take the trunk with me or they can cut it up themselves. Some clients think this is the best part of the tree and that I'm going to bring it to the sawmill and make valuable lumber out of it.