Working for a loser. (Yes, venting.)

Nomad · October 18, 2013, 06:08:24 PM

Last month I did a job for a deadhead logger in Florida. He had to have 1000'bf cut right now as a sample for a big job. He's 85 miles away. Okay; I'd look at it. Wasn't busy that day so I went, looked at it, and said I'd be back the next day.
Next day I cut the lumber and got paid. He wanted more logs cut the next day and needed to move them, so I left 2 Logrite peaveys and my logging arch for him to do that. The equipment was behind a locked gate.
Went back the following day (friday) and after waiting for him for 1 1/2 hours; finally got him on the phone. He said his truck's transmission went out. No problem; we agreed on Monday.
Monday I showed up and waited an hour for him. Never showed. Made repeated phone calls; no answer. Called him for the next 2 days; he ignored my calls. Finally I went down there, opened the locked gate, and retrieved my mill and logging arch. Never heard back from him.
A couple weeks later I sent him a certified letter detailing his charges. Travel fees, "borrowed" equipment, time on the clock, etc. The letter was signed for, but no response.
Today I looked up some info on this yahoo.

29 traffic citations
20 court appearances
6 arrests
2 jail terms

I thought about small claims court, but after looking at this info I'm just gonna write it off. It really chaps my (edited by Admins), but doing anything else is just throwing good money after bad.
He's used other millers before me, and he'll be looking for more. Anybody wants more info about this clown, I'll be happy to give it in a PM. He's on the east coast of Florida.

Dave Shepard · October 18, 2013, 06:21:28 PM

Did you get your peaveys too? That really sucks. Who knows, you might get a call from him after he gets bailed out. :

Nomad · October 18, 2013, 06:39:52 PM

Nope. Had to replace the peaveys. He's probably the only deadheader in Florida using a couple of LogRite peaveys.

Dave Shepard · October 18, 2013, 06:43:13 PM

>:( Man, that really sucks.

sealark37 · October 18, 2013, 07:26:13 PM

You are very fortunate that you didn't lose your whole outfit. I'm glad that you came out of this so well. Regards, Clark

Sixacresand · October 18, 2013, 07:35:26 PM

I would hate to have to do background checks on new customers. Sorry you had this bad experience, Nomad

redbeard · October 18, 2013, 08:05:07 PM

Bummer! Hopefully the guy may come through, its good you put the word out on him for that area.

WDH · October 18, 2013, 08:10:12 PM

Another Skank.

dgdrls · October 18, 2013, 09:13:19 PM

Never lend or loan anything or amount your not prepared to lose.
Unfortunate but true,
Sorry for your bad experience

DGDrls

sawmillhand · October 19, 2013, 06:02:40 AM

That is why I never leave my rig over night anywhere. I go and saw that day and get paid at the end of the day so that way all accounts are settled start over fresh the next day

customsawyer · October 19, 2013, 06:16:38 AM

Bill sorry to hear of your loss. We all have had some of them kinds of customers.

JohnM · October 19, 2013, 08:55:28 AM

That stinks, Bill, sorry to hear it. I'm not looking forward to my first ~~deadhead~~ deadbeat customer, though I'm sure it will happen. :(

That said, I think the term

Quote from: nomad on October 18, 2013, 06:08:24 PM
It really chaps my (edited by Admins)...

is now my go to saying when I'm torqued off at something! ;) ;D

sigidi · October 19, 2013, 05:23:49 PM

MAN!!! you where lucky!!! having all your gear behind his locked fence?? It seems strange, but I 'trust' my customers all the time - never thought they would be the ones to do the dirty and flog gear...maybe a rethink in my future

clww · October 19, 2013, 05:29:56 PM

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

red oaks lumber · October 19, 2013, 05:39:48 PM

i think his brother and cousins live in my area

it sucks, don't let this consume you!

YellowHammer · October 19, 2013, 07:29:51 PM

Sorry for the bad experience, but he will be going to jail again soon anyway, so he will pay one way or another.
Don't let it get to you, there are too many good customers out there to worry about this loser.
YH

backwoods sawyer · October 19, 2013, 11:29:58 PM

I feal for your situation.
Thankfully i have had a real good ratio of good customer to the bad apples, However i have had someone go thru a closed gate and open up my truck and remove a new chainsaw and my parts took box and

Quote from: nomad on October 18, 2013, 06:08:24 PM
It really chaps my (edited by Admins)...

replaced the chainsaw next day but replacing everything in the parts and specialty tool box has taken quite a bit longer, I still reach for something in the tool box and nope it was in the old one, cost me two days down time not having a spare throtle cable, odered a bunch of spare parts that i had in the missing box that day.
I now have tighter security at home.

sigidi · October 20, 2013, 04:39:22 PM

Yeah, Backwoods, its the loss of the 'other' stuff you find the most annoying, same for me, had someone flog my trunk off site one day, had a whole bunch of 'little stuff' in it, lucas kit box, slabber kit box,cordless drill, spare mill belts, whole heap of spare parts I've learnt to carry over the years - I still think "I've got that in the trunk......DanGit, no I don't!!"

Nomad · October 21, 2013, 04:57:01 AM

Thanks for the kind words folks. I'm not discouraged about it, just angry.

kensfarm · October 22, 2013, 01:16:10 PM

Maybe you should have left a diff lock on that gate when you picked up your mill. :)

Nomad · October 22, 2013, 05:59:36 PM

Quote from: kensfarm on October 22, 2013, 01:16:10 PM
Maybe you should have left a diff lock on that gate when you picked up your mill.

:D :D Never occurred to me, but would've been a good idea!

isawlogs · October 22, 2013, 06:36:55 PM

Get a graded chain, long enough to wrap around the gate and post, a darn good oll gradded lock and do a road trip and lock um in. ;D
Two feet of snow pushed into a driveway after getting *pithed off sure makes a man feel a whole lot happier too.

Nomad · October 22, 2013, 08:42:44 PM

Quote from: isawlogs on October 22, 2013, 06:36:55 PM
Get a graded chain, long enough to wrap around the gate and post, a darn good oll gradded lock and do a road trip and lock um in. ;D
Two feet of snow pushed into a driveway after getting *pithed off sure makes a man feel a whole lot happier too.

Only two feet? I may live in Florida, but I grew up in your climate. Snow has a lot of redeeming qualities. ;D
And I never thought about it, but you're right. A big pile of snow in your unpleasant neighbor's driveway really does give a sense of satisfaction! ;D