Trouble selling walnut and cherry.

[Qweaver]

I'm getting several people wanting to buy walnut and cherry  but they bulk at paying $3 BdFt.  Am I asking too much?  I may just close my sawmill as a business.  Big investment---small return!

[dgdrls]

I think you can only work your $$ values against the local market and what you'll accept for the associated costs and labor
Do you have a local Hardwood seller to compare costs?
What are local logs selling at?

This is how I gauge Walnut,  I also sell short stock from less than straight logs which the cutting-board makers and artisans
like to purchase.

Did you sell the swing-mill?
Best
D

[WV Sawmiller]

Quint,

   I sell my cherry for $3/bf and walnut for $5. More for mantels, cookies, crotches and such. They do not sell fast but I'm not in a huge rush. How are you advertising? I had a 10' X 2" X 16"-17" walnut slab marked for $160 that had not sold so marked it up to $200 and put it in a local antique/consignment shop and guy called me a couple of days ago saying he was going to buy it and was interested in other items I might have. I sold a 3' long X 23" wide X 2" thick walnut crotch for $50 and 3- 2" X 23" diameter cookies at a flea market Sunday for $65. I've sold several rough sawed live edge cherry mantels about 3" X 12" X 8' for around $200 over the last year. A couple had some serious sweep so I squared off the back and left the front rounded for more character/unique feature.

   I don't think your prices are unreasonable. I think you just need to work on your advertising and marketing.

[Glenn1]

Is your wood kiln dried?

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Q, where do you advertise?

My lumber is air dried and sprayed for Powder Post Beetle.
My prime Walnut sells for $7.50 / bf air dried.
Cherry is $7.50 / bf air dried.
I have some Walnut I will take to the kiln. When it gets back home it will go for $9.50 and is already spoken for.

My Walnut table slabs are $200-$300 each and ARE NOT sold by the bf.

I've had customers drive over 2 hours to get Walnut slabs.

You may just need to reach more customers by Craigs List and all the Facebook selling pages.

[WDH]

In my area, your prices would be cheap.  The problem is not with you, it is with your customers.

[YellowHammer]

I'm getting several people wanting to buy walnut and cherry  but they bulk at paying $3 BdFt.  Am I asking too much?

You didn't mention what grade you are selling.  The last time I checked, the going rate in the Hardwood Market Report for FAS walnut is about $4.
How much do you have? ;D

If it's FAS grade or better, I'll  buy your good walnut for $3.00 no problem, green or kiln dried and sell it for $8 all day long.

[WDH]

I want half of it  :D. 

[petefrom bearswamp]

$5 for FAS cherry, dont have any walnut.
I dont move much hardwood some has been in my pole bldg for 6 7 years maybe more.