Anyone else get stiffed on orders?

[longtime lurker]

Peter, what are you using in your yard there? By those pics it looks like you're binding sawdust/shavings into it to get like a "mud brick" effect. Or is that just loosely scattered on top to take up a bit of slop?

Reason I'm asking is because in this new place I'm starting from scratch with hardstand etc...given how it rains here I need it badly and soon... and I'd actually been wondering about mixing sawdust and perhaps cement powder into the soil to try and avoid using the hundreds of ton of rock we've used before. Rock is expensive and the way that big old log loader of ours compacts the ground it disappears into the ground forever. (The opposite of farming, where the soil grows rocks I guess)

Had a sanded yard once - that was a disaster because any log that got dropped/rolled out of a stack/came into ground contact got sawteeth breakers embedded in. We went back to the heavy ballast rocks like they use under railroad ties because at least when one of them is embedded into a log you can see it.

[WV Sawmiller]

LL,

   If you have to use gravel at least use the crushed/smaller stuff. We had big river rocks in the military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan and they were ankle breakers. Big round rocks supposedly for dust abatement and they were dangerous to walk on.

[longtime lurker]

The problem with the crushed smaller stuff is that if a logs come in contact with it it tends to embed, and particularly with logs that have been in the yard a while finer rock and sand will work its way into the cracks in the bark.
For that reason I prefer crushed rock thats had the fines screened out - say nothing smaller then 1", and mostly closer to 2". It rolls in eventually but as you say when it's loose its a mess of ankle breakers.

I'm just wondering about doing some kind of mud brick type thing where I spread sawdust (being circle millers its dust not sawflour) and maybe some cement as well over the yard, then plowing it in when wet and then putting a roller over it to compact it. Seems it could work... maybe. Sawdust is cheap *laffs* Fire might be a problem tho.

Best solution is asphalt but who can afford that?

[redprospector]

Well, I didn't get stiffed today, but I did get robbed.
I got to the mill knowing that I had about 7 gallons of gasoline plus what was in the mill. I got pretty upset when I found that a 5 gallon gas jug was missing. My wife came over and asked me if I had been trying to siphon gas out of an old truck. They had brought an old jug with no caps, or spouts, and an Oklahoma credit card (siphon hose). Their hose had a hole in it so it wouldn't work for them. They left their old jug and took my new full jug.
I put their jug and hose in plain sight where their tracks were (now I've gotta build a fence). I left a note on it saying that if they needed gas bad enough to steal it, to come see me and I'd help them out, and we would pray about their situation.
I can't stand thiefs as bad as someone who would stiff me.
Not only did it cost me 5 gallons of gas, it cost me an hour out of my day to go get a new $15 gas jug and put $11 of gas in it. I guess it's time to invest in cameras again.

[SwampDonkey]

There are a lot of "customers" that really don't know what they want before or after the order is made plus the ones that want it yesterday and visit 3 mills for the same order and might pick it up at one. Might not to. Not counting the ones without a dime to their name and offering to buy the whole operation.  ;D :D :D

[Peter Drouin]

Peter, what are you using in your yard there? By those pics it looks like you're binding sawdust/shavings into it to get like a "mud brick" effect. Or is that just loosely scattered on top to take up a bit of slop?

Wood chips, I get a full bucket in John drive around shaking the bucket. I put it on lightly not covering the ground. That keeps the dust down. Too much and rain will make chip mud. :D
In the Fall I drive around with the bucket down and pick it up. Now it's all ground up and full of dirt. I spread it where I need erosion control. In the winter I use it like sand. With the sun it will sink in the ice good to walk on.
I do sell the chips once a year to a big outfit, All summer customers come and buy it too.
All paid for before it goes away, except the big outfit, But they're buying 700 to 1000 yards at a time.  8) 8)



  

  

  

  

 
The sawdust I trade the farmers for cow pooo. ;D

[SlowJoeCrow]

Peter, what kind of base do you have under the chips?

[Peter Drouin]

Peter, what kind of base do you have under the chips?

Just the gravel that's there, Most of my land is gravel. When I scoop up some for a customer I'm 4" off the ground.

[4x4American]

Lucky you with the gravel, I gots thick nasty greasy chocolate bar sticky slippery gooey cantankerous make you wanna punch stuff clay.

[Brucer]

I tried using sawdust for dust control. It worked great in the dry summer. After it started raining in the fall I discovered that "chip mud" that Peter refers to.

Notice that Peter picks up the chips in the fall.

[redprospector]

Time to turn this learning experience into cash!


 
Off to the auction with it.

I finally got in touch with the would be customer. He said that he was sorry, but he couldn't get back across the border from Mexico.    I'm not sure I believe that one. :D

[SwampDonkey]

One thing going for you is that it looks dry and warm down there.  ;D

[paul case]

I think that must be a location excuse, as in your location dictates that one. I might not ever have that one used on me but it is a timely excuse.

Good luck at the auction. I hope it brings enough money.
PC

[redprospector]

One thing going for you is that it looks dry and warm down there.  ;D

It has been pretty dry I guess. It was 72 F on the way back yesterday.
But it was in the lower 30's when we got home. I know that's still pretty warm compared to where you are, but a 40 degree temperature swing is tough wherever you are. Supposed to rain in the basin, and snow in the mountains next week.

[redprospector]

I think that must be a location excuse, as in your location dictates that one. I might not ever have that one used on me but it is a timely excuse.

Good luck at the auction. I hope it brings enough money.
PC

Yeah, I agree. When you're looking for an excuse...any of them will do.  :D
We're hoping too. Went to visit a couple of friends with mills, they both showed me bundles that had ruined waiting on someone else. Ain't happening here.
I'm praying that it's a sellers market for this auction.

[alabama]

Why not put together a generic contract that has specifics? This will cut down all the stress . On custom orders you require payment in full or 60% deposit? Your not a bank and you aren't a self storage rental facility. For me if it's a reputable company I don't have a problem paying in full. Food for thought.

[redprospector]

Why not put together a generic contract that has specifics? This will cut down all the stress . On custom orders you require payment in full or 60% deposit? Your not a bank and you aren't a self storage rental facility. For me if it's a reputable company I don't have a problem paying in full. Food for thought.

I now charge a 50% deposit on all custom orders. So far I haven't had any complaints.

[moodnacreek]

It gets worse all the time. I cut 5 orders of 2x oak in September and in November I was sticking them after calling every one again. That's 5 more people on the no cut list. I learned the hard way not to take down payments because then you have to store it until they need it. It's best to own all the wood in your yard  until actually sold. If they want something odd they should pay up front [unless you know them]

[4x4American]

I got stiffed on a small siding order a few weeks ago, and of course I stayed late to saw it out for the guy...

[petefrom bearswamp]

I have 3 3x3x12 hemlock sticks that have been hanging around my mill site since August.
The guy calls every so often but hasnt showed up yet.
Have had other instances if getting stiffed but always (fortunately) for small orders.
bigger orders I get a substantial deposit.

[redprospector]

Time to turn this learning experience into cash!


 
Off to the auction with it.

I finally got in touch with the would be customer. He said that he was sorry, but he couldn't get back across the border from Mexico.    I'm not sure I believe that one. :D

Just an update.
While I was thinking about what to take to the next auction I remembered that I never posted my results.
My 2x8's brought more than I had agreed to sell them for in the first place.  ;D
I took a second load, mostly 1x's and one small bundle of 1x6 Pine brought $1.47 a bd ft. Everything else on average brought within .02 a bd ft of what I charge retail after the auctioneer took his cut (God is good!). I'm gathering up a bunch of side wood, basicly cleaning up around the mill, to take to an auction in early July (I hope it does as well as the first batch). The auction company has ordered quite a bit of lumber from me as well.
May be a new nitch market for me.  ;D

[longtime lurker]

Yanno... I firmly believe  that mostly things happen for a reason. Glad that one seems to have worked out for you.

Me, I'm way out on the dark side of the moon: we've picked up a major account and sales growth is through the roof, and by the time we get paid what's coming in isn't keeping up with the cost of getting the increased volume month on month out. got about $1000 left in the working account and I need to figure how to stretch it to cut $12k worth of orders this week before we get paid at the end of month. Crazy stuff but we're playing with the big boys now.

[4x4American]

Thats awesome Red P  8)


LL idk how it works over there but can you look into getting a line of credit?

[petefrom bearswamp]

The guy finally came for the 3x3s 2 weeks ago.
I also have a 2x16x8 plank that was mot picked up.
think I will make 2x4s out of it.

[Magicman]

Or a 32"X48" table. ;D  Four 2X4's ain't worth much.   :-\