selling slabs - your advice

[opticsguy]

I use my TK 1220 for personal use, have no intention for selling wood.  However on occasion there are some boards good enough to get out on the market but i dont really want to deal much with the public such as craigslist.   

Sometimes i enjoy cutting a slab for no particular use, just because I can . . .

So, if I wanted to sell a few, how to advertise? Craigslist is probably easiest. What size slabs to people prefer? 

Also, I had about ten boards of 5/4 x 12" x 14 ft of QS maple.  Had thought about selling these as one bundle, keeping ALL the boards together. Is this a feasable way to sell? 

Again, not wanting to get into selling a lot of lumber, just an occasional slab or two. . . . . or three 

[drobertson]

Not sure if you guys have radio swap shows up there, but this is a good place to make an occasional add.
You could advertise them as mantels  or bench materials? Leave one edge live for a nice rustic look.  david

[shelbycharger400]

I use craigslist cause its free.
A general statement that goes with that is, they are fussy, they want what you cant buy at the box store. I have had people drive 70 miles one way just to buy a $10 board  :D  It is what it is. We as the sawmill operator are selling a product to essentially ourselfs or a customer. We can custom cut FULL dimension.  A hobby worker finishing out something and says for an example, I want a 1x10 , live edge .
Me : No problem, I say, I can cut for the most part plus or minus an 1/8 over 8 feet. A 1x10 live face will vary between 8-10 wide full run as a general statement. 
Usually you can get a 1x10 out of 12 in dia log with a few extra boards . These extra boards usually will sell to the same person working on a "project"

You can try to sell in lots, but craigslist buyers only want a few pieces.
That qtr sawn lot is best advertised as a table top sets or along that route.  Also "Book matched" sets are easier to sell in lots.

[WDH]

Place the ad and show some pics.  Someone might be looking to build a custom maple counter top.  You have to put your bait in the water.

[thecfarm]

Just never know what some people will need or buy. Wife is making pies for the holidays. pecans are really high. Someone wanted one,she said $15 they are coming today at 4 to pick it up. All the other pies she changes $10,which I feel is too low,but in our area and the customer we have,that is too high for them. Keep trying too at different times through the year.

[metalspinner]

Join a local woodworking club.  Your target audience will all be in the same place at the same time.  Donate a piece or two for their nightly raffle and bring some business cards.  Better yet, have your trailer waiting in the parking lot loaded down with special boards. ;)

[ohsoloco]

I've had some good luck with craigslist.  Had a guy drive a couple hours to buy some ash lumber.  I like those long distacnce customers better, because they usually stock up rather than a local just picking through the stack  ;) 

I listed some mulberry slabs last year and it was a pain selling one or two slabs here or there, half of the people not even bothering to show up or call to cancel.  Ended up finding a lumber company an hour away that bought all the mulberry on the spot (I delivered)