Question

[Peter Drouin]

I was in for a late fast lunch. Had a lot of customers in the morning. Getting ready to go out to the mill when I saw a big truck come in the yard. I knew he was coming. As I was going out I saw a car leaving with lumber on top.
I'm thinking someone stealing lumber. I did not see them come in. So I go out to see the guy with the truck and get him all set. 

I go to my office and find a paper and $$ on the bench.
They said They could not find me. [At that time I'm in my house.]
They never stopped at the house. 
So what they did was help themselves to the lumber and left .
They paid for the lumber. I have no idea who it was.
Q. How would you feel if someone did that at your mill?

[TreefarmerNN]

My first thought would have landed me in jail.  On thinking about it again, how did they know how much money to leave?  Or, how do you know how much lumber they took?

Personally, I wouldn't be very happy about it but would have to chalk it up to  an odd experience and be glad they paid something.

[WV Sawmiller]

  I would not be pleased but it would prompt me to post signage with contact numbers and details to prevent a recurrence.

   Do you have prices on your lumber so the guy might actually have paid the right amount of close to it?

[Peter Drouin]

The price sheet was on the desk.
I think there is a lack of respect on this one.

[YellowHammer]

I would be mega PO'd.  It would be a major overstep on their part.

Are you sure that's all they took?  Money, tools, peace of mind?  Did they pay you for the tax?  Are they saying they knew where the lumber was, how much it cost, gave you perfect change, and yet they could not figure out how to call on your cell phone?   

I have cameras with auto detect that beeps my cell phone whenever someone comes through my gate.  I know when people are on my property, my cameras are actively tracking them and I can shut my gate from anywhere in the world with a push of a button on my cell phone and trap them in, or keep them out.

[Andries]

"Trust is good, but control is better." 
YH is nail on the head - from my point of view.

[barbender]

 I wouldn't be happy with that situation at all!

[thecfarm]

Would you have done that?   

I would not do it!!!

[SawyerTed]

I agree with the others, I would be pretty mad.  Even if they were family, how would they know they aren't pulling from an order which would be a real headache.  

+1 on take measures to minimize the chances of a repeat performance.  

[customsawyer]

I have a few customers that need to pick up their orders after hours. We have communicated about it in advance though. If someone done what was done to you, I wouldn't be to happy.

[kkcomp]

PO'ed would only be a start for me. I agree with others on access control. 

[Peter Drouin]

I talked to the guy in the truck. He said it was a woman who took the lumber.
I still don't know who It was. I have insurance for the mill yard. What would happen if she got hurt?
When I open and it's not raining, I spread out most of the lifts of lumber out in the yard.
I have some who want to get lumber off a top lift. 12'+ up in the air. And start climeing I tell them let me get it on the ground first.

But to help yourself and I'm not there I think is over the top. All she had to do was to come to the house.
You have to drive by the house 20' away to get to the mill.

My truck was next to the house too.

If it was a man I know what to do. But a woman. If I get after her like I would a man I will make her cry I know it.

I do know she will never set foot here again.
In my 70 years on the earth, I never raised my voice or a hand to a woman.
Not sure how to handle this.

I need help with that. What would you do?

[barbender]

 I would just explain to her your rules etc. Looking at it from her perspective, i have been to bait shops and such around here where the place is open and no one is to be found. Wait around for 20 minutes, no one shows up so I leave the amount needed rounded up. Now it is well known that this guy has a habit of doing this, and they also have an after hours on your honor bait fridge😊

 I guess maybe knowing it is a gal changes it a bit for me, and she didn't mean any harm I think. I'd just explain that if you're open, you are there and that she needs to wait for you because the milliard is too dangerous a place to have people randomly digging out of stacks and such.

[barbender]

I have a people that I pre-arrange to pick up orders if I can't be here, too. As long as I'm aware of it.

[Andries]

What the heck is going on here?
You guys ever hear of Bonnie and Clyde?
There are plenty women in jail for robbery and embezzlement y'know.
This collective chivalry is charming but it's gonna make chumps out of you.
My sisters beat equality into my thick skull a long time ago and my wife and I have raised our two daughters that way too. 
What was the Clint Eastwood movie line? 
"If she wants to be a lumberjack, she better learn how to handle her end of the log."

[Resonator]

I've never had someone drive off like that, but I no longer stack lumber inventory along my highway frontage. More than once I arrived to find people digging through stacks when I wasn't there.
One time I was away from home working on a project for one of my customers, and had a guy show up unannounced wanting to buy lumber. He left a message on my phone complaining that I wasn't there (like I'm supposed to be there 24-7) .
Since then I've gone to appointment only for my business. And as much as possible focus on taking care of the good repeat customers I've been fortunate to have. Those who appreciate the work I do, and are happy to pay what I charge. And actually SHOW UP for their appointments, and don't cancel with no notice and "ghost" me.

[WV Sawmiller]

Peter,

   Maybe she has gotten so used to shopping at Lowes and such that she has learned not to expect anyone to be there and you have to load and carry your own lumber. 

   And so many of the stores are going to self-checkout that is a common practice. 

(I've told many people the day there is only self-checkout in a store is the day I walk off and leave a loaded buggy because I'm not going to do it. I figure if I do that, the next step is they will have me unloading trucks and stocking shelves for them.)

[GAB]

In reading this thread I guess I did something along the same lines.
I ordered some maple syrup from my cousins and made arrangements to pick it up on Sunday.  They told me they would not be there but mom would be.  As an FYI mom was wheelchair bound.  On sunday I decided to pick up more than I had originally requested.  I brought it up from the basement to make sure my aunt would see what I was taking.  Then I took their invoice, and using their pricing, calculated what I owed and wrote out a check for it.  Next day they went into the basement and one of the two brothers said we have syrup missing, but when they spoke to mom they were informed of who took it and given their money.
GAB

[Peter Drouin]

Ya Gab, But someone was there.
I'm easy doing. At times I have 5 to 8 customers loading trucks at the same time. Some days their a line waiting to get lumber. I ask them what they have I look but don't count it. I can tell by looking.
If they steal from me it might be 1 board. But I don't think so.
I have some good customers. If it's a big load or a new customer I will look a little better.
Never had someone yet or found one stealing.

Guess I'll think about this some more.

Thanks for your opinion guys, Keep them coming.

[230Dforme]

Good evening 

Life is too short to get all worked up about something like this. How much are we talking about here, 100, 200 $ ?
She left money, will probably stop back in and ask if all is OK, smile, all forgiven 
Around here I tell people, if I'm not at the shop, go in and get what you need
Guess that's just me
Happy in Lake George, NY

[YellowHammer]

You don't have her plate, and you don't know who it is.  As far as you can tell, she didn't rip you off. So in reality, there isn't much you can do, unless she comes back.  

Either way, she would not be welcome back at my place unless she was really good looking.

  

[Peter Drouin]

I'm not going to lose my mind over this ok. It just pisses me off. That some think they can come here and do what they want. 

No, I don't have cameras all over the place. Crime is low in NH. People have respect for each other around here for the most part. 

YH what goes around comes around.
 It will come out. And if she is really good-looking and not married. 
Well, I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

[230Dforme]

Starting to sound like she may not be in handcuffs, and wedding bells are a possibility 😳

[WV Sawmiller]

  Doesn't sound like she intended to do wrong but as I said in my first reply it would prompt me to post signs and instructions just as a future contingency.

  For those who are happy with the self-service or honor system and not worried about theft or an insurance claim the same advice would apply to them too - post clear signs with instructions about what to do if nobody is around and don't sweat it unless someone does not comply with your posted procedures.

[js2743]

if she paid for what she got i wouldnt let it bother me to bad. use it as a lesson to put in place ways to prevent it from happening again when youre not in the lumber yard. simple as having gates to close when youre not out there, put your number on the gate, you could even put your hours of operation, a sign closed for lunch be back at what ever time.  

[Digger Don]

Starting to sound like she may not be in handcuffs, and wedding bells are a possibility 😳

No hand cuffs but, Spandex, maybe?  Don

[doc henderson]

When I lived in Hays America, I was good friends with the big lumberyard family.  I was their pediatrician and had some big time with a premature infant.  I called and asked on a Sunday if I could go get something I needed.  Curt was my contact, and he said he was happy to meet me there and let me take what i needed and add it to my bill on Monday.  I was trusted, but who knows who might have seen that and called the police.  I was fine with-it.  I once took some cinder blocks from a farm store.  I had bought some for a project and needed a few more to finish.  I went back when they were open and paid.  

[Peter Drouin]

My mill yard is gated.  I'll just close it for now on when I have lunch.
Easy fix.

[WV Sawmiller]

When I lived in Hays America, I was good friends with the big lumberyard family.  I was their pediatrician and had some big time with a premature infant.  I called and asked on a Sunday if I could go get something I needed.  Curt was my contact, and he said he was happy to meet me there and let me take what i needed and add it to my bill on Monday.  I was trusted, but who knows who might have seen that and called the police.  I was fine with-it.  I once took some cinder blocks from a farm store.  I had bought some for a project and needed a few more to finish.  I went back when they were open and paid. 

Hays America? Isn't that where Marshall Dillon took all this prisoners to hang?

[doc henderson]

He was in Dodge City I think.  The town is actually Fort Hays, so it is possible.  I have not watched gun smoke in years.

[nativewolf]

Life's too short Peter.  If she comes back just explain that you'd prefer she wait til lunch hour is done and why.  She paid and I expect that she paid the right amount, why pay too little?  In fact, she may have overpaid, I don't know but it seems even more likely.  

She obviously wanted your wood.  Still looking for a date?

[Nebraska]

Didn't seem that unusual to me, there have been several places I remember in my life you just wrote your own ticket if need be with exactly what you picked up and caught up the next day or called and got a total to mail a check..different place different time.

[Peter Drouin]

She wanted my wood because I'm the only sawmill in town.
All the others are 50+ miles away.
I talked to other businesses in town, We all know each other.
All said it was not right.
She did pay .50 more. to the nearest dollar.

It's the respect thing, she has none.
I would not date someone like that.
You don't come to my place and do what you want.
In NH respect and your word go a long way here.

[230Dforme]

Did I hear someone say tone deaf ?
You don't demand respect, you earn it

[Peter Drouin]

That's true,  3000 people in this town, and most know me.
Over the years I have been on a lot of committees. 10 years on the fire department. Friends with the police and fire chiefs.
All the cops and firemen wave as they go by, and residents too.
Some days going to do a dump run my hand is tired waving back.
 
 

[Peter Drouin]

I'm law enforcement-friendly here. A lot of cops from other towns come here.
True story, I stopped to see the police chief to say Hi.
I'm in his office with him. 
he says look at the cool new pistol I got and hands it to me. 
Then he gets called out to the front desk.
Here I am sitting in his office with his new gun in my hand all alone.
Respect goes two ways you know.
I think I earned it.

[Rhodemont]

Several years ago I had stacked a load of oak timber logs next to the road for the sawmill to come pick up. The mill could not pick up Monday as planned. Came home from work and could see someone had used a chainsaw and bucked three prime logs to firewood length and hauled them away.  Mariann did hear the saw but figured it was from across the road not thinking to check.  That took some balls right out on the road.  Never did figure out who did it.

[dgdrls]

Q. How would you feel if someone did that at your mill? 

reply #27 , and post a contact number at the gate.

D