altercation at the lumber yard

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Here in Murfreesboro Tennessee, there is only one lumber yard that carries mahogany and oak, I've been buying from them in dribs and drabs for years. So I need some 4 quarter oak and I go. New rule the guy says- you must buy $100 minimum. Well ok, thats not so hard to do. So the kid takes the forklift over to the oak pile and starts tossing down oak planks. First damn one warped as hell and split down the middle. "can't use that one" I says. "Sorry, new rule- he says, "you gotta take them as they come". So I get the manager and explain- and he says "take it or leave it". Well of course I told him what to do with his lumber snd stomped off to the big box to buy their dressed oak at twice the price. Any you boatbuilders ever run into his sort of thing?
Oh yes, MC EWENS lumberyard, Laverne, Tn.

[StevenBauer]

I've never heard of such a thing. They'll be out of business in no time. Might be some good deals in their going out of business sale. :D

Any chance you could talk to the owners instead of the manager?

Steven

[John Teetsel]

Not yet, but I think it's not far off. Thankfully we've got several sources.

[Dan McCosh]

The places I deal with are just the opposite--I pick and choose. I do the best I can to keep the stacks straight, etc., however, and with one it's strictly do-it-yourself. There is a place here that wants a minimum, actually two I can think of. I haven't dealt with them for years. I run into similar problems looking for small quantities of metal.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Dale, there must be some of these Wood-Mizer guys in your area, and some of them, I'm betting, have some good-looking hardwood stickered, and will be far more agreeable to deal with.

www.woodmizer.com (http://www.woodmizer.com)

Here's who they list in Tennessee:

Tennessee

Goad Lumber Company
1000 Goad Ridge Lane
Pleasant Shade, TN
Phone: 615.699.3590

Goads Timberline
Custom portable lumber cutting.
1110 W. Main St.
Portland, TN 37148
Phone: 615.325.9861

Midtown Logging and Lumber Company (http://www.scottbanbury.com)
Custom sawing, urban wood recovery, furniture and cabinetry.
Memphis, TN
Email: sbanbury@midsouth.rr.com
Phone: 901.619.8567

***

Alan

[ 04-07-2005, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[ssor]

I went to the sawmill for one piece of 1x6-16 white oak, told them what it was for and we picked through about two dozen pieces before we were both satisfied. Cost me five bucks.

[Bruce Hooke]

It sounds like they are basically trying to switch to wholesale only without saying as much. One place I go to has two areas:

Inside, where you can pick through the stacks of S2S lumber as much as you want too, and

Outside, where there is a minimum purchase required and where I think it may be "off the top of the stack," but the prices are cheaper.

On the split piece you might have been able to argue that it did not meet the grade standard you were paying for, but that doesn't help when they hand down a string of boards that are too short or narrow for your purposes.

They clearly do not want business from people like you. What's unfortunate is that it sounds like they are the only place in town with what you need.

The Wood-Mizer people may be a good source for local woods (although it is not much fun picking through a stack of stickered lumber!), but they won't be much good for non-native stuff. Also, it does not look like any of them are in your area.

Is there anyone you can go to in Nashville?

[willmarsh3]

I might have mentioned this before but there's a magical place near Scottsboro, AL that will be happy to sell you just about any species that grows, in what ever quantities, shapes sizes you like. I've been there several times and like it. No silly rules except for don't bring long pieces into the showroom. Plus they are open on Saturdays. No need to go to Nashville.

Will.

[George Roberts]

There is a commercial yard here that used to let me pick through the piles of redwood and WRC for what I wanted. (I always took a few bad boards with the one good board I wanted.)

Too many builders wanting 500 boards started picking good boards. Not 500 suitable boards. 500 perfect boards.

The yard stopped stocking redwood and WRC. Too much hassle with all the picking.

[Ken Hutchins]

Oh ya had one of those experiences aboout 20 years ago, never went back to that place and they closed the doors about 10 years ago. The situation I had was a piece of rough oak that was 2 x 8 at one end and tapered to 2 x 6 at the other, those $##W$#@ wanted to charge me for 16 feet of 2 x 8, I told them I wasn't paying for something that wasn't there I told them in no uncertain terms what they could do with their 2 x 6. While I was walking out he yelled to me to put the plank back in the rack where I got it, yah right up yours and out I went.

[Mike Vogdes]

I have found its a good idea to be nice to the yard guys. After they get to know you they will bend over backwards for you. keep in mind they usually know where the good stuff is and if you have a good relationship with them they will take care of you if you are a good loyal customer.

I went to my favorite lumber yard recently for some doug fir and when we got to the shed where its kept there was a pile of boards strewn all over place from some ^$$^O)# looking for "just the right piece". I helped the yard guy clean it up and listened to his complaints about some of his thoughtless customers as we worked...

[seayou77]

I agree with you Mike, one bad apple can spoil the bunch. It is precious stuff, we each should respect our resources. An aside re; the big box despot, they sell 2x6 2x8 Kiln dried structural timbers that grow mold and mossy green, don't think that is eight percent mc.

[raycon]

Framing lumber comes in as high as 18% or there abouts and with the pitch set.
Yep Mike you explained the small lumber yard scenario well. Great fun can be had watching cranky old yankee sawyers dealing with someone that thinks the best boards on the bottom of a stickered pile. The $1 minimum goes to a stickered pile minimum quickly. Same business rules apply to wood 90% of the revenue comes from 10% of the customers.
The outdoor 4/4 WO pile sounds like a fencing stock pile,shed flooring,barn stall etc..irregardless it cost the company a customer and bad press.

[Wild Dingo]

Ive been to several mills in the southwest and the utter best is a small family run mill down at Binningup south of me here in West Aussie Ive been there several times now and intend to make myself so much of a regular that Jonno will hire me!! {Brunswick Junction is a mere 20klicks from Binninup through the back roads :D } first was for an auction bought some great timber and got to know the owner and his mob... as Ive said Ive been back since yarnin and buyin what I need several lengths of Jarrah 4x4s a couple of lengths of Marri and other sundries not much at a time couple of hundred $ worth I think it averages out to... but we got yarnin see and thats the big thing with these blokes I reckon they want to have a good ol chinwag with someone interested in their trade... so I yarn with them listen to them give em a hand now and again when theyre busy

Thing is now I know I can go there anytime and get the wood I want without fuss or probs "whatyeraftamate?" "ahhjustabitofJarrahIreckonJonno" "yeahgotsomegoodcurlyoverbythedoormategoaveagander" "noworries"
And I wander over wander through the stacks havein a gander take a peice out PUT IT BACK or put it to one side... then when done go back wait till hes free and have a yarn with him settle on a price and bobs yer uncle no sweat

Like me and everyone else Jonno is waitin to see what boat I will build!! He reckons I should start small with something like FAME :eek: I showed him several sets of plans but told him I was undecided "well mate when yer make up yer mind come see me timbers great stuff for boats and I got timber! Good Aussie timber and mate what I aint got I can get" :cool: He fell ass over tit for Fame and Ive given him a copy of the drawing of the sail plan hes now got that hangin up in his office! maybe one day we will both do it eh?!! ;) :cool:

[Stiletto]

It sounds like the time to do it is approaching Shane. Your Missus is right, time to get cracking! smile.gif