Cheap logs – what’s the catch?

A chap has just posted on the local Facebook group that he can do a dumpy bag of kiln-dried oak logs for £95. That is a blimmin’ good price, and my spidey-sense is suspicious, what’s the catch?

I assume it’ll be cash on delivery, so no bank scamming. I guess it might not be kiln-dried (I don’t really care, I have space to store/season it).I guess it might not (all) be oak (and tbh I don’t really care about that either, £95 for a dumpy bag of mixed logs is a good price anyway).

Hmm…

It might only be half filled, loads of bark and crap in the bottom, random bits of damp wood etc etc.

Or maybe it’s just the price he’s selling at.

But if 95 is a good price where you are, even for mixed, and you already have stock, buy it, sort it, stack it and use it last.

You don’t want kiln-dried anyway and mixed is better than all oak, as you can actually get it lit. leave the oak for over night.

I pay £65 for a dumpy bag of mixed seasoned logs delivered. Pay £10 for them to stack them.

I guess so. For reference, a 1 cu m bulk bag of mixed seasoned hardwood is £120 around here. Mostly ash and beech. So your £95 is good if it’s all dry. If not then not such a good price.

This probably IS A SCAM…… There have been people moaning about being fleeced on our local FB page this week – always kiln dried logs… or meat seems to be the other one.

Looks like it’s genuine enough to lure people in – but isn’t.

Sounds Similar to a Scam in our Facebook area,
photos of logs, tick
Positive post feedback tick,
taking money for logs tick,
logs being delivered
Follow up posts reporting scam and lack of delivery, tick.

Ask for cash on delivery and see what happens, or try image searching the photos

At least he is making an effort to lie. Round here I am seeing adverts for “kiln dried logs” and the photos show a big bag of what is obviously dismantled pallets.

Interesting that there’s been other FB scams recently, I looked at the user and he’d only joined the group today, and now his post has been taken down (although that’s probably cos you can only advertise business stuff on Mondays on the group).

I’ll pass, we’re pretty well logged-up anyway from another local fella.

Towzer has it these are popping up local pages with the same photos. If they DM or WhatsApp for info then ignore and move on.

bulk bags come in different sizes, most are less than 1 cubic metre

the actual volume of wood supplied is worth checking

@gobuchul – are you guys getting cheap logs up there due to Arwen tree damage?

bulk bags come in different sizes, most are less than 1 cubic metre

the actual volume of wood supplied is worth checking

@gobuchul – are you guys getting cheap logs up there due to Arwen tree damage?

The lad I deal with is a tree surgeon.

He got loads of stuff from Arwen. Apparently anything that fell on public land was fair game.

if you go up into the Cheviots, some of the tree plantation are still absolute wrecks. Don’t know how long it will take to clear?

Ask the seller if the logs are under 20% moisture, if yes then order some. Get a moisture meter. On  delivery in front of the seller pull a few logs out and test them.

Over 20% then tell seller to do one.

Ive done this a couple of times, it’s funny to see their faces when you get your tool out and say you’re going to test a few pieces.

£100 is good, but not scam-level – I just bought a 1 cubic metre bag from here (dumpy bags are, apparently, .65). The bag certainly looks bigger than normal but I am yet to test the moisture content as I only got them delivered yesterday.

The facebook scam around here that most seem to fall for is where the scammer account asks for a small deposit when the service is booked. The scammer account then disappears.

I bought a cheapo bag or two one year – logs arrived, but were pretty wet and needed seasoning in the store for 18 months!

I’m getting a tipper of 2cubic M dumped on the drive today… four hundred ruddy quid!

That’s Brighton and Hove for you though!

DrP

Ive done this a couple of times, it’s funny to see their faces when you get your tool out and say you’re going to test a few pieces.

Only been caught out once in ~20 years. Wood from the council of all things. They delivered while I was out, combination of old telegraph poles, chopped up and logs that I think they’d pulled out of the canal.

Rang the council (on the number I’d ordered through) and it was apparently a number of independent contractors coordinated through the council. So nothing doing. Had to wait for the invoice and then contest it, never even saw one…

For reference, a 1 cu m bulk bag of mixed seasoned

Are you sure it’s a 1m^3 bag?  As above, most are a lot smaller…

Are you sure it’s a 1m^3 bag?  As above, most are a lot smaller…

Yeah, it’s a big bag, bigger/taller than a builders bulk bag. It’s because the local log place used to do single, double or triple loads  of loose logs, but they have found that it’s quicker with the larger truck to drop bags instead of getting to exactly the right place to tip so they have removed loose loads from the website.

I still get a loose tipped load though. Easier to get a bigger load in once a year to supplement anything I have been seasoning myself,  and the tipped loads are still slightly bigger.

Logs are getting pricey in dumpys now since the new regs came in. I worked out that the £16 Birch bags from B&M are 1/7.5 of a normal log dumpy, but since they’re perfectly stacked in the bag, you’re getting way more per m3 than a loose load dumpy. So I just buy those now. I harvest most of my own but always keep a stock of fully dried stuff for when the weather turns and everything’s a bit damp.