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Did my tree company just screw me over?
- Thread starter lunlunqq
- Start date
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
Yeah probably less than a $100, likely a lot less.
n64coder
Member
That's a cool picture. I love watching heavy machinery like this at work.
My father-in-law had a bunch of trees cut down about 8-9 years ago and he saved the logs. Then he hired a guy with a portable sawmill to cut the wood into planks. It was a pretty neat operation. I think the wood was black cherry.
My father-in-law had a bunch of trees cut down about 8-9 years ago and he saved the logs. Then he hired a guy with a portable sawmill to cut the wood into planks. It was a pretty neat operation. I think the wood was black cherry.
Yup, the machine they used to drop the trees was super cool. Cut, grab, and lay the tree down in one go. Handled 70+ ft tall trees like a twigs.
Admiral Woofington
Member
you need to look at the contract.
Maybe they didn't want to specify that disposal of the material was part of their pricing, which is expected, but also reveal that they would attempt to sell the trees. It might be something standard every one of these companies do (I doubt you can just dispose of it in the woods by local government rules). And they might have not expected a customer would request information on it as it seems like for most it'd be out of their way and folks just want to get rid of the trees and be done with it.
Also a possibility is that the person you spoke with didn't know they would sell it when they spoke with you. It's not unheard of that one employee doesn't know every single process of the company. Later you found out that they do sell it from somebody else. So you could in theory try and bring it up, but if the contract is signed there isn't much you can do about it at this point is there? You could always bring it up in a review from the company as an aspect you weren't satisfied with.
Keep in mind that as someone who works in construction myself, (removal of trees is something we deal with) that some of the pricing of these companies takes into account positives such as selling the material back into their original pricing to be able to keep it low.
We've had issues where we find certain line items in a contractor's price to be incredibly high compared to the actual work, and others fairly low. Only to find out that they offset the pricing of one thing with another, or sell materials back to make a profit, etc...
Maybe they didn't want to specify that disposal of the material was part of their pricing, which is expected, but also reveal that they would attempt to sell the trees. It might be something standard every one of these companies do (I doubt you can just dispose of it in the woods by local government rules). And they might have not expected a customer would request information on it as it seems like for most it'd be out of their way and folks just want to get rid of the trees and be done with it.
Also a possibility is that the person you spoke with didn't know they would sell it when they spoke with you. It's not unheard of that one employee doesn't know every single process of the company. Later you found out that they do sell it from somebody else. So you could in theory try and bring it up, but if the contract is signed there isn't much you can do about it at this point is there? You could always bring it up in a review from the company as an aspect you weren't satisfied with.
Keep in mind that as someone who works in construction myself, (removal of trees is something we deal with) that some of the pricing of these companies takes into account positives such as selling the material back into their original pricing to be able to keep it low.
We've had issues where we find certain line items in a contractor's price to be incredibly high compared to the actual work, and others fairly low. Only to find out that they offset the pricing of one thing with another, or sell materials back to make a profit, etc...
KissDaRing
Banned
They quoted you with the intention of selling the wood for their own profit right from the start. This is what happens when you deal with the cheaper contractors and such for things. They look at the house and surroundings and are thinking about cashing in before you even agree to the contract. You get what you pay for I guess. Learn from this and move on.
Vicetrailia
Member
Are they charging to extra for "hauling the trees away"?
I don't think so. The quote they gave me does not contain much details other than the price for cut and remove trees in 3 different areas on the property. They did beat the next best offer by around $3,000. So I guess that's why.
n0razi
Member
Dang! are you the king of Canada or something?
On topic, I had a large oak tree at my house trimmed and was left with about 10 large diameter branches. Made a listing on craigslist/nextdoor for $10 ea picked-up and all were sold in 2 hours. Lots of woodworkers build stuff out of them (stuff you see for $200+ at fancy furniture stores)
On topic, I had a large oak tree at my house trimmed and was left with about 10 large diameter branches. Made a listing on craigslist/nextdoor for $10 ea picked-up and all were sold in 2 hours. Lots of woodworkers build stuff out of them (stuff you see for $200+ at fancy furniture stores)
Herr Schwarz
Banned
Is that upstate new york?
Cos dang some of the mansions in upstate new york are priiicey
Cos dang some of the mansions in upstate new york are priiicey
Tertullian
Member
Nice McMansion breh.
andthebeatgoeson
Junior Member
Feenix alt confirmed. Swv vs total?
Admiral Woofington
Member
sounds like regardless you ended up winning because chances are every other contractor putting in offers was going to sell the logs too.
Did you know dumpster hauling companies also sort and sell the junk? You basically did the equivalent of asking a dumpster hauler to sort and sell the junk and take the profit off your bill. Its not a an option thats available lol. The other companies likely would have done the same thing. Also, legally im not sure if theyd even be allowed to sell your wood on your behalf in order to make their own services cheaper, pretty sure taxes would have to reflect that and i doubt theyd do the special accounting and sell the wood for you for free in order to help you pay them less money
You didnt get screwed, they just didnt treat you like a family member of the owner of the company. If they had done that for you it would have been a HUGE favor and largely atypical
You didnt get screwed, they just didnt treat you like a family member of the owner of the company. If they had done that for you it would have been a HUGE favor and largely atypical
Lumber companies dont have to sell your wood for you and give you the money, especially if it wasnt part of the agreement. The real question is whether or not OP gave the company permission to take the wood from him when they cut it down
Shadowhaxor
Member
We decided to drop some tall trees around the house for safety and aesthetic reasons. We interviewed a few tree companies and went with the one that gave us the best quote. During the interview I specifically asked the company owner if we can offset some of the cost by selling the wood from the dropped trees (mostly 70 ft tall straight pine trees). He danced around my question and gave me the impression that nobody would want the wood (e.g., no wood mills nearby, pine is of low value, etc.).
Fast forward to today: most dropping has been done and they are cleaning up the site. I noticed they are cutting the trees into equal length log and ship them out on large trucks. I asked a guy and he confirmed that they are selling the logs.They actually did a good job with the trees; but I really don't like being lied to. Don't know if I would do something about this. Probably too much trouble and now worthy my time. But still really left a bad taste in my mouth.
BTW, anyone knows how much this much logs would sell for?
This is the pile they are working on now. There was some they already shipped out earlier and more in the back yard. Overall amount is probably twice as much as shown in the picture.
I can tell you that for someone who burns wood, after that is all seasoned, that's nearly 1k or a bit more. A cord around here goes for 200-250. They'll make some money off that. But you really can't burn pine, but there are other uses. I'd call them out, especially since they gave the impression they weren't going to sell it. Lower price or not.
Admiral Woofington
Member
it'd be warranted but at the same time it seems fairly petty considering they were the best offer OP had and every other contractor is almost guaranteed to try and sell the wood as well.
And they didnt say they would do it, so expecting it regardless and then leaving bad reviews for something they never said they would do is not a good look
Triggerhappytel
Member
Do you have a contract for the work and does it mention the removal of the trees anywhere in it? If not you could perhaps get legal advice on whether you'd have a case, but the amount you'd spend doing that vs. the amount you might have earned probably wouldn't be worth it. It would be he said/she said and would you would likely spend more than you potentially make back from selling the wood.
Charles Brandon
Member
Enough of this tree bollocks.
We demand a photo tour of your house!
We demand a photo tour of your house!
PeakPointMatrix
Member
But the real burning question here is; what do you do for a living to afford such a sweet house.
Earthbound64
Banned
Unless he signed an agreement stating otherwise.
So there was no contract? You may have a claim on the proceeds from the sale, given that you inquired about selling the wood, and they possibly misrepresented their ability to sell the wood.
Their business model may be premised upon selling the wood, which is how they undercut their competition, but they should state such in a contract. Frankly, I'm surprised that they wouldn't have a contract in which you acknowledge transfer of ownership of the trees once they are cut down.
I'd inquire locally as to the value of the wood or talk to a local plaintiffs attorney to see if they have any thoughts.
Abilidebob
Member
Sorry to hear that you're entangled in this mess, OP. You should call them to try and root out this situation from your life, what they did was pure treechery. If they keep lying to you do something to show that you're not one of those all bark and no bite people. I wood give more advice but I don't know much about American laws, so I'll just leaf with this post.
Earthbound64
Banned
Yeah, don't end up looking like a sap, or you'll be pining for years.
It's not so cut and dry as that. Especially if they misled him as to the value of the trees. That's called misrepresentation, and it's a tort.
NintendosBooger
Member
I was going to say something about cutting down all those trees but it's how I built Tarrey Town so who am I to judge.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I mean, you have a mansion in the middle of the forest.
Who cares if you could have gotten $500 selling those logs - how would you have even moved them?
Who cares if you could have gotten $500 selling those logs - how would you have even moved them?
Vicetrailia
Member
Yeah they're massively cheaper. Doubt they'll get 3g's out of that, maybe 1k. If there's no direct disposal fee then let em have it.
Plus they did a great job and it is worth the price.
KissDaRing
Banned
Peoples definition of a Mansion varies greatly on gaf it seems...
That looks like a mansion to me.
Yoshimitsu126
Member
They called in a semi just to carry all the chips away.
More picture of your estate please. It's really scenic and beautiful.
KissDaRing
Banned
It's a very lovely home. But it definitely isn't a mansion.
Well how big is your mansion?
KissDaRing
Banned
I don't have a mansion but my home is of comparable size. Just not on such a big lot.
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