BUYING FIREWOOD THIS WINTER??
DON'T GET BURNED!!
Here Are Some Important Tips To Help Protect Yourself:
Always specify dimensions when ordering wood - never rely on just a descriptive term such as a "cord", "face cord", "row", etc.
A Cord is 128 cubic feet, well-stacked. The pieces of wood in each row must be parallel to each other and stacked in a compact manner. Unfortunately, there are too many sellers who either do not know this or choose to ignore the law. Their "cord" can be as little as a third of a true cord!
When receiving your wood, always insure that you or someone you trust is there to witness and accept the delivery. There are some very important reasons for this precaution.
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You should always have the wood stacked prior to payment.
- This is the only way that you can be sure that the delivered wood measures up to your specified dimensions.
- There will usually be an extra fee for having the seller stack the wood - whether you pay the fee or have someone help you so that you stack it yourself, it is worth both the time and the expense.
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It is your legal right to receive a written receipt with the name and address of the seller, date of sale, quantity or dimensions of the wood sold, and the total price.
- Again, make sure that the dimensions are noted on the receipt, not just a descriptive term.
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If the wood is represented as seasoned, the length of time and the manner of seasoning should be specified by the seller.
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Wood may be sold by weight only on orders of more than two cords.
- This is not a recommended way to buy wood!
- It is much too difficult to comparison shop and to verify correct weight
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Remember, if the seller's vehicle is a pickup truck, take extra precautions!
- It is virutally impossible for a cord of wood to fit in a standard pickup truck unless it is stacked as described above.
By keeping in mind this simple outline from the time that you place your next order for wood up until the time that it is received and paid for, you should be able to avoid most of the common "misunderstandings" that arise in the buying and selling of wood for fuel.
If you have any questions, please call the Bureau of Weights and Measures of the Suffolk County Executive's Office of Consumer Affairs at (631) 853-5730.
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