It’s that time of year again – fall is in the air, winter is just around the corner, and what is more cozy and satisfying then a nice fire in your woodstove to keep you warm on those frosty cold nights? It is also the time of year that the Mariposa County Department of Weights & Measures starts getting consumer complaints about shortages on firewood deliveries.
When buying firewood from a dealer, you need to realize that there are rules and regulations that firewood dealers need to follow – but YOU also have to realize that it is Buyer Beware! The bottom line when purchasing firewood is that "people have to measure their wood." It is important for buyers to know exactly how much wood is in a cord. The cardinal rule of wood buying is “Measure first, pay later” when you are certain that you have received the amount of firewood that you ordered. A 50 percent shortage or more by a wood seller can make that firewood a costly purchase.
State law requires firewood to be sold by the cord, fraction of a cord, or by cubic feet; national standards require a cord to equal 128 cubic feet of compact, stacked wood. It is not legal to sell firewood by the truckload, face cord, rack, or pile. The cord (not the pickup load) is the only legal unit of measure for sales of firewood in California.
A cord is typically defined as 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet, but any stacking scenario can be used. To measure, the buyer should multiply the height, width, and length of the stack; the result should equal 128 cubic feet. Measurements taken in inches can be converted to cubic feet by dividing by 1728
To maximize your satisfaction and minimize your headaches, the Mariposa County Department of Weights & Measures offers these tips:
ü When ordering wood, make sure that it is sold by the cord or fraction of a cord.
ü When you buy firewood, make sure that you get a receipt, sales invoice, or delivery ticket that shows at least the name and address of the seller, the date purchased or delivered, the quantity purchased, and the price of the firewood purchased. If possible, get the seller's phone number and the vehicle make, model, and license plate number of the delivery vehicle. Any reputable wood seller should be willing to give you a sales receipt and is required by State law to give you this information in writing.
ü Look at and measure the wood when it is delivered or when you pick it up. Ask the seller to stack it so that you can confirm you received what you paid for. You may have to pay extra for this service.
ü State law states that a cord should be “ranked and well-stowed.” That means that you should stack the wood neatly in a line or row, with pieces touching and parallel to each other and stacked compactly, minimizing air spaces between pieces. Stacking wood in a crisscross fashion falsely inflates the volume.
ü The easiest way to know if you have the correct amount is to place wood in a pre-made, pre-measured rack designed and built to hold 128 cubic feet. That way you will quickly know if you have received accurate measure.
ü Most Important: Measure the wood before using any. If the cubic measurement indicates that you did not receive the correct volume, contact the seller immediately.
ü If you’re not satisfied about the amount of wood you received, don’t pay for it until you are, and preferably pay for the wood by check. Paying by check will provide further documentation if you need to file a complaint for a wood shortage.
ü Finally, if you believe that you have been shorted on the quantity that you ordered and paid for, call the seller first to correct the problem. Try to maintain the wood in the condition it was delivered, take a photograph of the stacked wood, and do not burn any of the wood.
ü If the seller can't, or won't, correct the problem, contact the Mariposa County Department of Weights & Measures at (209) 966-2075 before you burn any of the wood. Time is important in these investigations; you may not be the only customer to get burned by the wood seller.
Obtaining a bill of sale, having a canceled check, and measuring the wood when delivered can go a long way towards ensuring that you get what you paid for. Be an aware consumer: Measure first, pay when you’re satisfied, and hopefully the only thing getting burned this winter will be the wood in your fireplace!
Article by Cathi Boze, Mariposa County Sealer of Weights & Measures
