I ordered a full cord of hickory at the agreed price of $300.00 plus $50.00 for delivery on 2/13/2015. Skips trailer was 12X6X2 which equals 144 cubic feet so I thought I was safe. Turns out the wood was loose versus stacked in the trailer. I should have known that Friday the 13th was not a wise move to purchase firewood! After carefully stacking the wood in my woodshed it measured 8X3X3 feet which equals 72 cubic feet.
I contacted Skips repeatedly and have text messages from them that they would deliver another half cord of wood "for my trouble". The text message address is standardryder@yahoo.com and phone number is 804.247.7466. On 3/16/2015 two men who work for Skips brought a small pickup load of red oak (not hickory) and admitted it was not a full pickup load which usually equals half a cord. I took the delivery and contacted Skips and they said they were out of hickory and would discount my next purchase. After stacking the oak in a separate location it measured 3X3X3 which equals 27 cubic feet.
I contacted Skips and they said my measurements were flawed even though the two men on the second delivery agreed that my 8X3X3 stack of hickory was properly measured and accounted for. One guy said he wondered why Skips instructed them to deliver the red oak the second time because he was present the first time when the hickory was delivered. I do not burn green wood so all of the delivered wood is still untouched waiting for Skip to come measure which he said he would do jointly with the Virginia Department Of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, Division Of Consumer Protection who I plan on contacting today.
Skip's web site states "The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is responsible for the regulation of fuel wood sales. According to their standards, all bulk deliveries of firewood for home heating must be measured in cords, or fractions or multiples of a cord. Section 15.2 of VDACS Regulation 115-04-04 specifies that wood for use as fuel in bulk form "shall be advertised, offered for sale and sold only by measure, using the term 'cord' and fractional parts of a cord, or the cubic meter."Virginia law prohibits the use of terms such as "face cord," "rack," or "pile" when advertising, offering for sale, or selling wood for use as fuel. If the buyer visually inspects a truckload of wood and agrees to a selling price for that load, the term "truckload" may be used. A standard pick-up truck usually holds about two-thirds of a cord. The Regulation defines a cord as the amount of wood contained in a space of 128 cubic feet with the pieces ranked in rows touching and parallel to each other, stacked compactly. A standard cord measures 8 feet long by 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. The Regulation also requires presentation of a delivery ticket or sales invoice stating quantity and price upon delivery by the seller to the purchaser. Failure to comply with this Regulation is a Class "A" misdemeanor. The law also requires that the seller present a delivery ticket or sales invoice upon delivery of any non-packaged fireplace or stove wood. In addition to the seller's name and address, the ticket must contain the purchaser's name and address, the date of delivery, the quantity delivered, the quantity upon which the price is based (if it differs from the delivery quantity), and the total price of the amount delivered".
Skips evidently broke the law because they did not provide a delivery ticket or invoice and only delivered 99 cubic feet of wood of which 27 cubic feet was red oak versus the hickory we agreed to. Skips Firewood Service website states "Dedicated, Loyal, and Trustworthy". It also states "We Treat You with Respect". My experience proves they do not practice what they preach! I wish I had read the Yelp reviews prior to doing business with Skips because it is clear they are dishonest people! read more