Firewood Sales

Tips to keep in mind when purchasing firewood.

Firewood Sales

Tips to keep in mind when purchasing firewood.

How is wood advertised and sold?

Wood sold as “cordwood” must be four feet long.  Wood sold as “firewood” must be between eight inches and four feet long.  Wood sold as “kindling” must average eight inches long.

Cordwood or firewood can only be advertised and sold by the cubic foot or cubic meter (for example, “128 cubic feet of wood for $XX.00”).  Wood cannot by advertised or sold by the “cord.”

When buying wood:

When buying wood, avoid buying from a seller using terms such as “truckload,” “face cord,” or “pile” because these terms have no legally defined meaning.  Ask the seller for a price per cubic foot or cubic meter and get that offer in writing.

Always get a receipt which shows:

• the seller’s name and address;
• the price of the wood delivered;
• the amount of wood delivered in cubic feet or cubic meters;
• the variety or species of wood delivered, if you were promised a specific variety or species of wood; and
• the seller’s name and phone number.

Massachusetts law (Chapter 94, Section 299) requires cordwood or firewood sellers to issue a delivery ticket or sales invoice to the buyer at the time of delivery which contains the amount of wood delivered in cubic feet or cubic meters, the name and address of the buyer and seller, the delivery date, and the total price.

When the wood is delivered, ask the seller to stack it (you may have to pay extra for this service) or stack it yourself in a single stack and measure it before using any of the wood and as soon as possible after delivery.  Do not divide the wood into more than one stack or otherwise remove any of the wood from the stack.  If the cubic measurement indicates that you did not receive the correct volume, contact the seller before using or moving any of the wood.

 

What to do if you think you’ve been short-changed?

If the seller won’t correct the problem, contact the Division of Standards at [phone] or file a complaint directly at:

https://www.mass.gov/forms/dos-complaint-form.  

Be sure to document the possible shortage by taking pictures of the stacked wood that are date stamped with the date and time of the photograph, which should be no more than 72 hours after the delivery date and time listed on the delivery ticket or sales invoice.  

Be aware, Massachusetts law authorizes the Division to issue a civil citation to sellers of wood who the Division determines, in its sole estimation, have:

• Delivered less wood than the amount stated on the delivery ticket or sales invoice;
• Violated the rules governing how wood is advertised or sold; or
• Failed to provide a buyer with a satisfactory delivery ticket or sales invoice at the time of delivery.
• The Division does not have the authority to force a seller to compensate a buyer for a short sale.