10/19/2005: "State Regulates Firewood Sellers"

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) wants the public to know they are responsible for enforcing regulations that ensure firewood sellers deliver the quantity and quality of wood they order.
Last year, Weights and Measures personnel received 45 complaints from consumers and more than half of those complaints came in the last four months of the year. Inspectors make an effort to have the wood seller make up the shortage. In chronic cases, the agency will work with the county prosecutor to bring criminal charges against offenders.

More information and tips on buying firewood below:

"Most people complain because they get less wood than they paid for, or because they are not satisfied with the quality of the wood," said Jerry Buendel, manager of the Weights and Measures Program. "And, many times they are right! Some people lose hundreds of dollars."

"The majority of wood sellers play by the rules but there are some who will take advantage of the unsuspecting," Buendel said. "You should handle this purchase with the same caution as you would any other business transaction."

WSDA worked with the Pierce County prosecutor earlier this year to bring theft charges against a wood seller operating in King and Pierce counties.

"After receiving numerous complaints against Shannon Mariotti, we are pleased that he was ordered to make restitution to customers," Buendel said.
For assistance on firewood complaints, call the state Department of Agriculture in Olympia at (360) 902-1857.

Tips for purchasing firewood

The legal measure for firewood in Washington is the cord or a fraction of a cord. Sellers often deceive buyers with terms such as "unit," "truckload," "face cord," "rick" or "pile." These terms have no legal definition and cannot, therefore, be used as a measure for the amount of firewood being sold.

A cord is 128 cubic feet. To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood neatly by placing the wood in a line or a row, with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other. Make sure the wood is compact and has as few gaps as possible. Finally, measure the stack. If the width times the height times the length equals 128 cubic feet, you have a cord of firewood.

If there is a problem, contact the seller before you burn any wood.
"While wood stacked in a crisscross or log cabin fashion is secure and will stand freely, it does not meet the legal definition," Buendel said.

"Most likely the stack will contain less wood than one that is stacked by the legal method. You should also know there are no legal definitions for terms such as 'seasoned,' 'dry' or 'cured'."

For best results, be present for the delivery and take time to inspect the firewood before it's unloaded. "If you're not satisfied refuse the load or negotiate a new price," Buendel adds. You should also ask for a receipt. Washington law requires wood sellers to provide a receipt that shows the name and address of both the buyer and the seller and the date delivered.

The invoice should also state the price, the number of cords delivered, the quantity upon which the price is based, and the type and quality of the wood. If the vendor refuses to give you a receipt at the time of delivery, it could be a signal that you are about to be ripped off.