Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 18, 1999 05:35pm | #1

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   Sean, I used to own a portable mill, in fact one of the first ones that Wood Mizer produced. A friend that had a homebuilt mill advised me to not get into the business as I would " Tear myself a new a--hole", I laughed, but did find out what he meant. Even with the improvements that have been made on the mills, milling custom lumber is a hard job. If someone is not willing to give you your price, find someone else that will or you will never make it. Don't be afraid of pissing someone off as it is better than being pissed upon.

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   sean_c | Apr 18, 1999 09:46pm | #2

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   We do have a money making bussiness, in fact we ordered a new mill last week. The thing is that milling Doug. Fir or any other white wood dosen't pay. We usually only cut 6x,8x product in white wood and sell the scraps as firewood. The cedar products are the only ones that make$money$. I talked to him today and he still wants it because it is mostly edge grain.

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   Rainie | Apr 18, 1999 11:08pm | #3

   *Even though I am in Canada and I do shop Home Depot for the best prices, most of the time, I was appalled at the price I had to pay 2 weeks ago for 2x4x8 which has now been sized down even more to about 1 3/8 x 3 3/8.....It was $3.20 plus our 15% tax.I would have gladly paid 20 cents less with no taxes.IMHORainie

3. 
   sean_c | Apr 19, 1999 02:43am | #4

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   I own a portable sawmill and do custom milling of timbers for builders in my area. One of my good customers wanted a cash deal on 2x product which I don't really cut, so I told him a price. He then responded," Thats only .20 cheaper than Homer Depot!" I told him thats nice, go get it there and pay the extra .20 and the extra 14% in taxes. Was that smart to do? I'm afraid I might of pissed him off. What would you guys say?

4. 
   Guest_ | Apr 19, 1999 02:43am | #5

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   sean - being in business you know full well it's never good to "piss off" anyone, least of all a customer.

   That being said, if he really was pissed because of the price I would say that's on him not you. As long as he asked for a price and you quoted it in a professional way.

   My mom told me something years ago that rings in my head on occasion -" you can please some of the people some of the time, and you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please some of the people some of the time."

   Absolutely love those Wood-Mizer mills and had to make the life decission this past year that at 44 and with one trip to the back surgeon behind me, to let go of that dream. I envy you - yb