Returning Materials

buildenterprise

If I bought a 2 x 10 x 14 and used it as a walking plank for two days, then returned it to the lumber yard does that make me a bad person?

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Ahren

No, not really, just as long as it's not damaged.

Every once in a while I recieve lumber that has been cut before or has nail holes in it. The guy at one of my yards was telling me that people were trying to buy lumber when it was on sale at Blowes and return it to their yard to get credit back on their accounts and cheat a buck or two out of them. These things would make you a bad person.

concretemasonry

Just look at it this way - Would you buy it in the condition it was returned?

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

buildenterprise

Now that I think about it, I wouldn't have been able to use it for anything other than a walking plank in the condition I bought it in.....but that's why I bought it in the first place.

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BuiltByMAC

You'd hassle with returning a single board? You'd probably spend more in gas than you'd get refunded (less restocking fees, if they apply). Just throw it in your shop until the next time you need a plank...

And yeah, if you "use" it, it's yours. If it's on the bottom of a stack, didn't see any weather and never got moved off the stickers, sure you can return it.

Mac

Patrick

I used to hardly return anything, cause it seemed like a waste, and I felt it was a hassle for my supplier as well. However, When I order stuff they have no problem sending me out stuff that was obviously returned, like rolls of coil with ripped boxes that are shaped like eggs, siding with dirt all over it etc etc. SO I finally said screw it, if they wanna play like that, they can take all my stuff back too. (the savings does add up at the end of the month, and my garage doesn't get filled up as fast)

RobertCDF

I either save it for next time, rip it down and build sawhorses, or throw it away.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

dkillianjr

I am the same way, I used to not return anything. It really does add up though I used to always not remember what I had and bought it new anyway so the stuff just sat and got mire buried. The only thing I will usually keep is wood or stuff that I know I will use very often. I know what you mean Patrick, I was at my supplier and picked up a roll of coil and four 6' aluminum railings. The coil box looked fine but the roll looked like someone dropped it 20 stories. And one of the rails must have been old stock I'm guessing before the company "made it cheaper" and didn't match the other 3 and had obviously been returned before judging by all the scratches and pencil line cut marks.


Dave

BuiltByMAC

I wouldn't accept materials if they were damaged...actually, thinking back on it, I've not had that problem. I've never received visibly used materials. I've gotten pt lumber where a few boards are pretty worthless but there's always a need for short cut boards. That's where the wane, split, bowed and twisted boards go. I have good relationships with the two main suppliers that deliver to my jobsites - bringing an occasional coffee for the yard guys, shooting the sh*t with them when I've got a minute or two - it goes a long way when they're pulling my orders. I also make their job easier when I'm in the yard - covering stacks when I'm done pulling, restacking lumber I've moved, not expecting them to jump to my aid the moment I drive into the yard, etc...
they take care of me when my orders come through.

I guess it would also depend on if you had a place to store overstock until its needed.

Mac

Ahren

You're lucky that you have a yard that still cares. All of my suppliers have gone down the tubes in the last couple years, no matter what you do. You try being nice, you talk to them, you pitch a bitch to your outside sales guy, the manager, and nothing changes.

And yeah, I'm already all stocked up with "extra" lumber of just about every species. I'm going to the yard anyway, so I might as well return the few extra boards when I'm done with the job. There's no restocking charge if I bring it back myself, and the little stuff does indeed add up.

Jake Stevens

I never buy from the big box stores, I use local yards and try to get to know the pickers and drivers. I don't get junk delivered to my jobs and I don't return junk. Used is used.

par3144

Honesty is the best policy! How's your conscience? If u can sleep at night, don't worry about it.

neolitic

So you're the one!
Bad enough that a lot of the time a 16 will come from the mill at 16-0¼.
I really get when it's 15-11, with half a crow's pecker on one end!

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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

BuiltByMAC

Gotta love them chainsaw cut ends! half a crow's pecker - funny sh*t, man! Haven't heard that one before -

Mac

Patrick

LOL Funny, Is maine any better? The company I was reffering to was Harvey. Egg shaped rolls of coil all the time. I swear, when i return them for damaged credit, they just put them back in stock. Panels that have dirt on em, so I said screw it, if your gonna give me that kinda stuff, you can take all my stuff back too. They brought me a webber grill and jackets today for xmass lol, Its the second webber grill they've given me this year!