Thread: The Absolutely Last Chance Timber Auction I Kid You Not

saddens me greatly

Tell me about it. So far I've had zero inquiries from people who even want to come and have a look, so I'm guessing no one is interested.

This saddens me greatly. If it was some scungey old eucalyptus that's as common as air, fair enough, but Swamp Mahogany & Bollywood aren't exactly species you trip over when walking through the forest*.

* I mean that in a commercially available sense.

Originally Posted by Fekit

Tell me about it. So far I've had zero inquiries from people who even want to come and have a look, so I'm guessing no one is interested.

This saddens me greatly. If it was some scungey old eucalyptus that's as common as air, fair enough, but Swamp Mahogany & Bollywood aren't exactly species you trip over when walking through the forest*.

* I mean that in a commercially available sense.

Sadly, it's a sign of the times. People really don't have spare cash for non-essential spending except for the Christmas splurge and that will mostly be on credit.

True and I get that, however, for people to not see any investment value is what's got me.

Seriously, Swamp Mahogany for $1500/m³. Boards 450mm by 50mm x 5meters long, not to mention the dimensioned timber. If anyone is going to suggest that money cannot be made on that, then I'll tell them they're on drugs.

Location, location, location!

It's the buyers premium plus gst that kills these sales for me. Add to that freight cost and a slow resale market and one tends to look much closer to home and better auctioneer fees.
Sorry that the sale has not been what you expected but unfortunately these are not the easiest of times and require a good understanding of the prospective market and customer situation. In this case, wholesale timber market knowledge of who is out there and what they use. At up to 20% buyers premium you would be justified in expecting a pretty competent timber man doing the auctioning not just a clearing house. Direct invitation, pack tallys, freight options even door prizes or an after sale BBQ all help in hard times or any time for that matter.
Best of luck.

Well, people can come up with all the reasons they like even though I'm less than 2 hours north of Brisbane and 3.5 tonne car trailers are a thing.

Anyway, too late now. Auction is over.

Have you learnt anything from the exercise?

Originally Posted by rustynail

Have you learnt anything from the exercise?

Yeah, the vast majority of "woodworkers" are all talk and no make.

Originally Posted by rustynail

Have you learnt anything from the exercise?

Originally Posted by Fekit

Yeah, the vast majority of "woodworkers" are all talk and no make.

I wouldn't be so hasty to make judgement on both buyers and seller.

I watch the marketplace on FB and WWF's among others and have come to the conclusion that there are a number of factors that determine success with timber sales.

Generally, "woodies" are a tight bunch either by necessity or choice and are on the lookout for a bargain. They are also constrained by the "minister for finance", storage space, and the suburban environments most live in.

Overall, I think most are lured by the convenience factor so small parcels of well-presented dressed timber tends to sell. Larger parcels of timber that requires significant "user input" to arrange logistics, then store, process and to dispose of the inevitable waste, not to mention paying a buyer's premium and meeting deadlines imposed by an auction house is a significant deterrent to the hobbyist maker. Even a volume of 0.2 cum is an ask for most woodies.

On-line auctions of larger parcels of timber are a lottery, esp if the potential purchaser only has one or two images to base a decision on. So, they must factor in not only the typical processing loss but also that a significant number of boards may exhibit degrade and so affect the potential value of the parcel.

The market for larger parcels of "off the saw" timber is now quite limited due to the scarcity of solid timber cabinet / furniture makers.

The old conundrum - matching buyer and seller!

I sincerely hope that now the auction is past you may be contacted "off market" to the mutual benefit of both parties. Hopefully a couple of woodies will join in a group purchase to move some of it on for you.

How was I judgemental?

I sincerely hope that now the auction is past you may be contacted "off market" to the mutual benefit of both parties. Hopefully a couple of woodies will join in a group purchase to move some of it on for you.

I've been hoping for that to happen since I first started trying to sell it all, back in March.