I've been having a tough time when trying to buy wood at local lumber yards. Every time I visit, I get treated poorly, and I'm looking for advice on how to make this process less painful. I'm a guy with pink hair and a lot of piercings, and it seems like the staff don't want to help me. They make snide comments about my appearance and often act like I don't know what I'm talking about. For instance, when I asked about getting white oak in 5/4 S4S or something rough to mill down, they went on a long spiel about how wood isn't measured in inches like other materials, ignoring that I already knew that. This happens frequently, and it makes me dread going to these shops. Has anyone out there successfully navigated these kinds of situations? I'm also looking for alternative sources for lumber or whether I should just resort to online orders and pay for shipping, which wouldn't be ideal. Any tips would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Sometimes it's helpful to look serious when you're at the lumber yard. Clipping a tape measure to your belt might give off that 'I'm a serious buyer' vibe, which could change how they treat you. Just a thought!
One thing you might want to try is calling ahead and ordering your lumber to be ready for pick-up. That way, you can skip the interaction altogether and just grab what you need. It can save you a lot of stress!
I totally get where you’re coming from! I've dealt with unfriendly staff too, and I don't have an unusual appearance. I just learned not to worry about their attitudes and focused on finding what I needed. I also started ordering more online from places like Woodworkers Source, which has really good service.
Same here! I also found that being straightforward with what I need helped. Just get right to the point, and don’t take their mood personally!