Worst excuse ever.

[bensoelberg]

I just called a local cabinet shop to see if I could come by and take a look at their scrap. The guy said that all of their scrap is really small. I told him that I can use pieces that are 5/8 x 5/8 by 5 inches long. He paused for a really long time, to the point that I thought he'd hung up on me. Finally he said, "Well, it's hard to explain, but our insurance won't let us do stuff like that cause if any of our wood goes anywhere in the state of California, it's still our responsibility. So that's why we can't get rid of any of our scrap." I almost asked him how he handled the build up of scrap because he can't be burning it here in Bakersfield because of anti-burn laws, and his insurance must not allow him to throw it away because "it would still be his responsibility..." Sheesh. Why is it easier to make up really transparent lies instead of just saying no?

PS. My father owned and operated a cabinet shop for 14 years, both here and in Seattle. I called him right after the conversation and his reaction was, "Oh what a load of crap. That guy's making stuff up."

 

[Reece]

Did you offer to buy it?

If someone buys a cabinet, it wouldn't be the cabinetmakers responsibility once it leaves the store, so surely it would be the same for scrap. If you did and he still said that, then the guy is talking out his arse...

 

[Fred]

Move on to the next cabinet shop and let this man deal with his own shortcomings.

 

[bensoelberg]

I went to another shop a couple miles away and the guy there gave me a couple of scraps of zebrawood, enough for about 10 blanks. Funny that he had no problem with his insurance...

 

[Rmartin]

As a previous shop owner and businessman for 40 years, I have to speak up for the cabinetmaker.

Cold calling is possibly the worst way to try to do business with someone. Especially cold calling on the phone. Go by in person. Introduce yourself. Offer a pen. Offer to make a few pens for the client he is currently building cabinets for. If I got a call from someone I didn't know asking what I did with my scraps, I would blow you off too, I'm just saying.

 

[JerrySambrook]

I agree with Richard.

 

[monophoto]

cause if any of our wood goes anywhere in the state of California, it's still our responsibility. So that's why we can't get rid of any of our scrap.

Really?

Last August, I got into a conversation with a boutique soap dealer at a farmer's market in Mountain View who also made wooden soap dishes from various hardwoods. He told me that he got his raw material from the scrap bin at a hardwood dealer in Berkeley. I didn't catch the name of the place since I don't live in California and knowing it wouldn't do me any good.

I know California is 'different', and I won't rule out the possibility that the California legislature has enacted some stupid laws. But I know that I buy a lot of scrap wood from manufacturers of treenware in Vermont, and they welcome the opportunity to convert scrap into a little cash.

 

[Smitty37]

Trying to be polite

He probably was just trying to find an easy way to say "get bent" without making you angry. And since environmental laws seem to be the way of life in CA he just picked something.

 

[bensoelberg]

As a previous shop owner and businessman for 40 years, I have to speak up for the cabinetmaker.

Cold calling is possibly the worst way to try to do business with someone. Especially cold calling on the phone. Go by in person. Introduce yourself. Offer a pen. Offer to make a few pens for the client he is currently building cabinets for. If I got a call from someone I didn't know asking what I did with my scraps, I would blow you off too, I'm just saying.

Blowing me off would have been fine, I knew that calling might have that result, but I didn't expect such a silly excuse. I think that now that we live in such a PC world people have forgotten that it is OK to just say no. I'd rather be told no than fed some obvious line.

 

[maxwell_smart007]

Saying no is rather hard to do. It's easier to make people think that the government, or the insurance companies, or some other big, immutable force is preventing them from helping you...

Another possibility is that perhaps he had a big run-in with the insurance company, and is now afraid of doing anything to void said insurance.

Another possibility is that he's a pack-rat, like many of us are with wood, and doesn't want to give away any of his beautiful wood.

He wanted to say no, but didn't want to sound like a jerk...unfortunately, it appears that you got the other impression!

 

[cnirenberg]

I agree with Richard.

I'll have to side with Jerry and Richard. I've gone to a few cabinet shops, countertop shops and aluminum shops. I always bring a few samples and gifts. It's always worked for me. I figure its a win-win. I get a few pieces of material to turn, and they get a chance to clean up as well as a pen, stopper or whatever....

 

[IPD_Mr]

Another thing to look at is your call is tying up his phone line. This prevent his customers and potential customers from getting in through to him. That can cost him business and money. Next time stop in and give him a pen or scketch pencil and see if you get a better response. Richard has the correct approach on this. Also, if they appear very busy, then come back another time.

 

[nava1uni]

cause if any of our wood goes anywhere in the state of California, it's still our responsibility. So that's why we can't get rid of any of our scrap.

Really?

Last August, I got into a conversation with a boutique soap dealer at a farmer's market in Mountain View who also made wooden soap dishes from various hardwoods. He told me that he got his raw material from the scrap bin at a hardwood dealer in Berkeley. I didn't catch the name of the place since I don't live in California and knowing it wouldn't do me any good.

I know California is 'different', and I won't rule out the possibility that the California legislature has enacted some stupid laws. But I know that I buy a lot of scrap wood from manufacturers of treenware in Vermont, and they welcome the opportunity to convert scrap into a little cash.

He probably got it from MacBeath in Berkeley. They have a scrap bin and it often has lots of nice wood. You have to buy it, but the prices are very reasonable and they have quite a big assortment.