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What to watch out for when buying wood

Buying firewood seems simple: find an offer, order, pay, stack it in the woodshed. However, it's precisely in this simplicity that problems often hide. The difference between a good and bad purchase can lie in the price, quantity, wood moisture, and even who you are actually sending money to. And in a time when wood is often sold through online marketplaces and social media, it pays to be doubly cautious.

The heating season doesn’t begin with the first cold evening, but ideally when it’s still warm outside and the wood has time to dry. Dry, properly stored fuel is the foundation of economical and safe heating. Wood should be protected from rain and stored in an area where air can circulate around it. When burning wood, the ideal moisture content is up to 20 %. Higher moisture content not only leads to greater fuel consumption and heat loss, but also to poorer combustion, clogging of the boiler, flue, and chimney, and increased wear and tear on the equipment. It is best to store wood in a covered, well-ventilated woodshed for at least two years.

First, clarify what you are actually buying.

When it comes to firewood, it's not enough to just ask about the price. It's essential to know what type of wood it is, the length of the logs, whether the wood is split, fresh, semi-dry, or dry, and in what unit of measurement it is sold. The unit of measurement is often where the problem lies.

A stere (or cubic meter) of solid wood represents a different volume than a cubic meter of stacked wood, and different again from a cubic meter of loose wood. Lesy ČR (Forests of the Czech Republic) explains that a stere of solid wood means the amount of wood without air gaps, a cubic meter of stacked wood consists of logs arranged into a 1 x 1 x 1 meter cube, and a cubic meter of loose wood is the same space filled with loosely stacked logs. The differences between these units are considerable.

That's why it's always good to ask: is the price per linear meter, stacked cubic meter, or loose cubic meter? If the seller answers vaguely, only talking about „meters“ and not wanting to clearly state the unit, that's the first warning sign.

Watch out for the wood that arrives, but the quantity doesn't match.

A scam doesn't have to look like you get nothing at all. A common scenario is more sophisticated: the seller actually arrives, unloads some of the wood, the buyer sees a pile of logs, pays, and only later discovers that the quantity doesn't match the agreement.

The police in Prostějovsko dealt with exactly this kind of case this year. According to the police, the men claimed to the customer that they had delivered 21 m³ of hardwood fuel and demanded 28,000 CZK. However, the buyer found that the delivered quantity corresponded to only about 5 m³ and called the police. The same group is said to have defrauded other customers, according to the police; in one case, after restacking, the buyer discovered that instead of the claimed nearly 47 m³, they had received only 14.5 stacked meters.

This is why it's worth agreeing on clear terms in advance: quantity, unit, price, delivery, method of handover, and documentation. Ideally, you should have the order confirmed in writing via email or text message at the very least. Upon delivery, obtain a delivery note or invoice and check that the quantity, unit, and type of wood on the document match.

Don't pay unknown sellers in advance

Paying in advance is the biggest risk with an unverified seller. For example, the police in 2026 highlighted a case from the Jindřichův Hradec region where a buyer lost 15,000 Czech Koruna. The seller convinced him to send a deposit, then claimed there was a mistake and demanded further payment. He neither delivered the wood nor returned the money.

Similarly, in the České Budějovice region, a man lost nearly 30,000 crowns after responding to an online advertisement for firewood. He arranged payment in advance with the seller via WhatsApp. After sending the money, the phone became unreachable.

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority generally recommends paying in advance only to a truly trustworthy merchant. Regarding bank transfers, it also warns that consumers should not send money to private individuals' accounts unless it is the account of the selling company.

If a seller pushes for a quick deposit, claims they have „one last load,“ that another buyer is arriving shortly, or that the wood won't be available without immediate payment, be alert. A reputable dealer can issue a receipt, clearly state their identification details, and won't pressure you into paying blindly.

Check who is selling the wood

The risk is significantly lower with an established sawmill, municipal forest, forest management office, or long-term local supplier than with an anonymous social media profile. For example, Lesy ČR offers firewood for personal consumption to the public under conditions valid for their forest management offices and plants; for self-harvesting, a contract is required, and for harvested firewood, a delivery note, receipt, or invoice is needed before removal.

When buying from an unknown online seller, check the company name, business identification number (IČO), registered office, phone number, email address, reviews, and the website or profile's history. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority recommends verifying the experiences of other customers, the operator's traceability, the terms and conditions, and whether the price is suspiciously low.

It's not just classified ads that carry risks. In July 2026, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) also flagged the website pelety-a-drevo.com among risky e-shops, pointing out the misuse of another company's contact details. This serves as a good reminder that a nice-looking website alone doesn't guarantee a safe purchase.

Don't be confused by the word „dry“

The word „dry“ in an advertisement does not yet mean that the wood is ready for the fireplace. Ask how long the wood has been drying, where it was stored, and whether the seller can document or at least measure its moisture content. For firewood, moisture content is one of the most important parameters. The more water in the fuel, the more energy is consumed during combustion just to evaporate it. The result is less heat, more smoke, more soot, and greater stress on the heating appliance and the flue.

If you buy fresh or semi-dry wood cheaper, that's not wrong in itself. You just have to plan ahead with it and let it dry further. It's wrong to buy wet wood as „dry,“ pay a higher price for it, and then wonder why the stove smokes, the glass blacks up, and the chimney gets clogged.

A practical aid is a moisture meter. It is ideally measured on a freshly split log surface, not just the surface, which can be dry while the wood inside is still damp.

What should be on the order or document

When purchasing wood, ensure you receive written confirmation of at least the following details: type of wood, log length, quantity, unit of measurement, price including delivery and VAT, information about moisture content or condition of the wood, delivery date, and payment method. The receipt is not an unnecessary formality. It is your basic support if the quantity, quality, or delivery does not match the agreement.

Without an invoice, delivery note, or proof of payment, it is difficult to resolve a dispute. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority states for out-of-court dispute resolution that the consumer must be able to credibly document their claim; for example, proof of contract conclusion and copies of correspondence are attached to the proposal.

"When you've been tricked, act quickly."

If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, keep all communication, phone numbers, account numbers, advertisements, screenshots, documents, vehicle license plate numbers, and photographs of the wood delivered. In case of suspected criminal activity, contact the police. If it is a dispute with a legitimate entrepreneur, first contact the seller with a complaint, and then you can use the Czech Trade Inspection Authority or out-of-court settlement of consumer disputes.

However, the best defense is prevention. Buy from traceable suppliers, don't give in to pressure for quick payment, verify units and quantities, and don't be tempted by a price that looks too good to be true.

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