How long would you wait until you got mad?

Once upon a time ago...I paid for a cue upfront...and got it, albeit about 2-3 months late...but I got it! With that being said...in today's economic climate, and thankfully, with the makers I have worked with in recent years, I have not needed a deposit at all.

One cue I waited almost a year and a half for...but I knew that is was gonna be a slow build upfront...maker was extremely forthright with this info, and it was worth the wait.

Another cue was completed about a month later than thought due to a nasty sinus infection, but that one too, was worth it.

I am currently awaiting another to be completed sometime in April. Had hoped for it prior to the SBE...but understand that some cues needed to be finished up for the show and delivery...plus I made a slight change in the order, which probably added a week or two to the anticipated completion date...I'm cool with that, because the maker is noted for being pretty much 'on time' or even ahead of schedule. Call it the SBE Time Warp...LoL! I would rather wait a little longer for it to be just right, than to have had it rushed.

On none of the above, did I have to provide one penny down...however, I was/am a repeat customer on two of them, and also provided blanks, which I had some $$$ into to start.

Some makers won't ask for a deposit because they have no problem selling anything that comes out of their shop...others may get stuck with a very proprietary cue, and that is where a deposit helps them to recoup some $$$ should the customer back out.

25%-50% (depending on the maker) is not uncommon for a deposit, ONCE THEY ARE READY TO START YOUR CUE. Paying for a cue in full, in advance, is a very scary proposition indeed.

Lisa
 
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Pay for materials up front, so they can get started quickly. Pay for the labour on delivery, or as you go.
 
I would have been upset at 3 months when it was suppossed to be done. I would have understood until he told me another 3 months, which means he really has not even started. When it hit 6 months with no cue, I would have asked for my money back.

Sometimes the trouble here, is that vendors don't have enough money to buy supplies, so they take your money to pay for the supplies for another cue, instead of your cue, then can't make yours until paid by someone else. A week, maybe even a month is tolerable, but this is no way to do "honest" buisness.
 
One of my other concerns is that unless the maker is using a pre-made blank from pre-seasoned woods..there is no way a well made cue is gonna come in at 3 months...unless he is working from a cue he had already started prior to the order being placed. Cues need to 'rest' after each and every turn on the lathe, and that takes time to do properly. Shafts can take even longer.

Lisa
 
If the cue maker in question is one who is notorious for this behavior like some on this forum or if he is one of those and you ordered a cue knowing what he has done in the past you really have no reason to be upset.

If the above is the case, it is simply mind over matter he doesn't mind and since he has your money you don't matter.


Sorry you are in this situation
 
DEPOSITS/PRE-PAY for CUES

i have NEVER had a problem when i didn't place a deposit or pre-pay for a cue


On the rare occasions (3) that i deviated from this policy the makers didn't come close to delivering as promised, one was 7 1/2 years late:)

No vested $$$ = No problems

the bla-bla about makers needing $$$ upfront because of whatever is an indicater of stability (or lack thereof) which can lead to surprises

adam<====not a fan of surprises
 
12310bch said:
Don't get angry with him. That would be like pissing off your heart surgeon just before the operation. Gee , you guys who can afford custom cues keep running into this scenario. You have over a thousands posts and you never saw this problem occur before?

I think cue makers all plant the tree that will supply the wood for custom cues just about the time they get first payment. Of course it takes awhile before it can be harvested. And then there is curing time etc,etc,.... :shrug:
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Well I didnt pay thousands of dollars for this cue, and I have never heard anything bad about this guy, so I went for it. Now I see I should have thought about it a bit more.

Joe
 
snipershot said:
Well I didnt pay thousands of dollars for this cue, and I have never heard anything bad about this guy, so I went for it. Now I see I should have thought about it a bit more.

Joe
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So, any chance that you are going to name the builder?

James
 
Bigjohn said:
still waitin on my wheat cue...:frown::frown:
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here if this makes you feel better, I can send you this in the mail!!!!:)

WheatBucks.jpg
 
I put one third down on a cue from a top name cuemaker, was told it would be three years. That was four and a half years ago. A phone conversation with him a year and a half ago said health issues were a problem and he could not give me a completion date. Since then, voicemail and email is unanswered. I don't want to be a problem to a man with health issues. I'm sure there are many others in my position with him, and I trust that if he doesn't die that I will get my cue eventually... unless I die first....
:p
 
Interesting post

I WAS READING PAST POST AND THOUGHT THIS THREAD WAS A GOOD ONE TO BUMP JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT.....HAVE A SAFE FUN FILLED SUMMER TO ALL:thumbup:
 
snipershot said:
Lets say you order a custom cue. The cumaker says it will take 3 months to make it. So you pay the full amount, and wait patiently. 3 months go by and he says he is behind and it will be another 3 months. Ok, so its disapointing, but tolerable. 3 months go by, and its still not done. Hmmmm....now its been 9 months and still no cue. I know im not getting ripped off here, I will get the cue. What pisses me off isnt waiting 3 times the original time quoted, its the fact that he quoted the time, without knowing it would be on time. I would have just assumed he didnt give me a date, or tell me 2 years so I wouldnt be expecting to play with my new cue three different freakin times! Sorry for the rant, and Im not gonna say who it is, because like I said, he is honset, just used poor judgement. I need another freakin beer.......



Joe
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Joe do you know how many of these threads are posted on this forum on an annual basis. I feel your pain but this doesn't serve a purpose and in the long run it solves nothing, if the truth be known I doubt you even feel better about the situation.

If I were you I would also not mention the individuals name openly on the forum, because that will also solve nothing and your cue will get done no sooner.

If some one did this to me I would contact the individual and ask for a full refund. If he is the good old boy you said he is, and he is honest he will without reservation send you a refund.

That will do more to easy your mind and to help him learn that taking money from customers in advance makes him more obligated to meet his deadlines. I build cues, I also understand that problems can occur during the process or that other situations in life can happen that will take priority over anything else. Keeping this in mind I never take payment or even a deposit in advance. This way I do not feel guilty when life or other things happen beyond my control, this is how I do business because things happen and when they do there is less stress and discontent for all concerned.

Hope things work, but think about what I said if you order another cue in the future. By not paying up front you will save a great deal of discontent, now this may limit some of the people who will build you a cue. But, if shit happens you won't feel so bad about it in the end!!


JIMO
 
Front Porch?

snipershot said:
Its hard to not think about it! I get home for a week here and there, and every time Im looking for that tube on the front porch! lol!


Joe
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Please tell us who you are dealing with thats not going to finally tell you your cue is done and I am shipping it today. He certainly should have had your cue done in some timely fashion. Only valid excuses are personal loss or sickness in his family. I don't make cues, but have trouble understanding how a cue can be turned, the butt that is, in such a short time. The shafts are somewhat made up in advance because they take many months to turn. Another big no no is paying in full. Did he say pay in full? Not a common practice. Purchasing a custom cue for some people is a big deal and should not turn into a nightmare. Maybe if the cue was a planejane the butt was already turned down? I just had one built and got pics of the entire process which keeps you excited and also proof that it is in the process of being made. Good luck, and I hope this is not your first custom cue. This type of customer service sheds a bad light on the whole cuemakers industry. My cuemaker said it would take 26 weeks and he was within one week of his estimate!!!
 
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