Where's my cue?

custom

Wait a minute! If you are going to make a post like this, be prepared to name the maker. Since the maker has not been made, I must assume that the poster is sitting at home with a warm beer in one hand and something other than his cell phone in the other hand.
If true, name the bastard and save others some grief. If not, go back to your blow up doll.
 
Something that needs to be remembered is whether or not this cuemaker does it for a living, or if it's a hobby.

Not that there's a problem either way, but the priorities are completely different. If he's a hobbyist, then there are many things in life that can be more important to him than building cues. Even though it is for money, it's not what keeps a roof over his head or food on his table.

If you are dealing with someone who makes his living building cues, then there are things you can depend on.

I think it's crazy when I hear something like "that's a hell of a way to run a business!", when it's not a business. Or at least not the one that supports the guy.

I hope you hear from him soon. If he's a hobbyist, hang in there and you may get your cue yet. If it's his profession, then you should think about contacting him via legal means asking him for a solution.

Just my thoughts as a guy who does do it for a living.
 
Cuemaker Time has no fixed correlation to civil time standards. Casemaker time is a subset of cuemaker time. Both crafts live outside the boundaries of common time and only briefly enter to quote someone a delivery date which is quickly forgotten once the cuemaker/casemaker goes back into their world. Some case makers are struggling to gain a firmer anchor in civil time so as to make for happy customers who aren't frustrated with anticipation.

The smaller the shop the harder it is to stay on top of orders. One thing that I feel that small craftsmen who make their hobbies into businesses do not really plan for is the time it takes to actually run the business side of things.

Once one makes the decision to take orders then that means one needs to buy stock to be able to fill those orders. One needs to spend time choosing stock, finding money for the stock....processing the stock.....then of course a new machine will make things go faster but then it takes time to master the new machine.....meanwhile the old machine breaks and needs to be fixed......and then comes the actual taking of orders which can be a process of dozens of hours spent with a customer figuring out what they want....and you don't ever want to say no because you're "the guy" right? You are the MAKER the man who can get it done. So you take on a little more than you can chew, offer to do things that maybe are a little above your current skill level, but how are you going to get that skill unless someone gives you an order and a reason to do it right? After all this is a business now. And with a business you can't indulge yourself learning new skills as you would if it were a hobby because orders are piled up and the bill for Rosewood is due.

Listen Honey I can't go to your Mom's anniversary this weekend because I have to get cues done.........you guys go to the beach without me, have a good time......damn this appendicitis now I can't make cues for two weeks......the plight of the part-time cue maker, the plight of the single man operation.

Cuemaker time. Know all about it from the inside unfortunately.
 
Jodacus said:
I don't want to put him out to the public. It is too difficult to make a living at this job as is. I suspect he got very busy with local customers and keeps putting mine on the back burner. From your comments you sound as if you may have an idea as to who this is. Am I correct?
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Opps, sorry about the troll comment. Generaly when a persons first post is about a touchy subject, like not getting a cue you paid for. It's a troll that was banned and came back with a new identity. Trying to stir up trouble.

Sounds like you are just the opposite, a nice guy! Maybe too nice. 8 years seems like a long time to wait on a cue. If you you haven't been bugging him. Now is the time to start.

No one here knows who you are talking about. It's that just about once a month someone here goes missing with other peoples cash in thier pocket.

Good luck with you cue!!!

Larry
 
How would the accounting work on that???

jrt30004 said:
the actual time to make a basic cue? not more than 6 months. if it takes longer than that there's something wrong. i say this because i got my dick neighbors in less than that and i'll put it up against anything else. it's a four point, four veneer with inlays and deco rings made of birdseye and ebony. nothing complicated.
now a pile up of orders creating a backlog or exotic materials and a complicated design is a different story. but 8 years, c'mon. southwest and searing maybe can be out that far based on number of orders but not many others. and if they are - imo - they should consider saying no to new orders, and definately not take deposits. becasue i am not giving any one a penny who talks in terms of years. you have no way of knowing what can happen that far away, and to many guys flake. you see it on here all the time.
edited to add: i just noticed you were in ohio. ask dickie or sherm and i'm sure they tell you it shouldn't take years and years to do it.
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how the hell do you record an adjustment transaction on a deposit filed 8 years ago????

Jaden

p.s. obviously I know the answer you don't, that money was spent and your books are mostly made up for tax purposes anyways....
 
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JB Cases said:
Cuemaker Time has no fixed correlation to civil time standards. Casemaker time is a subset of cuemaker time. Both crafts live outside the boundaries of common time and only briefly enter to quote someone a delivery date which is quickly forgotten once the cuemaker/casemaker goes back into their world. Some case makers are struggling to gain a firmer anchor in civil time so as to make for happy customers who aren't frustrated with anticipation.

The smaller the shop the harder it is to stay on top of orders. One thing that I feel that small craftsmen who make their hobbies into businesses do not really plan for is the time it takes to actually run the business side of things.

Once one makes the decision to take orders then that means one needs to buy stock to be able to fill those orders. One needs to spend time choosing stock, finding money for the stock....processing the stock.....then of course a new machine will make things go faster but then it takes time to master the new machine.....meanwhile the old machine breaks and needs to be fixed......and then comes the actual taking of orders which can be a process of dozens of hours spent with a customer figuring out what they want....and you don't ever want to say no because you're "the guy" right? You are the MAKER the man who can get it done. So you take on a little more than you can chew, offer to do things that maybe are a little above your current skill level, but how are you going to get that skill unless someone gives you an order and a reason to do it right? After all this is a business now. And with a business you can't indulge yourself learning new skills as you would if it were a hobby because orders are piled up and the bill for Rosewood is due.

Listen Honey I can't go to your Mom's anniversary this weekend because I have to get cues done.........you guys go to the beach without me, have a good time......damn this appendicitis now I can't make cues for two weeks......the plight of the part-time cue maker, the plight of the single man operation.

Cuemaker time. Know all about it from the inside unfortunately.
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God this is one of the best post of the year....:thumbup::embarrassed2:
 
If the cue maker(or anyone) has your money and does not communicate assume you are screwed. ME?...I would not hesitate to report the person for mail fraud.
my .2.....No cue is worth waiting 8 years for.

A craftsman knows his turn around time. If the buyer did not get a ball park time frame.....shame on him. If the cue maker tells you it's his hobby and might take forever and you deal with them...shame on you. How about getting all and any work orders in writing so there are no misunderstandings.

I just had a cue refinished . The company states about 10-14 days for turn around...not "when we get to it".
 
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The cue builders I have dealt with are always on time. They are established businessman that understand the concept of delivering a product on time and at the quoted price. I've never had an issue with cue builders because I do business with folks that have many years of experience. Most of all the issues I have seen commented on here at AZ seem to be the "new" cue builders. They seem to think it's SOP to take a deposit and then do whatever they like, when I read these posts I just chuckle and wonder what the hell??? It will be interesting to follow this and see if it's true and if the cue builder gets named.. Get the popcorn!
 
GoldCrown said:
If the cue maker(or anyone) has your money and does not communicate assume you are screwed. ME?...I would not hesitate to report the person for mail fraud.
my .2.....No cue is worth waiting 8 years for.

edit... a craftsman knows his turn around time. If the buyer did not get a ball park time frame.....shame on him. If the cue maker tells you it's his hobby and might take forever and you deal with them...shame on you. How about getting all and any work orders in writing so there are no misunderstandings.

I just had a cue refinished . The company states about 10-14 days for turn around...not "when we get to it".
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And if it was Scot Sherbine at Proficient, that quoted time is golden.

Lisa
 
Jaden said:
how the hell do you record an adjustment transaction on a deposit filed 8 years ago????

Jaden

p.s. obviously I know the answer you don't, that money was spent and your books are mostly made up for tax purposes anyways....
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i am not quite sure why you are putting me on blast. i am well aware of how books are cooked - i was in the restaraunt business for a decade. and yes obviously a deposit that long in the past has been spent. all things that fit in to why i wouldn't give someone the deposit. and i am not sure why it's a problem to record the transaction - use a computer, there is a ton of software to help you record the customer info, the original contact date, order specifics, and deposit and balance left, including any other payments the customer may make along the way.
in my business now i buy fabric. depending on the color, mills ask us to order set amounts at the end of the year for the coming year. we have to pay a portion up front. i have never had a problem recording how much we have recieved, left on order and owe. and i am sure the mills i buy from know how much we have left to buy and how much we still have to pay.
so i am not sure what you know that i don't, or why you seem to be so angry about it.
 
Dude don't get your panties in a bunch...

jrt30004 said:
i am not quite sure why you are putting me on blast. i am well aware of how books are cooked - i was in the restaraunt business for a decade. and yes obviously a deposit that long in the past has been spent. all things that fit in to why i wouldn't give someone the deposit. and i am not sure why it's a problem to record the transaction - use a computer, there is a ton of software to help you record the customer info, the original contact date, order specifics, and deposit and balance left, including any other payments the customer may make along the way.
in my business now i buy fabric. depending on the color, mills ask us to order set amounts at the end of the year for the coming year. we have to pay a portion up front. i have never had a problem recording how much we have recieved, left on order and owe. and i am sure the mills i buy from know how much we have left to buy and how much we still have to pay.
so i am not sure what you know that i don't, or why you seem to be so angry about it.
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I wasn't directing anything at you, just making a joke in general...I understand accounting humor can be dry but geez...

Jaden
 
brokenarrowjbe said:
You are a patient man. I have had some bad life events pile up and had to ask the cuemaker to let take a little longer to pay for a cue, but unless it is southwest, 8 years sounds like a long time. Just saying, it may be time to right it off. BHQ makes a nice cue, so does steve klapp. Good luck, John
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ty john
if you dont hear from me for 8 years,
it means i'm dead

but i hope you dont wait 8 years to ask about progress on your cue
;):thumbup:
 
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ridewiththewind said:
And if it was Scot Sherbine at Proficient,
Lisa
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Certainly was. He came highly recommended. His time frame is very reasonable and in writing. 1-2 weeks does not turn into 4-6 or 6-8 etc.
I sent it last week...it was shipped back today and I'll receive it Thurs or Fri and will follow up. If I needed a custom cue I would not hesitate to deal with him. This is my first experience with Scot. He seems to Do Things Right.
I have customs from other cue makers.....they gave a time frame and were accurate. I have a JJ case. His word on delivery was right on.
Service cannot be separated from Quality.
They belong in the same sentence.
 
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pwd72s said:
Kiss your money goodby is my feeling. Hope you have a nice cue to play with.
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what he said. times have gotten so hard they've made everyone even harder. your options are small claims court or let the issue go. or have someone pay him a visit
 
RBC said:
Something that needs to be remembered is whether or not this cuemaker does it for a living, or if it's a hobby.

Not that there's a problem either way, but the priorities are completely different. If he's a hobbyist, then there are many things in life that can be more important to him than building cues. Even though it is for money, it's not what keeps a roof over his head or food on his table.

If you are dealing with someone who makes his living building cues, then there are things you can depend on.

I think it's crazy when I hear something like "that's a hell of a way to run a business!", when it's not a business. Or at least not the one that supports the guy.

I hope you hear from him soon. If he's a hobbyist, hang in there and you may get your cue yet. If it's his profession, then you should think about contacting him via legal means asking him for a solution.

Just my thoughts as a guy who does do it for a living.
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Even if they are just doing it as a hobby that's WAYYY too long. I know a local guy to Fort Collins, Co. who builds cues as a hobby and for an extravagent cue he only says 1 1/2 to 2 years to finish and he says he usually gives himself a few month gap for unknown variables. The only way 8 years is even close to acceptable is if its someone like Southwest which everybody has known for a very long time if you want a brand new one from them you have to wait several years. I think the cue builder should be outed to save anybody else any grief.
 
i dont even know how to solve this problem...but i wish you look...i can promise you this by pissing him off doesnt work...i know from the past... the only way for you to get your cue is for the maker to finish it... and that will happen only when he is ready...it sucks but that is they way it is.. gl and i hope it works out...
 
For the Poster- Find his Yard, Business- view!! Vent some.

I'll agree first with the guy who said BUY whats COMPLETED. sELL IT or Collect it. There's knowthing like custom making with 500 known cuemakers. some better than others. Life's a bunch of chances if you let it go( 8 FRICKEN Yrs). I have pondered the footsteps to cue makers doors!! I have called left messages. Nobody deserves the mistakes from life. There's illness and death. Baseball chances I call them strike 1, strike 2 strike 3 your out. Fly to the door ask for the cue or cash- if your in the texas area I have ( address, if in the Missouri area ,another address. . mark
 
master_cueist said:
Even if they are just doing it as a hobby that's WAYYY too long. I know a local guy to Fort Collins, Co. who builds cues as a hobby and for an extravagent cue he only says 1 1/2 to 2 years to finish and he says he usually gives himself a few month gap for unknown variables. The only way 8 years is even close to acceptable is if its someone like Southwest which everybody has known for a very long time if you want a brand new one from them you have to wait several years. I think the cue builder should be outed to save anybody else any grief.
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Agreed. It doesn't matter if it's someone who does it for a hobby or for a living. If they've quoted 8+ years that's one thing. But, otherwise, even if the guy is part-time, casual, distracted, whatever, once he's accepted money he's engaged in a business transaction and to drag things out well past any reasonable time frame and to not communicate shows him to be not just a poor businessman, but a piss-poor human being. He should respond to your inquiries and should refund you your money on demand at this point, cue-maker time be damned.
 
Jaden said:
I wasn't directing anything at you, just making a joke in general...I understand accounting humor can be dry but geez...

Jaden
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it's all good bro.:thumbup: it's one of the problems with this here interwebz. sometimes the humor doesn't come through. no worries, that's why i said i wasn't sure.
 
GoldCrown said:
Certainly was. He came highly recommended. His time frame is very reasonable and in writing. 1-2 weeks does not turn into 4-6 or 6-8 etc.
I sent it last week...it was shipped back today and I'll receive it Thurs or Fri and will follow up. If I needed a custom cue I would not hesitate to deal with him. This is my first experience with Scot. He seems to Do Things Right.
I have customs from other cue makers.....they gave a time frame and were accurate. I have a JJ case. His word on delivery was right on.
Service cannot be separated from Quality.
They belong in the same sentence.
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When someone has a system down pat then it's easy to be on time. When someone is living on the edge and constantly trying new things then it's hard to be on time.

If someone is doing cookie cutter products where only SLIGHT cosmetic changes are the only customization then it's easy to be on time.

Service can certainly be separated from quality.

There is a story about an old saddle maker who was renowned for his quality. The legend goes that you would call him up and he would take your order and then a year or so later he would send you a saddle that was nothing like what you ordered. But no one ever sent one back because they were that good.

Too many people get wrapped up in the service side of businesses like these. As I said above there are a lot of factors which prevent someone from giving perfect service all the time. Having a system and sticking to it goes a long way towards being able to give adequate service. Anything that disrupts that system leads to people being ignored or not attended to as quickly as they would like.

Take that as you wish.

I have been in the service industry all my life starting out with selling at the flea market at 10, bussing tables at 11, waiting tables, working in phone sales rooms, restaurants, cue sales, case making, etc... it's not easy doing this job when you get tons of questions from a lot of people at once.

Providing customer service is time consuming more than you might think.

You want to run the numbers?

Well what do you think that a cue maker SHOULD make per hour? Is $50 reasonable or $25, or $15? Whatever it is I can just about guarantee you that most cuemakers do not start the clock when they answer the phone. So if you take an hour with them to discuss the intricacies of cocobolo burl then that's an hour that they will not get paid for unless they are sharp enough to put in their quote. ONCE they give you a quote then every minute that they spend on the phone with you, every progress picture they take, every email they send REDUCES the earning on that order.

That's how it is. That is the reality of "customer service" for the small maker. It sucks but this is the basis for cue maker time. (not always though, some people are just lazy like me and prefer to **** around on AZB instead of answering questions - so with that moment of truth I need to get back to work.)
 
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