Isn,t it amazing how many of these cuemakers over the years here on az billiards make good cues,develop a good reputation, and for whatever reason seem to go off there meds lol and ruin everything they have worked to establish by ripping people off. The one constant is they always refer back to all the customers that they actually fulfilled their obligation to and made their cue and delivered it to said customer. They make it seem like"hey, i usually do what i say im gonna do and if you don,t like it you and everybody else can kiss my a.." These cue makers always want money up front to start a cue build, they are hard to reach by phone or email, and they Always have a sob story at the end about how many tough times have befallen them or their family members(like the rest of us don,t) i buy and trade cues all the time and i have simply decided that i will buy a cuemakers cue used or mint condition from someone rather than give these guys the chance to rip me off because it just happens too often. The worst part of it all is that these ripoff artist hurt the well intentioned cue makers who do what they say when they say. I just refuse to take the chance anymore. I hope you finally get your cue bud.
Scott Gracio I want my cue or money back now.
- Thread starter Samdech
- Start date
I'll continue to do biz w/makers, however, I'd NEVER, EVER give them a cracker up front.
First time was in 88/89 with a relatively unknown, at that time, from way up north and the second and last time was in 99 with an unknown, at that time, from way down south.
Both deals were a rocky road, and I'm not talkin bout ice cream
Funny a year later and I'm still waiting. I have text Scott several times his reply is you'll have it by the end of the week. It doesn't bother me. I think it's funny, all he has to do is send me my cue. Or my money back and I will post it here. So right now anyone that deals with Scott beware!
I continue to offer my customer service to custom cue builders and they rarely respond. Would 10% be to much to ask to keep a healthy reputation with customers? HelI I'd pay that much for escrow. I don't get it, I'm in customer service and sales, I don't build cues. If you build cues and don't do customer service or sales you need me, more than I need you. This is my hobby, I'm not looking to get rich, actually one of your cues will probably suffice.
Well, good news, Scott...Your post ensures that your busy schedule or life circumstances will never be impacted by having to build me (or anyone I ever come into contact with) a cue.
And I only have a couple more questions for you:
1) You told Sam that he could either have his cue (when you finished it) or a refund (when you were in a position to give it to him) First of all...mighty big of you. Secondly, since he has already paid for the cue in advance, why don't you just return that payment? I mean, you still have it, right? Of course you do.
2) You also claim that you never asked for anyone to send you money for postage once you told them their cue was ready but you didn't have the money to send it to them...Come on brother, do I REALLY have to point out the obvious here? 1.) They already paid you for shipping and your thieving ass spent their money, and 2.) You are holding their cue hostage so obviously they aren't going to let $20 stand in the way of getting it, and 3.) Do I even have to say how "low rent, unprofessional" it looks when you play the "I would send your cue if I only hadn't spent every penny of the money you gave me already" card...And you wonder why people start assuming there might be substance abuse issues???
And I only have a couple more questions for you:
1) You told Sam that he could either have his cue (when you finished it) or a refund (when you were in a position to give it to him) First of all...mighty big of you. Secondly, since he has already paid for the cue in advance, why don't you just return that payment? I mean, you still have it, right? Of course you do.
2) You also claim that you never asked for anyone to send you money for postage once you told them their cue was ready but you didn't have the money to send it to them...Come on brother, do I REALLY have to point out the obvious here? 1.) They already paid you for shipping and your thieving ass spent their money, and 2.) You are holding their cue hostage so obviously they aren't going to let $20 stand in the way of getting it, and 3.) Do I even have to say how "low rent, unprofessional" it looks when you play the "I would send your cue if I only hadn't spent every penny of the money you gave me already" card...And you wonder why people start assuming there might be substance abuse issues???
Last edited:
ROCK ON BRUTHA!!!!!!!!! I was going to pay a "high end" cue maker $3,000.00 to START a cue for me. But after 5 emails..... No response. So, guess what I did? I contacted another who was recommended to me, and WOW!!!! Bon Dzuricky is truly a gentleman!
Bad transaction
Well it doesn't take a very educated person to figure out who is the liar and thief in this deal..
Well it doesn't take a very educated person to figure out who is the liar and thief in this deal..
Yep and there's more dishonest cue maker that haven't been ctrash also
unless you are ordering something highly unusual the cue maker shouldnt need money in advance as they can sell them as fast as they make them if they keep their good name.
other than a small good faith deposit you are asking for trouble sending a cue maker decent money as he doesnt need it.
other than a small good faith deposit you are asking for trouble sending a cue maker decent money as he doesnt need it.
Dis honest transactions
I agree, but there are a ton of honest ones too.
Personally i rather not slam anyone, I can only be accountable for the transactions I make.
The only reason I posted in this thread was Scoot G said we were a bunch of drama queens.
A total disregard to his own actions which really was the drama that started this thread.
The kicker of all this is 500 to 600 bucks is nothing compared to what a cue maker or even some one like me who will flip a cue here and there and sale a few pocket chalkers add up way more money then 500 to 600 bucks.
Allot of people will never forget Scotts response to his customer who he ripped off and lied to.
.
I agree, but there are a ton of honest ones too.
Personally i rather not slam anyone, I can only be accountable for the transactions I make.
The only reason I posted in this thread was Scoot G said we were a bunch of drama queens.
A total disregard to his own actions which really was the drama that started this thread.
The kicker of all this is 500 to 600 bucks is nothing compared to what a cue maker or even some one like me who will flip a cue here and there and sale a few pocket chalkers add up way more money then 500 to 600 bucks.
Allot of people will never forget Scotts response to his customer who he ripped off and lied to.
.
Last edited:
I do not agree
most people require a deposit to begin work
it is customary
some don't
I would,if someone doesn't want to put up a deposit,he is not worth working for
particularly if he wants something unusual
many workmen are struggling to make ends meet and need the money
some of the very best
I am frequently told that they don't need it from me,because of my
place or reputation,but i often offer as i know that it puts them at ease
sometimes even well known makers abuse the trust and i think they should be exposed
for what they are
dean
most people require a deposit to begin work
it is customary
some don't
I would,if someone doesn't want to put up a deposit,he is not worth working for
particularly if he wants something unusual
many workmen are struggling to make ends meet and need the money
some of the very best
I am frequently told that they don't need it from me,because of my
place or reputation,but i often offer as i know that it puts them at ease
sometimes even well known makers abuse the trust and i think they should be exposed
for what they are
dean
DEAN is right. Think about this, you can not make a deal without some sort of binder to assure you have skin in the game. By binder, I mean a non refundable deposit....non half, Mayge 15% or so. Unfortunately, we hear too often of these scumbag guys who take payment or a large deposit, and fail to deliver or respond. I hope you get your money back as I believe all the cue makers who stiff customers will see their cues devalue in the market. There are plenty of good playing cues and makers.
God luck,
God luck,
In my opinion, the only people that will gripe or criticize a cue-maker over deposits or progress payments are individuals
that have never owned their own business where they had to make payroll, cover taxes, maintain inventory, pay overhead,
dealt with P&L and bad debt allowance, etc.
Only naive persons would argue that deposits are out of line or bellow about how they wouldn't pay a cue-maker, regardless
of whom it was, money in advance of getting their cue. OMG, if someone won't pony up money, they aren't a serious customer
if I were the cue-maker........money establishes an earnest customer and also their vested interest in seeing the cue completed.
Matt B.
that have never owned their own business where they had to make payroll, cover taxes, maintain inventory, pay overhead,
dealt with P&L and bad debt allowance, etc.
Only naive persons would argue that deposits are out of line or bellow about how they wouldn't pay a cue-maker, regardless
of whom it was, money in advance of getting their cue. OMG, if someone won't pony up money, they aren't a serious customer
if I were the cue-maker........money establishes an earnest customer and also their vested interest in seeing the cue completed.
Matt B.
Last edited:
yep but what happen if the cue maker fail to deliver the cue that you order? example like gave you different wood or different wrap color cause he thought it would match the cue better and he didn't even call and get your permission at first
pookster....that's where your gut feel decision serves you best after checking out the cue-maker. There's always the chance you'll run into a crook like Tony Zinzola and
Lee Pepper turned out to be but their reps were tarnishing towards the end of their careers.......I guess you have to look for warning signs and stay in fairly close contact
with the cue-maker and naturally, hold them to their timeline for completion.
I don't think I've been lucky with my custom cue ordering and been fortunate to avoid getting scammed so far. Nonetheless, you make an excellent point and you have to
do your homework before you place your order with any cue-maker that's new to you. In fact, even ones you may have dealt with in the past since there's always the
chance their customer service has slipped and you might come to regret doing business with that cue-maker again.
Matt B.
Lee Pepper turned out to be but their reps were tarnishing towards the end of their careers.......I guess you have to look for warning signs and stay in fairly close contact
with the cue-maker and naturally, hold them to their timeline for completion.
I don't think I've been lucky with my custom cue ordering and been fortunate to avoid getting scammed so far. Nonetheless, you make an excellent point and you have to
do your homework before you place your order with any cue-maker that's new to you. In fact, even ones you may have dealt with in the past since there's always the
chance their customer service has slipped and you might come to regret doing business with that cue-maker again.
Matt B.
Last edited:
Boy did you nail it....my company, that I co owned, made a brand of women's shoes and sold make ups. Once the sale of a make up was made, you had a fight on your hands to keep the order as ordered. Buyers always wanted to change colors, materials etc. Once we had the factory buy the leather, we could not change and if canceled, I had to buy the leather. making something is not like ordering Chinese food, one from column A, three from column B! Matt nailed it....all while making payroll, buying our own shoes, paying rent etc.
Everyone has to be vested in the deal. I read these bad cue deals and my heart goes out to most guys. Several cue makers have offered to make me a cue without me asking. Realy desireable names I have declined because of things I have heard,
Glad someone brought up Stroud. That guy ruined a life's worth of good work with one utterly ridiculous act, and in turn decreased the value of all of his existing cues. I know I would never buy no matter what the cost.
Many of the top cuemakers do not require a deposit unless it is a very unusual or personalized cue. That is because they know they can sell their cues immediately if the original buyers back out.
Some customers still want to give them deposits as they believe it will speed up the process, or, that it gives them the right to bug the crap out of the cuemaker.
Some customers still want to give them deposits as they believe it will speed up the process, or, that it gives them the right to bug the crap out of the cuemaker.
This mess reminds me of one training seminar I attended years ago. A company named Proof Management was traveling around the country paid by Benjamin Moore Paints doing seminars training painting contractors to run a more professional business. During one of the seminars the man in charge asked the contractors to tell stories about dealing with difficult customers. One contractor steps up and tells how he had contracted to do a paint job for a client and how in the end he and the client got into a heated confrontation over whether or not painting the mail box post was included in his estimate. The contractor was adamant it was not and showed the lady the contract. She got upset and refused to give him his final payment unless that mailbox post was painted. It got so out of control they almost ended up in court. Of course this delayed the final payment for almost a month as they argued back and forth. The guy doing the seminar finally spoke after listening to the contractor and asked him," What were you thinking?" If I understand you correctly, you ruined your reputation with the client, all her friends and even strangers that she met for a month over a mailbox post? Why didn't you just paint the damned post, get your check save your reputation and forget about it? The answer was pretty obvious to most of us; You just can't fix stupid!!!!!!!!