Doug Patrick - Not A Thief

rburgoyne

rburgoyne

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
**UPDATE** I honestly didn’t want to post this about Doug, but if someone else is in the same position, or was thinking about getting a cue made by him, I think they deserve to know. I wrote off the $200 months ago after getting the run around for a couple of years. It was a lesson learned, and I’d never try to go after him through the legal system for that little of an amount. So the post here on AZB was more of a let the pool community know. Now my Facebook post….. slightly different story.

I may have created a meme of him. I have a lot of FB connections in the pool world, and my meme was shared a lot, so it wasn’t long before Doug contacted me. He has been very apologetic, even with my couple of insults. He has refunded me and said he will still make the cue and send pictures when it’s done. If I choose to purchase it, he will sell it to me at a discounted price.

So perhaps I misjudged him. He is definitely not a thief, just a slow cue maker that has had a couple struggles in life and lacked some communication skills. For the record, if and when he builds the cue, there is a very good chance I will buy it. He seemed very sincere and he makes a hell of a cue.

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Original Post (unedited)
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I have held off on writing this for quite some time trying to give him time, but I think it's time to warn the pool community. In short, I gave a deposit to Doug Patrick of Patrick Custom Cues back in Jul 2018, and was told it would take about 9 months. After far too many excuses over a 2 year period, he's started ghosting me.

I will say that I was more than patient, and courteous in all my correspondence. I never sent an angry email and when I asked for my deposit back I did so very politely.

Here is the timeline

Jul 2018 - I reached out to Doug Patrick about making a custom cue. He said he would be able to make the cue in about 9 months. I sent him a $200 deposit on July 11, 2018.
Jan 2019 – I reached out for a progress update, he said still on track for April/May 2019
Jun 2019 – I reached out and he said he was moving shops and was shut down for 90 days max. He said mine would be the first one worked on once he was up and running.
Sep 2019 – I reached out and he agreed to make it 60” and have an extension made.
Dec 2019 – I reached out and was told it would be Feb 2020.
Apr 2020 – I reached out again, and was told end of June 2020.
June 2020 - I reached out once again and was told he was opening next week and would get up with me

That was the last time he responded to me. I have emailed several times, called a few times (voicemail box is full), yet no responses from him.

Not once did he initiate a conversation about missing any of the due dates.

He posts on FB regularly, I think he owns/runs some restaurant or something perhaps.

So beware!! Don't give that thief any money. He's just another sorry cue maker that is out to rob people. Its sad because he does make a fantastic hitting cue.
 
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You speak highly of his cues BUT you were wrong in assuming he's a stand-up guy so...

When you're dealing with a independent cue maker you are accepting the reality that things come up in people's lives. However, THERE IS NO EXCUSE for not initiating contact with you when he couldn't deliver on time, or worse, blowing-off your inquiries.
 
how did you pay the $200?
you might be able to file a police report
 
PayPal, and it looks like it wasn't F&F. I may look into filing a police report. I hate doing this, but he's left me no choice.
 
Sometimes crooks only understand when you're displaying their front teeth on steel toed boots. It would have to be a sizeable chunk of money.
 
Buckzapper said:
Sometimes crooks only understand when you're displaying their front teeth on steel toed boots. It would have to be a sizeable chunk of money.
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Unfortunately, giving money upfront to business people whom you do not have direct daily access to often results in problems unless you are dealing with the most reputable in a particular business. Even then, always buyer beware. I would not have rated this guy as someone on a "most trusted" cue maker list- I just don't think he has enough credibility in the market place - sorry to hear of your issues- I think you now need to pursue any means possible to extract some form of retribution. Keep it legal- $200 is not worth additional problems for you.
 
One of my favorite things in life was getting a new custom cue made. But after a few incidences i gave up.... Cue makers have to be some of the worst people to do business with. Hope you get this resolved.....
 
its not cue makers, its bad cue makers that are the problem. and when you send money in advance to a basically unknown or one who does not have a know good rep. you are the sucker. as you are really just trying to get a good cue cheaper than the market.
just order from a well known cue maker that delivers on the time he promises, and dont give the others any business.
or order under the agreement you pay when its done.
it is really that simple.
 
Sorry about your problem.

I sent a $100 deposit to John at Coos Cues. Sent him the final payment last week, My cue arrived today after around six months or so, right on schedule.

Not sure how to know when someone is going to fail to deliver and screw you over.
 
rburgoyne said:
PayPal, and it looks like it wasn't F&F. I may look into filing a police report. I hate doing this, but he's left me no choice.
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The absolute last thing to do is involve the police. This is a civil matter and you could go from being 100% right to being 100% wrong by involving the police.
 
jtompilot said:
Sorry about your problem.

I sent a $100 deposit to John at Coos Cues. Sent him the final payment last week, My cue arrived today after around six months or so, right on schedule.

Not sure how to know when someone is going to fail to deliver and screw you over.
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John is a standup guy and makes terrific cues.
 
DP owns a bar/grill in Ill. somewhere. Granite City i think. He shut down the cue shop afaik.
 
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Does anyone really think that the police (if they receive a complaint) are going to even spend the time to write up a report and potentially investigate the incident, and then potentially turn this over to the D.A. for potential further investigation and prosecution? And, does anyone really think that the D.A. has nothing better to do but further investigate and prosecute someone for $200.00 -- especially when that person will just say that the cue is in the process of being made pursuant to the agreement? If the O.P. is in the vicinity of where the cue maker lives and wants to file a small claims lawsuit for $200 bucks plus court costs and service fees, then that is really the only course of action that makes any sense at all. However, even if the O.P. prevails, the court does not collect the money for the winner. This whole thread seems like it was designed to scare the cue stick maker into returning the money because the O.P. wants to damage the reputation of the cue stick maker by virtue of this thread.

CAVEAT #1: Statute of Limitations -- strict time deadlines may apply as to when the O.P. knew or should have known the deal was breached.

CAVEAT #2: If this issue relates to any state other than California, then I know nothing ... just citing general principles that may or may not apply to other states.
 
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mail him a bill. you can find his address. i did easily. give him ten days to pay or you send copies to all his suppliers in the bar business and all his relatives who you can find, asking them to pay for him or you will start collection proceedings.
and you will sell it to a collection agency, and ask the police to investigate for fraud. then you will put up posts on yelp and other sites, the bill concerning his business practices. and you will write letters to the editor of the local newpaper about the issue.
probably can do this on the phone with him by finding his business number.
he might just decide its not worth it to keep your stolen money.
it might also save someone else from getting taken in some way. .
 
i dont think op wants to damage his rep as he said the guy made a nice cue. but he wants his pound of flesh for getting screwed and to tell his story so others are more aware.
 
maha said:
mail him a bill. you can find his address. i did easily. give him ten days to pay or you send copies to all his suppliers in the bar business and all his relatives who you can find, asking them to pay for him or you will start collection proceedings.
and you will sell it to a collection agency, and ask the police to investigate for fraud. then you will put up posts on yelp and other sites, the bill concerning his business practices. and you will write letters to the editor of the local newpaper about the issue.
probably can do this on the phone with him by finding his business number.
he might just decide its not worth it to keep your stolen money.
it might also save someone else from getting taken in some way. .
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I wouldn't go thru all that for 200bux. It be worth it, to me anyway, to know i'd never have to jack with the guy again. What's weird/sad is i know a few people who got cues from DP when he was at Shooters Olathe and they all had nothing but good to say about Doug and his cues.
 
$200 sure isn’t much for a deposit. Is this guy even on AzB to defend himself? For so little money I would’ve handled this privately like a gentleman. Sorry you got taken for a ride but live and learn.
 
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