Note: This is a duplicate from another forum, and I couldn’t figure out how to move it.
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I recently experienced a discomforting experience during a match. For the second time in 20 years of use, the tip from my Predator BKII break stick detached and came off.
I’d purchased the shaft with a customized layered Samsera hard tip, instead of the standard tip. I’d shaped it down over the years, and it was due for a new tip.
Before I get into the issue, I want to say that I bear some of the accountability for what I’m going to explain. Mine is related to knowledge and trust that the person who is working on my equipment is qualified to work on the brand. The person who installed the new tip in my opinion, had little to no experience with Predator cue repair. The management was very helpful in listening to my concerns. I had to speak with them initially about handing back a cue with an unpolished ferrule. Something didn’t seem right with that, and now this.
I’ve copied my response to management below. My question is this? What would be my expectation for a product that’s still popular today. I’d expect full restitution.
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I believe that I understand the issue better. The cue technician had brought the shaft over to show something that had him puzzled. He told me that it looked like a silencer pad, but wasn't sure. We passed the shaft over to another employee (Dave?) and he couldn't figure out what it was, other that it had some relationship to the CF inner core. We decided to remove the piece, as it "appeared" to be separate from the shaft. Unaware to anyone, the piece was the shaft boilerplate, which is a T shaped extension that sits on top of the ferrule.
I did some research and found that the boilerplate was a critical part of the BK shaft. All Predator shafts feature a Vault Plate, which is a ferrule-less construction that enhances sighting and accuracy. Predator shafts also feature a V-Tek fiber tip silencer, which helps reduce noise during play.
In my opinion, the cue technician who worked on the cue was not adequately trained on Predator equipment. I would not be surprised if grinding down the plate had caused the glue issue. I know from the experience that Predator is very specific about gluing tips. Since the tip had a silencer pad installed, I don't believe it was an issue. The pad did separate too, and was not found.
Before leaving the facility, I expressed my concern about the cue technician's knowledge of Predator cues. He just wasn't sure of himself.
I'll bring the cue in next week, and determine how to proceed with this situation.
- Thanks!
——-
I recently experienced a discomforting experience during a match. For the second time in 20 years of use, the tip from my Predator BKII break stick detached and came off.
I’d purchased the shaft with a customized layered Samsera hard tip, instead of the standard tip. I’d shaped it down over the years, and it was due for a new tip.
Before I get into the issue, I want to say that I bear some of the accountability for what I’m going to explain. Mine is related to knowledge and trust that the person who is working on my equipment is qualified to work on the brand. The person who installed the new tip in my opinion, had little to no experience with Predator cue repair. The management was very helpful in listening to my concerns. I had to speak with them initially about handing back a cue with an unpolished ferrule. Something didn’t seem right with that, and now this.
I’ve copied my response to management below. My question is this? What would be my expectation for a product that’s still popular today. I’d expect full restitution.
——————
I believe that I understand the issue better. The cue technician had brought the shaft over to show something that had him puzzled. He told me that it looked like a silencer pad, but wasn't sure. We passed the shaft over to another employee (Dave?) and he couldn't figure out what it was, other that it had some relationship to the CF inner core. We decided to remove the piece, as it "appeared" to be separate from the shaft. Unaware to anyone, the piece was the shaft boilerplate, which is a T shaped extension that sits on top of the ferrule.
I did some research and found that the boilerplate was a critical part of the BK shaft. All Predator shafts feature a Vault Plate, which is a ferrule-less construction that enhances sighting and accuracy. Predator shafts also feature a V-Tek fiber tip silencer, which helps reduce noise during play.
In my opinion, the cue technician who worked on the cue was not adequately trained on Predator equipment. I would not be surprised if grinding down the plate had caused the glue issue. I know from the experience that Predator is very specific about gluing tips. Since the tip had a silencer pad installed, I don't believe it was an issue. The pad did separate too, and was not found.
Before leaving the facility, I expressed my concern about the cue technician's knowledge of Predator cues. He just wasn't sure of himself.
I'll bring the cue in next week, and determine how to proceed with this situation.
- Thanks!
