Curious on what people think on this subject. Cue trade issues
- Thread starter KenneyTran
- Start date
Who do you think would lose or lost more? Your reputation or my seller reputation? We agreed on keeping the cue and I will send you $ for repair. You wanted a set of JP, I got a set bought from James Baxter for 150$. You can have one or the other not both (150$ JP or 150) you wanted the JP, I shipped the JP. The JP didn’t match your expectations, then you asked me to send you 150$ to get the JP back, ummmmm ok? Do you think I would do that? Do you know what people called me in Facebook? Scammer police, therefore I’m not gonna do that. Send me back my set of JP, you’ll have your 150$. Done.
But in the process you razor fixed the cue and now it’s big mess. I didn’t care to make the post til you went and told me on the phone that you shown to your buddy and they said wouldn’t never deal with me. That’s meant your sabotage my names and I was working with you in every way to make it right.
Best bet is settle up and delete the thread.
JABSolstice
Well-known member
But it wasn't a 'new Vette.' It was a 30+ year old Vette that has been driven, but taken care of. Expect that it won't be perfect.
Seriously. I have stuff I want to sell but in only person with someone I know. There are are a handful of members here I’d deal with in good faith. Good faith meaning I’d send them the cue before getting paid. Otherwise I know how to pack/ship. Most of what I have is in 99% condition. Deduct one point for screwing together and handling it. Terms. NO RETURNS. Make sure you want it. Same as you bbb.. don’t need the agg.i have not read all the posts but threads like this make me happy i sold off my collection years ago
and dont have to put up with crap like this,,,,,,
Option 1 - offer to repair the cue (you did and he rejected that idea).
Option 2 - offer to buy the cue back at a price you both agree on (you didn't come to an agreement)
Option 3 - You "trade back" and cancel the deal, only out of pocket the cost for shipping.
If during this negotiation he damages/alters the condition that the cue arrived in - the deal is complete. (IMO)
Kenny sent me a real nice Manzino cue. Perfect condition. Could not be better. I have had over 100 custom cues and this Manzino and my Richard Black are the best hitting cues I have had. Both have Ivory ferrules. Kenny is a honest and reputable cue dealer. I have done a couple of deals with him with no problems. Great guy to deal with.
You did everything right from the start: honest description, professional re-buff before shipping, multiple offers to fix it (including prepaid labels and sending it to top guys like Scott at Proficient or Pete Jr.), and even willingness to eat some cost on a straight trade. That’s class. The other trader refused every reasonable out you gave him, then grabbed a razor and turned a minor buff-compound residue issue into flaking clear-coat disaster. At that point, the cue became his problem—“you broke it, you bought it” applies 100%. A completed trade is a completed trade, especially once someone starts playing surgeon on a $3k+ cue.
You have zero obligation to send him a dime or take it back. Most experienced folks on the forums (and common sense) would tell you to walk away clean. He owns the damaged cue now. He can pay a pro to fix it, sell it “as-is,” or live with it.
That said, I get why this is eating at you. You’re the kind of man who doesn’t like loose ends or anyone questioning your word—especially in a small, tight-knit world like AzBilliards where reputation is everything. Paying $3,300 just to “make it go away” shows how stand-up you are, but it’s also more than you owe.
My recommended path (the one that protects both your wallet and your name):
1. Stick to your original compromise, but with one non-negotiable upgrade: Tell him you’ll buy it back for $3,100 cash (or whatever fair number you land on) only after you personally inspect it—ideally at the Super Billiards Expo or have it shipped back with tracking. No inspection, no deal. You need to see exactly how bad the flaking and razor work really are before you commit money. Pictures lie; hands-on doesn’t.
2. Once it’s in your hands:
• Ship it straight to Scott at Proficient or Pete Jr. for a proper pro refinish (you already know they’ll do it right).
• Sell the restored cue on the open market (these newer Tascarellas routinely move in the $3,200–$4,000+ range depending on specs).
• Split any net difference (profit or loss) 50/50 with him after your actual costs (refinish, shipping, your time). If it sells for less than $3,100 after repair because of what he did, he eats part of the loss—he caused it.
This is exactly the fair, generous solution you already proposed. It shows the community (and him) you’re a man of your word without letting him off the hook for his DIY surgery.
What I would NOT do:
• Pay $3,300 sight-unseen. You said yourself you don’t know the current condition. Don’t reward the razor move.
• Let him keep dictating terms or bad-mouthing you. You’ve already offered more than most would.
• Drag it out forever. Set a firm 7–10 day window for him to accept the inspection/buyback or the offer expires. Then you’re done.
Bottom line: You’re coming out of this with the older Tascarella you actually love anyway. Protect your reputation by offering one final clean resolution on your terms (inspect first), but don’t bend further. If he refuses even that, sleep easy—you did more than your part. The community already sees who handled this like a gentleman.
You’ve got 20+ years as a contractor and cue guy; you know quality work and fair dealing when you see it. Trust your gut here. Do the inspection route, resolve it, then put the whole thing behind you and enjoy that Pete Sr. cue. That’s what an upstanding man does.
Ken has
always been a straight shooter with me.
You have zero obligation to send him a dime or take it back. Most experienced folks on the forums (and common sense) would tell you to walk away clean. He owns the damaged cue now. He can pay a pro to fix it, sell it “as-is,” or live with it.
That said, I get why this is eating at you. You’re the kind of man who doesn’t like loose ends or anyone questioning your word—especially in a small, tight-knit world like AzBilliards where reputation is everything. Paying $3,300 just to “make it go away” shows how stand-up you are, but it’s also more than you owe.
My recommended path (the one that protects both your wallet and your name):
1. Stick to your original compromise, but with one non-negotiable upgrade: Tell him you’ll buy it back for $3,100 cash (or whatever fair number you land on) only after you personally inspect it—ideally at the Super Billiards Expo or have it shipped back with tracking. No inspection, no deal. You need to see exactly how bad the flaking and razor work really are before you commit money. Pictures lie; hands-on doesn’t.
2. Once it’s in your hands:
• Ship it straight to Scott at Proficient or Pete Jr. for a proper pro refinish (you already know they’ll do it right).
• Sell the restored cue on the open market (these newer Tascarellas routinely move in the $3,200–$4,000+ range depending on specs).
• Split any net difference (profit or loss) 50/50 with him after your actual costs (refinish, shipping, your time). If it sells for less than $3,100 after repair because of what he did, he eats part of the loss—he caused it.
This is exactly the fair, generous solution you already proposed. It shows the community (and him) you’re a man of your word without letting him off the hook for his DIY surgery.
What I would NOT do:
• Pay $3,300 sight-unseen. You said yourself you don’t know the current condition. Don’t reward the razor move.
• Let him keep dictating terms or bad-mouthing you. You’ve already offered more than most would.
• Drag it out forever. Set a firm 7–10 day window for him to accept the inspection/buyback or the offer expires. Then you’re done.
Bottom line: You’re coming out of this with the older Tascarella you actually love anyway. Protect your reputation by offering one final clean resolution on your terms (inspect first), but don’t bend further. If he refuses even that, sleep easy—you did more than your part. The community already sees who handled this like a gentleman.
You’ve got 20+ years as a contractor and cue guy; you know quality work and fair dealing when you see it. Trust your gut here. Do the inspection route, resolve it, then put the whole thing behind you and enjoy that Pete Sr. cue. That’s what an upstanding man does.
Ken has
always been a straight shooter with me.
Kenny and I have worked on several cue deals together and his approach is always top tier. Extremely professional. Debate the details of a trade gone bad all you want, but I wouldn't hesitate to work with Kenny on a deal again. Trades can be tricky... what's this I hear about a razor?? Lol
I would have had this trade deal undone in the first week.
Letting 4-5 months go by is what has led to the current situation.
An aggressive cancer can't be left alone.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
I have no dog in the fight but want to address your question on the flaking clear.
It can happen. I've had it happen with blue low tack painter's tape on an older cue. Sometimes the finish just isn't adhered. It may look perfect and you have no idea there are underlying issues. It could have been a manufacturing error, an error on your part while fixing, finish breaking down over time/age, unsuitable finish, wood leeched oil out, cleaning solvents used in the past, incompatible clear put over the old, unseen temperature extreme damage from being in a trunk, etc.
When you're dealing with old cues and old finishes, this kind of stuff can and does happen. I don't think you did anything "wrong" per se, but that said once the finish had flaked like that, I would know I basically owned it at this point. I understand trying to fix something but any cue maker knows sometimes any little thing you do on a cue can open a can of worms. And usually, the cue maker (or whoever attempted the repair) just straight eats the repair costs. As a cuemaker, if in doubt, don't touch it... or get consent to try to fix it and if it goes tits up something like a refinish will cost the owner more to fix. Working on old stuff (and new) always carries risk, it's why a cue maker or repair person charges more than material and labor cost. If anything gets messed up or material wasted, they eat the loss.
When I pulled the blue low tack painter's tape off an old Meucci shaft I almost shit myself when I watched all the finish just roll off onto the tape. Luckily it was just the shaft and my buddy/customer was ok with me sanding and refinishing the area near the shaft. I did not charge them extra (obviously) and was glad they weren't upset. Had it happened on a butt or a really expensive cue I would have been cooked and in my head the only way to honorably fix it would have been to re-finish. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary and the finished looked in great condition when I looked at it before hand.
Good luck to both of you to find a solution.
Seriously though, seems like it was worked out and everybody not involved is late to the party. If I come to SBE Ill make sure to stop by and see Kenney.As a guy who loves a good shit show, I'm glad you ignored my advice and decided to continue hashing this out publicly
mr magoo
Active member
Thank you for your time writing your opinion on this issue. That would make sense to me. I don't know how old the cue is, maybe 5-7 years, just guessing.
all this mess came about because of a scratch just below the wrap, I would rather have had the scratch than what it turned into.
I would also like to say, after fighting with Ken about the finish problem, I finaly settled for his compensation.
now the cue is mine and my responsibility. Only then did remove the finish off the leather, just to make it look a little better.
Then the flacking happend.
I hope that clears up a few statements.
Thanks again.
Screw it. Take it to the street. Make a pay per view event out of this. Cage match.As a guy who loves a good shit show, I'm glad you ignored my advice and decided to continue hashing this out publicly
mr magoo
Active member
You are right, as far as I'm concerned, I am done. Then someone keeps throwing fuel on the fire.Seriously though, seems like it was worked out and everybody not involved is late to the party. If I come to SBE Ill make sure to stop by and see Kenney.
I wasn't going to post anything about this trade, then Ken started this fiasco. I'm just trying keep the story in line while Ken keeps blaming me for his fk-up. Keeps beating this dead horse.
mr magoo
Active member
How stupid.