'I' never saw/met any customers back in the factory, or otherwise!
Shipping cue
- Thread starter muskyed
- Start date
Thanks.
No worries.
I might tap you for other historical info about the shop and the cues as I go forward.
I am not sure if this is a National or a Gandy, and I don't think there is any way to tell for sure, unless I track down Dick Antonini, the original owner of this cue.
I added you to the history. LINK
Toadshot
Active member
USPS horrible. I had the same thing happen to me multiple times with cues being shipped due to the size. Pay for a 3 day priority, and 16 days later its arrives. 8 days with no updates. OMG.
Pay for a 3 day, and they send it ground due to the size? Never again…..
Last edited:
In the last couple weeks I've bought cues here and off of eBay, shipped by USPS. In both cases they were hung up for several days with no updates other than it's late and moving through the system. Luckily both sellers were cool about it and kept pestering USPS about where they were and when will they get delivered. Eventually both arrived in great condition, however one of the boxes was smashed and split open. Luckily the seller packed it well inside and the cue is undamaged. USPS service has gone to crap and yet they want more price increases.
i go for usps. strictly because they are all federal employees and have a job they do not want to lose. and few would ever steal a package and risk it.
however the time you receive the package can be much longer than you thought. but more likely than the others to not be destroyed.
and no way im taking pay pal. but would use it to buy.
however the time you receive the package can be much longer than you thought. but more likely than the others to not be destroyed.
and no way im taking pay pal. but would use it to buy.
Actually, Dick Helmstetter started making cues in Washington DC, with the help of Gordon Hart. I've seen at least one of Dick's very eary cues. Looked like a Paradise, but with Gordon's super joint that would be later used in his Viking cues.
Well folks, here is the happy ending.
The seller responded immediatley. They offered a return for refund...but I want the cue. Honestly, I got it cheap as an "unknown". The shaft is worth double what I paid.
A little while later they refunded my money and said keep it. They said they had packed it in a box, but FedEx took it out of the box, slapped the labels on it you see in my pictures, and sent it like that. I have no reason to not believe them.
The wrapping and padding he had looked adequate to put in a box or tube. But without a box or tube no way. He is a volume seller, seems to know his business. I do think the shipper is at fault.
He sent me my refund and opened a claim with the shipper based on my pictures.
So, the adventure will be to have the cue rebuilt. All the breaks are on the glue lines. I think it can be reassembled.
If nothing else, it provides some documentation of the construction of these cues, which is pretty standard and not surprising, but at least we have some documentation for posterity.
If you use Paypal have your buyer pay via "friends and family." That way there is no commision charged and the buyer cannot cancel the sale or make a claim against you.
I got burned by Paypal shipping a 1,500 value cue. The guy made a claim and asked for his money back. They complied and he sent my cue back in a $10 case. I was severely damaged and the guy claimed it was how he got the cue. I tried to make a claim with Paypal and they said case closed! I got screwed, so be careful using their "service."
I got burned by Paypal shipping a 1,500 value cue. The guy made a claim and asked for his money back. They complied and he sent my cue back in a $10 case. I was severely damaged and the guy claimed it was how he got the cue. I tried to make a claim with Paypal and they said case closed! I got screwed, so be careful using their "service."
There might be an empty box on the receiving end. Been there, seen that.
Just curious, what year would that be?
I frequently ship cues in the $1000+ range. I ask the recipient if they have a preference for UPS or FedEx. Never USPS.
I ship the cue in a small 1 by 2 case, within a box, Always. I’ll them ship ground, uninsured (good luck getting paid out), and I only add signature confirmation.
I’ve had an excellent success rate with this method.
I ship the cue in a small 1 by 2 case, within a box, Always. I’ll them ship ground, uninsured (good luck getting paid out), and I only add signature confirmation.
I’ve had an excellent success rate with this method.