First of all, I've ran into plenty of tables like that in my time, and never liked one of them. And you know what's funny? Everyone of the customers could have, because they have the money...bought an expensive new table at the drop of a dime!
So, I learned to take in the view of the house I was going to, what kind of neighborhood it was in and all. Then once I met the owner, on the way to the location of the table in the house, I'd pay attention to the access way to the table, also noticing the expensive furniture and everything else along the way...then DAMN, what a piece of shit!
I learned that most people that have these tables...1, were not the first owners...2, new nothing about pool tables...3, had kids(for the most part)...4, were married...5, made very good money...so why this table????
Upon spending a lot of time getting to know the owners...I learned that this was not a piece of shit table...this was an opportunity!!!!
First...don't bother trying to sell them a new table because if they wanted a new table...they'd have bought one!
Second, they're very money wise, and see no investment value in purchasing a new table.
Third...so why the piece of shit?...because it was either "FREE" or very "CHEAP"...which to them ment...a pool table for the kids, without having to spend a lot of money!!!!!!!!
So, I'd first let the owner know, that this table was going to take quite a bit longer to work on than a normal table...so the labor just got raised from $300 to $500 to cover the extra time involved.
Added to that, was the fact that I'd point out the particle board rails, and the lag bolts used to hold the rails down on the slate, and that it wouldn't work very well using the same system to re-attach the rails, soooooo...I'd have to modify the rails by dadoing out the center of the rails and inlaying some oak wood in order to have something solid to bolt the rails down with, and...oh yeah, the rubber is rock hard, so that'll need fixing as well....all in all...lets see....4 more hours shop time@ $65 = $260 plus materials...ummm...$35, oh yeah, and new rubber...shouldn't be much more than about another $70 for that...so lets see here....oooops, forgot the cloth....LOL, forgot...I have to modify the rails to take K66 cushions, so that means I have to build up the rails to 1 3/4" thick...add another 4 hours shop time, $260.00, and...I did mention that the table was very shaky, so I'd have to take a look at what I could do to make the table more sturdy...because you can't play pool on a table that shakes...can you???? But, I'd have to see what that would cost once I got into the work...so save that for later...LOL
$260.00 shop time, rails rebuild
$125.00 cloth
$500.00 recovery labor
$260.00 rail repair shop time
$ 35.00 materials
$ 70.00 cushion rubber
-------------------------------
$1,250.00 total...so far!
And you know what?...The guy hasn't batted an eye yet!!!
So...now I ask him how much he paid for this table, and usually it's around $100 to $200 at most, sooooo...I then let him know that it's a lot of money to spend on this kind of table that'll have NO resale value what-so-ever!...BUT....I don't want to see him spend that kind of money and still have that table....SO...I let him know I have a few tables at my shop that are in real good condition...even some coin-operated tables too...THAT gets his attention right away.
I let him know that "IF" I have a table in the price range of $1,250.00 I'd rather he spend the money on something like that, instead of buying a new saddle for a dead horse so to speak....and EVERYONE of them agree with me...so, I get ready to take off, letting him know that I'll call him back in a few days to tell him what I have at the shop, but I'm very busy, so it could take maybe a week...he always says...Ok, call me when you've had a chance to check, do you need my #again?...Nope, I've got it...goodby.
Ok, now I start looking in the local newspaper to see what's for sale, I check on the old coin-ops that I have...Because, he's an opportunity that I'm not going to let pass me by if I can find a table that will work.
Bingo...I found one in the paper...for $400.00 and I have to move it myself...LMAO...A Brunswick VIP 8ft...perfect! I call him up and let him know I have a VIP in storage, AND...delivered/setup/recovered...it's going to be $1,500.00...but, I'd give him $200 for the trade in of his table, making it...$1,300.00 even!!!!!!!!!!
SOLD....he's happy, his kids are happy, I'm happy...and the trip to the dump to get rid of his table didn't even cost that much...LOL
I have done this so many times, I lost count...LMAO...BUT, never screwed anyone in the process.
In the event I couldn't come up with a table, my escape is that I don't have anything in his price range, but if I come across anything in the near future, I'll give him a call. It always works!
Glen
So, I learned to take in the view of the house I was going to, what kind of neighborhood it was in and all. Then once I met the owner, on the way to the location of the table in the house, I'd pay attention to the access way to the table, also noticing the expensive furniture and everything else along the way...then DAMN, what a piece of shit!
I learned that most people that have these tables...1, were not the first owners...2, new nothing about pool tables...3, had kids(for the most part)...4, were married...5, made very good money...so why this table????
Upon spending a lot of time getting to know the owners...I learned that this was not a piece of shit table...this was an opportunity!!!!
First...don't bother trying to sell them a new table because if they wanted a new table...they'd have bought one!
Second, they're very money wise, and see no investment value in purchasing a new table.
Third...so why the piece of shit?...because it was either "FREE" or very "CHEAP"...which to them ment...a pool table for the kids, without having to spend a lot of money!!!!!!!!
So, I'd first let the owner know, that this table was going to take quite a bit longer to work on than a normal table...so the labor just got raised from $300 to $500 to cover the extra time involved.
Added to that, was the fact that I'd point out the particle board rails, and the lag bolts used to hold the rails down on the slate, and that it wouldn't work very well using the same system to re-attach the rails, soooooo...I'd have to modify the rails by dadoing out the center of the rails and inlaying some oak wood in order to have something solid to bolt the rails down with, and...oh yeah, the rubber is rock hard, so that'll need fixing as well....all in all...lets see....4 more hours shop time@ $65 = $260 plus materials...ummm...$35, oh yeah, and new rubber...shouldn't be much more than about another $70 for that...so lets see here....oooops, forgot the cloth....LOL, forgot...I have to modify the rails to take K66 cushions, so that means I have to build up the rails to 1 3/4" thick...add another 4 hours shop time, $260.00, and...I did mention that the table was very shaky, so I'd have to take a look at what I could do to make the table more sturdy...because you can't play pool on a table that shakes...can you???? But, I'd have to see what that would cost once I got into the work...so save that for later...LOL
$260.00 shop time, rails rebuild
$125.00 cloth
$500.00 recovery labor
$260.00 rail repair shop time
$ 35.00 materials
$ 70.00 cushion rubber
-------------------------------
$1,250.00 total...so far!
And you know what?...The guy hasn't batted an eye yet!!!
So...now I ask him how much he paid for this table, and usually it's around $100 to $200 at most, sooooo...I then let him know that it's a lot of money to spend on this kind of table that'll have NO resale value what-so-ever!...BUT....I don't want to see him spend that kind of money and still have that table....SO...I let him know I have a few tables at my shop that are in real good condition...even some coin-operated tables too...THAT gets his attention right away.
I let him know that "IF" I have a table in the price range of $1,250.00 I'd rather he spend the money on something like that, instead of buying a new saddle for a dead horse so to speak....and EVERYONE of them agree with me...so, I get ready to take off, letting him know that I'll call him back in a few days to tell him what I have at the shop, but I'm very busy, so it could take maybe a week...he always says...Ok, call me when you've had a chance to check, do you need my #again?...Nope, I've got it...goodby.
Ok, now I start looking in the local newspaper to see what's for sale, I check on the old coin-ops that I have...Because, he's an opportunity that I'm not going to let pass me by if I can find a table that will work.
Bingo...I found one in the paper...for $400.00 and I have to move it myself...LMAO...A Brunswick VIP 8ft...perfect! I call him up and let him know I have a VIP in storage, AND...delivered/setup/recovered...it's going to be $1,500.00...but, I'd give him $200 for the trade in of his table, making it...$1,300.00 even!!!!!!!!!!
SOLD....he's happy, his kids are happy, I'm happy...and the trip to the dump to get rid of his table didn't even cost that much...LOL
I have done this so many times, I lost count...LMAO...BUT, never screwed anyone in the process.
In the event I couldn't come up with a table, my escape is that I don't have anything in his price range, but if I come across anything in the near future, I'll give him a call. It always works!
Glen