A sad night :(

Y

Yokel

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So tonite started off just wondefully :) I had a very lovely day at work, and I got off early enough to go play two hours of pool at High Pockets, the new place I have been visiting.

As many of you have read and know, I went in tonite dead-set on purchasing one of the house cues at the hall. So I started by getting my usual table and my usual beer, and found my cue in a relatively close place to where I left it. I racked my first game and as soon as I broke I remembered the almost squishy shot that recoils in your hand just right to the point that you know how you hit the ball before it ever reaches it's target.

After 45 minutes I wasn't even thinking about the buying of the cue, I was already imagining every game I play for a few months being with that cue. After almost two hours and three beers I decided it was time to wrap up the session and get home for some rest before work tomorrow.

This is where the story gets tragic :( I walk up to the counter with nothing but my cue in mind... I pay my tab, and ask to talk to someone in charge. He walks out of the back room and I tell him it might sound odd but I was interested in purchasing one of his house cues. His first response was, "I couldn't sell you that cue for enough to be worth it to get another one.."

So I take out my $50 bill I took just for this occassion and tell him I am sure I can make it worth it. His second response is that for that price I can get a brand-new cue and that it wasn't worth my money to buy it.

So I fully explain how I like the feel of that particular cue and that the newness or the glossy finish didn't mattered to me, that I liked that particular cue, and that the $50 would feel well worth it for me to have that cue.

His last response is, "I don't even have enough house cues as it is... look, I'm just not interested in selling you that cue."

Now mind you #1 they have at least 40 cues with 16 tables. #2 they are selling playing cues in their Sale Case for less than I was offering for their old house cue.

Now I know I'm not one of their oldest customers, but I have been going at least two hours a day for over a week to their establishment now. I know you can't consider me a regular customer, but in just the week I've been frequenting the place I've spent well over $150 in drinks and table time, food, etc.

Now I'm not saying they are horrible people for their decision, but wouldn't it be considered a kind gesture and even an investment in a now common player to sell him a cheap ****ing house cue. I'm not trying to sound like a jack-ass about this, so please don't take it as that...

I'm just ruffled at the fact that #1: I can't claim my now-favorite cue as my own and that #2: it seems like the gentleman didn't really care about my patronage at the establishment :(
 
In every cloud there is a silver lining!

I know you have your heart set on buying that dilapidated broomstick :eek:, but I think the guy is doing you a favor here by not selling you that house cue.

Since you appear to be able to afford it, you can get a fairly decent quality cue for around $200. In the long run, you'll be better off with the better quality cue. :)
 
I'm ordering a Dominiak cue, but that takes time for shipping at the very least! I mean, if I sat there and explained that I liked the way the wood was soft and the feel of the stick was just right to me that he might understand that I knew why I liked the stick and shrug and tell me it's my decision? :(
 
when i first started playhing pool i found a house cue that was old, but it was straight and hit the balls good-just like you, and i offered to buy it or replace it with a new house cue, the bonehead who owned the pool room wouldnt sell it either-same as you, looking back I should have just walked out with it when nobody was looking, i used it until they moved the pool room, across the street and they had all new house cues and that cue was forever gone. its a wonder how some people make $$$, its a house cue big deal :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
Fatboy said:
when i first started playhing pool i found a house cue that was old, but it was straight and hit the balls good-just like you, and i offered to buy it or replace it with a new house cue, the bonehead who owned the pool room wouldnt sell it either-same as you, looking back I should have just walked out with it when nobody was looking, i used it until they moved the pool room, across the street and they had all new house cues and that cue was forever gone. its a wonder how some people make $$$, its a house cue big deal :confused: :confused: :confused:
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If YOKEL was negotiating with who I think he may as well try to reason with a menopausal &$@*):cool:
 
Yokel said:
So tonite started off just wondefully :) I had a very lovely day at work, and I got off early enough to go play two hours of pool at High Pockets, the new place I have been visiting.

As many of you have read and know, I went in tonite dead-set on purchasing one of the house cues at the hall. So I started by getting my usual table and my usual beer, and found my cue in a relatively close place to where I left it. I racked my first game and as soon as I broke I remembered the almost squishy shot that recoils in your hand just right to the point that you know how you hit the ball before it ever reaches it's target.

After 45 minutes I wasn't even thinking about the buying of the cue, I was already imagining every game I play for a few months being with that cue. After almost two hours and three beers I decided it was time to wrap up the session and get home for some rest before work tomorrow.

This is where the story gets tragic :( I walk up to the counter with nothing but my cue in mind... I pay my tab, and ask to talk to someone in charge. He walks out of the back room and I tell him it might sound odd but I was interested in purchasing one of his house cues. His first response was, "I couldn't sell you that cue for enough to be worth it to get another one.."

So I take out my $50 bill I took just for this occassion and tell him I am sure I can make it worth it. His second response is that for that price I can get a brand-new cue and that it wasn't worth my money to buy it.

So I fully explain how I like the feel of that particular cue and that the newness or the glossy finish didn't mattered to me, that I liked that particular cue, and that the $50 would feel well worth it for me to have that cue.

His last response is, "I don't even have enough house cues as it is... look, I'm just not interested in selling you that cue."

Now mind you #1 they have at least 40 cues with 16 tables. #2 they are selling playing cues in their Sale Case for less than I was offering for their old house cue.

Now I know I'm not one of their oldest customers, but I have been going at least two hours a day for over a week to their establishment now. I know you can't consider me a regular customer, but in just the week I've been frequenting the place I've spent well over $150 in drinks and table time, food, etc.

Now I'm not saying they are horrible people for their decision, but wouldn't it be considered a kind gesture and even an investment in a now common player to sell him a cheap ****ing house cue. I'm not trying to sound like a jack-ass about this, so please don't take it as that...

I'm just ruffled at the fact that #1: I can't claim my now-favorite cue as my own and that #2: it seems like the gentleman didn't really care about my patronage at the establishment :(
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Try and look at the situation from the other perspective. You say that there are 40 cues with 16 tables? That is enough if the tables are only occupied by one or two people. What happens if they get busy? Even if they never get busy, it is not an excuse to not be prepared. That would be accepting mediocrity.

Secondly, why should he HAVE to sell it to you? Just because you are willing to pay $50, doesn't mean he is obligated. Furthermore I wouldn't consider a customer that just started to play every day for a week to be a regular.

I used to work in retail, so that is why this post bugged me so much. Just try and put yourself in the other guys shoes, I can see how he would have been getting annoyed.
 
Maybe you could buy one of his cues that he's selling out of his case for 'less than $50' and then trade him. :D
 
when you get your dominiak you will wonder why you wanted that piece of driftwood in the first place , he did you a favor and he knows it , wait for your cue to come.
 
> Word is that the establishment is like that,but I can honestly say I've never been treated like that there. Under the previous management,I saw that I was actually being treated better than his bread-and-butter people that spent 100 a week or more there,because I drove down there from Union City to play,a 2 hour trip,and was doing that 3-4 times a week back then. I'm not exactly a fan of some of the things that have been done over the years with the layout,or things of a more political nature,or the lack of really nice events in the last few years,but I can't ***** too much. High Pockets is,after all,my favorite place on this planet to play,other than a now-defunct room in my original hometown of Akron,Ohio,that held the Akron Open at one time. If the Rib were to buy it and run it like his old room Player's,I'd be trying to come work for him,or move in,LOL. Tommy D.
 
seems reasonable to me.

Yokel said:
As many of you have read and know, I went in tonite dead-set on purchasing one of the house cues at the hall. So I started by getting my usual table and my usual beer, and found my cue in a relatively close place to where I left it. I racked my first game and as soon as I broke I remembered the almost squishy shot that recoils in your hand just right to the point that you know how you hit the ball before it ever reaches it's target. (
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First, I have to point out that fifty dollars may not replace a good house cue anymore, it surely isn't enough profit to justify the aggravation. Plus house cues are a lot like shaft blanks there are a few good ones and some stinkers in every batch you buy. If you sell off the good ones then only the stinkers are left and that definitely impacts any pool hall's business. I would put good house sticks high on the list of what brings people to a certain pool hall.

If you really want the stick, break out a hundred dollar bill and see if he still says no. He might, for the reasons I have given. If he doesn't want to sell, hit with a few jointed sticks and find one that is close to what you like. You will adapt to your own stick with time and it will be the best playing stick for you.

Hu
 
Yokel said:
I'm ordering a Dominiak cue, but that takes time for shipping at the very least! I mean, if I sat there and explained that I liked the way the wood was soft and the feel of the stick was just right to me :(
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What do you mean that the wood was soft? Do you mean the hit and feedback you had? That might be due to the tip actually. Wood should never be soft in a cue.

Also if your set on having the cue, you might want to offer him another house cue plus the 50$. Once you have another cue to replace the one you want to buy, he might not have an argument against selling it to you. The cost of shipping a 1 piece cue can get expensive. Might be why hes not wanting to sell.

Vic
 
Highpockets

The owner really is a nice guy. I have a lot of respect for him and I have never had a problem with him. I can understand that he rubs some folks the wrong way, but on the whole he really has made some improvements. You may have caught him in the middle of a golf game or at a bad time.

If you are up there on Wednesday night perhaps we can meet.


Rib- I owe you a call. We should knock them around- I need lessons.
 
pool rooms often buy by the dozen

Offering the new replacement cue in hand and the cash is a good idea too. Poolroom owners often buy by the dozen and replacing one cue at a time isn't real practical because of shipping and aggravation.

Of course if he orders carefully the new cue may play like the old one with maybe a tip or tip/ferule change and no need to swap.

Hu



vicdotcom said:
What do you mean that the wood was soft? Do you mean the hit and feedback you had? That might be due to the tip actually. Wood should never be soft in a cue.

Also if your set on having the cue, you might want to offer him another house cue plus the 50$. Once you have another cue to replace the one you want to buy, he might not have an argument against selling it to you. The cost of shipping a 1 piece cue can get expensive. Might be why hes not wanting to sell.

Vic
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Yokel, save your cash & wait for your Dominiak. I'll be amazed if you're not totally happy with it.
 
Cameron Smith said:
Try and look at the situation from the other perspective. You say that there are 40 cues with 16 tables? That is enough if the tables are only occupied by one or two people. What happens if they get busy? Even if they never get busy, it is not an excuse to not be prepared. That would be accepting mediocrity.

Secondly, why should he HAVE to sell it to you? Just because you are willing to pay $50, doesn't mean he is obligated. Furthermore I wouldn't consider a customer that just started to play every day for a week to be a regular.

I used to work in retail, so that is why this post bugged me so much. Just try and put yourself in the other guys shoes, I can see how he would have been getting annoyed.
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I'm fairly sure you never actually read my post, sir.

#1 I never said they HAD to sell me the cue, I just said it was sad they wouldn't help accomodate me.

#2 My post actually said, and I quote... "Now I know I'm not one of their oldest customers, but I have been going at least two hours a day for over a week to their establishment now. I know you can't consider me a regular customer..."

#3 I have run 3 retail stores myself, and I help run a service station now that does zero advertising and works off of word-of-mouth alone. Customer service is the best and fastest way to build your business.

I'm not sure why you decided to type a response like that to my original post when the context in which I typed it had nothing to do with your response =/

But I guess now I'm just stuck looking at pictures on-line of my future cue, and imagining what it will be like to finally get it :p
 
vicdotcom said:
What do you mean that the wood was soft? Do you mean the hit and feedback you had? That might be due to the tip actually. Wood should never be soft in a cue.

Vic
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I'm not really sure the best way to describe what I am refering to, as I have only shot with 2 or 3 dozen cues in my life =/

It's like when you make contact the cue almost feels like it "gives" a little and doesn't feel like you are hitting the CB with a steel rod, which is what 80% of the personal cues I've gotten to try out felt like.

All I know is I found something I liked and that worked for me... and that is why I offered the money for the cue :(
 
Can you go to another poolroom and find a cue with the same weight, straight, good tip, etc., buy it, and take it back to the room owner and ask to trade straight across?

Is he the only owner? Can you do this when a manager is working instead? Seems like if you are replacing the article with the same thing, they shouldn't object. What they seem to be objecting to is the loss of one house cue and the time/hassle of replacing it.

You could also print this thread out and show it to them or email it to them so they can see how the lack of understanding a customer's needs can have impact on more people than on just that one customer.

Good luck!
 
Since you've only been in a few times, you know it can't be that the owner just hates you or feels like being an ass to you... he doesn't know you well enough to want to mess with you :D

I find that 90% of the time, if someone seems to do something that seems crappy for no good reason, there either was a misunderstanding... or there really is a good reason that just isn't clear. In any case it's almost never personal even if it feels like it. The owner probably has a good reason for what he did.

What I do with my favorite is hide it :) Then you can use it any time and you don't even pay 50 bucks.
 
You have an attachment disorder with this house cue. Once you get your new one, you can move on with your life and you'll wonder what you ever saw in her.
 
Yokel said:
It's like when you make contact the cue almost feels like it "gives" a little and doesn't feel like you are hitting the CB with a steel rod, which is what 80% of the personal cues I've gotten to try out felt like.
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I suggest you try out a cue with a wood to wood joint. a lot of custom cues or production cues have stainless steel joints making the feel of the hit a bit harder. play with a $40 Players sneaky pete then play with a $40 Players SS jointed cue. same shaft quality and with the same tip, the sneaky pete will hit closer to a house cue. not just Players, threw it out there as an example. just some food for thought...
Jay
 
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