A view from the otherside

63Kcode

63Kcode

AKA Larry Vigus
Silver Member
I see lots of post bashing cuemakers for taking deposits and then being late on a cue. So I have had a no deposit policy, till now. I took an order for these cues 6 months ago. Told the customer that it should be about 6 months. He was fine with that. All he ask was that I call a month before they were done. So he could get the money together. I called two months ago and let him know it would be about 30 days till the cues were done. He let me know he has had some problems, but should have the money by then. A month ago I called to say they were ready. His wife called back and said they didn't have the money and wanted to know if they could pay me out. We agreed to a payment schedule and I should have had my first payment two weeks ago. Haven't heard a word from them since I agreed to take payments a month ago.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=3235341#post3235341

So now I have these cues made to his specks. 18.4 oz and 12.25mm shafts. If I call them I know all I will get is more excuses. I have had some interest from other people. Don't know if they will be interested since the shafts are small. I may now have to make more shafts just to sell these.

Guess I am just venting here. Not sure what to do. I know things are tough all over, but they are tough for my family too. These are not the only cues I am waiting for people to pick up either. Just being 3 cues. It hurts the most. I just do this part time, but the time I have in these cues, is time I could have spent with the wife and kids. The person who ordered them reads Az sometimes, but I don't think he post here.

Like I said. Just venting.

Larry
 
I know a lot of builders take deposits on very unique cues but if its something you can sell and these cues should sell because they are drop dead sexy!

The shafts may be an issue and Im not sure how much time you will have to invest in turning some new shafts but I think you will be fine selling these.
 
Sorry to here this, being a small-time part-time cue maker myself I can relate. I hope things work out for you and you can find someone who will want your cues.
 
63Kcode said:
I see lots of post bashing cuemakers for taking deposits and then being late on a cue.

>> (snip)

We agreed to a payment schedule and I should have had my first payment two weeks ago. Haven't heard a word from them since I agreed to take payments a month ago.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=3235341#post3235341

Don't know if they will be interested since the shafts are small. I may now have to make more shafts just to sell these. I know things are tough all over, but they are tough for my family too.
Click to expand...

For me it's not about a cuemaker being late, it's when they totally ignore you, or have excuses but still take new orders. If you're behind, you catch up first. FIFO. I've turned customers away at work because I can't keep up. That's also why I'm rarely on AZ now, I'm just too busy.

I've also been in your customers shoes before so I cut cuemakers TONS of slack. I can't hold them to any standard higher than what I can deliver. But when I was short on cash I didn't run out and buy every little thing I could find while complaining I couldn't pay for the cue either (similar to the "I'm too busy to make your stuff, but I'll take new orders"). Your customers are probably in dire straights if they made a promise and went back on them; something tells me the wolves are at the door. I'd imagine the creditors are getting the same run-around.

Now those are awfully nice looking cues so let's get down to brass tacks here:

How much?
Are the points even?
Is there anywhere on Earth you won't ship them to?
 
63Kcode said:
I see lots of post bashing cuemakers for taking deposits and then being late on a cue. So I have had a no deposit policy, till now. I took an order for these cues 6 months ago. Told the customer that it should be about 6 months. He was fine with that. All he ask was that I call a month before they were done. So he could get the money together. I called two months ago and let him know it would be about 30 days till the cues were done. He let me know he has had some problems, but should have the money by then. A month ago I called to say they were ready. His wife called back and said they didn't have the money and wanted to know if they could pay me out. We agreed to a payment schedule and I should have had my first payment two weeks ago. Haven't heard a word from them since I agreed to take payments a month ago.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=3235341#post3235341

So now I have these cues made to his specks. 18.4 oz and 12.25mm shafts. If I call them I know all I will get is more excuses. I have had some interest from other people. Don't know if they will be interested since the shafts are small. I may now have to make more shafts just to sell these.

Guess I am just venting here. Not sure what to do. I know things are tough all over, but they are tough for my family too. These are not the only cues I am waiting for people to pick up either. Just being 3 cues. It hurts the most. I just do this part time, but the time I have in these cues, is time I could have spent with the wife and kids. The person who ordered them reads Az sometimes, but I don't think he post here.

Like I said. Just venting.

Larry
Click to expand...


Lack of communication from the buyer is no less unacceptable as lack of communication from the seller.

Larry, I remember when you were just starting out, and it wasn't all that long ago. You obviously have a talent for it, because the cues in question are truly gorgeous. Sucks what happened...however, these cues should sell with the interest shown already.

Lisa
 
I would really like the guy who ordered them to have them, but after thinking more about it. I think it would be better for all involved if these cues found a new home. Didn't sound like things were going to get better for them anytime soon.

Ghosst you have a PM

I will wait til Sat to post these in the for sale section. If someone is interested I would sell them before Sat. I will also break up the set if someone is interested. Just Pm me what you want.

Thanks Lisa! I am still just starting out. Have had lots of help from some good people. Just enjoying the makebelieve cue maker ride one day at a time!

Larry
 
Those are great looking cues! I'm personally waiting on a custom cue that should be ready soon... I haven't rushed the cuemaker and I know things are a little bit crazy in his life right now like too many others. There's not a lot of situations that can't be avoided or worked through with good communications, and if the original buyer isn't replying it's likely that they just don't have the means to pay right now and don't like having to say it. It's hard to admit when you can't come through on a promise.

Best of luck, and if the set is priced too temptingly I could see myself using those for sure! You might want to shoot a PM this way just in case ;)
 
Sorry to hear of your bad luck with customers. I'm sure there are allot more bad customers than bad cue makers out there but you probably hear more about the customers end of it because they have nothing to loose by making their business transaction public knowledge.

By the way, you make a great looking cue, and I bet it plays as well as it looks.
 
63Kcode said:
I see lots of post bashing cuemakers for taking deposits and then being late on a cue. So I have had a no deposit policy, till now. I took an order for these cues 6 months ago. Told the customer that it should be about 6 months. He was fine with that. All he ask was that I call a month before they were done. So he could get the money together. I called two months ago and let him know it would be about 30 days till the cues were done. He let me know he has had some problems, but should have the money by then. A month ago I called to say they were ready. His wife called back and said they didn't have the money and wanted to know if they could pay me out. We agreed to a payment schedule and I should have had my first payment two weeks ago. Haven't heard a word from them since I agreed to take payments a month ago.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=3235341#post3235341

So now I have these cues made to his specks. 18.4 oz and 12.25mm shafts. If I call them I know all I will get is more excuses. I have had some interest from other people. Don't know if they will be interested since the shafts are small. I may now have to make more shafts just to sell these.

Guess I am just venting here. Not sure what to do. I know things are tough all over, but they are tough for my family too. These are not the only cues I am waiting for people to pick up either. Just being 3 cues. It hurts the most. I just do this part time, but the time I have in these cues, is time I could have spent with the wife and kids. The person who ordered them reads Az sometimes, but I don't think he post here.

Like I said. Just venting.

Larry
Click to expand...

I had the same problem with 3 cues. When it came time to deliver them, there was no money. I told him I would keep them for 30 days. After that I sold them.

I still won't take a deposit but I wouldn't give a cue to my mother until she pays for it.

If I take a deposit, it puts pressure on me to produce, it makes it a job. I don't want a job, I like making cues.

It is not totally about the money, it's also about the time and labor I put into a cue that I want the payment for.

Kim
 
Sorry for my lack of faith! The guy who ordered them, just left with them!

Now does anyone want a 60" 6 point paduk into maple cue. I have been waiting 4 months for the guy to pick up.

Larry
 
Last edited:
Now does anyone want a 60" 6 point paduk into maple cue. I have been waiting 4 months for the guy to pick up.

Larry
Click to expand...

Hey Larry,
Hit me up with a price and a pic via pm please.Times are tight(Christmas coming and all...), but maybe we can work something out :smile:..
Clint
 
63Kcode said:
I see lots of post bashing cuemakers for taking deposits and then being late on a cue. So I have had a no deposit policy, till now. I took an order for these cues 6 months ago. Told the customer that it should be about 6 months. He was fine with that. All he ask was that I call a month before they were done. So he could get the money together. I called two months ago and let him know it would be about 30 days till the cues were done. He let me know he has had some problems, but should have the money by then. A month ago I called to say they were ready. His wife called back and said they didn't have the money and wanted to know if they could pay me out. We agreed to a payment schedule and I should have had my first payment two weeks ago. Haven't heard a word from them since I agreed to take payments a month ago.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=3235341#post3235341

So now I have these cues made to his specks. 18.4 oz and 12.25mm shafts. If I call them I know all I will get is more excuses. I have had some interest from other people. Don't know if they will be interested since the shafts are small. I may now have to make more shafts just to sell these.

Guess I am just venting here. Not sure what to do. I know things are tough all over, but they are tough for my family too. These are not the only cues I am waiting for people to pick up either. Just being 3 cues. It hurts the most. I just do this part time, but the time I have in these cues, is time I could have spent with the wife and kids. The person who ordered them reads Az sometimes, but I don't think he post here.

Like I said. Just venting.

Larry
Click to expand...




Larry sorry to hear about the trouble your having, but this is a very hard subject to approach.

For all of the newer cue makers myself included, taking deposits is a very touchy situation. Just building creditability so that people will buy your cues is hard enough, no matter how hard you work and how honest you are. We all know that shit happens, hell we can have a cue in it's final stage of completion and things can go completely foobar with six plus months of work going down the drain in a heart beat.

Then we have to contact a buyer and tell them that we are not going to meet the expected time schedule, and that in fact we are completely back to square one and that it will be another six months or more to rebuild the cue.

Some buyers while disappointed will understand, others will ask for a refund, and others with take the refund and still bad mouth you publicly.

While I feel your pain on this subject I rarely take money up front, and at least for me I doubt that will ever change. A good reputation is easy to build, I mean all you have to do is be true to your word and meet or exceed your customers expectations. But when you add money into any agreement concerning time the repercussions if that time schedule is not meet will have a major effect on customer relations, and never in a positive way.

So for myself at least I have all stress I need without adding more to it by putting added pressure upon myself.

JIMO
 
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