An Introduction to Sterling Gaming - long

J

John Barton

New member
Hello Board,

A lot of you know me personally and a lot of you are new and only know me from this board. This isn't so much about me as the company I work for. I just want to take a moment to introduce you to the company I work for. This is mainly aimed at the dealers and poolroom owners on this forum though.

First a little about me so you know where this is coming from; I started playing pool at the age of 12 at the Boys and Girls club - took a break from 15-17 and never looked back since. I got in the business at 19 selling pool cues and continued that until I was 22 when I started Instroke Cue Cases. While the focus was mainly on cases I did a lot of horse trading and developed friendships and business relationships with a lot of cuemakers. So I always had cues to sell and trade as well, at one time over a hundred on display. In 2003 I sold Instroke to one of my production partners, or I should say I sold the brand. In 2004 I went to work for one of my former customers, Sterling Gaming.

Scott Taylor owns Sterling Gaming. He invented the CueSight Laser Cue in 1999. I had lampooned the Laser Cue years ago so it's only fitting that I go to work for the inventor. Scott is an engineer who created this cue inspired by beer. He then went on to get it manufactured and started selling it online. Then he began to get requests for other billiard supplies and so became a general store for billiard products. As time moved on the next step was to become a distributor.

In 2002 Sterling Gaming filled their warehouse and opened for business as a distributor of billiard products. Together with Kao Kao Sports Manufacturing, and Kaz Miki of Mezz Cues they developed the Fury Line of cues as the flagship brand. Now we also have the exclusive Blaze brand of cues as well.

And our company has community values as well. Beyond the sponsorship of the game through players, tours, leagues, and events, we also have done some charitable things. Most notably we rented a van and packed it full of supplies to go to the aid of one of our dealers who was affected by Hurricane Katrina. Along the way we were able to help a lot more folks down there during that trying time.

From a beer-inspired training device sold out of a basement by a husband and wife team to an operation with 15 dedicated people Sterling Gaming is an American small business success.

So the purpose of this advertisement is simple - If you are in the billiards business and you are not dealing with us already then please cruise over to www.sterling-gaming.com and create a dealer account. Our specials are posted there regularly. Or give us a call at 877-283-7444 and let us take care of you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and allowing me to borrow your bandwidth a little.

John
 
Last edited:
John...We've known each other for many years, and worked together too. I met Scott at the L.A. Billiard Expo in 2000, when he came to show his laser cue for the first time. He asked me seriously what I thought of it, and I said the same thing you did. We sat at the bar, and I suggested he do what Kathy McFarland was doing...manufacture cues in Asia and import them here. Little did I know that he had much more in mind! I like Scott, and I like Sterling Gaming. Good people all the way around. I'm glad you got a chance to be associated with them. I highly recommend doing business with Sterling Gaming!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
I can only add my thumbs up to John's post. At a time when I found myself unemployed, Scott offered me a job in his sales department to hold me over. While he couldn't pay what I had been making, it was a welcome offer to keep a paycheck coming in. I ended up working with them for two years, and have never had a job that was so much fun. From staff meetings held at a local pool room over a couple of pitchers of brew, to taking a little time in the middle of the day to go outside to fly model airplanes, or in one case, test out Scott's homemade potato gun, life at Sterling was always interesting. And that doesn't even cover the insanity that came when John came to work with us, or spending the entire month of December baking cookies to send to all our customers!
They are good people, and know how to treat their customers. It is my pleasure to have had the opportunity to work with such a fine group of people.
Steve
 
Above and beyond

After years of tournament cue repair I wanted to try my luck at an online billiards supply, Scott took me by the hand and showed me everything I needed to know to have a profitable, proficient website. Sterling went above and beyond what I expected.
Tim
 
TIMBER1 said:
After years of tournament cue repair I wanted to try my luck at an online billiards supply, Scott took me by the hand and showed me everything I needed to know to have a profitable, proficient website. Sterling went above and beyond what I expected.
Tim
Click to expand...

Jhon you told a mouth full and all the guy at sterling are great Always have a smile and show nothing but love for there workers... :)
Fury cue maybe made over seas .
But I have played with rp 5 for about 5 months and i just loved it .and still have it .. GREAT CUES GREAT PEOPLE>>>
 
I like the Sterling products, very affordable and very well made.
I have a Sterling 2X4 case I purchased in 2003 and a Blue J/B cue.:D
 
Last edited:
They've always treated me fair as well. I've done some repairs for them when they were in a bind, I've even put more damn lasers on shafts than I care to remember...LOL!!! Being local with them, its very nice to walk into the place and be able to buy wholesale a case, tips, about anything you need. Once I even needed a 314 partial that day and Scott gave me the last one he had & just said "take it, its the last of them in stock". Now don't expect a free shaft from them...but they are indeed good people. If you visit them just don't let that mutt nip your heals on the way out the door.:)
 
Kevin,
I'm sad to say that Fargo has passed away. While his wet nose no longer nuzzles the legs of employees and customers, his memory remains. That was one of the best dogs I have ever been around. I went through a lot of boxes of dog biscuits for him while I was there.
Steve
 
pooltchr said:
Kevin,
I'm sad to say that Fargo has passed away. While his wet nose no longer nuzzles the legs of employees and customers, his memory remains. That was one of the best dogs I have ever been around. I went through a lot of boxes of dog biscuits for him while I was there.
Steve
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that Steve. Its always sad when you lose a friend. On the bright side you can now talk Scott into getting a new guard dog. Here's a pic of mine...he's 6 months now & 71 lbs. Should be near 120 lbs when done growing. I believe he'll make a fine keeper of the shop. Of course his "heel nips" are a bit more threatening than Fargo's were.:D
 

Attachments

  • Bullet teen 022.jpg
    Bullet teen 022.jpg
    77.7 KB · Views: 199
Although I can't speak about Sterling Gaming personally, because I don't know them, but I do know John. I just want all to know that John Barton provides the best customer service around. While briefly working with him at Instroke, I saw John in action & he took care of anyone that had the Instroke brand in need of repair...even if it didn't go through him or HIS company.

Based on that, I would recommend John, and now Sterling Gaming, to anyone looking for a vendor that is willing to build a long lasting relationship and would not be short sighted in their customer service.

John, I hope this is still the case!? ;) :).

Dave
 
I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth - I'm sure I'm 1 of Sterling Gamings smallest customers and go for long periods without doing any business with them as I'm just starting to develope my "pool" related business. They however have always been great in all dealings with me and the products are great too.
 
Thanks, everyone!

Someone in my office forwarded this thread to me, and I must say, it made me smile immensely!

I appreciate everyone's kind words.

Here is a pic of Dakota, the new company president-in-training. He's 5 months old, and quite the pistol!

DakotaGrowsUp.jpg


Thanks again, everyone. If anyone else has a story to share, please do!

S. Scott Taylor, Corporate Mechanic
Sterling Gaming Wholesale Billiards Supplies
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top