Buying a Cue sight unseen? Better think twice.

[jjohnson]

Buying a Cue sight unseen? Better think twice.


Times are tough for pool. Covid hammered the economy. In times like this even the best can lose it. I had decided to buy a cue about a year ago. Well known maker. To make a long story short: paid up front. Got the cue in the mail and the weight was well off. I bought a cheaper model so I sent it back and bought a better quality cue now with two shafts. Paid the balance up front. Got it and one shaft was not even close to straight and the other was very close but not straight. Sent it back. Finally got the refund check back two months later. Couldn't cash it because it was unsigned. Took over a month to finally get refunded and cashed. Mind you this is well established cue maker. I mean how is this possible. He must have gone blind. What a nightmare. It drained a lot of energy out of me with phone calls, text messaging, waiting, etc....Anyway, in my opinion never buy a cue unless you are holding it in your hand.

 

[CuesDirectly]

In my years here at AZBilliards, NEVER do I hear these things about the fantastic Cuemakers in our "Ask the Cuemaker" section.

Need a cue from an honest Cuemaker? Go there, you will get all your questions answered and if anyone screws you over, it will not go well for them.


God Bless America, Stars and Stripes forever, Thanks.

 

[garczar]

Buying a Cue sight unseen? Better think twice.


Times are tough for pool. Covid hammered the economy. In times like this even the best can lose it. I had decided to buy a cue about a year ago. Well known maker. To make a long story short: paid up front. Got the cue in the mail and the weight was well off. I bought a cheaper model so I sent it back and bought a better quality cue now with two shafts. Paid the balance up front. Got it and one shaft was not even close to straight and the other was very close but not straight. Sent it back. Finally got the refund check back two months later. Couldn't cash it because it was unsigned. Took over a month to finally get refunded and cashed. Mind you this is well established cue maker. I mean how is this possible. He must have gone blind. What a nightmare. It drained a lot of energy out of me with phone calls, text messaging, waiting, etc....Anyway, in my opinion never buy a cue unless you are holding it in your hand.

Tell us who it was. Ain't no secrets on here.

 

[Thunder Thighs]

Mind you this is well established cue maker. I mean how is this possible. He must have gone blind. What a nightmare. It drained a lot of energy out of me with phone calls, text messaging, waiting, etc....Anyway, in my opinion never buy a cue unless you are holding it in your hand.

We need a name. Otherwise this post just casts doubt on cuemakers in general.

 

[jjohnson]

We need a name. Otherwise this post just casts doubt on cuemakers in general.

I have the text messages still on my phone stating the problems over time and even a picture of the unsigned check. But this should in no way reflect on any cue makers you know. I just cannot divulge the maker. Like I said, these have been trying times. But my advice still holds, at least for me. And it is not a "secret." When I was going through these trials and tribulations I thought all about what I could do if I didn't get may refund. I never even took a single shot with the cues because they were obviously not right to begin with and I did not want any complaints from the other end. Now that a few months have passed I am fully recovered and all is good. I see no reason to take revenge or whatever. Like I said, these have been trying times and it can happen to the best of them.

 

[bbb]

i have never had a problem with buying cues directly from chris nitti/randy mobley/andy gilbert/bobby hunter./paul dayton (R.I.P.)
hell bobby hunter made me another cue when i wasnt happy with the one i was sent..

 

[jjohnson]

I have the text messages still on my phone stating the problems over time and even a picture of the unsigned check. But this should in no way reflect on any cue makers you know. I just cannot divulge the maker. Like I said, these have been trying times. But my advice still holds, at least for me. And it is not a "secret." When I was going through these trials and tribulations I thought all about what I could do if I didn't get may refund. I never even took a single shot with the cues because they were obviously not right to begin with and I did not want any complaints from the other end. Now that a few months have passed I am fully recovered and all is good. I see no reason to take revenge or whatever. Like I said, these have been trying times and it can happen to the best of them.

This reminds me, back around 1970 I saved up my money and bought a Palmer cue. I had the pool hall owner order it for me. When it arrived at the pool hall I was really excited. I opened the package up and it looked great to me at the time. Then I screwed on the shaft. The screw and hole were off center by at least a quarter of an inch. I don't know if I was more furious or disappointed. I smashed the cue out back slamming it over the dumpster. Man it took me several wacks to finally break the shaft off.

 

[CuesDirectly]

This reminds me, back around 1970 I saved up my money and bought a Palmer cue. I had the pool hall owner order it for me. When it arrived at the pool hall I was really excited. I opened the package up and it looked great to me at the time. Then I screwed on the shaft. The screw and hole were off center by at least a quarter of an inch. I don't know if I was more furious or disappointed. I smashed the cue out back slamming it over the dumpster. Man it took me several wacks to finally break the shaft off.

A Palmer off by a quarter of an inch?

OR

Cross threaded.

Palmers were awesome cues,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nuff said.

 

[buckshotshoey]

A Palmer off by a quarter of an inch?

OR

Cross threaded.

Palmers were awesome cues,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nuff said.

I'm having a very hard time digesting that sandwich also.

 

[middleofnowhere]

Buying a Cue sight unseen? Better think twice.


Times are tough for pool. Covid hammered the economy. In times like this even the best can lose it. I had decided to buy a cue about a year ago. Well known maker. To make a long story short: paid up front. Got the cue in the mail and the weight was well off. I bought a cheaper model so I sent it back and bought a better quality cue now with two shafts. Paid the balance up front. Got it and one shaft was not even close to straight and the other was very close but not straight. Sent it back. Finally got the refund check back two months later. Couldn't cash it because it was unsigned. Took over a month to finally get refunded and cashed. Mind you this is well established cue maker. I mean how is this possible. He must have gone blind. What a nightmare. It drained a lot of energy out of me with phone calls, text messaging, waiting, etc....Anyway, in my opinion never buy a cue unless you are holding it in your hand.

I take it these cues were not custom cues since you seem to have gotten them in return mail. What cue are you currently playing with?

 

[CESSNA10]

Buying a Cue sight unseen? Better think twice.


Times are tough for pool. Covid hammered the economy. In times like this even the best can lose it. I had decided to buy a cue about a year ago. Well known maker. To make a long story short: paid up front. Got the cue in the mail and the weight was well off. I bought a cheaper model so I sent it back and bought a better quality cue now with two shafts. Paid the balance up front. Got it and one shaft was not even close to straight and the other was very close but not straight. Sent it back. Finally got the refund check back two months later. Couldn't cash it because it was unsigned. Took over a month to finally get refunded and cashed. Mind you this is well established cue maker. I mean how is this possible. He must have gone blind. What a nightmare. It drained a lot of energy out of me with phone calls, text messaging, waiting, etc....Anyway, in my opinion never buy a cue unless you are holding it in your hand.

You can't go wrong with Dan Janes and Joss Cues. GOOD PEOPLE

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Can only think of one negative experience, as buyer, seller, or trader on AZB.

I miss I-Trader.

 

[terpdad]

I have bought several things sight unseen from AZB-ers over the past few years & haven't had a single problem. In fact, I have a cue on order from someone who chimed in on this thread (hi Dave!). I had one MINOR problem w/ a Schmelke I bought & they called me w/in 5 mins of me clicking "send" to let them know. It's a shame you had a bad experience, but don't despair.

 

[Fatboy]

“Paid up front“

sadly your drawing dead from that moment on. You would be amazed whos screwed me out of $ with that plan, after I’ve bought cues from said builders before hand.

never pay upfront

sad stated of affairs,
Fatboy

ps someday I’m gonna be in a mood and out them , so far I’ve said nothing

 

[fastone371]

I am always hesitant to buy a cue that I cant put my hands on before the transaction. The feedback I get from a cue is extremely important to me. I would be afraid of ending up with a dud.

 

[Fatboy]

I am always hesitant to buy a cue that I cant put my hands on before the transaction. The feedback I get from a cue is extremely important to me. I would be afraid of ending up with a dud.

That’s happened more often than not with cues I’ve had built for me.

If I’m buying a cue as a player, I’m playing with it first. I’ve had 1 cue made for me that really played good. Rest played ok. I like to test drive what I’m keeping as a player.

 

[maha]

i would rather pay more than its worth for a used cue i lke that hits the way i want. than a new pig in a poke that i have no clue to what i will get and probably cant return.
the very top makers who you pay much more for will tend to be okay with you for what you get.

 

[Bavafongoul]

I bought cues from Cornerstone Cues and paid in advance. I never had a problem getting a refund on a cue
I returned and then later on, purchasing a different cue from Bill. With my custom cues, and I have a few, the
cue maker was paid a down payment of 20% and I made progress payments as the cue advanced toward its
ultimate completion. And the cues I received were always up to my expectations in appearance and playability.
Every bad cue maker experience only highlights the importance of checking a cue maker’s reputation beforehand.

 

[jjohnson]

So I am not the only one. Didn't think so. My advice is probably good advice if you have any doubts. I am sure most of you know of highly reputable cue makers. But again these times can make people crazy desperate: momentary temporary insanity lapses in judgement. The wheels can just come off sometimes. We are only people. This was finally just resolved in the past 3 - 4 months.

And yes, the cue I bought from Palmer back in the early 70's had the hole well off center. It was so bad it was like a "gag" cue stick. It was one of their cheapest. But I wanted to have my own cue and not have to rely on house cues.