Cue maker

vladmin

vladmin

Break'em dry !
Silver Member
Hi everyone,

I'd like to ask for your opinion on how should I proceed when dealing with a cue maker who's not fulfilling his timelines and his lack of follow-up has become ridiculous.

Back in November I got in contact with a cuemaker and after 2 weeks of emailing back and forth we finally came to deal. He would build a cue with my specs in 12 weeks. I sent half of the payment as required.
I was excited as he seemed to be a very nice person to deal with, replying to my emails even twice a day. I was promised constant updates and pictures.

The first time I got after that was in 2 months (8 weeks) with vague info, that the cue is in the works. 1 month later, close to completion time, I have received another email stating that "things are going well" and that it will take about 4-5 weeks to completion. I received 1 picture with this email (the only picture I got so far)

Now it's been another 4 weeks from my last email so 20 weeks in total. I get no emails what so ever nor he replies to my emails so now Im asking myself what should I do.

The funny thing is that I asked this person to make me some JP's for another cue, he said "about 3 weeks completion time" while it's been almost 6 and yet again, no follow-ups what so ever.

I understand that cue makers are busy but why, in the first place, he was such a nice guy to deal with and now it's a struggle to get anything out of him ?

Anyways, your opinions would be much appreciated. Constructive feedback is welcomed as well.

Thanks
 
Cuemaker

He sounds about normal for a cuemaker. A cue takes 5-6 months minimum to make, no matter what they may tell you. And they can't be on the computer all the time or they don't get anything done. Plus the fact, that he is probably working on several other cues also.

Be patient, he will get with you.
 
vladmin said:
Hi everyone,

I'd like to ask for your opinion on how should I proceed when dealing with a cue maker who's not fulfilling his timelines and his lack of follow-up has become ridiculous.

Back in November I got in contact with a cuemaker and after 2 weeks of emailing back and forth we finally came to deal. He would build a cue with my specs in 12 weeks. I sent half of the payment as required.
I was excited as he seemed to be a very nice person to deal with, replying to my emails even twice a day. I was promised constant updates and pictures.

The first time I got after that was in 2 months (8 weeks) with vague info, that the cue is in the works. 1 month later, close to completion time, I have received another email stating that "things are going well" and that it will take about 4-5 weeks to completion. I received 1 picture with this email (the only picture I got so far)

Now it's been another 4 weeks from my last email so 20 weeks in total. I get no emails what so ever nor he replies to my emails so now Im asking myself what should I do.

The funny thing is that I asked this person to make me some JP's for another cue, he said "about 3 weeks completion time" while it's been almost 6 and yet again, no follow-ups what so ever.

I understand that cue makers are busy but why, in the first place, he was such a nice guy to deal with and now it's a struggle to get anything out of him ?

Anyways, your opinions would be much appreciated. Constructive feedback is welcomed as well.

Thanks
Click to expand...

He made the mistake in the beginning of telling you what he knew you wanted to hear. You don't get a cue made from scratch from a cue maker in three months. You do not sound happy and I have a feeling if he sent you the cue tomorrow you will not be happy and begin bugging the guy to no end with complaints. Ask for your deposit back and part ways. I am sure he will be more then happy to be rid of you. By the way, we only have your side of the story.
 
Scott, where do you come up with these 'off-the-wall' facts? Have you researched this, and talked to the appx. 200+ cuemakers out there, to arrive at this time frame? I'd bet not. Some cuemakers CAN make a cue in a couple of weeks, for others the real time involved is closer to a month or two. Some make take up to a year, to complete a complex cue. How long they actually take is dependant on many factors, one of which is certainly how many cues they are working on, at the same time, as well as how much detail there is in the cue. The wait time for some cuemakers is several years, but it doesn't take that long to make. I agree with you, that the OP should be patient.

Snapshot9 said:
A cue takes 5-6 months minimum to make, no matter what they may tell you.

Be patient, he will get with you.
Click to expand...
 
I'd be happy if I'd get the cue and the JP's tomorrow ... I'd be happy even if I'd get an email stating that it's going to take 10 months from now on for my cue to be ready ... but I dislike the fact that I constantly get misleading information or no information as well.

With all the big names in the cue making business you know from the start that you gotta wait 5-8-20 years to get your queue. When someone tells you 2 weeks, I'm expecting it to be 2 weeks.

I had JP's done by an AZer that I love and they were done in 1 week. I even got pictures so that I'll know what to expect and if to have the option of changing something to them. That's good business to me, nothing else
 
Scott Lee said:
Scott, where do you come up with these 'off-the-wall' facts? Have you researched this, and talked to the appx. 200+ cuemakers out there, to arrive at this time frame? I'd bet not. Some cuemakers CAN make a cue in a couple of weeks, for others the real time involved is closer to a month or two. Some make take up to a year, to complete a complex cue. How long they actually take is dependant on many factors, one of which is certainly how many cues they are working on, at the same time, as well as how much detail there is in the cue. The wait time for some cuemakers is several years, but it doesn't take that long to make. I agree with you, that the OP should be patient.
Click to expand...

These 'off the wall' facts came from a cuemaker, Bob Owen, as a matter of fact. Why is it that you seem to take great pleasure in dissing me??? That is an average for what would be an average cue. We all know some cuemakers take years, and that complex inlayed cues take longer.

And I am talking about a cue made from scratch.
 
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Beware_of_Dawg said:
ask him for extra wheat bucks for the delay.
Click to expand...

That is great advice.

Should you choose not to go that way, I'd suggest registered mail to the guy that *respectfully* expresses your dissatisfaction with the delay and the lack of communication. I'd go on to let him know that you understand that the could be any # of vailid reasons for the delay, but you would only be willing to wait until xdate for either the cue you agreed upon or a refund.
 
I agree with you that the most upseting is the misleading and bad comunication.Even if he has a lot of work, this is not an excuse to treat you like that. And the part that you have to be patient, com on ! You are paying. You deserve real time schedule,and to receive updates.
 
To the OP:

If he gave you a timeline, and he's late, then at the least, he owe's you a sincere apology....a good business practice is to make financial consideration....

I don't care if it's a cue maker, mechanic, painter, or hot dog vendor....people are expected to keep their word, period....they don't keep it, they should be called out....everyone is only as good as their word....there is no free pass....if it takes 4 months to make a cue, then be a good business person and set the expectation up front...
 
I think the cue maker was probably just making a best guess when giving you the orginal time frame. But he really should give you more updates as to the progress. To build a cue in twelve weeks I would have to already have some of the particular wood we are using turned down partially. I tend to agree about 6 months is a good estimated speed for a cue from scratch. I would prefer to take longer. If coring the wood you could speed that up a little and the cue still be stable.
 
And remember: Artist time is different than business time. A cue might last (practically) forever. Let the guy do it right or ask for your $ back.

If you ask for your $ back, be prepared to be responsible for a portion of the materials cost, if not materials + time.
 
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