Cuemaker turnaround time !

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WheatCues

WheatCues

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This is a thread that probably should be listed in ask the cuemaker section but since it's directed at both the customer and cuemaker I thought I would post it here....

Anyone with past experience with dealing with cuemakers or or vice-versa what are the avg. trunaround times that you have encountered as the customer and/or turnaround times you have alotted as the cuemaker and have exceeded due to unforseen delays ???

This question is for my general knowlege and being a NEW CUEMAKER on the scene I wouldnt want to dissapoint or create and long-term damage to my reputation with any customers due to possible lengthy delays from my inexperience with national and international sudden exposure and influx of orders...

I'm currently pushing 90-120 days turnaround time... do you as cuemakers and customers feel this is reasonable or too short or too long for the average completion time ????

All feedback and opinions is very welcomed and I am being very sincere about this question....

After all..... it's all about customer service and their invested interests !!!




Thanks, Eddie Wheat
 
WheatCues said:
This is a thread that probably should be listed in ask the cuemaker section but since it's directed at both the customer and cuemaker I thought I would post it here....

Anyone with past experience with dealing with cuemakers or or vice-versa what are the avg. trunaround times that you have encountered as the customer and/or turnaround times you have alotted as the cuemaker and have exceeded due to unforseen delays ???

This question is for my general knowlege and being a NEW CUEMAKER on the scene I wouldnt want to dissapoint or create and long-term damage to my reputation with any customers due to possible lengthy delays from my inexperience with national and international sudden exposure and influx of orders...

I'm currently pushing 90-120 days turnaround time... do you as cuemakers and customers feel this is reasonable or too short or too long for the average completion time ????

All feedback and opinions is very welcomed and I am being very sincere about this question....

After all..... it's all about customer service and their invested interests !!!




Thanks, Eddie Wheat
Click to expand...
I think most people (like myself) just don't want to be lied to no matter how long it takes. They just want to be kept up to date and have the truth be told to them. As you said it is all about customer service and if you thrive in customer service the wait times won't be an issue. LEARN FROM OTHERS MISTAKES :)

BVal

OH YEAH FIRST! (that is my first first and yeah... it feels good.)
 
cincyman said:
Are we being punked!!!!
Click to expand...


No not at all....

I'm just being serious here with a genuine heartfelt question since this seems to be a hot topic at the moment, I thought I would try to get some positive constructive information from my fellow AZr's about a subject I feel is critical and essential to my livelyhood as well as creditable practices from other cuemakers !


- Eddie Wheat
 
WheatCues said:
This is a thread that probably should be listed in ask the cuemaker section but since it's directed at both the customer and cuemaker I thought I would post it here....

Anyone with past experience with dealing with cuemakers or or vice-versa what are the avg. trunaround times that you have encountered as the customer and/or turnaround times you have alotted as the cuemaker and have exceeded due to unforseen delays ???

This question is for my general knowlege and being a NEW CUEMAKER on the scene I wouldnt want to dissapoint or create and long-term damage to my reputation with any customers due to possible lengthy delays from my inexperience with national and international sudden exposure and influx of orders...

I'm currently pushing 90-120 days turnaround time... do you as cuemakers and customers feel this is reasonable or too short or too long for the average completion time ????

All feedback and opinions is very welcomed and I am being very sincere about this question....

After all..... it's all about customer service and their invested interests !!!




Thanks, Eddie Wheat
Click to expand...

Just be honest with your customers and KEEP your word even if it impacts your profitabilty temporarily.

There are too many factors for there to be a universal answer on completion time.
 
I think if the cue takes longer then expected (within reason) then it is fine as long as the cuemaker remains in contact and doesnt dodge your calls or emails.

I'd rather have a beautiful cue that the maker took his time on, then a hunk of shit that was rushed due to my own impatience.
 
I Second The Motion

I'll have to second the two posters who just want honesty.

All that I ask for from a cue maker is honesty. Do what you say and say what you mean. Act like you appreciate my money and appreciate me being a good customer.

If a cuemaker is willing to give a completion date, I expect the cue to be delivered on or reasonable close to that date, not a year later, before that date would be great, LOL.

Hope this helps.
 
The first two cue makers that I taked to told me that it would be a year before I got my cue. How long are you taking to make a cue from the time a customer contacts you until the time od delivery?
 
Oh Yeah, I Forgot

I would love it if a cuemaker had a 120 day leadtime on a good quality custom cue that was well-constructed.
 
so,lets see.120 day turn around.that must mean my order is almost done.good,i feel better. george
 
If anything, give them a longer time period and beat it. They will be thrilled you kept your commitment. If you try to estimate based on a perfect world, you will disappoint yourself and your customers.

Bottom line is honesty and communication. If you have kept up with some of the other gripe threads, problems are almost always time frames and them not being met, and lack of communication FROM the cuemaker to their customer.

If I were to get you to make a cue for me, and you were going to be late in delivery based upon a pre-determined delivery date/time, I shouldn't have to call you to find that out. Be up front with your customers, and I don't think any would care how long they have to wait.
 
I agree I have a few cues in progress some of them are ahead of the projected time the cue maker gave me and a couple of them are behind tha projected timeline ... The three I am currently working with have all given me ETA's of 12 to 16 weeks ....So that seems to be pretty standard but then again as you know it also has alot to do with how the cue is going to be built and what all is involved inlays , wraps , etc ...

I'm very pleased with the work of all three cue makers thier updates and craftsmanship and communications lead me to believe I have chosen well... I don't mind if they run behind on how much time it takes to build the cues as I would rather they take thier time and I have a quality cue instead of a piece of junk that I can't use.

Hope this helps...
 
WheatCues said:
This is a thread that probably should be listed in ask the cuemaker section but since it's directed at both the customer and cuemaker I thought I would post it here....

Anyone with past experience with dealing with cuemakers or or vice-versa what are the avg. trunaround times that you have encountered as the customer and/or turnaround times you have alotted as the cuemaker and have exceeded due to unforseen delays ???

This question is for my general knowlege and being a NEW CUEMAKER on the scene I wouldnt want to dissapoint or create and long-term damage to my reputation with any customers due to possible lengthy delays from my inexperience with national and international sudden exposure and influx of orders...

I'm currently pushing 90-120 days turnaround time... do you as cuemakers and customers feel this is reasonable or too short or too long for the average completion time ????

All feedback and opinions is very welcomed and I am being very sincere about this question....

After all..... it's all about customer service and their invested interests !!!




Thanks, Eddie Wheat
Click to expand...

Eddie I suspect that the times you have above would be fine for the most basic cues (Plain Sneaky). However, I would never build or agree to build a cue in a time frame of less than 6 months. I do not believe that even with properly aged woods, and the right combination of materials that movement will not occur at jointed areas or where materials have been slide on a dowel.

So in my opinion 6 months to a year is not out of line, this way if something happens the Cue Maker can still meet the required finish/ship date.

Just My opinion:smile:
 
i just told a guy about a year,maybe a little longer
he questioned that
so, i told him to buy a lathe, LOL

nah, was just kidding with him
personally i would rather tell some one longer and hope it gets done sooner
then he's happy, i'm happy, everybodysssssssssssssssssss happy
but as we all know, SHIT does happen
murphys law kicks in
and a zillion other factors
i have been so fortunate (SO FAR)(knock on wood) , i havent had one guy yet, jump my ass and want to where in the hell his cue is.
and honest best guess estimate is all and should be all that any customer can ask for
AND: MOST IMPORTANT
COMMUNICATION
STAY IN TOUCH
DONT LEAVE A GUY WONDERING IF I RAN OFF WITH HIS MONEY FOR A VACATION :D
 
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I was originally quoted around 3 months back in January (it was a very rough estimate) and I sent the money around the very end of January as a deposit. He had problems finding certain colors on my veneers and inlays so that threw a monkey wrench in, and of course of other family things along the way.

But I can say he pm'd or called every single time something held the build back. Thats why I'm not mad or ticked in any way. If I had never heard from him I would be fuming by now. But since we talk 2-3 times a week I couldnt be happier. The cue is being sprayed this week so its getting close.

I also forgot the small work he gets in locally to fix certain things that also pushed my cue back. This was agreed to before hand as well and the 3 month lead time was if there was little to no local work.
 
BHQ said:
i just told a guy about a year,maybe a little longer
he questioned that
so, i told him to buy a lathe, LOL
Click to expand...

That is a funny one right there Sir ;)


The most time i have experienced is over a year
 
powerlineman80 said:
I was originally quoted around 3 months back in January (it was a very rough estimate) and I sent the money around the very end of January as a deposit. He had problems finding certain colors on my veneers and inlays so that threw a monkey wrench in, and of course of other family things along the way.

But I can say he pm'd or called every single time something held the build back. Thats why I'm not mad or ticked in any way. If I had never heard from him I would be fuming by now. But since we talk 2-3 times a week I couldnt be happier. The cue is being sprayed this week so its getting close.

I also forgot the small work he gets in locally to fix certain things that also pushed my cue back. This was agreed to before hand as well and the 3 month lead time was if there was little to no local work.
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That also why I feel progress pics are essential to show committment and add to the customer's piece of mind as well as a prompt for certain alterations if wanted prior to next phase !

Your progress pics look great and that is very exciting to everyone who follows or is intrigued by the various stages of cuemaking....




- Eddie Wheat
 
WheatCues said:
That also why I feel progress pics are essential to show committment and add to the customer's piece of mind as well as a prompt for certain alteration if wanted prior to next phase !

Your progress pics look great and that is very exciting to everyone who follows or is intrigued by the various stages of cuemaking....




- Eddie Wheat
Click to expand...
yes, i did forget to mention that.
progress pics are essential. like these.
at the very least, he can be assured that SOMETHING is being done


012.jpg

009.jpg

008.jpg
 
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