custom cue

I have a cue being built.I piad a down payment back in november, he sends me pictures of whatever stage of the build he's at,so I know whats going on.

I've done this once before back in 06 from another maker who requested a down payment before he got started.he sent pictures, 8 months later I got the cue.

I don't see anything wrong with a down payment as long as you know the guys reputation! But I would never pay the full amount upfront!!!!
 
I put a small down payment on both my Southwests and both came when I was initially told they would. Nice to see your comments, Bill!
 
Before I give my opinion on how the OP should proceeds, I want to comment about whether to pay for a cue before its made.

Peanut1pool said there is nothing wrong with paying up front with a reputable cue maker. If someone takes Peanut1pool's suggestion and subsequently gets burned, is Peanut1pool liable? Who is a reputable cue maker? Is my list the same as Peanut1pool? Will Peanut1pool provide us with a list of reputable cue makers that other members can pay up front? And, if a member does pay up front and subsequently gets burned, (to quote from the movie Rounders) its on Peanut1pool!

I see so many times where a member will vouch for a new member or a member with limited reputation. However, I'm not sure people fully appreciate what it really means to vouch for someone else. I think its like a personal guaranty.

Now, I'm not going to suggest or recommend members pay for a cue up front or not, that's each individual's decision. That's the beautiful thing about living in the US of America, you have the freedom of choice. And, to me freedom mean you have the right to screw up. But, if you pay for a cue up front and get burned, then don't come on here complaining, you get no sympathy, at least from me. It was a valuable lesson, expensive, but valuable.

Now, how the OP should proceed. Seek out advice from an attorney. Don't rely on advice from a bunch of pool players. Many times I see where a member will comment about reporting to local authorities, which fine. But, I believe that would result (if you're lucky) in a criminal charge. I'm not an attorney, but I don't think criminal charges will get your money back. Again, seek out advice from an attorney. However, I think at $850 you could take them to small claims court (I don't believe you need an attorney for small claims court). I have represented a bank many, many times in small claims court. If you receive a judgment in small claims court, then you can garnish wages or possible file liens on assets. I'm going to say this one more time, seek out advice from an attorney.

I agree with Measureman, it is your responsibility to protect yourself.

As far as, list the name of the cue maker, my suggestion is don't do that. There could possible be some personal liability. Again, it's your responsibility to protect yourself. Others would be more than happy for you to liable yourself while protecting them (so they don't buy from the person you listed).

Respectfully,

Steven
 
i have two cues that i had built for me. one is my player built by dick neighbors and one is my jump cue built by steve lomax. neither man asked for large deposits up front and in both cases i gave a little more than they asked.
i felt a little up front money showed i was serious and at least covered some of the materials should something happen to me during the time it took to build the cue. especially in dick's case because the wait was longer for a full custom cue. you never know what can happen in a few short months, loss of job, illness, death. face it bad s*it happens. in steve's case i wasn't as worried as the jump cue is not that custom, i asked to have the butt section all black, that is the only "custom" thing about it. he would easily be able to sell the cue, where as dick may have had a hard time selling the cue he built for me.
on the part of the cue makers i don't think it's out of line to ask for a small amount up front just to make sure you are invested in the process and to cover at least some of his materials and effort. but to ask for the whole amount up front - no way. in fatboy's case a pay as you show me progress on a very expensive cue with ornate details that will not be easily sold i see no problem. but i still wouldn't pay in full up front.
as far as waiting years for a cue. i won't do it. i haven't hit the cue i felt was worth waiting a few years for. i have been lucky enough to know people who owned a searing, a tascarella and a southwest. they are all beautifully made cues. they all play very well. the fit and finish are top notch. are they worth waitng 5 or more years (closer to ten or more in reality for southwest and searing) i personally don't think so. that being said i am also not a collector. if that's is why you want a cue like a black boar or searing or southwest then yes, the cue is worth the wait.
for the op. i personally feel you have been burned. the wait is ridiculous and if the person can't even show you progress i believe it's time for legal action. unless of course you are talking about one of the cue makers that is known to have a years long waiting list, than you should have known better and not even bothered with this thread.
 
Earnest money

jnwilliams70 said:
Just need some advice I ordered a cue in April 2007 and paid in full at the time I ordered it here it is January 2011 and to this day I still have no cue or my money refunded to me I have sent a number of emails to the cue maker who continues to give me excuse after excuse I have also tried to contact him by phone several times with out success. I just wanted to know if anyone had any advice for me? I'm stuck because I have $ 850.00 tied up with him and I'm unable to buy another cue because of this I lost my orginal cue in hurricane Katrina and it took me a year and a half to find someone to deal with and now here I'm almost 4 years later. Thank u in advance for any advice u can give me!!
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Don't think I need to tell you, you should never be required to pay full amount up front. Most makers like 20-30 percent to start cue. That's reasonable. It also gives them some impetus to get your cue finished. You need to go ahead and drop a dime on this guy. That's street lingo for identify him.
 
Questions for Gmanpoke.....

Gmanpoke said:
Before I give my opinion on how the OP should proceeds, I want to comment about whether to pay for a cue before its made.

Peanut1pool said there is nothing wrong with paying up front with a reputable cue maker. If someone takes Peanut1pool's suggestion and subsequently gets burned, is Peanut1pool liable? Who is a reputable cue maker? Is my list the same as Peanut1pool? Will Peanut1pool provide us with a list of reputable cue makers that other members can pay up front? And, if a member does pay up front and subsequently gets burned, (to quote from the movie Rounders) its on Peanut1pool!

I see so many times where a member will vouch for a new member or a member with limited reputation. However, I'm not sure people fully appreciate what it really means to vouch for someone else. I think its like a personal guaranty.

Now, I'm not going to suggest or recommend members pay for a cue up front or not, that's each individual's decision. That's the beautiful thing about living in the US of America, you have the freedom of choice. And, to me freedom mean you have the right to screw up. But, if you pay for a cue up front and get burned, then don't come on here complaining, you get no sympathy, at least from me. It was a valuable lesson, expensive, but valuable.

Now, how the OP should proceed. Seek out advice from an attorney. Don't rely on advice from a bunch of pool players. Many times I see where a member will comment about reporting to local authorities, which fine. But, I believe that would result (if you're lucky) in a criminal charge. I'm not an attorney, but I don't think criminal charges will get your money back. Again, seek out advice from an attorney. However, I think at $850 you could take them to small claims court (I don't believe you need an attorney for small claims court). I have represented a bank many, many times in small claims court. If you receive a judgment in small claims court, then you can garnish wages or possible file liens on assets. I'm going to say this one more time, seek out advice from an attorney.

I agree with Measureman, it is your responsibility to protect yourself.

As far as, list the name of the cue maker, my suggestion is don't do that. There could possible be some personal liability. Again, it's your responsibility to protect yourself. Others would be more than happy for you to liable yourself while protecting them (so they don't buy from the person you listed).

Respectfully,

Steven
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#1. If he takes your advice and hires an attorney should he pay upfront for the legal fees?
#2. If he takes your advice and hires an attorney and the attorney doesn't win the case, are you liable?

We can go back and forth all day, I was simply just stating my opinion as everyone else is. The man asked for our opinions and we are giving him our opinions. We have a difference of opinion, fine, thats ok. Thats what I love about this country.
 
I paid for a cue before completion once...I was lucky and it worked out.

With that said...since that time, I have not ever had to pay for a cue upfront, or even a deposit on one that I have commissioned. I would never order a cue that I did not know that I couldn't pay for...I either have already had the money stashed in a special cue fund at the bank, or was within the total cost within a payday or two.

There are several makers out there that refuse to accept a deposit for a cue order...in fact, no money at all until the cue is ready for delivery. Now, delivery may take a couple years. ;)

Also...if you think that some makers can't tell who's wishy-washy and who's firmly committed...guess again.

Lisa
 
BRKNRUN said:
...I have a cue on order since February.....It gets done when it gets done.

Even though brutal....the wait can be worth it in some cases.

...The wait was well worth it.....and I would have waited much longer if I had to.

... :)
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Are you still gonna feel the same way in Nov 2014?

No, you can't answer now!!
 
2 years and waiting..........

I sitll have a Judd cue that ain't finished...not paid for in full so far only 50% paid...should be done though in a couple months according to Trudy.....Definitely worth the wait for my own custom designed cue...
 
Oops, as Murray said I dogged it and posted in the wrong thread!
 
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Psssssst...................Wrong thread Sherm.

cuesmith said:
For many years, I signed all my cues thinking of them as if not a "work of art" at least a "labor of love". Unfortunately my signature is not that great, especially doing it small on a round object which is much more dificult than you may think. In recent years, I've taken to engraving "Sherm" on the end of the pin and only signing the cue if the customer indicates he wants it as well. Most customers do still want my "chicken scratched" signature.
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Peanut1pool said:
#1. If he takes your advice and hires an attorney should he pay upfront for the legal fees?
#2. If he takes your advice and hires an attorney and the attorney doesn't win the case, are you liable?

We can go back and forth all day, I was simply just stating my opinion as everyone else is. The man asked for our opinions and we are giving him our opinions. We have a difference of opinion, fine, thats ok. Thats what I love about this country.
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#1 I believe most attorney initial consultation is free of charge.

#2 I don't believe I ever recommended he hire an attorney. That's what would be determine in the initial consultation.

Do you really believe suggesting someone seek out advice from an attorney on a legal matter is even remotely similar to suggesting its ok to pay upfront for a product or service, really.
 
bstroud said:
I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear a cuemaker say he has a 5 year waiting list. I know it's just BS.

Unless it is a new untested design using new technology 8 weeks is enough to make any cue. Most of the time is for the glue to dry properly.

I have taken longer myself but it is usually for a cue that I really don't want to make. I just didn't know how to tell the customer that. Sometimes I just don't like the design and believe it or not some people are easy to make a cue for and others are not. I don't know why.

Any traditional style cue should take no longer than 8 weeks. I don't care who is making it.

Bill Stroud
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Bill,

I agree that it dosent take 5 years to build a cue. But if a shop has the capacity to build say 150 cues/year and they have 1500 cues on back order. Somebody is going to have to wait.

I agree with you some people are impossible to please no matter how hard you try to make them happy. Personally I have never complained about a cue I ordered.
 
my experience

I have ordered and prepaid for 2 custom cues. Cue #1 was ordered from Bryan Mordt and was paid in full before even being built. I was given a 6 month time line. Due to personal reasons, it took Bryan 8 months. But he kept me in the loop during the whole build and would not hesitate doing it again with Bryan. He is a stand up guy. then i bought 3 other cues that were already made and for sale so i had no problems with those. i just sent the money and he shipped as promised.

cue #2 was with Jerry Rauenzahn. I was given,i believe, a 5 month time line and he also kept me in the loop and sent me pictures along the build. and the cue was delivered on time. he also built me a 2nd cue and was delivered on time. Also a stand up guy who i would not hesitate to pay in full again before the build was started.

since i have done this in the past i would also like to know the name of the cue maker in question.........mike
 
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