Do high end cue makers want a down payment to be on there waiting list. I know most cuemakers want a down payment before they start building the cue. For example if I was wanting a cue to be built by prewitt would he want a down payment on his extended year waiting list even before he got my design ideas?
down payment for waiting list?
- Thread starter Dildobagnz
- Start date
Why not ask him?
I almost always get a deposit before starting. I would say there are more people who say they want a cue than actually put the money down, so we don't want to build a custom cue to a customer's design and then have to start looking for a buyer when he fails to follow through. A man's word seems to mean very little these days, so the old saying "cash talks and talk walks" is never more true than when dealing with custom cues. Another saying is, "you can't put money in the bank on "be-backers."
It seems pool players forget that one of the first lessons of basic pool also applies to life.
"Always follow through."
It seems pool players forget that one of the first lessons of basic pool also applies to life.
"Always follow through."
I am retired and I never want the feeling that I have to do something for someone else especially with a time line. I may work a few hours, all day or not all today.
For that reason, I don't take a deposit. I always have people asking if I have cues for sale but I can't keep up with the 20 on back order let alone have stock for sale.
When I finish a cue, I hand it to the buyer and say "if you don't absolutely love it.... please don't buy it". " No hard feelings... I'll make you another that you might like better". " I can sell that one in a week."
I haven't had anyone back out yet.
It works for me.
I realize that if you have a business that you are depending on for you income... you probably need to get a deposit. But, if the buyer never comes back. do you keep the money. If the buyer wants to back out, do you refund the money???
Kim
For that reason, I don't take a deposit. I always have people asking if I have cues for sale but I can't keep up with the 20 on back order let alone have stock for sale.
When I finish a cue, I hand it to the buyer and say "if you don't absolutely love it.... please don't buy it". " No hard feelings... I'll make you another that you might like better". " I can sell that one in a week."
I haven't had anyone back out yet.
It works for me.
I realize that if you have a business that you are depending on for you income... you probably need to get a deposit. But, if the buyer never comes back. do you keep the money. If the buyer wants to back out, do you refund the money???
Kim
I hadn't taken a deposit for about 15 years and I was only stiffed once on an order for two, 1000.00 cues so I started getting a 25.00 deposit for a short while just so that the purchaser had a little skin in the game. My health then went south so I couldn't guarantee the completion date any longer so I went back to no deposit once again. Some people demand a deposit as they have extra money at the time so want to have less to pay at completion. I have a can on a shelf that that money is kept as I want to have a treasure at the end of the rainbow, not a half of a treasure.
I've always guaranteed my cues against factory defects and that the cue would play to the customers liking. Upon completion, the cue was payed for and the customer had a week or two to decide if they liked the way the cue played. If they didn't like it I would gave gave their money back if I couldn't adjust it to their liking. I've never had to give this refund as usually either a weight change or a different shaft taper corrected the problem. I believe that custom cues are way to expensive for someone to commit to buying before test driving.
Dick
I'm just trying to find out if the makers want a down payment just to be on the waiting list. To my understanding prewitts waiting list is between 3-5 years...for someome who has a prewitt that ordered derectly from him. Did u pay a down payment to get on the list or when he took ur design ideas for the cue? Or take a payment at all. Thank u for any help I can get
Why not call or email Mr. Prewitts and know with out a doubt what he wants.
Jay Harper
Harper cues
Sorry if I misunderstood your question about deposits on a waiting list. Personally I would NEVER pay a deposit to be put on a wait list. I would only place a deposit once the cue maker and I have worked out the design of the cue, how much it will cost and when I am assured he will be starting and finishing the cue. I do expect a cue to be finished within two months of expected completion and have not had one later than that yet. Then I am happy to give up to 25% of the total as a deposit on a cue.
cues.
Call write or e mail Mr Prewitt and say you want to order a cue.
He can answer your question .
Keep things simple.
MMike
Call write or e mail Mr Prewitt and say you want to order a cue.
He can answer your question .
Keep things simple.
MMike
I made verbal agreements for four cue sales this past week. One came and picked his up, another paid $250 deposit and is waiting while I build a custom shaft to his specs for the cue, another confirmed he mailed the trade in cue and the fourth did not follow through. Now if I had missed a sale on the fourth cue while holding it for the non follow through person I would have been aggravated. All in all it was a good week even with the .750 batting average.
I Just Ordered a Cue
I recently placed an order for a cue and my down-payment was a grand. At the moment, I still don't have the foggiest notion how much my cue build will run or when it will get started. I'll cross that bridge when the cue-maker is ready to discuss my cue design but dropping a dime on a deposit for a custom cue simply corroborates to the cue-maker my genuine commitment to have a cue built. The cue-maker has to take time to study my cue specs to determine how close he can come to meeting my design, estimate his actual build costs, and this all takes time. The cue-maker doesn't make a cent on preparing a quote for a cue and the cue-maker has to invest time to do that. Presenting a significant deposit makes the cue-maker more confident that there's an actual customer instead of just a prospective one. Once I made up my mind for the cue-maker, everything else just became perfunctory.
After the cue build gets started, if further progress payment is needed, I'll take care of it. After all, I still have to pay for the cue 100% anyway prior to the cue shipping so if additional payment(s) are needed, it just lessens my final tab. I realize my situation is probably a little different since I already own some spectacular cues so I can afford to be patient. Ordering a cue isn't like placing a down-payment with a contractor for a remodel. The cue-maker isn't placing a mechanical lien on my property nor am I limited to paying only 20% down. The cue-maker can request any deposit amount they like and if it's not reasonable, the marketplace will confirm that for them. Cue-makers can charge what they want because "they can" and that's okay with me. I'm not ordering something out of a catalog and they deserve whatever I'm willing, or anyone is willing, to pay. If I were inclined to negotiate price with a cue-maker, then I'm probably not the type of customer they'd ever want to begin with.........just my $0.02.
I recently placed an order for a cue and my down-payment was a grand. At the moment, I still don't have the foggiest notion how much my cue build will run or when it will get started. I'll cross that bridge when the cue-maker is ready to discuss my cue design but dropping a dime on a deposit for a custom cue simply corroborates to the cue-maker my genuine commitment to have a cue built. The cue-maker has to take time to study my cue specs to determine how close he can come to meeting my design, estimate his actual build costs, and this all takes time. The cue-maker doesn't make a cent on preparing a quote for a cue and the cue-maker has to invest time to do that. Presenting a significant deposit makes the cue-maker more confident that there's an actual customer instead of just a prospective one. Once I made up my mind for the cue-maker, everything else just became perfunctory.
After the cue build gets started, if further progress payment is needed, I'll take care of it. After all, I still have to pay for the cue 100% anyway prior to the cue shipping so if additional payment(s) are needed, it just lessens my final tab. I realize my situation is probably a little different since I already own some spectacular cues so I can afford to be patient. Ordering a cue isn't like placing a down-payment with a contractor for a remodel. The cue-maker isn't placing a mechanical lien on my property nor am I limited to paying only 20% down. The cue-maker can request any deposit amount they like and if it's not reasonable, the marketplace will confirm that for them. Cue-makers can charge what they want because "they can" and that's okay with me. I'm not ordering something out of a catalog and they deserve whatever I'm willing, or anyone is willing, to pay. If I were inclined to negotiate price with a cue-maker, then I'm probably not the type of customer they'd ever want to begin with.........just my $0.02.
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The cues I have had made and their respective makers have not asked for a deposit and were paid 100% in full when I received the cue. I would not mind a small deposit to take care of the material costs, but that's ALL I would ever do. Regardless your name in cues. To many cue makers taking early retirement with people's money for me to do such.
There is a great deal of very reputable and honest cue makers and some not so much. I just prefer not to take the gamble, and prefer dealing with the ones I have in the past, as they know from the past, they will get paid.
There is a great deal of very reputable and honest cue makers and some not so much. I just prefer not to take the gamble, and prefer dealing with the ones I have in the past, as they know from the past, they will get paid.
I have a friend who put down $200 on a custom cue to be made by a very well respected (as far as skill go's) cue maker and it's now a year over due and we both think it will never get made.
Great thread... My opinion is that.. Most makers require a dp...that's just to insure that they gona get paid...
