How Many Cue Makers On AZ Billiards Require Money Before Build A Cue

[manwon]

How many Cue Makers here on AZ require a deposit or full payment up front when a customer orders a cue. In addition, what is this money used for?

Since most all materials must be purchased and on hand before years before orders can be processed, due to the seasoning time required for wood. What is done with the funds requested, and what determines the amount requested

Thanks very Much

Craig

 

[Kevin Lindstrom]

My experiences.

I have always offered but have yet to find one that would accept a downpayment or deposit. Maybe I'm lucky.

Kevin

 

[Eric Wynne]

Most of the time a cuemaker has material on hand but some times you have to chase materials for special orders ... If you made cues would you make a $1500 cue and have the customer backout and you're left holding some lumber you couldn't move otherwise ...Common sense bro ... it's not unreasonable to get a deposit for a CUSTOM order ...

 

[manwon]

Most of the time a cuemaker has material on hand but some times you have to chase materials for special orders ... If you made cues would you make a $1500 cue and have the customer backout and you're left holding some lumber you couldn't move otherwise ...Common sense bro ... it's not unreasonable to get a deposit for a CUSTOM order ...

What percentage of the agreed upon price would you ask for, depending upon the situation!!!

Thanks Craig

 

[Detlev Rackow]

I had to pay a 50%-deposit. However, in my opinion it's not a question of the material. The cue's wood is not that expensive. But the maker's worktime is valuable.

If a customer orders a real custom, meaning that it's built to his specifications, the cuemaker would have problems selling it to someone else.

I probably wouldn't order from a cuemaker who demands the full price as an advance payment, but 50% is a fair share. If the customer backs out for any reason, this should cover the loss for the maker quite well.

Regards,

Detlev

 

[Kevin Lindstrom]

Whoops

I am sorry Craig. I posted my comments prior to this becoming a poll thread. I am not a cue maker so my answer or posting is not justified. Let me know if you would rather I delete my comment. I posted based on my experiences when ordering custom cues.

Kevin

 

[manwon]

I am sorry Craig. I posted my comments prior to this becoming a poll thread. I am not a cue maker so my answer or posting is not justified. Let me know if you would rather I delete my comment. I posted based on my experiences when ordering custom cues.

Kevin

Kevin your comments are appreciated and welcomed!!!

Thanks Craig

 

[poolplayer2093]

HUMMMM i wonder who that 1 guy was who voted for the 100% deposit????

 

[manwon]

HUMMMM i wonder who that 1 guy was who voted for the 100% deposit????

I would bet it a Little Dark colored Birdy!!!!!!!

However, this is not important, the main point is this may help perspective buyers understand what a deposit is actually used for, and nothing else.

Thanks

 

[Chris Byrne]

I ask for 50% on the first cue. It lets me know the person is serious about completing the deal. If I have dealt with the person before I do not ask for a deposit. I don't need the money for materials, I already have them on hand. I also had to add a time limit for payment after notification of the cues completion. I had to hang onto a few cues a couple years ago because I told them I would wait untill they could come up with the money. I was thinking like a couple weeks, not 2 years
I think a downpayment on anything custom ordered is not unreasonable. Full price up front is not for me. I know I do not want to pay full price up front for anything being made as the person doing the work has little incentive to get it finished especially if they have other projects going. Just my 2 cents. Chris.

 

[Tony Zinzola]

Kevin Lindstrom
I have always offered but have yet to find one that would accept a downpayment or deposit. Maybe I'm lucky.

Kevin

I don't ask for a deposit. I am asked that all the time, but say to pay me when it's finished. If you can't afford the materials to build a cue, you are in the wrong business. I also don't need to be in debt to my customers. I try to give them a realistic date, but I do have another company and a one year old, so sometimes I get behind.

If somebody ordered something I don't think I could otherwise sell, I would consider a deposit.

As far as Kevin goes, he's one of the customers I have and would send the cue to without yet receiving payment.

 

[Tony Zinzola]

I also had to add a time limit for payment after notification of the cues completion.

I was going to do this too. Probably 30 days unless they can give me another concrete date that I can live with. I've had only two people not be able to complete the deal because of things going on in their lives financially and I was able to sell both cues within a day. If they called to order a cue today, I wouldn't charge them a deposit either.

 

[rhncue]

All the years I built cues I never asked for any deposit up front. I've only been stiffed 4 times and had no problem selling the cues to another buyer. Three years or so ago I started build nothing but totally custom for an individual customer. Now I ask 25 or 50.00 deposit because now if I get stiffed I must discount the cue slightly as why would a potential buyer pay full price for a cue that he never ordered when for the same price he could get it exactly as he wanted it. The money is not enough to hurt anyone but it slows a customer from just buying another cue while his is being built. Since I started this policy I haven't had any people back out of a deal. Another one of my policies is to guarantee that the customer is happy with the hit of the cue. After the cue is delivered, the customer has a week or two to test drive the cue and decide if the cue was worth the investment and if he likes the hit. If he doesn't he just has to return it, not all beat up, and I will return all of his money. Why should a customer have to live with a cue that does not live up to his expectations?

Dick

 

[manwon]

All the years I built cues I never asked for any deposit up front. I've only been stiffed 4 times and had no problem selling the cues to another buyer. Three years or so ago I started build nothing but totally custom for an individual customer. Now I ask 25 or 50.00 deposit because now if I get stiffed I must discount the cue slightly as why would a potential buyer pay full price for a cue that he never ordered when for the same price he could get it exactly as he wanted it. The money is not enough to hurt anyone but it slows a customer from just buying another cue while his is being built. Since I started this policy I haven't had any people back out of a deal. Another one of my policies is to guarantee that the customer is happy with the hit of the cue. After the cue is delivered, the customer has a week or two to test drive the cue and decide if the cue was worth the investment and if he likes the hit. If he doesn't he just has to return it, not all beat up, and I will return all of his money. Why should a customer have to live with a cue that does not live up to his expectations?

Dick

After the cue is delivered, the customer has a week or two to test drive the cue and decide if the cue was worth the investment and if he likes the hit. If he doesn't he just has to return it, not all beat up, and I will return all of his money. Why should a customer have to live with a cue that does not live up to his expectations?

Hello Dick, I think this certainly is the way to do business. There are few other cue makers who also do this, and they have little problem with the cue Flippers jumping into their business. Why would some one want to buy cue from a Flipper with your offer.

I can not think of any better way to do business, than what you have outlined above. If I already didn't do things this way myself I would change, however, since I started converting cues this is exactly the way I have treated my customers.

Thanks Dick!!!!

 

[BLACKHEARTCUES]

Over the years I have had customers back out. They have gotten divorced, gone broke or any number of problems. I don't ask for deposits. The last customer that backed out, had ordered an $800 cue. I took it to pool league that night & sold it for $900...JER

 

[conetip]

Most of my customers have offered to pay in full up front. I do ask for a deposit if it is a cue made special for that person. If it is something that I might be able to fit into someone else and becomes like a generic cue for me, that I don't mind hanging on to, But would like a deposit to show some commitment to the project. It can be %10 or %25. Just something to say I want this product. A full custom I ask for a %25 deposit .Rest on delivery.
Neil

 

[manwon]

Over the years I have had customers back out. They have gotten devorced, gone broke or any number of problems. I don't ask for deposits. The last customer that backed out, had ordered an $800 cue. I took it to pool league that night & sold it for $900...JER

Thanks Jer!!

 

[dave sutton]

lets face it in our buisness we have a great majority of peole that just like to talk. they say i wish i had this and that or whatever. i ask for a deposit not paid in full. that weeds out alot of the bs'ers. not all of us has a guy like south west that is willing to buy every cue that is unspoken for. not all of us make over 200 cues a year to spend a month in times and materials just to get stiffed. i never had a problem with a deposit nor did i ever stiff. as a buyer or a seller

 

[TripXQ]

deposits

I normally start a cue with a customer and get it to the before glue up stage. The unfinished forearm, handle, butt sleeve and ring sets are loosely assembled, and photographs are emailed to the prospective buyer. At this stage, I ask for a 50% deposit on an estimated price (usually lower than the true price when finished) to bind the buyer and myself into finishing the project with inlays and accents that the buyer wants to add. At this point a final price (plus or minus 10%) is determined and discussed with the buyer.

When completed, the cue's photographs are sent to the buyer for inspection. I will allow the buyer to pay off the cue over a three month period following this visual inspection of photographs. After final payment is received, he/she may "test drive" the cue for no more than two weeks. If returned in original condition within those two weeks, I will refund their purchase price or work out a way to rectify issues they perceive with the cue, if possible. Rarely would anyone need more than a day or two to decide on returning a product. They either like it enough or have issues with it.

I would rather return their money and do "good business" than have them badmouth my efforts. I do what I can to please the customer with communication throughout the building process and photos along the way. All this takes time that the customer doesn't see directly.

There are always those who complain but they are the minority. I haven't had to refund the price yet with this process. Who can predict the future??
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues

 

[BHQ]

Over the years I have had customers back out. They have gotten devorced, gone broke or any number of problems. I don't ask for deposits. The last customer that backed out, had ordered an $800 cue. I took it to pool league that night & sold it for $900...JER

divorced
lost job
quit pool altogether
lost car
in jail
dog died
2nd DUI
bought a cue on ebay
etc. etc. etc.
after all those experiences i did start asking for 50% deposit
as chris b said, to also show customers sincerity
some have wanted to pay in full and i usually decline, not always though ​