Just a quick little thread, one I hope shows up in searches.
John Davis has a good, solid, old fashioned, AMERICAN attitude about customer satisfaction.
No BS
No Whining
No warentees that run out an hour before you get your product, or that last only until the glue dries.
No bait and switch.
He stands behind his products.
I ordered two blanks, veneered full splices to have my buddy Harry Richards build my dream cues. John was easy to reach on the phone, very personable, and did not talk to me like I was an idiot or that he was God's gift to cue making.
Doesn't sound like a high end cue maker so far, does he?
His prices were fair, did not change because of who I was, and he delivered what he said he would, when he said it would be ready (ok, truth be told, he was 2 weeks over due).
There was one minor detailed "oversight" that he instantly offered to correct, with no argument about communication, just "my bad, I will fix it."
<Yes, I know I am rambling, but it's my thread, so just chill.....>
Well, I have Harry Richards working with the blanks. I like a cue a little stouter than some, I go about .840 at the joint and 1.280 at the butt end. The ebony points are laid in with square tips to make them more durable during shipping and early handling. After several months and four turns, Harry was worried the ebony points might not sharpen up unless we cut deeper. He was also worried about cutting the blank for a handle and bushka ring until we knew if everything was ok.
I mean if we cut it up, joined a handle, etc etc, we couldn't expect for Mr. Davis to take them back could we?
I called and asked. I'm NOT rich and these dream cues are costing me more than I can afford right now, so I wanted to make sure they would be right.
In my laymans / player / enthusiast terms (ie NOT technical) I explained our concerns, and asked what we should do.
Mr. Davis didn't hesitate for one second. He said he had never had any problems with the square points sharpening up, even larger than the dimensions I quoted him. He went on for several minutes, very cordially and confidently. The jist of it was "Go ahead, turn it down, cut it, put the ring in, join up the handle. If it isn't exactly what you want, if the blank isn't perfect, send it back and I will replace it, no questions asked."
I am IMPRESSED!!!!:thud:
Bravo, sir. So many cue makers, or component providers
would have hedged, and scorned and "crawfished" and made me feel like I wasn't worthy of their blank, or that my buddy Harry didn't know what he was doing and wasn't a good choice as a builder.
They would have talked about limited warentees, and limited liability, and voiding this and not responsible that. NOT JOHN DAVIS.
I am small potatos, I'm not rich, or powerful, hell... I am not even an "A" player (YET!!!), but I love this game. This guy is treating me the way you would want to be treated, with respect and honor.
It's real damned rare to see in this day and age of "moral relativism" and "zero accountability" but when I see it, I laud it. :thumbup:
I am one of those guys who won't gripe unless I am going to let you fix something. If my steak is burned, I won't cry about it unless I will let you bring me one like I ordered in the first place. I will quietly bring it to your attention and ask you to make it right. AND NO!!! I don't expect free dessert or the keys to your car for my trouble, just what I ordered.
If you screw me, I will repay you ten fold in bad PR. And being as I am a fair, honorable guy too (or try to be) if you impress me, everyone is going to know about that too, and I will make sure you get 10x value in good PR.
John Davis is a stand up guy. One of the damned few left.
I will post pics of these cues as they come together, and in a very few days, may have an opposite themed story about customer service from another experience with a different supplier. It should make for an interesting comparison in contrasts.
John Davis, buy with confidence. :thumbup:
John Davis has a good, solid, old fashioned, AMERICAN attitude about customer satisfaction.
No BS
No Whining
No warentees that run out an hour before you get your product, or that last only until the glue dries.
No bait and switch.
He stands behind his products.
I ordered two blanks, veneered full splices to have my buddy Harry Richards build my dream cues. John was easy to reach on the phone, very personable, and did not talk to me like I was an idiot or that he was God's gift to cue making.
Doesn't sound like a high end cue maker so far, does he?

His prices were fair, did not change because of who I was, and he delivered what he said he would, when he said it would be ready (ok, truth be told, he was 2 weeks over due).
There was one minor detailed "oversight" that he instantly offered to correct, with no argument about communication, just "my bad, I will fix it."
<Yes, I know I am rambling, but it's my thread, so just chill.....>
Well, I have Harry Richards working with the blanks. I like a cue a little stouter than some, I go about .840 at the joint and 1.280 at the butt end. The ebony points are laid in with square tips to make them more durable during shipping and early handling. After several months and four turns, Harry was worried the ebony points might not sharpen up unless we cut deeper. He was also worried about cutting the blank for a handle and bushka ring until we knew if everything was ok.
I mean if we cut it up, joined a handle, etc etc, we couldn't expect for Mr. Davis to take them back could we?
I called and asked. I'm NOT rich and these dream cues are costing me more than I can afford right now, so I wanted to make sure they would be right.
In my laymans / player / enthusiast terms (ie NOT technical) I explained our concerns, and asked what we should do.
Mr. Davis didn't hesitate for one second. He said he had never had any problems with the square points sharpening up, even larger than the dimensions I quoted him. He went on for several minutes, very cordially and confidently. The jist of it was "Go ahead, turn it down, cut it, put the ring in, join up the handle. If it isn't exactly what you want, if the blank isn't perfect, send it back and I will replace it, no questions asked."

I am IMPRESSED!!!!:thud:
Bravo, sir. So many cue makers, or component providers

They would have talked about limited warentees, and limited liability, and voiding this and not responsible that. NOT JOHN DAVIS.
I am small potatos, I'm not rich, or powerful, hell... I am not even an "A" player (YET!!!), but I love this game. This guy is treating me the way you would want to be treated, with respect and honor.
It's real damned rare to see in this day and age of "moral relativism" and "zero accountability" but when I see it, I laud it. :thumbup:
I am one of those guys who won't gripe unless I am going to let you fix something. If my steak is burned, I won't cry about it unless I will let you bring me one like I ordered in the first place. I will quietly bring it to your attention and ask you to make it right. AND NO!!! I don't expect free dessert or the keys to your car for my trouble, just what I ordered.
If you screw me, I will repay you ten fold in bad PR. And being as I am a fair, honorable guy too (or try to be) if you impress me, everyone is going to know about that too, and I will make sure you get 10x value in good PR.
John Davis is a stand up guy. One of the damned few left.
I will post pics of these cues as they come together, and in a very few days, may have an opposite themed story about customer service from another experience with a different supplier. It should make for an interesting comparison in contrasts.
John Davis, buy with confidence. :thumbup:
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