Kevin Varney news....
- Thread starter Varney Cues
- Start date
Roadkill said:
For 15 years I never took a single dime for a deposit on a cue. For the last 3 years or so I now only build custom, made to a customers specs completely. I now take a 25 or 50.00 deposit just because I have to discount the cue if the buyer backs out as I can't ask a customer to by a cue already made for the same price that I would charge him if I built it completely custom for him.
I have found that often, a cue maker who charges high deposits is doing it because he needs the money to live on and is always trying to get more sales so as to get the deposits. I have found that in most cases, the larger the deposit - the longer it takes to complete the cue, if it ever gets completed. If I still was building cues just for regular sale, I still wouldn't charge a deposit unless it was for something unusual such as a persons name engraved into the cue. Then I would only get the deposit immediately before such engraving and after the purchaser had a chance to inspect the work completed to that point.
As far as "cue makers" time, as some people like to put it, I feel it is a disgrace to the profession. It gives all cue makers a bad name for the few who are so greedy that they over book and lie to their potential customers to get the sale. The minute that a cue maker is described the cue that the potential customer wants built a cue maker should know the day that it will be completed or he is totally inept and should be in another business. The cue maker knows how many other cues that he has to build, already ordered, and how much material he has on hand to complete the job and he certainly should know how many hours he will have invested in the cue as he just gave a price based on that knowledge. What is left? Short of his shop burning down or he falls down the steps and breaks all three arms, there is little room for excuses. An A joint may warp or something similar may happen in a great while so that the cue needs to be start over but if the builder uses proper techniques and good material this should be a very rare occurrence. Also, your semi-recommendation to give longer build time estimates and then getting the job done sooner is the policy that I've used for 40 years. It is always a very rare occurrence for me to be late delivering a cue. They are almost always completed early. If the customer doesn't mind waiting 4 months for a cue to be built then he is elated when it comes in a month ahead of time. I try to keep my customers "elated".
By the way, there has been a long discussion on the "cue builders forum" over this very same issue over Eddie Wheat's practices.
Dick
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Theres nothing at all wrong with accepting a reasonable amount of earnest
money as deposit.
What is wrong though, is the recipient mishandling that money.
That money is offered and accepted, trusting that the seller does what he says he will do and that the buyer does likewise.
If you look back on this very forum it's happened many times over that a buyer becomes unhappy for one reason or another and insists on a refund. On many occasion what they get instead is the run around cause the seller doesn't have the money to give back.
That isn't limited to cuemakers by the way.
This current attitude of asking for large deposits or paying 100% up front is bull caca. Thats like turning a young kid loose with a credit card. The money gets spent, the work doesn't go out the door or is late in being done, Peter gets robbed to pay Paul, then somebody gets sore.
money as deposit.
What is wrong though, is the recipient mishandling that money.
That money is offered and accepted, trusting that the seller does what he says he will do and that the buyer does likewise.
If you look back on this very forum it's happened many times over that a buyer becomes unhappy for one reason or another and insists on a refund. On many occasion what they get instead is the run around cause the seller doesn't have the money to give back.
That isn't limited to cuemakers by the way.
This current attitude of asking for large deposits or paying 100% up front is bull caca. Thats like turning a young kid loose with a credit card. The money gets spent, the work doesn't go out the door or is late in being done, Peter gets robbed to pay Paul, then somebody gets sore.
Rocket354 said:
i just wanted to bump this up for Rocket. maybe if enough of us keep bumping this quote he can get out of this trap!
TellsItLikeItIs said:
While cue makers have a responsibility to be honest and forthright with production times, it is apparent that more than half of the polled people on this forum have had delivery problems.
What happens if a cuemaker receives a deposit on a CUSTOM cue and the customer finds a "great bargain" next month at the next trade show or he buys one of those expensive slightly, used cues at half the price the cuemakers charge (you know, the stolen ones) and then decides that he doesn't want this expensive custom cue that is being built and still on order.
You can't have the consumer changing his mind (for whatever reason)after you have already started work on the cue AND GIVE HIM HIS DEPOSIT BACK.
I no longer have a need to give my cuemaker a deposit as he has built 3 cues for me and knows that my word is my bond, no matter what the cost of the cue. That understandibly is not true for new customers and it wasn't originally for me, either.
(And just because I am good for the money, it doesn't mean my cue gets produced on
schedule. :-(
Things happen, cues don't always turn out perfect and sometimes have to be re-done or modified.)
JoeyA (not making excuses for cuemakers, I'm just sayin'.)
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JoeyA said:
agreed good post . i would do it the same way and i would make it clear that custom work takes custom time lines and if they did not like that idea then i would tell them im not running a check and go refund business im running a custom cue business and to go elsewhere.
Roadkill said:
agreed . kinda like do not be an ass to the folks at a drive thru while you are waiting for your food ROFL . and never act ugly to anyone who handles your food . im just saying
Read everything before you post. Communication is the problem. Promises made and not being kept is the problem. Him saying a cue is done and ready to ship and it is two months later and the buyer still doesn't have it is the problem. People paid in full and can't get a simple update of why their cue is 6 months late when it was promised in 90 days is the problem.Roadkill said:
BVal
Did you ever answer my question? The yes or no question I proposed to you.ericdraven said:agreed . kinda like do not be an ass to the folks at a drive thru while you are waiting for your food ROFL . and never act ugly to anyone who handles your food . im just saying
Would you conduct your business the way Kevin conducts his?
Remember YES or NO is all that needs to be said.
BVal
Roadkill said:
4 posts total and 3 are in this thread with one of those posts trying to direct the talk away from Varney by talking badly about another cuemaker. Am I the only one that can see the forest through the trees?
Thanks Joey. Good post. Rep to ya.JoeyA said:While cue makers have a responsibility to be honest and forthright with production times, it is apparent that more than half of the polled people on this forum have had delivery problems.
I don't know how accurate your "half" is. What I do know though, is there are thousands of cues built that the transaction goes very smooth. The maker does what he says he will as does the buyer. Unfortunately, here we read more about the bad deals.
What happens if a cuemaker receives a deposit on a CUSTOM cue and the customer finds a "great bargain" next month at the next trade show or he buys one of those expensive slightly, used cues at half the price the cuemakers charge (you know, the stolen ones) and then decides that he doesn't want this expensive custom cue that is being built and still on order.
If he knowingly buys one of "the stolen ones" his butt needs to go to jail just like the thief should. If he changes his mind, he should talk wih the cuemaker. Geez, we're human too. We understand stuff happens. The cue could always be sold and the customer refunded from the proceeds. All this is something that should be agreed upon before the deal is struck. Can you say "Written Agreement"
You can't have the consumer changing his mind (for whatever reason)after you have already started work on the cue AND GIVE HIM HIS DEPOSIT BACK. Agreed.
I no longer have a need to give my cuemaker a deposit as he has built 3 cues for me and knows that my word is my bond, no matter what the cost of the cue. That understandibly is not true for new customers and it wasn't originally for me, either.I have customers just like you. I've worked for them for yers and would not hesitate in building for them based only on a call or email. No deposit required and no $$ limit. Ive also had customers in the past that I wouldn't work for at five times the money. Just like any business relationship, it sometimes needs to be a trusting thing but the trust needs to be well placed
(And just because I am good for the money, it doesn't mean my cue gets produced on
schedule. :-( Possibly not, but if your cue was first in the door it should be first out the door.[/COLOR]
Things happen, cues don't always turn out perfect and sometimes have to be re-done or modified.Yes, things do happen. In cues and in life. Just because thing s happen though, that doesn't mean the communication line needs to be broken. )
JoeyA (not making excuses for cuemakers, I'm just sayin'.)
Ive dealt with the man. I would trust him with my check book full of signed checks and I think he communicates very well. Can you say that about your cuemaker?Roadkill said:
