I currently own a Dennis Swift 3x6 and had it for a couple of years. I am in the Market for something New.
I have a Few Necessity's
#1 Should be able to Stand on its Own. I like to Put my cues in my case while I Play to Avoid Damage.
#2 Jump Cue Pocket
#3 Reasonable Price
I thought I had something worked out recently but he wanted FULL PAYMENT before anything was started. I Don't mind putting a Good Faith payment to Begin.
Any HELP would be appriciated!!!!
Thanks
If you asked us then we would have said we don't start custom cases until we have payment in full. I have had several cases that are not sellable where I took deposits or even worse no payment at all and got stiffed when the customer disappeared. Some of them were rescued to some degree when we could take them apart and build a new case, still losing money on the deal. Some are just collecting dust.
I think any custom case maker who builds without being paid in full is foolish. Unlike a cue a custom case generally is built with a lot of personalization and personal tastes and therefore hard or even impossible to sell if something happens to the customer.
We are sometimes too slow on delivery but I'd rather we be slow and working on the order than having a case sitting here taking up space that we spent time and effort on which isn't paid for and I have to chase the customer for the money. That time can never be fully recovered.
We do custom that is far and above what everyone else does when you take into account all the configurations we offer, all the color combinations, all the decorative options, interior colors, interior customization etc... and we rarely charge extra for the consultation time to design the case.
A stock Rugged for example costs say $230 for 3x6 in two colors. Getting one like it with custom color configuration, name, and extras can be had for $250 and up.
An example of major custom work - paid in advance. The customer ends up with a case that is very meaningful to him done just the way he wanted it done. No way was I going to start this case without being paid in advance.
Price for all this - $695
3x6 two tone - $220
White zipper pulls - $10
White stitching $10
Ball holder in lid - $25
Pocket Organizer Tray - $25
Leather Shoulder Pads - $20ea.
Tooled and handpainted name on shoulder pads - $30ea.
sports team logos embroidered on pockets - $35ea.
personal drawing embroidered on pocket - $50
Name embroidered on the side - $60
Leather lid with hand tooled initials - $20
Feel free to take this to any other case maker and see what they would charge.
I have been burned so many times chasing money on orders that I would rather not take an order if the customer isn't willing to pay in advance. I apologize if this offends anyone - and yes I understand "cuemaker time" and yes, we owe some customers cases that have been waiting too long - still we deliver hundreds of cases a year on time and to the customer's specifications. Just a little information from one maker's perspective.
