Speaking as some one who lives in close proximity to the meucci factory and has encountered " obvious " racism both personally and viewed it on social media " television " in this area quite a few times since i moved here I believe you are taking that guys statements way out of context.
Meucci factory tour
- Thread starter tduncan
- Start date
Speaking as some one who lives in close proximity to the meucci factory and has encountered " obvious " racism both personally and viewed it on social media " television " in this area quite a few times since i moved here I believe you are taking that guys statements way out of context.
The reason I brought up the color of the skin on the workers, is there were comments in this thread that the factory looked like a "sweat shop". To me, a sweat shop has always meant illegal immigrants working for a shop, getting paid significantly less than the standard wage for their work, working super long hours, and being paid under the table. IDK if that is what is happening here, but I would not bet on it
And I don't think its fair to call the shop a sweat shop if basing that judgment on the color of the skin of the employees.One thing that really stood out to me in the video is Bob looks proud as a pig in sh!t about his factory and cues. That right there is probably the root cause of the history of poor quality cues since forever. If he thinks everything about his products is jam up, then why would he change anything?
The reason I brought up the color of the skin on the workers, is there were comments in this thread that the factory looked like a "sweat shop". To me, a sweat shop has always meant illegal immigrants working for a shop, getting paid significantly less than the standard wage for their work, working super long hours, and being paid under the table. IDK if that is what is happening here, but I would not bet on it
One thing that really stood out to me in the video is Bob looks proud as a pig in sh!t about his factory and cues. That right there is probably the root cause of the history of poor quality cues since forever. If he thinks everything about his products is jam up, then why would he change anything?
Its all good, I was just making counter points per our conversation. My main point is for my money there are US cue builders that are much better options. I owned Muecci cues a long time ago and the original cues were good, but the cues now are not as good. MHO
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Typical Meucci bashing by people who probably have never used a Meucci, much less owned one in the last 20 years.
BTW, McDermott's video is a joke. Why don't they show their Chinese production facilities where most of their cues come from? I bet you'd see some interesting stuff on a surprise visit there.
If slick advertising is all you fall for - buy VW Diesel cars. Their ads were nice, weren't they?
P.S.: Ever had a look at the McDermott lifetime warranty? http://www.mcdermottcue.com/mcdermott_pool_cue_warranty.php
I really wonder if there is any defect they wouldn't find a way out of with that kind of legal nothingness.
BTW, McDermott's video is a joke. Why don't they show their Chinese production facilities where most of their cues come from? I bet you'd see some interesting stuff on a surprise visit there.
If slick advertising is all you fall for - buy VW Diesel cars. Their ads were nice, weren't they?
P.S.: Ever had a look at the McDermott lifetime warranty? http://www.mcdermottcue.com/mcdermott_pool_cue_warranty.php
I really wonder if there is any defect they wouldn't find a way out of with that kind of legal nothingness.
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I have owned several Meucci cues, they were the biggest name in cues in the 80s-90s. I also could name several other companies that put out better products. Look no further than Joss, OB, Schon, McDermott, and even Viking with there disco styling.
So, you haven't owned a Meucci in the past 10 years? I have a (1 yo) McDermott for my guests, it wasn't even worth the $100+ I paid for it. Some honest Chinese cues for less than half the price are way better. Does that mean anything? Would that qualify me to put down all McD cues ever made? I had a Joss which I considered to be unplayable. Does it qualify me saying all Joss cues are junk?
I do have a few Meuccis and all of their newer shafts. Only problem I ever had was a slight warpage in a Black Dot. The only other production cue I would consider buying is a Schon.
So would I tell other people their cues are crap? No, never. Even if I considered some of them to be junk. This is a personal thing, you like the hit, or you don't.
The only real objective point against a certain cuemaker would be massive and recurring quality defects and I haven't seen more in recent Meuccis than in practically all other production cues I had in my hands and which have been reported here. There are always some warped shafts (and sometimes even butts), some less than perfect finish and so on. Predator's lack of service after they sold you a defective cue is legendary over here and there are others around. I wonder why Meucci is always getting the bashing when there are only very few to none "close to perfect" cuemakers.
I do have a few Meuccis and all of their newer shafts. Only problem I ever had was a slight warpage in a Black Dot. The only other production cue I would consider buying is a Schon.
So would I tell other people their cues are crap? No, never. Even if I considered some of them to be junk. This is a personal thing, you like the hit, or you don't.
The only real objective point against a certain cuemaker would be massive and recurring quality defects and I haven't seen more in recent Meuccis than in practically all other production cues I had in my hands and which have been reported here. There are always some warped shafts (and sometimes even butts), some less than perfect finish and so on. Predator's lack of service after they sold you a defective cue is legendary over here and there are others around. I wonder why Meucci is always getting the bashing when there are only very few to none "close to perfect" cuemakers.
I never said they are crap, I said there are better options from US cue makers for the same money (IMO). This forum is about sharing opinions. I welcome yours even if you do not agree with mine. Thanks
There are no McDermott cues being made in China.
As some have said.
They do import a couple of sub brands that are made there.And you get what you pay for with those.
And as to the quality of Meucci cues i cant speak for the ones being made now in their sweat shop but the one I had in the mid '80s warped in 6 months.
The 9 year old Lucasi i have rolls straight and the finish looks as good as it did new.
The 14 year old Chinese cue makers do a fine job.
As some have said.
They do import a couple of sub brands that are made there.And you get what you pay for with those.
And as to the quality of Meucci cues i cant speak for the ones being made now in their sweat shop but the one I had in the mid '80s warped in 6 months.
The 9 year old Lucasi i have rolls straight and the finish looks as good as it did new.
The 14 year old Chinese cue makers do a fine job.
The "Lucky" and "Star" cues are made in China. And they're labelled McD. I have one of those for my guests and it clearly has the McD label on it. They are even shown on their factory homepage, obviously you can't find a "Made in China". The only guess you can make is that their top cues are made in USA, some of them being labelled "American made".
If they were a pure US operation, they should separate their low-end stuff. Meucci does not sell Chinese cheapies, at least I never heard such a rumor.
BTW, not all Chinese made cues are junk. I am less than happy with the McDermott Lucky L28 I got, though. It makes funny noises when you hit the ball (probably the ferrule is not tight enough on the cue or whatever - haven't found out what that is. And the lacquer is really not good at all, a 1/2"by 1/2" piece of it already popped off. For over $100 I don't expect a perfect hitting cue but at least something without such defects. For my guests I did not want to buy a $500 cue or above.
Do you even know what an "actual" sweat shop is? A good friend of mine used to be in the gift business. From time-2-time he traveled to Asia where 99.99999% of all gift-related stuff is made. He showed me pics he took while there. Now, THAT was a sweat-shop. Underage workers toiling away in really sh*^*y conditions. Meucci's shop may be a mess but its far from a sweatshop(except during a Miss.summer). BTW, i had a early Lucasi(pre-Uniloc w/5/16x14 pin) that the ringwork popped on in less than a year. They make nice cues but they're not immune from mistakes.
That is why you should NOT assume. Sweat shop is NOT anything to do with race. There are sweat shops where white folks work too. I've seen them.
Usually, they are poorly ventilated places, dirty, dingy and behind the times in terms of safety and anything else. No fans, no A/C, very few windows, whatever. Sweat shops pay under the table or over the table, there is not one or the other.
Does this quality as a sweat shop? Probably not, but it's a term used to describe crappy places even if not dead on accurate, just a bit of literary license to get your point across. You know, like I work for the devil type of stuff.
OK. I am not sure I understand that. Sort of like saying there is orange peel in the paint on your new car but it is evenly distributed all over so you have no complaints on quality.
But you like your shaft and that is what is important. :smile:
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I agree. Schmelke for the same money puts out a great product. Made in WI and they do solid work. Very few complaints from anyone that has bought one. I have several other cues, but in tourneys I usually take the Schmelke cause I don't have to worry about it.
Plus, when I dropped it at an angle on concrete, I Gorilla glued it right back to normal. Oh, you can see both glue lines running from the butt to the wrap, but that is part of it's charm now... battle scars
Anyone catch time frame making shaft cuts? Cut & rest 5 days then end product ready at end of month. No way those shafts stay straight.
Are you an expert? If you're using cured wood (before you cut) that should be perfectly sufficient.
I could write a book about some azzhats and back stabbing sumb#tches I have worked for.
I dont know which one was worse of the half dozen that come to mind. One of the biggest azzhats is one that threatened to fire an employee if he did not correct a job on his own time that was not his fault. The employee did the work and after he was not paid for those 2 days he went to the labor board. The manager told the labor board it was a clerical error the man did not get paid and he paid his short days the next week. I had my own run ins with him but not like this instance.
Have owned custom cues from all the "great" cue makers (past/present) but I always come back to my Meucci. I like the taper of the shaft, the balance of the cue when it is in my hand, the fact that the linen wrap is finished over (feels like a house cue) and the action I can get on the cue ball.
Presently using a Meucci cue with a black dot shaft (the earlier shafts had their share of problems) and it shoots great. Have experimented with several weights (from 18oz through 21oz) and find that 19.70 oz works for me.
If you haven't tried one lately...give it a shot. It might surprise you.
Presently using a Meucci cue with a black dot shaft (the earlier shafts had their share of problems) and it shoots great. Have experimented with several weights (from 18oz through 21oz) and find that 19.70 oz works for me.
If you haven't tried one lately...give it a shot. It might surprise you.
Meucci are great playing cues. Obviously it works even with the so called horrible conditions.