Meucci Medici Line of cues
- Thread starter Johnny9
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I doubt that they will be that collectible its made overseas so its probably out of Kao Kao, could be that the line wasn't up to par so bob cancelled it...
just a guess
They were junk from what I've seen of them. You could tell they were cheaply made and it seemed he hoped people would confuse the logo with a Meucci and think they were getting a deal. I've never shot with one, but if held alot of them and they looked very cheaply made.
The cues were built in China and suppose to have been finished in the USA. The quality of these cues was very very poor and in my opinion they were un-salable. I ordered a number of them for my business when they first came out and I returned the entire order because of poor quality.
JIMO
Hi, the funny thing is, the stock Medici shaft on my cue, at least for my game, is the best playing shaft I've ever played. And I've played almost everything out there. Yep, I'm playing with a Medici-1, and the rest of my stuff is for sale. Meucci won't even work on that line, sells absolutely no spare shafts or JPs for them, either. Bob has erased the line from the web, and his memory. Go figure..
The line was discontinued because the parties involved could not agree on the $ numbers.
The quality of the cues produced were better than Meucci's USA made production cues.
The distributer was quite happy to continue the Medici line as the quality was much better than the Meucci cues which they get from Meucci but as I said the parties involved in this three way weren't all getting the same satisfaction.
I am certain that I handled more of these cues throughout the development of them than anyone outside the factory.
The cues were built in a factory which has a less than 3% defect rate for all cues that they build. This factory is state of the art and has millions of pieces of wood stored, cut and graded just like the best cue makers do it. All of the shafts are hung just like you find in the cue shops of the best small cue makers.
Initially they did have some problems with some of the inlay designs that Meucci created - however on side by side comparison the cues were overall better than Meucci cues made in the USA. Quality of the cues was 100% not the issue here - just money.
Who is "he"?
The Medici line was conceived by Bob and a distributer for the sole reason of being able to bring in a lower cost cue under the Meucci stable. The same font was used on purpose to be the tie in.
As for them being junk I have to disagree with you here. Many people that are well in the know on Meucci cues felt that these cues were better, much better, than Made in USA Meucci cues.
I'd put up some serious money and bet on it in fact if we can send a random sampling to an independent and unbiased testing facility.
I guarantee you if the money was right and in Bob's favor then the Medici line would continue to be made.
I appreciate what seems to be accurate info, as I've been told, JB Cases, but why won't Meucci repair, service, or even sell a spare shaft for this line? I really wanted one, and yes, my cue is a fine example of the line, as you may have read earlier in my thread. This whole thing has left a very bad taste in Bob's mouth, due to the erasure of the line from Meucci's site, and apparently his memory. Can you help locate a shaft for a Medici-1? Thanks
Well, that's a decision that Meucci has to make. If it were me then I would certainly stand behind the products I did make I did even if I discontinued it later. The way I see it is that there is a certain number of cues out there which Meucci did endorse and they should stand behind them or they never should have let them get to the store shelves.
I wouldn't say that it's left a bad taste in Bob's mouth but I will say that he probably shouldn't be wrapping himself in the flag because if the numbers were what he wanted then the line would still be on the site and selling well.
I can't help you with a shaft for two reasons. One is that we don't carry Meucci cues and were not going to carry the Medici cues. Since this isn't a product that Sterling is involved in and in fact is a product that a direct competitor is involved in then I don't feel right doing any work to procure any parts for this cue.
My advice is to call the distributer and have them arrange for a spare shaft to be made and sent with their next shipment. I would be happy to sell you a shaft from our stock that may fit your cue but the joint rings would not match and so you would need to get someone else to do this.
I own 3 Meucci cues from when Meucci made good cues. One from 1992, 93, and 95. this is just my opinion, but also the right opinion. A buddy of mine ordered a medici cue online because he had shot with one of my meucci cues for a while, and liked it. Lets just say he was very disappointed when he shot with it. I have shot with one side by side with a real Meucci, and it is night and day. They are completely china made fisher price type cues. There is really no comparison. They are hot garbage. Its an all plastic handle section instead of wood with finish over wrap. If a person saw one in real life there is no way you could honestly say that you think it is better than a real Meucci. Come on now, are you serious?
I own 3 Meucci cues from when Meucci made good cues. One from 1992, 93, and 95. this is just my opinion, but also the right opinion. A buddy of mine ordered a medici cue online because he had shot with one of my meucci cues for a while, and liked it. Lets just say he was very disappointed when he shot with it. I have shot with one side by side with a real Meucci, and it is night and day. They are completely china made fisher price type cues. There is really no comparison. They are hot garbage. Its an all plastic handle section instead of wood with finish over wrap. If a person saw one in real life there is no way you could honestly say that you think it is better than a real Meucci. Come on now, are you serious?
The quality of the cues produced were better than Meucci's USA made production cues.
John this is completely untrue and either you are guessing or fabricating this statement I do not know which. I have been a dealer for Meucci cues since 2002 and that was before the Medici Line of cues were even conceived. When the series came out the prices were very good so I ordered a number of these cues along with another Meucci order, when the cues arrived I returned every one of the Medici Cues that were ordered because the quality was so bad I could not have sold them even at a discount. Around a year later I placed another order because I had been assured that the quality had improved, however the next group that came in were no better than the first group I ordered.
John I could careless how wonderful the factory is or how great the employees are, none of it really matters when the product produced is so poor. John glorifying products made in China is OK, but doing it because you have a personal stake in production there even when a product doesn't stand-up is wrong, and deceptive. John, Like I said above I don't know what the deal is, however, I hope that you just don't know the truth because the alternative to that is far worst.
I think everyone should take the time to do research before they post information to threads like these, I doubt anyone wants to cause another member to buy a product that is poorly made.
JIMO
i had the pleasure of spending many hours with BOB after he opened his new factory in BYHALIA, MS. BOB and i first met in 64 and i consider him a friend.
They had just recv'd a large shipment of the "medici's" from CHINA. i inspected (curiosity) a significant # and found fit and finish, attention to detail, etc. substandard to say the least.
i didn't hit a ball with any so i'll not address playability. BUT, i can ass u me.
Based on what i saw the "numbers" would of had to been REAL right in order to price them commenstruate with quality.
They had just recv'd a large shipment of the "medici's" from CHINA. i inspected (curiosity) a significant # and found fit and finish, attention to detail, etc. substandard to say the least.
i didn't hit a ball with any so i'll not address playability. BUT, i can ass u me.
Based on what i saw the "numbers" would of had to been REAL right in order to price them commenstruate with quality.
Thanks very much for Validating my comments, I just do not understand why some one would intentionally mislead others about a product. Far to many people who are forum members do not have the money to find that a product is substandard.
Have a great night
Well,
As they say in every breakup story, there are three sides, his side, her side and what really happened.
I talked with the factory owner about it yesterday just to be sure and he assured me that the quality was not the issue. He further reiterated that the distributer, Cuestix was very pleased with the quality in direct comparison to the Meucci cues that they sell. The direct quote was that "of 50 Meucci cues received, 40 have to be sent back."
I find it funny though that this same factory in China produces a large number of brands which are used every day without complaint. On this forum one can find glowing testimonials (and to be fair some negative reviews as well) of these brands of cues made in the same facility.
However Adam I will acknowledge your personal testimony as to the "other" side of the coin and say that it's probably somewhere in the middle.
John
JOHN,
A case manufactured to the quality level, or lack thereof, of the "medici" cues i saw would NEVER leave your factory.
He further reiterated that the distributer, Cuestix was very pleased with the quality in direct comparison to the Meucci cues that they sell. The direct quote was that "of 50 Meucci cues received, 40 have to be sent back."
John you are making another false statement here, the Medici Line was not made solely for Cuestick, and they certainly were not the sole distributer for these cues, these cues were offered directly to all their dealers by Meucci.
John, Adam is completely on target with his comments please do not start back peddling now, you have been called by numerous forum members on your comments in this thread at this point your credibility is in question.
Oh and by the way, John I do not care that I am on ignore the rest of the forum will read my comments and that is all that is important!!
Good Night John!!
I have no personal stake in Medici cues. The company I work for has no financial stake in the cues.
In fact we are happy to see one less competing brand of cues on the market.
I am not discounting the experience you say you had. You are a discerning individual who has strong opinions on what quality should be. We have had "discussions" about our relative opinions on quality several times. Let's leave it at the fact that you and I see the world differently on several levels.
However I have also been in this business for more than 20 years. I know cues from Adams to Zinzola. Have traveled the world and spent more time in more cue maker's shops and factories than just about anyone I know. While I am not a cue maker I feel that my experience as a player, and seller of cues, coupled with my friendships with many top cue makers, is qualification enough to remark on this subject.
I have owned and played with many Meucci cues as well as sold them.
It just so happens that I was present during the time when Bob came to China and the Medici/Meucci connection was born. As I stated my assistant was lent to Bob for the time he was here to do the translations. I coached my assistant for several days helping him to learn all about Meucci and cues in general so as to be able to understand Bob if technical terms were used.
So enough about my qualifications for being in this particular discussion.
The fact is based on my own experience the Medici cues produced here were as good or better than most Meucci cues that I have ever owned, played with or held. This applies to all the ones I saw here which were completely finished.
Now, having said that I did not perform quality control inspections on the cues in bulk because this is not our product. So I will grant that it's entirely possible that you received cues which did not meet your standards. I did not say that the Medici cues met my standards either.
I said that they are as good or better than currently produced made in USA Meucci cues in my opinion. And this was the opinion of at least one other party to this three way deal. (of which I have no financial stake in).
I inspect our brands thoroughly and as I have said many times in the past I will certainly bet on the outcome when we send our brands to an independent lab for testing against any other brand no matter where it's made. I am standing up for the factory here.
If the cues were as bad as you say they are then I have to ask you why were they sent to you in the first place?
The factory didn't do that. If it were Sterling then we would have shipped the cues back to China.
In fact we just did ship 2000 Fury cues back to China two years ago. About 500 of them were cues that had come in with problems or were returned to us with problems. The other 1500 were old stock that the factory asked us to send back so that they could replace them with the newer cues made using the new production methods. So Kao Kao stands behind it's work and if something gets to the dealer or consumer which is substandard then it's the fault of the distributer or the importing manufacturer/brand owner, Meucci in this case.
You state that you received two batches about a year apart. I will have to check the timelines on the production and see where the factory was at in regards to the production since inception until now. Since I know I need to repeat this for you I don't have ANY stake in this brand so I am completely unfamiliar with the production schedule.
I will report back with the timelines to verify your recollection once I confirm the production schedules with the factory.
The last word on this for me would be the personal testimony of the thread started Johnny9 who says that the quality is great. However I don't know what Johnny9's experience level is to be able to know what he has ever had to compare his current cue to.
Just like a lot of folks with no experience in what really good leather work will gush at anything carved in a piece of leather and made long enough to hold a cue. To them what they are saying is true that the case is the "best ever". So I am with you, go out and find out for yourself. Learn what good is in cues and cases and then make your own judgement.
Here I am giving you my opinion based on my experience and you are doing the same.
The original poster wanted to know why the line is discontinued - I told him based on my information. I can't do any more than that.
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