SirBanksALot said:Consider yourself forgiven and good rep to you. You're obviously more than just another pretty face.
(Did you really do all that stuff to The Miz and Mike Siegel like Joey said
Only in my dreams
Good Cuemaking,
Most Arrogant Cuemaker???
- Thread starter FAST_N_LOOSE
- Start date
Only in my dreams
Good Cuemaking,
Since I don't work with too many cue-makers except for repairs, I must say I am totally amazed at how nice they have been to me when I called them with questions about old cues.
I have been contacted from out of the blue by Barry Szamboti (who sent me a lot of historic information), Pete Tascarella, Bill Stroud, Bill Schick, Joel Hercek, and many others. I found each cue maker to be extremely helpful and respectful, taking time out of their busy schedule to discuss things about cue making history.
In general, I have found cue makers to be a knowledgeable, friendly group of craftsman, who love making pool cues. They have to deal with a lot of difficult customers too.
Arrogance does not seem to be a big problem with cue makers. I've found most to be quite helpful and quite humble.
If I had to pinpoint a deficiency, I would say many are lacking in the organization and administrative skills necessary to maintain a structured delivery schedule, especially when working on many multiple projects. I see a lot of cue makers wasting their personal time on routine operations, when those could be done by less skilled helpers.
Chris
I have been contacted from out of the blue by Barry Szamboti (who sent me a lot of historic information), Pete Tascarella, Bill Stroud, Bill Schick, Joel Hercek, and many others. I found each cue maker to be extremely helpful and respectful, taking time out of their busy schedule to discuss things about cue making history.
In general, I have found cue makers to be a knowledgeable, friendly group of craftsman, who love making pool cues. They have to deal with a lot of difficult customers too.
Arrogance does not seem to be a big problem with cue makers. I've found most to be quite helpful and quite humble.
If I had to pinpoint a deficiency, I would say many are lacking in the organization and administrative skills necessary to maintain a structured delivery schedule, especially when working on many multiple projects. I see a lot of cue makers wasting their personal time on routine operations, when those could be done by less skilled helpers.
Chris
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Just ask yourself if the guy you are dealing with really deserves your business.
You got choices and money talks.
It is a correct assumption that people are reluctant to say any thing bad about someone else here for fear of being given bad rep points.
Rep points were intended to be a good thing but can be used as punishment also.
I can see no constructive reason for any cue maker to speak badly of another cue makers work. There is nothing wrong with pointing out the differences between your cue and another's but it should be done with the respectful understanding that the person you are talking to just might like the other one better for the exact reasons you do not.
If a cue maker does not think he is making a cue that is as good as any other (better than most) then he should stop kidding himself and do something else.
Some might see that as arrogance but it really is not.
You got choices and money talks.
It is a correct assumption that people are reluctant to say any thing bad about someone else here for fear of being given bad rep points.
Rep points were intended to be a good thing but can be used as punishment also.
I can see no constructive reason for any cue maker to speak badly of another cue makers work. There is nothing wrong with pointing out the differences between your cue and another's but it should be done with the respectful understanding that the person you are talking to just might like the other one better for the exact reasons you do not.
If a cue maker does not think he is making a cue that is as good as any other (better than most) then he should stop kidding himself and do something else.
Some might see that as arrogance but it really is not.
asiasdad said:
I often get asked to make a set of custom Joint Protectors for my cues.
I tell the person that a good set can be had for about $20 at the local pro shop.
If I spend the time to make a set the cost would be somewhere around $100
or more depending on the amount of work that it takes to make them.
I can understand people wanting matching custom Joint Protectors for their Custom cue
and if I were selling my cues in the thousand dollar range a matching set would be included.
asiasdad said:
THAT'S BECAUSE PAUL MOTTEY AND JAMES WHITE ARE TWO OF THE NICEST CLASSIEST GUYS IN THE BUSINESS. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG DEALING WITH THEM
I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH LAMBROS, BUT HAVE HEARD ENOUGH OTHER BAD STORIES THAT I NEVER PLANNED TO EITHER.
paulybatz said:
I dont have that problem at all....Mike Sigel, w/o question, was the most arrogant A$$ I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. Had a New, never chalked Sigel cue that had dozens of bubbles in the finish. I asked him to refinish it, he came back with a $500 quote, and proceeded to remind me of all his titles and accomplishments...blah blaj blah. His time is worth so much etc etc. what an A$$.
Every cuemaker I've dealt with has been exceptionally nice to me. One was definitely more arrogant than all the others, but he was still good to me.
A quick story about Wes Hunter, I bought one of his cues in the late 90's from the Billiard Factory in San Antonio. It's a beautiful cue that I still have. Anyway, one day I somehow scratched the ferrule pretty deep. I saw Wes at one of the tournaments in Austin and without comment, took the shaft back to Alamagordo and put a new ferrule and tip. Mailed the shaft back to me and never charged me a dime for anything. Service like this makes the greatest advertising. Word of mouth of an extremely happy customer.
Richard Black has done me right also. I asked him when he was building my split diamond black barron if he could find a very nice piece of birdseye maple as the foundation, he said he would look around his shop to see what he had. When I recieved the cue, it had a gorgeous piece of maple. I called to thank him for the cue and the wonderful work he did. He said I got the best piece in the shop. Whether it was true or not, it still made me feel like a valued customer.
Chad Carter is another example of real customer service. I bought one of his early cues from eBay and the finish wasn't the greatest. He admitted that during that period he was experimenting with different finishes and asked if I would send him the cue so he could put a new finish on it. he never charged me anything either. New finish and new wrap. The cue wasn't for me so I paid it forward and gave to a gentlemen on here was in college and had been shot resulting in him losing his part of his eyesight.
Jim
A quick story about Wes Hunter, I bought one of his cues in the late 90's from the Billiard Factory in San Antonio. It's a beautiful cue that I still have. Anyway, one day I somehow scratched the ferrule pretty deep. I saw Wes at one of the tournaments in Austin and without comment, took the shaft back to Alamagordo and put a new ferrule and tip. Mailed the shaft back to me and never charged me a dime for anything. Service like this makes the greatest advertising. Word of mouth of an extremely happy customer.
Richard Black has done me right also. I asked him when he was building my split diamond black barron if he could find a very nice piece of birdseye maple as the foundation, he said he would look around his shop to see what he had. When I recieved the cue, it had a gorgeous piece of maple. I called to thank him for the cue and the wonderful work he did. He said I got the best piece in the shop. Whether it was true or not, it still made me feel like a valued customer.
Chad Carter is another example of real customer service. I bought one of his early cues from eBay and the finish wasn't the greatest. He admitted that during that period he was experimenting with different finishes and asked if I would send him the cue so he could put a new finish on it. he never charged me anything either. New finish and new wrap. The cue wasn't for me so I paid it forward and gave to a gentlemen on here was in college and had been shot resulting in him losing his part of his eyesight.
Jim
I guess I've never experienced an arrogant cuemaker.
I've emailed with Dennis Searing a few times a year for years (just checking in) and he is always super friendly and nice.
I met Rick Howard when I was a young, broke, Airman living in Ft. Walton Beach FL. He practically gave me a cue, used to practice with me for hours, and had me out to his shop - just to hang out. Super smart, humble guy. If he had more "ego" he would probably have done more work promoting his cues - but he has always just made them, and let them promote themselves.
Tim Scruggs and Mike Cochran were super nice the time I went to their shop and bought a cue about 6 years ago (wow, was it that long?).
Steve Klein is kind of arrogant, and uppity but makes a super nice cue.........just kidding - just wondering if Steve will read this! Steve is as nice as they come, for a Navy puke.
When I went to Nashville late last year I talked to Alex Brick for quite a while, hung out in his shop, and tested out one of his cues. Jam up cues, and super nice guy. Seemed very down to earth, humble, and extremely knowledgeable.
I've emailed with Chris Byrne on here about a cue, that hopefully he can do for me some day, and he's an extremely nice gentleman - and very motivated.
I think for the most part, there are more "good" than "bad".......but the bad experiences make for the most interesting stories.
I've emailed with Dennis Searing a few times a year for years (just checking in) and he is always super friendly and nice.
I met Rick Howard when I was a young, broke, Airman living in Ft. Walton Beach FL. He practically gave me a cue, used to practice with me for hours, and had me out to his shop - just to hang out. Super smart, humble guy. If he had more "ego" he would probably have done more work promoting his cues - but he has always just made them, and let them promote themselves.
Tim Scruggs and Mike Cochran were super nice the time I went to their shop and bought a cue about 6 years ago (wow, was it that long?).
Steve Klein is kind of arrogant, and uppity but makes a super nice cue.........just kidding - just wondering if Steve will read this!
Steve is as nice as they come, for a Navy puke.When I went to Nashville late last year I talked to Alex Brick for quite a while, hung out in his shop, and tested out one of his cues. Jam up cues, and super nice guy. Seemed very down to earth, humble, and extremely knowledgeable.
I've emailed with Chris Byrne on here about a cue, that hopefully he can do for me some day, and he's an extremely nice gentleman - and very motivated.
I think for the most part, there are more "good" than "bad".......but the bad experiences make for the most interesting stories.
FAST_N_LOOSE said:
Bingo - because if you treat them well, and those kids get some cash, you know where they will spend it. At the items they've been allowed to look at and lust after for so long during their "lean" times. It is only good business, and most of all RIGHT.
Most arrogant cuemaker.
Yeah Matt, I'm reading the post. That will slide your next cue back a few months.
Hey atleast I'm mentioned with some really good cuemakers.
As Jimmy Buffet would say. I'm the son of a son of a sailor!
Matt_24 said:I guess I've never experienced an arrogant cuemaker.
I've emailed with Dennis Searing a few times a year for years (just checking in) and he is always super friendly and nice.
I met Rick Howard when I was a young, broke, Airman living in Ft. Walton Beach FL. He practically gave me a cue, used to practice with me for hours, and had me out to his shop - just to hang out. Super smart, humble guy. If he had more "ego" he would probably have done more work promoting his cues - but he has always just made them, and let them promote themselves.
Tim Scruggs and Mike Cochran were super nice the time I went to their shop and bought a cue about 6 years ago (wow, was it that long?).
Steve Klein is kind of arrogant, and uppity but makes a super nice cue.........just kidding - just wondering if Steve will read this!
When I went to Nashville late last year I talked to Alex Brick for quite a while, hung out in his shop, and tested out one of his cues. Jam up cues, and super nice guy. Seemed very down to earth, humble, and extremely knowledgeable.
I've emailed with Chris Byrne on here about a cue, that hopefully he can do for me some day, and he's an extremely nice gentleman - and very motivated.
I think for the most part, there are more "good" than "bad".......but the bad experiences make for the most interesting stories.
Yeah Matt, I'm reading the post. That will slide your next cue back a few months.
Hey atleast I'm mentioned with some really good cuemakers.As Jimmy Buffet would say. I'm the son of a son of a sailor!
I've had some interesting deals with various cuemakers throughout the years! Some of the makers I've dealt with have been nothing but good, and some have been stone cold a**holes, and some have been nice one time and bad the next. I guess they are all human!
I have had the pleasure of dealing with cuemakers that people thought were great that turned out bad and vice versa.
In general, I agree totally with Marcus on Mike Sigel. I had one of his ebony and ivory cues, which was actually fairly nice. I asked him to send me some info on the cue four different times and everytime I asked him, he acted like we'd never spoken (sure made me feel important). He asked me to send pictures and I wasted my time with him until I finally just decided to dump the cue. His wife, Renee, was a pleasure to talk to.
I had trouble with Tad Kohara one time, too (I know, Tad's the nicest guy on the planet). I had asked him to make a shaft for an early Tad cue. Everything was going well until he saw that someone had engraved Sam Yorty's name on the cue. Sam was an ex-mayor of LA and a pool player. I'm sure that someone had bought the cue for him and had his name engraved on the buttcap. Tad basically told me it was no longer "his work" because it had been altered. I tried to explain that there was no alteration, just someone making the cue personal (like signing a family Bible...it doesn't mean the signer is trying to alter it or claim credit for it!). Tad hung up on me! I called back and he hung up on me again! I really didn't even know what the deal was. I talked to his son Fred later and he made it sound like I'd slapped his dad or something. I explained what had transpired and Fred was a good guy and very understanding. All I wanted was a new shaft for a great cue. Now I don't ever see owning another Tad cue, which is a shame...
The first time I ever talked to Kerry Zeiler, I thought he might be the most arrogant cuemaker I'd ever dealt with. Once I realized how he is, I've really enjoyed talking to him. He calls a spade a spade, which is kind of refreshing in this PC day and age.
I think the funniest story of arrogance in cuemaking was told to me by one of the biggest collectors in the States. This guy buys more cues than God, and he said that he stopped by Russ Espiritu's booth at a trade show one day and got the bum's rush by one of Russ' relatives that was manning the booth. He cost Russ a bunch, to say the least!
I've dealt with some great guys in the business. It's a shame that some folks don't understand that a little personality goes a long way in this game, or how the lack of it can turn you off to a potential buyer (and everyone he or she talks to...). Bad business for everyone involved!
Steve
I have had the pleasure of dealing with cuemakers that people thought were great that turned out bad and vice versa.
In general, I agree totally with Marcus on Mike Sigel. I had one of his ebony and ivory cues, which was actually fairly nice. I asked him to send me some info on the cue four different times and everytime I asked him, he acted like we'd never spoken (sure made me feel important). He asked me to send pictures and I wasted my time with him until I finally just decided to dump the cue. His wife, Renee, was a pleasure to talk to.
I had trouble with Tad Kohara one time, too (I know, Tad's the nicest guy on the planet). I had asked him to make a shaft for an early Tad cue. Everything was going well until he saw that someone had engraved Sam Yorty's name on the cue. Sam was an ex-mayor of LA and a pool player. I'm sure that someone had bought the cue for him and had his name engraved on the buttcap. Tad basically told me it was no longer "his work" because it had been altered. I tried to explain that there was no alteration, just someone making the cue personal (like signing a family Bible...it doesn't mean the signer is trying to alter it or claim credit for it!). Tad hung up on me! I called back and he hung up on me again! I really didn't even know what the deal was. I talked to his son Fred later and he made it sound like I'd slapped his dad or something. I explained what had transpired and Fred was a good guy and very understanding. All I wanted was a new shaft for a great cue. Now I don't ever see owning another Tad cue, which is a shame...
The first time I ever talked to Kerry Zeiler, I thought he might be the most arrogant cuemaker I'd ever dealt with. Once I realized how he is, I've really enjoyed talking to him. He calls a spade a spade, which is kind of refreshing in this PC day and age.
I think the funniest story of arrogance in cuemaking was told to me by one of the biggest collectors in the States. This guy buys more cues than God, and he said that he stopped by Russ Espiritu's booth at a trade show one day and got the bum's rush by one of Russ' relatives that was manning the booth. He cost Russ a bunch, to say the least!
I've dealt with some great guys in the business. It's a shame that some folks don't understand that a little personality goes a long way in this game, or how the lack of it can turn you off to a potential buyer (and everyone he or she talks to...). Bad business for everyone involved!
Steve
pooldawg8 said:
When I attended my first Expo back in 2002 ( I think ) i was collecting autographs whoever I came across with one being Siegel. He didn't use the $20 for an autographed ball but he did say with a sigh "Ok, I'll sign for you even though I don't normally do this"
Gesh...like he's doing me some huge favor. I have not gone back to his table since then....
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I picked up a rare and expensive cue from a guy that bought it from an arrogant seller in Las Vegas a few years ago. He bought it just to show the guy that he could afford it, showing off for his buddies. He didn't want or need the cue. It started out like "you can't afford this cue" and after some banter, he whipped out 10K and bought it.
cutter said:Yeah Matt, I'm reading the post. That will slide your next cue back a few months.
As Jimmy Buffet would say. I'm the son of a son of a sailor!
You are a "really good cuemaker".
But you're still a no-good adrenalin junky, rocket riding, Navy puke.
Lately, your only adrenalin rush is if you have a lathe mishap.
Matt <-- Loves insulting retired Navy officers. Hope this doesn't slow my cue down even more.
in reply to the 10,000.00 cue buy
I had a little and somewhat scruffy man come to my booth 2 years ago , very shy and soft spokin! asked me a couple questions and thanked me for answering them.picked a cue on the table over 8000.00 and then asked if he can put 1200 on a card cause he didnt have that much cash! he told me he had been trying to buy a cue most of the morning and no one even aknowledged him. never judge people by apperance they will fool you most of the time. the other was a well dressed younger man that took up over 4 hrs over 3 days and let me know he was a big collector and the only cue he bought was a adams (new) 160.00 from another dealer , lol .I also heard another story where a cue maker told a very welthy collector on the site here, not to touch that cue you prolly couldnt afford it!
I had a little and somewhat scruffy man come to my booth 2 years ago , very shy and soft spokin! asked me a couple questions and thanked me for answering them.picked a cue on the table over 8000.00 and then asked if he can put 1200 on a card cause he didnt have that much cash! he told me he had been trying to buy a cue most of the morning and no one even aknowledged him. never judge people by apperance they will fool you most of the time. the other was a well dressed younger man that took up over 4 hrs over 3 days and let me know he was a big collector and the only cue he bought was a adams (new) 160.00 from another dealer , lol .I also heard another story where a cue maker told a very welthy collector on the site here, not to touch that cue you prolly couldnt afford it!