The cues in the pictures actually do look like there are quite some flaws aesthetically when looked close. Yes, it's a tough crowd to please here there's no denying.
When i read Nick's review i was actually quite shocked with the incredibly short review considering you chose to send him your cue, however after going through the pictures i realised(or felt that IMHO) that he was really just being polite in the review as he might have felt obligated to considering you did send him your cue.
I'm not being rude here, just honest opinion and i hope you can take it with a pinch of salt.
I'm sure for $200 that's quite alot of cue, however i think you have failed to see the most important aspect/inputs of this thread. I'll list point forms for you so that you can easily identity:
1)
Cracks
How did this happen? You need to investigate and find a reason, whether it's the MC(moisture content) of the wood being too high before finishing goes on? Or that the finishing used is too "brittle", this i've never heard of though. The point is it doesn't matter if the cue left your hands straight and pretty, what's important is that the end consumer got a bad product, and as a seller you NEED to be responsible for it. I understand you're not the cue maker in this case or the courier service but you definitely need to investigate this matter and resolve this otherwise i can assure you that you won't be able to sell any cues on this forum. If it's caused by transportation that you've learned something and you can pack it better next time. If it's from cue manufacturing then you need to find a way to work it out with your cuemaker.
2)
Details
What's the black stuff around all your inlays? You need to answer this. For most of the inlays these black stuff seems off and not precise making it relatively unsightly and personally and eyesore.
3)
Cue Roll
What is the cause? Again you need to investigate just like the cracks.
4)
Delivery Returns
Solve points 1 & 3, think about how you would work out your return policies. What kind of guarantees are you going to provide? Not happy with cue 100% refund except shipping and buyer pays all shipping? 100% on you if your cue warps? I'm not suggesting a policy for you i'm just saying you need to set this policies in place rather than going on and on about the cue being $200 and not $2000. Your problem now is that your review piece has so many problems and nobody's comfortable with buying a cue that way.
Please stop saying it's $200 and not $2000...and your margins do not permit a full return. Really this is the statement that is ticking people off. I don't believe you've ever done sales or marketing before if you're saying this. If i have to spend $1, i spend $1's worth.
What you need to do now AND Systematically is to resolve the first 3 issues that i have mentioned with point 1 & 3 being key priority since those are the immediate deal breakers. Then work out your return policy.
These are real concerns based on the cue that was received.
Look, it is not up to you to decide that $200 is a small amount to pay, it is up to your potential buyer. If $200 is loose change to your potential buyer that he is rich enough to do so, then again if anybody who feels $200 is lose change i doubt he'll be buying a $200 cue. So in another words your target market are the budget conscious individual therefore they need security in spending that $200.
If i need to give away $200 because it's small money i'd do charity work (makes me feel good) or $200 worth of lottery with chances of winning millions.
The logic is simple. If you go to a supermarket and buy some item worth $2, you bring it home and as soon as you open the package you realise that it's damaged and not what it should be. Would you be happy if the representative of the supermarket told you it's only $2 buddies, chill and live with it? Or that the rep said that it's not the supermarket's fault cos they didn't make the product? The correct way to deal with the matter would be to pacify the customer, stop selling the product, contact supplier and have supplier solve the problem. As to who should absorb they $2 well that's between supermarket and supplier, right?
Btw $200 can buy some good cues, albeit not as fancy.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=248849 <--this cue cost $229 and is made in the U.S.
http://www.seyberts.com/catalog/Pool_Cues_100_200-10432.html <--pool cues between $100-$200 delivered CONUS with from a reputable online store with excellent return policies.
This forum can certainly help you with your sales and it's absolutely free, but inorder to survive you need to handle all your situations well. Being impatient or pissy isn't going to help your cause 'cos you did chose a free platform to market your product where anybody can have a say. It's how you handle all these issues and queries or even unreasonable clients that is going to help you rake in sales.
I'm not here to diss your products or attack you and i hope you do not feel that way, if i've in anyway sounded rude i apologise. My intentions are simply to highlight points you didn't address or see and possibly help you mediate the situation a little.
