LACthe3rd
Member
Update!!
I was on the fence about a transaction I had with Mike Bender. The reason I was on the fence was because I’m not a person who goes online and complains or tries to ruin anyone’s reputation but I guess there’s a first for everything. You can check any other online profile I have and I don’t post much of anything. I usually stay away from the people I’ve had bad experiences with but this time I have to say something especially since everyone has come to a general consensus on this.
I sent out a cue to Mike to have a repair, refinish, and a new shaft made in the beginning of February 2023. I was told the cue would be back to me in 3 months which is fair because the repair was substantial, and he most likely had other stuff he was working on. So, 4 months go by with no communication, and I finally text him June 1st. He told me he had not started on it and would get to it next week.
So, I didn't bug him because I didn't need the cue until November as I was going to give the cue away. Another 5 months go by again with no communication, and I checked back in with him in October and let him know I needed it done before November 4th which he said it would be done. A few days later I send him the payment and I eventually get my cue however once I opened the package and I realized the finish was cracked so I immediately text him with pictures and he says to send it back so he can refinish it again. Of course, I ask him when I could expect to have the cue back and he says before Christmas.
Christmas passes and I text him in the beginning of January and get no response. A few days later I give him a call and he can't talk but at least tells me that he's started on it, and it should be done next week. Once again, I don't bother him because at this point I no longer need the cue since I had to give the person who was the receive the cue a different gift. Another 4 more months go by with no communication and I reach out to finally hear that he is going to ship the cue out but of course that was delayed by two weeks, but the cue made it June 2024.
Here's the part that pisses me off the most, when I ordered the shaft, it was supposed to be 30 inches and I paid a few dollars extra for a precision tip, but I didn't get either of those things. He sent a 29-inch shaft with a wizard tip. Also, the finish was lifting in a few spots but at this point I was not going to reach out because the last thing I wanted to do was deal with this person. After all was said and done, I waited a year and 5 months for an unacceptable product. I could have been harsher about all the delays, but I was trying to be a good customer and not bug this person every other week. In his defense I totally could have reached back out to him about to see if he would rectify the mistakes he made but why would I after all that nonsense?
I want to thank everyone who gave a useful opinion/ advice. This is the experience I had dealing with Mike Bender and it’s unfortunate because until I had this experienced, I thought he was this amazing cue maker who was talented enough to have a cue in the Smithsonian. The reality of the situation is he has no communication and will not adhere to the timeline he initially gives. As you can see, I was as patient as could be but I would be doing everyone a disservice if he’s not named. For those who would like to come to his defense and say well he must have had stuff going on, that’s a completely fair point however it doesn’t take but two seconds to send a text letting me know. I would have been completely okay had he just kept me updated but he didn’t.
For those who are thinking about doing any kind of business with Mike, just consider my experience. I’m not saying don’t go to him but if you do, this might be some of the stuff you’ll have to deal with.
Screenshot and Photos
I was on the fence about a transaction I had with Mike Bender. The reason I was on the fence was because I’m not a person who goes online and complains or tries to ruin anyone’s reputation but I guess there’s a first for everything. You can check any other online profile I have and I don’t post much of anything. I usually stay away from the people I’ve had bad experiences with but this time I have to say something especially since everyone has come to a general consensus on this.
I sent out a cue to Mike to have a repair, refinish, and a new shaft made in the beginning of February 2023. I was told the cue would be back to me in 3 months which is fair because the repair was substantial, and he most likely had other stuff he was working on. So, 4 months go by with no communication, and I finally text him June 1st. He told me he had not started on it and would get to it next week.
So, I didn't bug him because I didn't need the cue until November as I was going to give the cue away. Another 5 months go by again with no communication, and I checked back in with him in October and let him know I needed it done before November 4th which he said it would be done. A few days later I send him the payment and I eventually get my cue however once I opened the package and I realized the finish was cracked so I immediately text him with pictures and he says to send it back so he can refinish it again. Of course, I ask him when I could expect to have the cue back and he says before Christmas.
Christmas passes and I text him in the beginning of January and get no response. A few days later I give him a call and he can't talk but at least tells me that he's started on it, and it should be done next week. Once again, I don't bother him because at this point I no longer need the cue since I had to give the person who was the receive the cue a different gift. Another 4 more months go by with no communication and I reach out to finally hear that he is going to ship the cue out but of course that was delayed by two weeks, but the cue made it June 2024.
Here's the part that pisses me off the most, when I ordered the shaft, it was supposed to be 30 inches and I paid a few dollars extra for a precision tip, but I didn't get either of those things. He sent a 29-inch shaft with a wizard tip. Also, the finish was lifting in a few spots but at this point I was not going to reach out because the last thing I wanted to do was deal with this person. After all was said and done, I waited a year and 5 months for an unacceptable product. I could have been harsher about all the delays, but I was trying to be a good customer and not bug this person every other week. In his defense I totally could have reached back out to him about to see if he would rectify the mistakes he made but why would I after all that nonsense?
I want to thank everyone who gave a useful opinion/ advice. This is the experience I had dealing with Mike Bender and it’s unfortunate because until I had this experienced, I thought he was this amazing cue maker who was talented enough to have a cue in the Smithsonian. The reality of the situation is he has no communication and will not adhere to the timeline he initially gives. As you can see, I was as patient as could be but I would be doing everyone a disservice if he’s not named. For those who would like to come to his defense and say well he must have had stuff going on, that’s a completely fair point however it doesn’t take but two seconds to send a text letting me know. I would have been completely okay had he just kept me updated but he didn’t.
For those who are thinking about doing any kind of business with Mike, just consider my experience. I’m not saying don’t go to him but if you do, this might be some of the stuff you’ll have to deal with.
Screenshot and Photos
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. I could have been harsher about all the delays, but I was trying to be a good customer and not bug this person every other week not that it would have made a difference. What are your thoughts? Sorry for the rant.
