Predator, please remove your head from your down south...

Michael Webb said:
It's not complicated at all except, a lot of people only have 1 shaft and why? In todays age of Cue making and especially Cue repair. Why should you have to ship your shaft anywhere?
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I second this. Predator has some very customer unfriendly policies.

I install tips. I do a very good meticulous job. I leave all the factory stuff where it is supposed to be left. I own a 314-3 and it is my main playing shaft. I've never had an issue with a tip coming off. However, I have called Predator and asked to buy the tip pad that comes on the cue. Nope. No way. They are under the delusion that I should not be changing my own tips. OB *sells* their carbon fiber pads, and are extremely helpful. They work with me, not against me.

Another very stupid thing: I own a BK3 break cue. I think its great. Predator obviously thinks its great too. So since we agree its great, we must also agree that if something happened to my tip in a tournament, it would be a pretty big deal, since nothing else will be as good, right? So I'd like to have a 2nd shaft in case anything happens. Also, I like to use one shaft to experiment with different break tips, and leave the other one factory stock. Nope. Can't do it. You can't buy a BK3 shaft. Even if you verify the serial number of your current cue. You can't even buy the factory *tip* to put on. Totally ridiculous.

Curious, if Predator has the idea that you should be mailing your shaft somewhere when the tip they put on falls off, are they paying the shipping? Are they providing the tip? What if you want to play with a different tip? Honestly I think the Predator tips are not that great. Love the shaft, not so much the tip. So what happens then?

Overall, Predator makes a decent product that does what it is advertised to do. The shafts play very good. The 314-3 is a nice evolution of that line. I really like the hit, the LD properties are fantastic. The BK3 breaks as good as anything. I just simply don't understand why they create their policies seemingly to be as annoying as possible. Sometimes I think a company can be so fixated on ever penny of sales that they forget the bigger picture.

KMRUNOUT
 
I stopped buying any and all predator/molinari/poison etc products a few years back. I had a shaft split into approx 5 pieces down the length of the shaft form the tip to joint. These splits occurred along the glue lines within the shaft.

Predator would not honor the warranty on said shaft, so at that point I deemed their customer service and warranty dishonorable and no longer deserve my business or free marketing. You will no longer see their brand on any items I use. Sadly this was not what I wanted to do bc I believe their products to be very well made.
 
KMRUNOUT said:
I second this. Predator has some very customer unfriendly policies.

I install tips. I do a very good meticulous job. I leave all the factory stuff where it is supposed to be left. I own a 314-3 and it is my main playing shaft. I've never had an issue with a tip coming off. However, I have called Predator and asked to buy the tip pad that comes on the cue. Nope. No way. They are under the delusion that I should not be changing my own tips. OB *sells* their carbon fiber pads, and are extremely helpful. They work with me, not against me.

Another very stupid thing: I own a BK3 break cue. I think its great. Predator obviously thinks its great too. So since we agree its great, we must also agree that if something happened to my tip in a tournament, it would be a pretty big deal, since nothing else will be as good, right? So I'd like to have a 2nd shaft in case anything happens. Also, I like to use one shaft to experiment with different break tips, and leave the other one factory stock. Nope. Can't do it. You can't buy a BK3 shaft. Even if you verify the serial number of your current cue. You can't even buy the factory *tip* to put on. Totally ridiculous.

Curious, if Predator has the idea that you should be mailing your shaft somewhere when the tip they put on falls off, are they paying the shipping? Are they providing the tip? What if you want to play with a different tip? Honestly I think the Predator tips are not that great. Love the shaft, not so much the tip. So what happens then?

Overall, Predator makes a decent product that does what it is advertised to do. The shafts play very good. The 314-3 is a nice evolution of that line. I really like the hit, the LD properties are fantastic. The BK3 breaks as good as anything. I just simply don't understand why they create their policies seemingly to be as annoying as possible. Sometimes I think a company can be so fixated on ever penny of sales that they forget the bigger picture.

KMRUNOUT
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I just received a no bueno, when I emailed predator/poison about buying a backup break shaft for my vx4. I don't understand why I can' have a backup break shaft.
 
My last post on this because it's not a real priority for me. If something so simple as changing a tip voids the so-called warrantee then you have no choice but to question the integrity of the product to begin with.
Reality. :thumbup:
 
KMRUNOUT said:
I second this. Predator has some very customer unfriendly policies.

I install tips. I do a very good meticulous job. I leave all the factory stuff where it is supposed to be left. I own a 314-3 and it is my main playing shaft. I've never had an issue with a tip coming off. However, I have called Predator and asked to buy the tip pad that comes on the cue. Nope. No way. They are under the delusion that I should not be changing my own tips. OB *sells* their carbon fiber pads, and are extremely helpful. They work with me, not against me.

Another very stupid thing: I own a BK3 break cue. I think its great. Predator obviously thinks its great too. So since we agree its great, we must also agree that if something happened to my tip in a tournament, it would be a pretty big deal, since nothing else will be as good, right? So I'd like to have a 2nd shaft in case anything happens. Also, I like to use one shaft to experiment with different break tips, and leave the other one factory stock. Nope. Can't do it. You can't buy a BK3 shaft. Even if you verify the serial number of your current cue. You can't even buy the factory *tip* to put on. Totally ridiculous.

Curious, if Predator has the idea that you should be mailing your shaft somewhere when the tip they put on falls off, are they paying the shipping? Are they providing the tip? What if you want to play with a different tip? Honestly I think the Predator tips are not that great. Love the shaft, not so much the tip. So what happens then?

Overall, Predator makes a decent product that does what it is advertised to do. The shafts play very good. The 314-3 is a nice evolution of that line. I really like the hit, the LD properties are fantastic. The BK3 breaks as good as anything. I just simply don't understand why they create their policies seemingly to be as annoying as possible. Sometimes I think a company can be so fixated on ever penny of sales that they forget the bigger picture.

KMRUNOUT
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Yep, i have been installing tips here for 10 years and i've never seen more backwards thinking then Predator. I called them the day i saw that stupid pad and asked to buy some. NOPE, they said you have to send the shaft in for new tips or their warranty would be revoked. OB sells their pad and ferrules, Jacoby will provide ferrules, so on and so forth. I think it's just a way to void warranties.
 
tonythetiger583 said:
I just received a no bueno, when I emailed predator/poison about buying a backup break shaft for my vx4. I don't understand why I can' have a backup break shaft.
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Why not? They don't make it and / sold out?

What if you tell them a crazy person on pcp ate half your shaft, thank god you still have the butt?
 
cbi1000 said:
Yep, i have been installing tips here for 10 years and i've never seen more backwards thinking then Predator. I called them the day i saw that stupid pad and asked to buy some. NOPE, they said you have to send the shaft in for new tips or their warranty would be revoked. OB sells their pad and ferrules, Jacoby will provide ferrules, so on and so forth. I think it's just a way to void warranties.
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I'll ask again, are you a Predator authorized repair person? I ask because a few years back I asked one of our local cue guys if he could work on my 314 and he said he wasn't authorized, he didn't pass some test and didn't want to void my warranty... at least he was honest about it.
 
Black-Balled said:
Why not? They don't make it and / sold out?

What if you tell them a crazy person on pcp ate half your shaft, thank god you still have the butt?
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They just don't sell them. I'm assuming they would have to have extras for warranty purposes. I'm just not allowed to buy one. I guess since the whole cue is 220...a shafts would be similar...but I don't know what to do with an extra butt
 
Lazy Misinformed

Michael Webb said:
My last post on this because it's not a real priority for me. If something so simple as changing a tip voids the so-called warrantee then you have no choice but to question the integrity of the product to begin with.
Reality. :thumbup:
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Who ever said changing a tip voided a warranty? Its the most common service performed in billiards. I think you are exaggerating a rather misinformed statement.

I know the following to be fact, only because i got off my lazy a** and called Predator to ask some questions, like any person with somewhat of any sense would do.

The pad is there for a number of reasons, be that from performance to offering a place to get a fresh facing for guess what..A TIP CHANGE! How novel! The warranty is not void with a tip change, they only ask that if you need a new tip silencer that you send it in and have Predator do that part. Pretty basic understanding on that. If YOU choose to have your tip replaced by someone other than who Predator authorizes, and the pad is removed and/or damaged, then yes it may very well void a warranty.

Sorry I am just not seeing the disconnect here in judging a company for "not" doing something if you aren't going to try and help yourself first.

These aren't cars you build in the driveway or under the shade tree, they have a good product because they understand them like nobody else does.
 
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Jawzcue said:
Who ever said changing a tip voided a warranty? Its the most common service performed in billiards. I think you are exaggerating a rather misinformed statement.

I know the following to be fact, only because i got off my lazy a** and called Predator to ask some questions, like any person with somewhat of any sense would do.

The pad is there for a number of reasons, be that from performance to offering a place to get a fresh facing for guess what..A TIP CHANGE! How novel! The warranty is not void with a tip change, they only ask that if you need a new tip silencer that you send it in and have Predator do that part. Pretty basic understanding on that. If YOU choose to have your tip replaced by someone other than who Predator authorizes, and the pad is removed and/or damaged, then yes it may very well void a warranty.

Sorry I am just not seeing the disconnect here in judging a company for "not" doing something if you aren't going to try and help yourself first.

These aren't cars you build in the driveway or under the shade tree, they have a good product because they understand them like nobody else does.
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.Go read post #6. And for the record. I'm not judging anyone. I made a general statement. Period. There is accessible and inaccessible. Some Companies get and some don't.
 
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From post No. 24:

"My last post on this because it's not a real priority for me."
 
My take is that Predator has simply priced themselves out of the market.

If you are going to sell cheap cues from China then they should be priced accordingly, like they used to be when you could buy a Predator cue for $300...

Now, $600 for a Sneaky and over $1,000 for a recent K series cue.

There is much better value for the money from many sources.

Just my 2 cents.
 
vasilios said:
CBI

What glue are you using on these Pred ferrules that the pads are popping off ?


bill
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If the customer shows up with the pad off i tell them to contact predator. Predator will not sell the pads and they will void the warranty if the cue doesn't have one. The reason for my original post.

Now if the pad is still there and they just need a new tip. Loctite gel is all i use. Great stuff.
 
cbi1000 said:
If the customer shows up with the pad off i tell them to contact predator. Predator will not sell the pads and they will void the warranty if the cue doesn't have one. The reason for my original post.

Now if the pad is still there and they just need a new tip. Loctite gel is all i use. Great stuff.
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I really think you should come correct with your information. Predator does not sell the pads to non-authorized cue repair persons. I know this because I asked when I called. If you are an officially recognized repair center by Predator, then of course they would allow you to help customers by selling you the pads. It's common sense.

So as 9ballhasbeen had asked you before and you did not answer...

Are you an Authorized Repair Center? I am guessing not.
 
9ballhasbeen said:
Curiously, are you an authorized Predator Repair person?
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No one is authorized to repair their shafts. They have one guy who i believe is located in Chicago. You have to visit Predators website for his contact info.

The only work I'll do on Predator cues is replace tips, clean (dent removal), install wraps (linen or leather).

Folks with ferrule issues, or cracked shafts, they need to go to predator to repair or possibly replace.
 
cbi1000 said:
No one is authorized to repair their shafts. They have one guy who i believe is located in Chicago. You have to visit Predators website for his contact info.

The only work I'll do on Predator cues is replace tips, clean (dent removal), install wraps (linen or leather).

Folks with ferrule issues, or cracked shafts, they need to go to predator to repair or possibly replace.
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So, if all you do is tip replacement on a Predator, why would you start a post to bash Predator for not selling pads to you, when you are clearly not authorized to do so?

I am curious because in the long run, you are hurting your own business by doing so. I know I wouldn't bring my business to someone who mongers negativity to other companies simply because they are not authorized to work on their products.

Another question, have you even tried to become an authorized repair person?
 
Jawzcue said:
I really think you should come correct with your information. Predator does not sell the pads to non-authorized cue repair persons. I know this because I asked when I called. If you are an officially recognized repair center by Predator, then of course they would allow you to help customers by selling you the pads. It's common sense.

So as 9ballhasbeen had asked you before and you did not answer...

Are you an Authorized Repair Center? I am guessing not.
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You are incorrect my friend. They will not sell those pad to anyone. They only have one guy who does all their report work. I have spoken with Predator about purchasing the pads, again, they direct all repair work to one guy.

And if you believe the pad is there for performance, you really need to quit drinking their KoolAid.... The paid is there because the ferrule material sucks. Any cue repair person with any experience could go on and on about that subject.

AND, you are missing the point of this thread. They need to do a better job installed their pads.....
 
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cbi1000 said:
You are incorrect my friend. They will not sell those pad to anyone. They only have one guy who does all their report work. I have spoken with Predator about purchasing the pads, again, they direct all repair work to one guy.

And if you believe the pad is there for performance, you really need to quit drinking their KoolAid.... The paid is there because the ferrule material sucks. Any cue repair person with any experience could go on and on about that subject.
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1. They won't sell them to you, you are not authorized. Duh.

2. One repair guy? I used their dealer locator and selected repair center and found at least 4 instantly. C'mon man give me a break..

3. The pad is actually there to protect their vault plate, control the sound, and offer a gluing surface that can be faced a few times with tip changes without compromising the ferrule and plate underneath. maybe you should call Predator and get educated just a bit more on this topic.

Kool Aid, not for me thanks. But that "repair guy knows all berry splash" seems to be sitting well in your stomach.
 
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