Previewing a table mechanics work before hiring, is that important to you?

[realkingcobra]

The reason I'm asking everyone this, is because there seems to be quite a few table mechanic friends of mine that don't feel that posting pictures of their work is very important here on AZ...because, well...it's AZ and I guess it's not the REAL world...in their backyard. So, their complaints are that....what good would it do. My comments to them are...hey, if you guys don't show what work is suppose to look like when it's done correctly...how is ANYONE else suppose to know what's right or wrong when they're looking to hire someone to work on their pool table(s)...so, would you take a second to cast a vote....so that they may start to understand the importance of what they do....and let them know that they're on the right track to helping this industry of ours become a better place to play pool.

Thank you, Glen

 

[mm4pool]

Yes, that is something that is very important to me. and not just when talking about table mechanics. Painters, tile setters, auto mechanics are just a few of the trades which I would like to see samples prior to agreeing to hire someone.

Mike

 

[btoneill]

For those that think it's just about AZB....

I posted pictures of work done my table on here.
Do a google search for: jamie pluta pictures

The pictures I posted on AZB of his recover of the bed of my table are the 3rd link google returns. A search of jamie pluta gold crown shows my thread as the first returned link.

I'm willing to bet at some point in time, someone looking to hire him will do that same searchs and find pictures of his work I posted on here. He did a great job on my table and I'm happy to do what I can that gets people to use a qualified mechanic so they can enjoy their home tables.

Brian

 

[bnall]

The reason I'm asking everyone this, is because there seems to be quite a few table mechanic friends of mine that don't feel that posting pictures of their work is very important here on AZ...because, well...it's AZ and I guess it's not the REAL world...in their backyard. So, their complaints are that....what good would it do. My comments to them are...hey, if you guys don't show what work is suppose to look like when it's done correctly...how is ANYONE else suppose to know what's right or wrong when they're looking to hire someone to work on their pool table(s)...so, would you take a second to cast a vote....so that they may start to understand the importance of what they do....and let them know that they're on the right track to helping this industry of ours become a better place to play pool.

Thank you, Glen

I think if a table is proud of his work he should post pics of it. I know I would.

 

[Fenwick]

I often wonder why there isn't a pool table mechanic school and certification program for mechanics like other skilled trades?

 

[realkingcobra]

I often wonder why there isn't a pool table mechanic school and certification program for mechanics like other skilled trades?

I have a personal theory about that, and it's called...un-trained table mechanic's are a table manufactures best sales poeple...because when they get done tearing up the pool tables because either they don't know what they're doing...or just plain don't care...SOMEONE gets to sell that table owner a NEW...replacement pool table...sooner or later, especially in a pool room...which is why I get so much flack about rebuilding pool tables to todays standards...because a rebuilt table...takes away a new table sale

Glen

 

[TimKrazyMon]

Unless that particular mechanic has a outsdanding reputation already built up, absolutely I'm going to want to see some examples of their work.


BTW Cobra, you should try to start a school & see how much the pool table companies pay you to stop. :grin:

 

[realkingcobra]

Unless that particular mechanic has a outsdanding reputation already built up, absolutely I'm going to want to see some examples of their work.


BTW Cobra, you should try to start a school & see how much the pool table companies pay you to stop. :grin:

I think they'd rather all invest in a .50cal bullet...and get me and Mark Gregory to stand in front of each other, counting on the fact that if they hit me first and missed his skinny ass...I'd fall back-wards on him and crush him to death:rotflmao1:

 

[Fenwick]

BTW Cobra, you should try to start a school & see how much the pool table companies pay you to stop. :grin:[/QUOTE]

That's exactly what I've been thinking for a long time.

 

[deebee53]

It would be nice to be able to see a table mechanic's portfolio including unsolicited reviews of their work.

 

[SCCues]

The reason I'm asking everyone this, is because there seems to be quite a few table mechanic friends of mine that don't feel that posting pictures of their work is very important here on AZ...because, well...it's AZ and I guess it's not the REAL world...in their backyard. So, their complaints are that....what good would it do. My comments to them are...hey, if you guys don't show what work is suppose to look like when it's done correctly...how is ANYONE else suppose to know what's right or wrong when they're looking to hire someone to work on their pool table(s)...so, would you take a second to cast a vote....so that they may start to understand the importance of what they do....and let them know that they're on the right track to helping this industry of ours become a better place to play pool.

Thank you, Glen

I hired a guy a few years ago to recover my table. Nothing fancy just come in and take the old cloth off and replace it with new cloth. I knew the guy that did the work, but i'd never seen any tables that he'd worked on. I trusted him and agreed to let him do the work and he made a mess out of my table. The cloth was pulled too tight on the rails to where they had indentations in the rubber and the pockets were not right at all.

I'd never covered a table myself at that time, but I went behind this guy after I realized what he'd screwed up and loosened the cloth enough on the rails to where they were straight and re-stapled the cloth in the pockets the best I could to make the cloth touch the slate like it's supposed to. The guy that did the work had pulled the bed cloth somehow and stapled it to where the cloth wasn't touching the slate in places in the pockets.

To answer your poll "Yes" i'd love to see some work prior to hiring a table mechanic. Can you imagine me hiring the guy who screwed my table up if i'd seen the type of work he did!

I recovered my own table the next time it needed cloth and I also replaced the rail rubber and shimmed the pockets to tighted them up and I think I did a descent job for an amateur. I thought the job turned out OK and i'm planning to recover it again in the near future. I learned a couple of tricks that I want to do when I re-cover it again.

James

 

[Llama]

I agree that pics should be posted.

 

[Majic]

Seeing pics is only telling part of the story. Word of mouth is the real key to me!! Give me personal referals anyday over pics!

 

[mdavis]

I think they'd rather all invest in a .50cal bullet...and get me and Mark Gregory to stand in front of each other, counting on the fact that if they hit me first and missed his skinny ass...I'd fall back-wards on him and crush him to death:rotflmao1:

Alternatively, Glen, you could create an RKC approved list. By geography. People get on your list by the quality of their work...no other way

Note if they are certified to service a Diamond, GC, etc.

-mark

 

[hdgis1]

Of course its important. However, from what I have read in the mechanics section, the consumer doesnt know what the heck a good table looks like and any work that isnt done by one of the reverened on here might as well be hack work.

Chris

The reason I'm asking everyone this, is because there seems to be quite a few table mechanic friends of mine that don't feel that posting pictures of their work is very important here on AZ...because, well...it's AZ and I guess it's not the REAL world...in their backyard. So, their complaints are that....what good would it do. My comments to them are...hey, if you guys don't show what work is suppose to look like when it's done correctly...how is ANYONE else suppose to know what's right or wrong when they're looking to hire someone to work on their pool table(s)...so, would you take a second to cast a vote....so that they may start to understand the importance of what they do....and let them know that they're on the right track to helping this industry of ours become a better place to play pool.

Thank you, Glen

 

[realkingcobra]

Seeing pics is only telling part of the story. Word of mouth is the real key to me!! Give me personal referals anyday over pics!

Normaly I would agree with you, but referals that are only a week or two old...don't count for anything in my book

 

[realkingcobra]

Of course its important. However, from what I have read in the mechanics section, the consumer doesnt know what the heck a good table looks like and any work that isnt done by one of the reverened on here might as well be hack work.

Chris

Which is why it's important to post pictures...because if the work the LAST person did on a pool table...DON'T look like the work posted here...then the CUSTOMER for sure knows...NOT to re-hire the last table mechanic...because they CAN see the difference in the work posted....and the work right there in front of them on their OWN pool table. That's called....reference work:grin:

"my table don't look like those in the pictures posted here on AZ"

 

[junkbond]

I hired Donny after seeing his work on here, and I am very glad that I did. I just hope that when I need him again, he'll be available (yes, I'm in the boonies).

I will never again allow anyone to work on a table for me without first seeing his work.

 

[obe1]

Seeing pics is only telling part of the story. Word of mouth is the real key to me!! Give me personal referals anyday over pics!

What he said...

 

[btoneill]

Seeing pics is only telling part of the story. Word of mouth is the real key to me!! Give me personal referals anyday over pics!

You're assuming the personal referrals are from people who can tell a proper job from a hack job... Also, people tend to decide that the job they paid for was done properly just to justify the fact that they paid for it and didn't get ripped off.

Brian