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

[Baby PacMan]

First, I gotta give you props for what you're trying to do. I've been following what's been going on over in the mechanics section.

Second here's how I see it, as a person with a pool table in my house, there aren't many avenues for getting it serviced. See, if pool table mechanics were a dime a dozen, the need for a skilled mechanic wouldn't be as important. It's not like car, where you can find a shop on every corner, and they have standardize certification. Also, it's not like a computer where you can take it to any of the million Best Buy's to get it fixed. There are far fewer mechanics for pool tables than there are for cars or computers. Which means I have to get the right person the first time, because there aren't that many people who can do it.

So, knowing there is no standardized body for this particular skill, how will I know if I find an accomplished person? And considering I know little to nothing about how to fix a pool table myself, how would I know if he did it right? What if I got charged an arm and the leg for substandard work? With so many variables and so few mechanics (and no body holding mechanics accountable) , it would be nice to have some way of being certain that I found the right guy to do the job.

Well, for me, I know where to go when it time to get my table recovered or releveled; right over to the mechanics section. But I doubt the rest of the world knows to go there.

But regardless, it would be nice if there was some way to have proof of the skills of the mechanic we contract to do work on our pool tables.

 

[pwd72s]

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!

Couldn't agree more. Pics alone don't mean as much as words from happy customers.

 

[Majic]

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

Character, integritity, reputation and customer base take longer than two weeks to build. How long does it take to snap a picture !

 

[realkingcobra]

Character, integritity, reputation and customer base take longer than two weeks to build. How long does it take to snap a picture !

I'll tell you what Majic...I bet I can tell more truth to what kind of work a mechanic does by looking at the pictures of the work they've done....than the customer that says they did great work....because they came in and set up a Chinese built pool table...who knows nothing about this kind of work. That being said, my comment about a mechanic's reputation by other customers was referring to asking for a list of customers not of the last 2 weeks...but more of the last few years back. See, if you ask about someones work references dating back to more than a year ago...if there's flaws in the persons work....it'll have shown up by then to the customer...and therefore...they might not be the reference given to the new customer....do you get my point? Further more, because a person can set up tables correctly....don't mean that person is also qualified to replace cushions....OR extend rails to tighten pockets....but, PICTURES of this kind of work....does speak a thousand words

Glen

 

[poolhustler]

I love seeing pics of a properly set up table!!!!

On the converse Glen, should we also post up pics of work NOT done correctly and call out those mechanics who did not do a professional job???

 

[realkingcobra]

I love seeing pics of a properly set up table!!!!

On the converse Glen, should we also post up pics of work NOT done correctly and call out those mechanics who did not do a professional job???

Naaa...pointing out what was done wrong, then not being able to make the needed corrections to fix the problems...serves no purpose....does it? We have a "hack work" section in the mechanic's forum....and all it does is show what's wrong with this industry....it does nothing to show how as an industry we're growing to correct these same inexperienced problems....unless at the same time....we're showing as an industry...how to correct them too.

 

[Dartman]

... should we also post up pics of work NOT done correctly and call out those mechanics who did not do a professional job???

One of my fav pics from the hackwork thread.
Whoever did this should not only be called out but shot, hung, slapped and then have the stapler confiscated.

 

[sr 9ball]

Glen. I would trust your word if a table mechanic does decent work. I think most all of az'ers trust your input.

 

[realkingcobra]

Glen. I would trust your word if a table mechanic does decent work. I think most all of az'ers trust your input.

I don't dissagree with you at all, but on the other hand...I'd never recommend another table mechanic to someone else...if I hadn't seen their work first hand either, so....everyone knows if I recommend someone...then DO call them:grin:

 

[pwd72s]

I don't dissagree with you at all, but on the other hand...I'd never recommend another table mechanic to someone else...if I hadn't seen their work first hand either, so....everyone knows if I recommend someone...then DO call them:grin:

Proving the point of we who have said word of mouth is as important as pics. IF this home had the space for a table, I'd be calling you...

 

[Majic]

I'll tell you what Majic...I bet I can tell more truth to what kind of work a mechanic does by looking at the pictures of the work they've done....than the customer that says they did great work....because they came in and set up a Chinese built pool table...who knows nothing about this kind of work. That being said, my comment about a mechanic's reputation by other customers was referring to asking for a list of customers not of the last 2 weeks...but more of the last few years back. See, if you ask about someones work references dating back to more than a year ago...if there's flaws in the persons work....it'll have shown up by then to the customer...and therefore...they might not be the reference given to the new customer....do you get my point? Further more, because a person can set up tables correctly....don't mean that person is also qualified to replace cushions....OR extend rails to tighten pockets....but, PICTURES of this kind of work....does speak a thousand words

Glen

Pics do help and I did vote for pics in your poll.....But now that your changing the story line from would the customer like to see versus what you would like to see...then go at it !

 

[Majic]

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

Right.........the average guy can not tell when the table is out of level or when the cloth comes loose or etc....

 

[bobroberts]

What i did when i knew my table was off and needed new bumpers ws go into the mechanic section and asked for a mechanic in mu are that could be recommended. I was contacted by a mechanic who referred me to another one in my area and vouched for him. I felt he did a really good job and then posted pics of my table when he finished my table. I couldn't tell from a picture if a table was level or the pockets were of by a 1/16 or the cloth was not stretched right. That's why i relied on a mechanic from AZ to recommend.
I asked my mechanic why he didn't show his work on AZ. His answer was he had enough work that he did not have to advertise and he didn't have the time to spend on a computer. He was happy i posted the pics and wrote a review on him though.

 

[realkingcobra]

Pics do help and I did vote for pics in your poll.....But now that your changing the story line from would the customer like to see versus what you would like to see...then go at it !

There's no story line being changed here Majic...you always seem to have some kind of axe to grind with me....why, I have no idea. I'm not here rating the work done by others, this thread is to give others a chance to showcase their work so that others might have a chance to see that there is OTHER qualified table mechanics around the country that they may some day decide to call upon. But, if someone were to post some out of line pictures of work that is NOT recommendable...in the hopes of using this thread to promote their business....yeah, I might have something to say about that....but, I don't really think thats going to happen....at least not in front of a bunch of OTHER mechanics that can call BS on the same pic's that I can. See...hacks don't really want to post pictures of their work....they're only in it for the money, and not the quality of work. I on the other hand, tell everyone to pay attention to the quality of the work they do...and the money will take care of itself in time

This thread Majic is not about me promoting more work for myself....if you knew anything about me....then at the LEAST....you'd know, I don't suffer from the lack of work because the work in my area has slowed down....or that I have to compete with hacks doing what I do for less money....undercutting me in price just to get to the jobs before I do.

This thread is about all the other hard working table mechanics that make a full time living working on pool tables....and a chance to give them some space on AZ in the MAIN forum...in the hopes that maybe they'll be a little more recognizable the next time someone in their area decides to have some work done on a pool table....so that they might just say..."hey, I know of a great table mechanic in my area that I can call to work on my pool table....so, I don't have to wait for RKC to get here!

Glen

 

[realkingcobra]

What i did when i knew my table was off and needed new bumpers ws go into the mechanic section and asked for a mechanic in mu are that could be recommended. I was contacted by a mechanic who referred me to another one in my area and vouched for him. I felt he did a really good job and then posted pics of my table when he finished my table. I couldn't tell from a picture if a table was level or the pockets were of by a 1/16 or the cloth was not stretched right. That's why i relied on a mechanic from AZ to recommend.
I asked my mechanic why he didn't show his work on AZ. His answer was he had enough work that he did not have to advertise and he didn't have the time to spend on a computer. He was happy i posted the pics and wrote a review on him though.

And I do appreciate you posting pictures of his work. See, I feel the only way the public is going to learn what's right and wrong when it comes to this line of work....is to show the public as much as possible what this work looks like, only then will the public start to learn to ask questions as to what kind of work...the NEXT mechanic is going to do...and what can be expected to be performed...for YOUR hard earned dollars as well.

 

[bnall]

Here is a preview of some work done by one of Glen's disciples. :grin:


http://billiardmechanix.com/default.aspx

 

[Dartman]

...this thread is to give others a chance to showcase their work ...

Actually this thread is an opinion poll.
There's another thread for posting pics of table work.

I'd like to think many forum members would be inclined to hook up a mechanic for table work that is a AZB member and contributes to the forum and, ideally, has put up a few pics of their work and/or answered some technical questions correctly. I'm sure there are some great table mechanics out there that are not members and never heard of AZB.

A lot of technical table info has been posted so members that take more then a casual interest in their tables at least have access to knowledge of what to look for and what to ask when it comes to table work. If you can see a mechanics work then all the better. Being a forum member gives you an advantage over the non-member whose only recourse is to call the local pool table store and hope they do a good job. JMO.

 

[realkingcobra]

Actually this thread is an opinion poll.
There's another thread for posting pics of table work.

I'd like to think many forum members would be inclined to hook up a mechanic for table work that is a AZB member and contributes to the forum and, ideally, has put up a few pics of their work and/or answered some technical questions correctly. I'm sure there are some great table mechanics out there that are not members and never heard of AZB.

A lot of technical table info has been posted so members that take more then a casual interest in their tables at least have access to knowledge of what to look for and what to ask when it comes to table work. If you can see a mechanics work then all the better. Being a forum member gives you an advantage over the non-member whose only recourse is to call the local pool table store and hope they do a good job. JMO.

Yeah, I know...that's why I started the "Thank you" thread so that mechanic's can showcase their work there. But in this thread, it kind of explaines a little of what I feel is important....showing the customer some of the work a mechanic does BEFORE they get hired to do a job. I think that if more mechanic's were required to show before they tell...we could all work towards better work being done...and less customers getting screwed over by a hack whos posing as a table mechainc...just for the money. Education of the public is a powerfull tool, not to be taken lightly

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

When I had my table set up I had not seen any pictures are live examples of the mechanic's work. However, I did do my homework, much of it on here, and also talked on the phone with him prior to him beginning the job. Suffice to say that I was very confident in him as my choice, having "vetted" his reputation up front.

Having said that, if I needed a mechanic and was not able to find out anything about him or his reputation, then indeed I would like to see his work before hiring him.

 

[n10spool]

I have pictures on myspace and face book plus a few other websites. Since I met Glen a few years ago I started to take and post pictures and me work load doubled if not tripled. I closed a deal last night the person new me as a player but a real table mechanic sent him to my sight ha called back said lets do it. I'll be at his house in an hour to do a full rebuild plus tighter pockets the right way.

Words are words but pictures get you the cash every time.
look at the hack handyman all adds no pictures of there work.

Craig