Reasons for and against having Authorized Dealers for custom cues

[cueandcushion]

This discussion started on another thread and thought I would pose these questions to all the cuemakers that visit this forum.
What determines whether you have authorized dealers or just sell to the customer directly? What rules of ethics do you enforce with your dealers. Do you require a written reciept from the dealer for covered repairs.

What will you do for a customer that buys a cue from an authorized dealer VS a customer that bought your cue at a pawn shop? Same guarantee?

Do you give your dealer literature or information about your history in cuemaking or credentials? Do you have written policies on factory 2nd cues? Internet sales? Warpage? Limits on discounting cues or limited editions? Do you eliminate dealers that do not comply with your requests for discounts etc?

Just some topics I thought discussing would make everyone a bit more informed. Thanks to everyone that replies.

 

[Michael Webb]

What determines whether you have authorized dealers or just sell to the customer directly? What rules of ethics do you enforce with your dealers. Do you require a written receipt from the dealer for covered repairs.

What will you do for a customer that buys a cue from an authorized dealer VS a customer that bought your cue at a pawn shop? Same guarantee?

Do you give your dealer literature or information about your history in cuemaking or credentials? Do you have written policies on factory 2nd cues? Internet sales? Warpage? Limits on discounting cues or limited editions? Do you eliminate dealers that do not comply with your requests for discounts etc?
Just some topics I thought discussing would make everyone a bit more informed. Thanks to everyone that replies.

I beleive Dealers are important, it helps to show the general public that your quality is up to standards to have a Dealer or Dealers that trust your work. A Dealer helps the growth and marketing of your company, My conversations with Dealers include if you sell a cue and the customer wants something changed, lets discuss it, There may be a charge but there may not be a charge.
Use of EBAY is prohibited.

If you buy a cue from one of my Authorised Dealers, You have the same warranty you have if you bought it from me. Which is a very good warranty, If you bought it elsewhere, you have no warranty.

My history is the home page of my web site, There are no seconds here, If there is warpage, it is taken on an individual basis. I won't comment on the rest.

The most important that you didn't list is Loyalty.
I will not undersell one of my Dealers.
Use of EBAY prohibited
Use of EBAY prohibited
Use of EBAY prohibited
Use of EBAY prohibited

 

[PoolSleuth]

I am not a Cuemaker but was in a Business where I had Relationship with Agents. The Agents were good for my Business, but like in a Marriage BOTH Parties Need to Respect the terms of the Contract be it Written,or Verbal if the relationship is to survive and be a positive thing fore both parties. Sadly one of my Agents RIPPED ME off for over 25K in 1995 in Royalties, and than filed Bankruptcy too boot.

 

[macguy]

This discussion started on another thread and thought I would pose these questions to all the cuemakers that visit this forum.
What determines whether you have authorized dealers or just sell to the customer directly? What rules of ethics do you enforce with your dealers. Do you require a written reciept from the dealer for covered repairs.

What will you do for a customer that buys a cue from an authorized dealer VS a customer that bought your cue at a pawn shop? Same guarantee?

Do you give your dealer literature or information about your history in cuemaking or credentials? Do you have written policies on factory 2nd cues? Internet sales? Warpage? Limits on discounting cues or limited editions? Do you eliminate dealers that do not comply with your requests for discounts etc?

Just some topics I thought discussing would make everyone a bit more informed. Thanks to everyone that replies.

To many cue makers the dealers have been a real salvation for them. I know one of the top cue makers who was actually getting sick being a cue maker from dealing with the customers and was going to quit. He would come into his shop and the phone would be ringing as he was unlocking the door and it would never be good. It would either be someone complaining about the cue not being finished or someone changing their order for the tenth time.

He would lock himself in the shop and not answer the door or phone pretending he wasn't there. The stress had all but immobilized him and he couldn't even work. You carry his cues by the way. One day a dealer offered him a proposition to sell his cues for a small commission or premium mark up. It was not long before he was happy making cues again. All he did was build the cues he wanted to build, his designs not some goofy design dreamed up by a customer with a bunch for problems involved and he actually began to make money.

Most of all he was happy again making cues. I don't think he takes any custom orders even to this day except for certain people but if you call you get the feeling he doesn't really want to build you a cue, he likes the dealers and no having to deal with the customers many that can drive you crazy.

 

[Arnot Wadsworth]

To many cue makers the dealers have been a real salvation for them. I know one of the top cue makers who was actually getting sick being a cue maker from dealing with the customers and was going to quit. He would come into his shop and the phone would be ringing as he was unlocking the door and it would never be good. It would either be someone complaining about the cue not being finished or someone changing their order for the tenth time.

He would lock himself in the shop and not answer the door or phone pretending he wasn't there. The stress had all but immobilized him and he couldn't even work. You carry his cues by the way. One day a dealer offered him a proposition to sell his cues for a small commission or premium mark up. It was not long before he was happy making cues again. All he did was build the cues he wanted to build, his designs not some goofy design dreamed up by a customer with a bunch for problems involved and he actually began to make money.

Most of all he was happy again making cues. I don't think he takes any custom orders even to this day except for certain people but if you call you get the feeling he doesn't really want to build you a cue, he likes the dealers and no having to deal with the customers many that can drive you crazy.

Thank you MacGuy - Noboby has ever said it better. If the cuemaker answers the phone he does not get any work done and if he does not answer the phone he does not get any orders and is accused of poor customer service.

Sometimes it seems that everytime I start something the phone rings and I have to stop to answer the phone. That means leaving the shop because I can't hear anything with the machinery running. Often times the call was not necessary because it was someone "just checking on the status of my order" or "just calling to pick your brain". All good cuemakers ship the cue when it is ready and not before. If we rush it because the customer is getting impatient then the cue is not right.

Just remember when the Cuemaker is on the phone he is not working on your cue. Also, he is working on many cues at the same time - not just yours so when you call you are holding up everybody's order.

Another thing to remember - Cuemaking is not an exact science - I don't know when the cue will be ready because there are so many outside events taking place that I don't have control over that I don't know what I will be doing this afternoon.

Believe me, when the cue is ready it will be shipped ASAP.