Thank you for the thoughtful insight to my issues. You make great points as to not being specific on the contract as to how the pockets were to be dressed. I shot on a pool league for twenty years and never saw the more detailed pockets like your nice example. So without that exposure I never had it in my mind to have to request any specific type of pocket work. Nor did he even explain if any other options where available.Just FYI, if you did not ask specifically for that type of pocket finish, you got what 99% of others get. Most local "installers" do not take the extra time to trim out the pocket all nice and clean. So in essence: you know now. The reality is this: the contract was to recover the pool table and because you did not specify anything in the contract about fine details, so you got the quality that they put out consistently. I am on your side and feel this is wrong, but, it is actually both parties that are. You ASSUMED they were going to do "x" and "y" , but, there is nothing defining the expectations of the work on the contract/ invoice. So, if you went to court, you would have a VERY hard time proving what your expectations were and that is because you never made them put it in the contract. Beating up on that company on here, yelp and all those other places actually could get you in trouble if you do not have a way to PROVE you are telling the truth, IE a contract or invoice stating the details of the work to be performed.
Sorry you went for a ride, buy the simonis dvds, learn from all of us here and you have no more issue: MAKE LEMONS INTO LEMONADE.
TFT
P.s. my finest pocket work, GC5.
The four corner pockets are fine. The cloth was pulled down and only the very smallest tips of the cuts can be felt. So they really did know that the look mattered. They apparently lacked the skill and training of how to deal with the side pockets. Some have mentioned that what I showed in the pictures is the norm and those results are even shown in installation videos. That very well may be the case as I am not a table mechanic. This is why I am here. I am learning a lot, for sure. I am willing to bet that the videos do not show those cuts to be acceptable within 3/8" of the playing surface. Just a hunch!
Is there an approved method of reinstalling the rails? Measuring, using an angle, possibly a straight edge? This crew "eyed" it up. Thus, the result is shown in one of my pictures.
I never had any intention of beating up the company involved nor legal matters. My real goal here is to gather information so I can have a respectful and informed dialogue with the manager of the company. Actually, I am all about training and skill development. How about the company buys the DVD and watches it with the mechanic. They both come back with the video, new cloth and redo the mess.
Everybody wins and the installer is better for it. I get to feel better about my table, the local business profits and the next customer receives quality work.
Thanks again for your guidance