Recover & Level

[PoolTable911]

When a customer asks for a recover and level , how do you charge? I ask because I include the level if it is just shimming legs or putting wedge in center of slate. Now if I have to level all 3 slates flat and even to each other I add $75.00. Do some of you include all leveling as included with the recover?

 

[mechanic/player]

Hi Pat, I have found that most customers expect us to fix or repair any playability problems that they have with their table and not too many people like to hear about any additional charges.

Now we all know that there is almost always something extra that has to be done so I just charge 400-425 to recover a table with standard cloth and that covers all of the unknowns that I may face.

 

[realkingcobra]

When a customer asks for a recover and level , how do you charge? I ask because I include the level if it is just shimming legs or putting wedge in center of slate. Now if I have to level all 3 slates flat and even to each other I add $75.00. Do some of you include all leveling as included with the recover?

Pat, to me..."recover & level" means frame level, not having anything to do with re-leveling the slates. If I have to re-level the slates I charge a flat $100 extra because chances are I'm going to have to take the slates back down to no shims and start over again.

Glen

 

[Club Billiards]

I normally will check the seams and make sure they haven't shifted and match them up again if they have. A full relevel though, I do the same as you...I usually charge an additional $75.

 

[tsp&b]

almost always sometimes usually!!??

I always check the frame and the slate for level. especially if it's the first time I have worked on that table. And I nearly always end up re-leveling at least the frame and often level and true the slate as well. So, I usually include that in the price quoted. :smile:

 

[scruffy1]

90% of the time i dont like the last seem job, so im starting from scratch
anyway. I always glue the slates and reseem, because if there is a problem
they are sure not to call the original guy back!lol. I price somewhere in
the middle and if i encounter a table done right, its like a little bonus!!

I do agree with mech/player about people definitely dont like add ons.
takes time to explain,then the wife has to call the husband.........
quicker for me to make it right and move on!

 

[realkingcobra]

I always check the frame and the slate for level. especially if it's the first time I have worked on that table. And I nearly always end up re-leveling at least the frame and often level and true the slate as well. So, I usually include that in the price quoted. :smile:

Normally I would agree, frames can change level on the floor they're standing on, in which case, I have no problem re-leveling the frame. In the case of re-leveling the slates, that's a different story. There's only 2 reasons to ever have to re-level the slates, (1) the frame has sagged under the weight of the slate, and (2) the slates were not leveled right in the first place by the last mechanic that worked on the table. In both cases I don't feel that this tune up leveling, or re-leveling has anything to do with a "quoted" recovery price, it is, and always will be in my book as "an add on" to the job

Glen

 

[Bigkahuna]

Charges

Two places I play out of are located adjacent to train tracks and are actually old railroad buildings. I do feel the cement floor shaking slightly, (almost bouncing), when trains go by. The white lines from shifted slate appear on some of the tables after time. Perhaps, this would be a case that supports gluing slates although I am not sure that would do it.

As a mechanic I think I would expect to get paid for the extra work involved in setting and re-leveling the slates. As a consumer or bar owner who may not know the difference I might think I was getting added charges and might wonder if another mechanic might include this in the price. As a consumer I might have wanted to know that was a separate charge just so I could make a better informed decision on the value if I am comparing who to go with.

 

[Donny Wessels]

If I'm replacing the bedcloth, the table gets leveled, thats the time to do it. The cost for the leveling is included in the price. I can't see replacing bedcloth and putting it over bad seams, if your going to fix the seams might as well level the table. Besides the pool table owners guests don't realize that he was too cheap to level the table, they just know who worked on the table last.

 

[scruffy1]

If I'm replacing the bedcloth, the table gets leveled, thats the time to do it. The cost for the leveling is included in the price. I can't see replacing bedcloth and putting it over bad seams, if your going to fix the seams might as well level the table. Besides the pool table owners guests don't realize that he was too cheap to level the table, they just know who worked on the table last.

I completetly agree! I can see a scenario playing out. First, do you check
the level of the table before you give him a total price or suprise him at the end? Lets say you tell him it will be a extra 100 dollars, then he says
he will have to wait. Do you leave and waste a appointment time or would,
like donny said, put cloth over a bad level and seem job? i factor in the good and the bad and come up with a fair price. I,in good conscience could
never leave a table not properly done. Would you discount a table that was perfect??

In the auto field mechanics get paid what is called a flat rate. They use
labor guides to tell you what a job pays. A front brake job may pay 1.5 hours. Now if you do that job in .5 hour or 3hrs you get the same pay
This is what they call beating the book or the book beating you!! Some
jobs are tougher or easier but hopefully it averages out!

 

[perfectpocketz]

When a customer asks for a recover and level , how do you charge? I ask because I include the level if it is just shimming legs or putting wedge in center of slate. Now if I have to level all 3 slates flat and even to each other I add $75.00. Do some of you include all leveling as included with the recover?

My charge for level and recovery is always the same price $600. and I only use Simonis cloth.
I take the slates apart every time and clean out all the shit under.
I level the frame, glue the slates, and bee's wax the joints.

For me the job goes faster, trying to make someone else's work top notch takes a lot more time.
The table is right, and i don't worry about call backs. If I've done the table before, less work for me, and same price.

I fix anything wrong, add bolts, round head nails,rubber feet,glue the cushions back,or what ever the table needs to get right.

All other work is additional.

The job is right, the customer is happy,and I make the same money on every job.
I won't do a discount job for anyone. SORRY

Mark Gregory

 

[Donny Wessels]

My charge for level and recovery is always the same price $600. and I only use Simonis cloth.
I take the slates apart every time and clean out all the shit under.
I level the frame, glue the slates, and bee's wax the joints.

For me the job goes faster, trying to make someone else's work top notch takes a lot more time.
The table is right, and i don't worry about call backs. If I've done the table before, less work for me, and same price.

I fix anything wrong, add bolts, round head nails,rubber feet,glue the cushions back,or what ever the table needs to get right.

All other work is additional.

The job is right, the customer is happy,and I make the same money on every job.
I won't do a discount job for anyone. SORRY

Mark Gregory

Nice and Simple

 

[perfectpocketz]

Nice and Simple

No other way Donny.
That's how you get a good rep. The customer knows before he even hires you for the job that you only do tables one way, THE RIGHT WAY.
They all will know you're price before they call, so you know if they call, their already prepared to pay you're price. Believe me they'll still call.:wink:

You just can't have half the table done by you, and the other half done by someone else.

Break down the table, and do from the frame up, you'll get done faster, because you know what you're doing.
Glue the slates every time, the table locks up tight, and is solid.

Your Friend
Mark Gregory