.Awesome. I hope it works out.
Responsibility Question On Cue Sale
- Thread starter Kickin' Chicken
- Start date
.Awesome. I hope it works out.
RedBowTies88
Registered
My .02c:
I buy and sell quite a bit, mostly vintage stereo equipment and speakers which is most definitely a far cry from pool cues. Most commonly I sell on CL, but I digress.
Whenever I make a sale I always try and be as throuogh as humanly possible with the customer in showing and demonstrating the product. I try to make sure that item is right for them, and that they understand exactly how it performes as well as any flaws mechanical/electrical or cosmetic.
It's sounds to me as though you did exactly that, and that your customer was very happy with his cue at the time of the sale. When dealing with used items there is simply no type of warranty unless otherwise noted or discussed. It's the job of the buyer to inspect and test the item before purchasing.
It's a sad situation for everyone involved because of course no seller wants to see his or her customers unhappy, but there is simply no way to guarantee the treatment of the item after it left your hands. It very well could of been mistreated, maybe the buyer doesn't even realize something he/she did was wrong, maybe they weren't around and a friend or relative dropped it and never said anything... You just don't know.
Even if the item was treated correctly, crazy shit happens. It's a damn shame no matter how you look at it, but it isn't in any way shape or form your fault or your responsibility.
Offer help in any way you can with diagnosis or simple fixes, but other than that it's the buyers responsibility.
I buy and sell quite a bit, mostly vintage stereo equipment and speakers which is most definitely a far cry from pool cues. Most commonly I sell on CL, but I digress.
Whenever I make a sale I always try and be as throuogh as humanly possible with the customer in showing and demonstrating the product. I try to make sure that item is right for them, and that they understand exactly how it performes as well as any flaws mechanical/electrical or cosmetic.
It's sounds to me as though you did exactly that, and that your customer was very happy with his cue at the time of the sale. When dealing with used items there is simply no type of warranty unless otherwise noted or discussed. It's the job of the buyer to inspect and test the item before purchasing.
It's a sad situation for everyone involved because of course no seller wants to see his or her customers unhappy, but there is simply no way to guarantee the treatment of the item after it left your hands. It very well could of been mistreated, maybe the buyer doesn't even realize something he/she did was wrong, maybe they weren't around and a friend or relative dropped it and never said anything... You just don't know.
Even if the item was treated correctly, crazy shit happens. It's a damn shame no matter how you look at it, but it isn't in any way shape or form your fault or your responsibility.
Offer help in any way you can with diagnosis or simple fixes, but other than that it's the buyers responsibility.
I might just be a wimp.....but if I was the buyer, I would not have come back to the seller.
....when I buy a cue and tested it before buying..and it was fine...I can't blame the seller when I end up with a problem two weeks later.
I turned down a Scruggs in Akron years ago because it had a buzz....
...and I could hear it while testing.
....when I buy a cue and tested it before buying..and it was fine...I can't blame the seller when I end up with a problem two weeks later.
I turned down a Scruggs in Akron years ago because it had a buzz....
...and I could hear it while testing.
Hey Mr. KC, it sounds like you are in a rather difficult spot here. You said the buyer played with the cue for a short time before making his final decision, so obviously he liked the cue and everything was fine at that time, its not like it was an interweb sale where the buyer could not put his hands on the cue prior to purchase. I would kinda talk to the buyer and feel him out, ask him what he thinks would be fair to both of you. There are people out there who understand that you really are not to blame for anything here and would feel obligated to apologize to you for somehow damaging the cue they bought from you and some who will run you into the ground even if you give him a full refund and a free cue and people who fall between these 2 opposite ends of the spectrum. His attitude and expectations on the situation would personally help me come to a conclusion on how to rectify the matter. This is a tough situation for you to be in, it sounds like you were very much on the up &up in this transaction. Good luck!!!
An *ALARMING* Update:
first, I'll start with the good news. The buyer just left my house and we have an agreement.
I arranged to have the cue repaired by a top cuemaker and have split the cost, 50/50, all paid all done. Buyer will drop off Tues.
now, the alarming part.
We're saying goodbye in my driveway and he asked what would be the best way to get to xyz from here because he has to go to a holiday party in that town this afternoon at his son's house. He added that there were gonna be about 30 people there and he didn't feel comfortable having his cue in the house so he said he was gonna keep it in the car. Right now it's 85 degrees and blazing sunshine.
I said WTF, are you kidding me?
He said "I was gonna put a towel on top of it."
I wanted to reach in his pocket and take my money back. Seriously. :angry: :banghead: :angry:
did he really just say that?
best,
brian kc aka The Cue Fairy :speechless:
first, I'll start with the good news. The buyer just left my house and we have an agreement.
I arranged to have the cue repaired by a top cuemaker and have split the cost, 50/50, all paid all done. Buyer will drop off Tues.
now, the alarming part.
We're saying goodbye in my driveway and he asked what would be the best way to get to xyz from here because he has to go to a holiday party in that town this afternoon at his son's house. He added that there were gonna be about 30 people there and he didn't feel comfortable having his cue in the house so he said he was gonna keep it in the car. Right now it's 85 degrees and blazing sunshine.
I said WTF, are you kidding me?
He said "I was gonna put a towel on top of it."
I wanted to reach in his pocket and take my money back. Seriously. :angry: :banghead: :angry:
did he really just say that?
best,
brian kc aka The Cue Fairy :speechless:
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Money and fairies cant buy smarts, you gotta go see the wizard for that.
So...your'e a gentlemen and work good faith sales. Use this as a learning experience (I guess). Next round maybe have a 24hour grace/trial period or as is. As is means after the sale is complete(accepted) the sale is final.
RedBowTies88
Registered
This is exactly why I said what I did in my previous post
Sorry it ended up the way it did, but at least he's happy... For now.
And there you have it, Brian....that's why I was luke warm on doing much for the buyer.
Most of my sales in the 80s and 90s were brick and mortar.....
...when I sold a cue, I would give them advice on cue care...
...like if you leave it in your car, buy a wool blanket or a comforter...
when they recieved it in good condition, how can you be responsible for it's use after.
I shipped quite a few Predator shafts in the 90s....I would have been quicker to be lenient because I shipped it....I guess my packing was good, never had a return.
Really? 85 and sunshine is enough to cause those problems? I don't buy it one bit. I have reason to believe that when a fix gets initiated, you'll find out a lot more about the cue that you don't like. The guy probably knows he has this issue in a lot of cues and uses the excuse of "too complex to fix, will probably destroy the cue" excuse in order to avoid responsibility.
If that's not the case, then the person you sold the cue to has abused it and misled you. And now you've been swindled. Either way you've been had. Intellectually and monetarily screwed.
If that's not the case, then the person you sold the cue to has abused it and misled you. And now you've been swindled. Either way you've been had. Intellectually and monetarily screwed.
Aside from all of the other wild bullshit speculation you offered, I don't think I was "swindled" or "intellectually screwed".
What I did here was I decided with eyes wide open to give a guy the benefit of the doubt, someone who in the end, may not have deserved it.
I like that I'm done with this now and have taken the high road getting there.
With respect to leaving cues sealed up in cars when it's sunny and 85 degrees out, I know first hand how that can result in cue damage.
It can damage kids and pets, too.
best,
brian kc
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That whole post was uncalled for. Kudos for taking the high road and hindsight is 20/20. He probably predicts the superbowl after it happens tooAside from all of the other wild bullshit speculation you offered, I don't think I was "swindled" or "intellectually screwed".
What I did here was I decided with eyes wide open to give a guy the benefit of the doubt, someone who in the end, may not have deserved it.
I like that I'm done with this now and have taken the high road getting there.
With respect to leaving cues sealed up in cars when it's sunny and 85 degrees, I know first hand how that can result in damage.
Can damage kids and pets, too.
best,
brian kc
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I agree with you, it's always best to stand behind your word, but often people back out of buying a cue. Cash is king, if somebody pulls out the $, says I'll buy the it, hard to pass up. Lots of cues in the world, just figure it's part of the game and move on.
We ain't major banks trading US Treasury bills here.
We ain't major banks trading US Treasury bills here.
Interesting post. Most sellers of cues or any product want our buyers to be satisfied however there are circumstances that seller has no control after the cue or product has left our hands. Anything can happen.
This one is odd due to the fact that the cue was tested live and checked out 'A OK' and bought. Allot can cange a few days later especially weeks with a cue. No ding on buyer but I am thinking the cue was inadvertently dropped or baked in car on accident and internally damaged with no visible signs of abuse and wants an out.
Cues in general are somewhat fragile, especially an older cue where glue has dried/brittle and the wood has settled, changed, heated and cooled or been subjected at one time or another to lack of care or or drops.
You are stand up KC for bearing some responsibility after 2 weeks out of your hands.
Good luck and Happy 4th of July to all.
-Kat,
This one is odd due to the fact that the cue was tested live and checked out 'A OK' and bought. Allot can cange a few days later especially weeks with a cue. No ding on buyer but I am thinking the cue was inadvertently dropped or baked in car on accident and internally damaged with no visible signs of abuse and wants an out.
Cues in general are somewhat fragile, especially an older cue where glue has dried/brittle and the wood has settled, changed, heated and cooled or been subjected at one time or another to lack of care or or drops.
You are stand up KC for bearing some responsibility after 2 weeks out of your hands.
Good luck and Happy 4th of July to all.
-Kat,
ditto this.