Rip-off Report on Glen, The Real King Cobra

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Lets recap.

Being good at putting a pool table together gets you a free pass to

1. Do as you please with other peoples property at your leisure.

2. Miss deadlines without communicating.

3. Air other peoples personal problems with the IRS online.

4. Hurl insults

Seems like only in the billiard world would a guy like this fly. I've never in my life seen a business man treat a customer or even total strangers so poorly.

...and he almost...gloats about it.
 
realkingcobra said:
It's hard to give dates of completion, unless I'm right there doing the work, and even then it's hard to know what has to be fixed or rebuilt until you get into the pool table. So, yes I tell them it's going to be a while before I leave, but I only seldom leave with the rails. I think I've only picked up rails to rebuild only 2 or 3 times over the last 10 years, as I prefer to do them and the table on site.
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If the customer is aware of potential delays why did highroller54 create this thread?
 
realkingcobra said:
Other jobs already in the waiting to get finished up, as in other tables that I can't finish until I get to where they're at. If I could have worked on Tony's rails at his house, I'd have already been done with them, but there was no where near his house to park my truck/trailer which also happens to be where my shop and all my tools are, which require electricity to work, so that requires plugging in somewhere. With no room to park, the only other thing I could do is take the rails back to the factory with me, hoping to find the time there to rebuild them, but it's hard to find the time to work on the rails at the factory because of all the projects I have waiting for me there to get done, which I might add were in the works before I even picked up Tony's rails, so to answer your question....the priority is to finish the the jobs done in the order in which they come up. Because you see, I have other customers waiting on me as well, some of which have been waiting since November last year, special orders you might say. And the only time I can work on these other projects is when I'm at the factory, as I can't do them on the road, like I wish I could have done for Tony...at his house, before I got back to the factory.

Glen
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If you have all this work that is undone and not enough time to finish it in a timely manner, why not get caught up first then take on new work? We all understand people get behind with work but you are behind before you start. Customers deserve to know whats going on, no one wants to find out that the job they were told is suppouse to be a month long was really 6 months or longer and they were informed incorrectly for whatever reason.
 
PETROBOY said:
If you have all this work that is undone and not enough time to finish it in a timely manner, why not get caught up first then take on new work? We all understand people get behind with work but you are behind before you start. Customers deserve to know whats going on, no one wants to find out that the job they were told is suppouse to be a month long was really 6 months or longer and they were informed incorrectly for whatever reason.
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There is no getting caught up, the line of customers go down the road miles and miles, so guess what? I get people that are pissed at me because I can't get to them next...when they're 1500 miles away, or 50 miles away but I'm not headed in that direction at the time. So, I'd love to see someone come up with an all BRAIN schedule for me to follow along with. There isn't a person smart enough on AZ that could schedule my workload for me, because you couldn't guarantee that I'd be in TX or CA or NY or FL or LA, MS, WV, VA or anywhere else in this country...at a specific time frame to work on someone's pool table. The only guarantee I can make, is that when I'm done working someone's pool table, they'll love the way it plays, as I don't take any short cuts to getting the job done right...the first time;)

Glen
 
PETROBOY said:
If you have all this work that is undone and not enough time to finish it in a timely manner, why not get caught up first then take on new work? We all understand people get behind with work but you are behind before you start. Customers deserve to know whats going on, no one wants to find out that the job they were told is suppouse to be a month long was really 6 months or longer and they were informed incorrectly for whatever reason.
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For that matter, I'm not even at the Diamond factory all that much, so when I do get there, that's when all the in house projects start. Plus I do other things at the factory, like design and build their billiard tables, fix older Diamond rails so they can be sold off on used tables, but play like a new Diamond. If it were up to Diamond, I'd be there all the time, but even Diamond can't afford to pay me on a regular basis, as I don't work for Diamond, so that means I'm NOT an employee of Diamond. If I wanted to be someone's employee, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now, as I won't work for someone else, and haven't in the last 30 years. ;)

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
There is no getting caught up, the line of customers go down the road miles and miles, so guess what? I get people that are pissed at me because I can't get to them next...when they're 1500 miles away, or 50 miles away but I'm not headed in that direction at the time. So, I'd love to see someone come up with an all BRAIN schedule for me to follow along with. There isn't a person smart enough on AZ that could schedule my workload for me, because you couldn't guarantee that I'd be in TX or CA or NY or FL or LA, MS, WV, VA or anywhere else in this country...at a specific time frame to work on someone's pool table. The only guarantee I can make, is that when I'm done working someone's pool table, they'll love the way it plays, as I don't take any short cuts to getting the job done right...the first time;)

Glen
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People don't get "pissed" because you can't get to them next. They get disappointed. There's a HUGE difference. If you say they're next and they're not then they get pissappointed. Still not full blown pissed. If you cart off half their table never to be heard from again, they get pissed. I know you resist the very best advice you keep getting but I'll say it again. Double your prices, do half as much work for the same amount of money and way less fuel and stop stressing folks. You cannot be everything to everybody and not everyone can afford you. No matter how low your prices are someone will think it's too much and no matter how high others will think you're a good value. Value doesn't mean cheap. Back logs are good for the ego and bad for everything else especially your wallet.

Wise up for christ sakes.

JC
 
Obviously no dog in this thread either way.

I have always enjoyed and sit amazed looking at the craftsmanship in Glen's pictures.

One trait that I have noticed with many people, specially craftsmen, and maybe one of Glen's problems is that he doesn't know when to say no.

Just tries to make everyone happy and it comes back and bites you in the butt on occasion.

Just one possibility.
 
You can't rush perfection. Glen did an awesome job on my table and it was worth the wait. I'm sure Tony will be happy when he does get his rails back.
 
Hey Glen....your still #1 in my book. Thanks for the great playing table, I enjoy it daily. What Glen does is not easy and it's backbreaking work for not enough money, so money is not the motivating factor. He enjoys the challenge and satisfaction with turning a bad table into something that is the best it can be.
 
JC said:
Double your prices, do half as much work for the same amount of money and way less fuel and stop stressing folks
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That's not going to happen, I'm not trying to make as much money I can from each and every customer I get to meet and work for. Living life is not all about how much money a person can make before they drop dead, at least not in my case anyway;) and believe me when I tell you, I've had customers offer me twice what I charge just do do their pool table next in front of someone I already had scheduled to work for, and turned it down.

Here's another one for you to figure out, while on the road with Zach teaching him about working on pool tables, I got a private message from a person that was kind of upset that I wasn't willing to take him on as a student so he could work as a trained mechanic. The offer was for $20,000 for six months of education working on pool tables, I declined the offer and still told him I wasn't interested in the money:eek: Zach couldn't believe it because he didn't pay me any money, and spent a little over 3 months with me on the road, doing all the work I'd be doing myself, but that's how he became the table mechanic he is today, and Arizona pool table owners are much better off today because of it;)

So, bottom line is there's more to MY life than just making money, so some people on AZ need to realize they're not living MY life anymore than I'm living theirs, so unless they can fit into MY shoes and do the level of work that I DO, on a regular basis, then all their comments about how I should do this or that mean nothing to me....IF THEY CAN'T DO THE SAME LEVEL OF WORK THAT I DO, then how can they possibly think they're smart enough to proceed to telling me how to do MY job!!

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
So, bottom line is there's more to MY life than just making money, so some people on AZ need to realize they're not living MY life anymore than I'm living theirs, so unless they can fit into MY shoes and do the level of work that I DO, on a regular basis, then all their comments about how I should do this or that mean nothing to me....IF THEY CAN'T DO THE SAME LEVEL OF WORK THAT I DO, then how can they possibly think they're smart enough to proceed to telling me how to do MY job!!

Glen
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You've got to be joking.

How is any of this an excuse to treat customers poorly.

This whole "SAME LEVEL OF WORK" is absolutely hysterical.

Most of us bring a level of expertise and dedication to our jobs. Some of us, much like yourself are great at what we do and still manage to treat people with dignity and respect.

Many of us are self employed with busy schedules and a long list of customers waiting for our services. But we don't use that as an excuse for our shortcomings.

You're not the only person on this forum who's great at their job. Please, for once, step off the pedestal.
 
I just want to know why highroller54 was under the impression the work would be done by a certain time but RKC says he sets the expectation that the work could be delayed.
 
realkingcobra said:
That's not going to happen, I'm not trying to make as much money I can from each and every customer I get to meet and work for. Living life is not all about how much money a person can make before they drop dead, at least not in my case anyway;) and believe me when I tell you, I've had customers offer me twice what I charge just do do their pool table next in front of someone I already had scheduled to work for, and turned it down.

Here's another one for you to figure out, while on the road with Zach teaching him about working on pool tables, I got a private message from a person that was kind of upset that I wasn't willing to take him on as a student so he could work as a trained mechanic. The offer was for $20,000 for six months of education working on pool tables, I declined the offer and still told him I wasn't interested in the money:eek: Zach couldn't believe it because he didn't pay me any money, and spent a little over 3 months with me on the road, doing all the work I'd be doing myself, but that's how he became the table mechanic he is today, and Arizona pool table owners are much better off today because of it;)

So, bottom line is there's more to MY life than just making money, so some people on AZ need to realize they're not living MY life anymore than I'm living theirs, so unless they can fit into MY shoes and do the level of work that I DO, on a regular basis, then all their comments about how I should do this or that mean nothing to me....IF THEY CAN'T DO THE SAME LEVEL OF WORK THAT I DO, then how can they possibly think they're smart enough to proceed to telling me how to do MY job!!

Glen
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You just don't seem to be getting it Glen. It's not about making money. It's about managing your business. By doing so the money follows. You don't raise your prices to gouge anyone. You do it because you are working below your market value. How do I know this? Because your backlog proves it. Do you not understand that even at your prices which you currently charge and feel are fair there are MANY who still think you charge too much? Your pricing is arbitrary based on how you THINK others perceive it. You are making the mistake of assuming you know what others value of a dollar is. Your backlog proves you don't.

Try this. Announce right here on the forum that you have raised your prices 80%. Say that this means you will be able to get to folks faster. And you will. You won't miss the one's who won't now be on your list because you're too expensive. Just like you don't miss a child that was never concieved. Do you miss them now? They're out there right now at your current prices. You just don't seem to realize it. YOU CANNOT BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE so stop promising to. Geez this is so simple and your excuses are just plain lame. And yes I do have the background to know what I speak of.
JC
 
Glen's services are the ones that everyone is after. If you don't want to have to put up with whatever it takes to obtain Glen's services, then pound salt and go find someone else who is willing to bend over backwards for you within your timeframe. Glen is regarded as the best table mechanic in the known world, so you're probably going to be the one bending over backwards within his timeframe to obtain his services. Just know that. That being said, the OP has legitimate reasons to be upset. Glen probably should have had a little bit better communication with the guy. I don't think Glen was trying to be deceptive when estimating his deadlines, but he may have underestimated how backed up he was and how long it would take to complete the project. It's always best to give yourself some wiggle room when agreeing to a deadline. You think it's going to take you 2 months to complete, you estimate it at 3 months. If you're done in the 2 months you thought, your customer will be happy to have their work completed "early".
 
Baxter said:
Glen's services are the ones that everyone is after. If you don't want to have to put up with whatever it takes to obtain Glen's services, then pound salt and go find someone else who is willing to bend over backwards for you within your timeframe. Glen is regarded as the best table mechanic in the known world, so you're probably going to be the one bending over backwards within his timeframe to obtain his services. Just know that. That being said, the OP has legitimate reasons to be upset. Glen probably should have had a little bit better communication with the guy. I don't think Glen was trying to be deceptive when estimating his deadlines, but he may have underestimated how backed up he was and how long it would take to complete the project. It's always best to give yourself some wiggle room when agreeing to a deadline. You think it's going to take you 2 months to complete, you estimate it at 3 months. If you're done in the 2 months you thought, your customer will be happy to have their work completed "early".
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No one questions the skill set. Certainly most of us are willing to work with a tough schedule. Its the idea that its okay to be treated as if you're anything other than a good paying customer simply because someone is good at what they do.

Just look as his response to the whole thing.

Could he be anymore disingenuous?

Far be it from anyone on this forum to know what its like to live in the high stakes cut throat world of being a billiard mechanic and until we walk in his shoes we just don't get it.

I'm sure all the hardworking people of this forum were just put in their place because... we just don't know what its like to work a tough schedule.

I'd love for this guy to tell a firefighter, cop, teacher, lawyer...hell a housewife that until they walk a day in his shoes they can't understand how stressful life is.

Its insulting.
 
I probably should stay out of this, but............

I joined the forum in August of 2006 and now have 4,652 posts.
RKC joined the forum in December of 2006 and has 8,760 posts.

I spend a lot of time daily on this forum. A LOT!!! I cannot imagine how much time RKC spends on this forum with 6 months less time than I have on here with nearly TWICE the postings.

I'm just thinking he needs less time on here and more time catching up on work he's (by his own admission) behind on. Just a thought.

Maniac (prolly on the "list" now too!!!)
 
Bishop said:
No one questions the skill set. Certainly most of us are willing to work with a tough schedule. Its the idea that its okay to be treated as if you're anything other than a good paying customer simply because someone is good at what they do.

Just look as his response to the whole thing.

Could he be anymore disingenuous?

Far be it from anyone on this forum to know what its like to live in the high stakes cut throat world of being a billiard mechanic and until we walk in his shoes we just don't get it.

I'm sure all the hardworking people of this forum were just put in their place because... we just don't know what its like to work a tough schedule.

I'd love for this guy to tell a firefighter, cop, teacher, lawyer...hell a housewife that until they walk a day in his shoes they can't understand how stressful life is.

Its insulting.
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What's "INSULTING" is you thinking that my job is stressful, because it's not, so why are you assuming that it is?

What's "INSULTING" that just because you can run your business a certain way, that should mean I can run my business the same way you run yours.

What's "INSULTING" is that YOU sit back on YOUR pedestal and pass judgment on me, like you're so much better than I am, yet you know NOTHING about what I do, as you think it's all about putting cloth on a pool table and calling it done!

What's also "INSULTING" is the fact that I wouldn't make a good waiter in a restaurant either, but who's talking about being able to do other jobs. Millions of people work in this country, what's THAT got to do with the JOB I DO?
 
People who are the best in their field tend to be eccentric......RKC is no exception. And is there anybody here who has paid any attention at all who doesn't know what they're getting into when they pursue his services? Really? I mean come on.....really?

It's obvious he's in high demand, travels all over the country, is committed to perfection, and is willing to do what it takes to achieve perfection for his customers....and he clearly marches to the beat of his own drum - which in the end means that he will be unpredictable. He is who he is and he makes no bones about it - you have to respect that.

But you know what - given his eccentricity and scheduling challenges.....the service he provides is worth it as has been proven time and time again. Hell, it's damn near an honor just to say you have a table he has worked on. How crazy is that when you think about it?

Having said all of that and fully understanding the situation - RKC I want to get on your list to have an older red label Diamond nine foot professional brought up to the most recent specs with new rails, rails extended to make four inch pockets, and covered with tournament blue Simonis 860. :thumbup:
 
Maniac said:
I probably should stay out of this, but............

I joined the forum in August of 2006 and now have 4,652 posts.
RKC joined the forum in December of 2006 and has 8,760 posts.

I spend a lot of time daily on this forum. A LOT!!! I cannot imagine how much time RKC spends on this forum with 6 months less time than I have on here with nearly TWICE the postings.

I'm just thinking he needs less time on here and more time catching up on work he's (by his own admission) behind on. Just a thought.

Maniac (prolly on the "list" now too!!!)
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Because I don't work 24 hours a day, although I to work 7 days a week:thumbup: and I've put a lot of time into AZ building the "Talk to a mechanic" section on here, as that's where most of my postings are, but it's become to repetitive with the same questions being asked over and over again, so I don't post there much anymore. And no, you're not on that list:thumbup:

Glen
 
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