Shady Business Practices Need An Opinion?

I thought the post before was your last.

Quality Cues said:
I refused to return Seabas' cue until he advanced the funds for the return shipping. When I rejected his cue, he tried to tag me for some ebay fees, and I told him to pound sand because he sold be a cue that was grossly misrepresented. Dave Wasserman, a very reputable cue guy and a good friend, brokered the settlement. He wanted to buy the cue and play with it, perhaps as his everyday player and help me resolve a dispute with Seabas in the process. When he received the cue for a whopping $200.00 discount, he agreed with me that the cue was in need of a complete refinish and sent the cue to Proficient Billiards and spent $390.00 to have the cue refinished and rewrapped. That's right, Dave got a whopping $200.00 discount from Seabas, and then had the privilege of paying Proficient $390.00 to get the cue in an acceptable condition as well as shipping to and from PA. After Dave played with the cue, he decided it was not the player he was looking for (like most every player in the world who is looking for the Holy Grail of a pool cue). Dave is the guy I have purchased approximately 98.5-99.0& of my cues from since August 2004, when we did our first deal. He offered me the cue at a loss in a package deal and I accepted. He had more than $2,800 in the cue, and I did not get that much for the cue here on AZB. So tell me, was it a good deal? I think not. In any event, Sebas being the coward that he is, did not chime in when the cue was on AZB earlier this year. That should tell you all you need to know about him. He probably figured that if he posted negative comments about our transaction at that time, that I would post the truth about him losing my AMEX chargeback for fraudulent selling practices. Enough said. I'm done with this thread and the nonsense. If you want to purchase a MINT/UNCHALKED or NEAR MINT CUE for an undermarket price with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, then buy from me. If not, good luck with your next cue purchase. Best regards.
Click to expand...

So your telling me Dave wanted the cue to play with. Then went ahead and paid $390.00 to get it in "acceptable" condition to play with? Do the prior statements seem ridiculous to anyone else? Please explain to me on what planet does $2250+$390=over $2800? More BS from the master.
 
sebas said:
So your telling me Dave wanted the cue to play with. Then went ahead and paid $390.00 to get it in "acceptable" condition to play with? Do the prior statements seem ridiculous to anyone else? Please explain to me on what planet does $2250+$390=over $2800? More BS from the master.
Click to expand...

2250
+
390= $2640....................was he billing you by the hour to:confused::D
 
Last edited:
Its really unfortunate for all parties involved here how this has turned out. I don't know all the parties involved and all the minutia, but......

I have puchased two TS cues from Mike and both were flawless. His communication was spot on and prompt. I would not hesitate to buy a cue from Mike or from any of the other fine sellers here on AZB.

Happy Holidays to all.......:)

Russ
 
poolhustler said:
Its really unfortunate for all parties involved here how this has turned out. I don't know all the parties involved and all the minutia, but......

I have puchased two TS cues from Mike and both were flawless. His communication was spot on and prompt. I would not hesitate to buy a cue from Mike or from any of the other fine sellers here on AZB.

Happy Holidays to all.......:)

Russ
Click to expand...

Russ,

This isn't about how MIKE sells, it's about how he buys.

I suggested many pages ago that it would be less problematic selling to MIKE in person, esp. if expectations are unknown. Once buyers and sellers know each others standards it shouldn't be required.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
 
Yes.....I do understand that the issue at hand is regarding a cue that Mike took in on a trade and not a direct sale from Mike.

I think that Mike and others have learned a valuable lesson in that one sellers description may and most probably will differ from anothers.

I ran across this same issue buying and selling parts for my Corvette. Some sellers described their parts as "like new" or "perfect" and they were far from it in my book.

Anyways, I'm NOT taking sides, I just feel bad for ALL parties involved........:(

Russ......
 
sebas said:
So your telling me Dave wanted the cue to play with. Then went ahead and paid $390.00 to get it in "acceptable" condition to play with? Do the prior statements seem ridiculous to anyone else? Please explain to me on what planet does $2250+$390=over $2800? More BS from the master.
Click to expand...

You really do have a very, very bad memory. Part of the $2,550.00 purchase was exactly $194.99 pulled from the cash balance in my PayPal account, with the balance of $2,355.01 going on my AMEX card. I have the documents to prove it, so we don't need to rely upon my memory. Dave reimbursed me the $194.99 that you were holding and that I did not get reimbursed by AMEX. So, Dave paid you $2,150.00 (you gave him a $200.00 discount off the $2,355.02 number because you already had my $194.99) and me $195.00, so his purchase price was $2,345.00. Remember, Mr. selective memory. So, $2,344.00 + $390.00 + shipping = $2,800.00.

After Dave purchased the cue, he decided it was not the player he was looking for. He felt the cue needed to be completely refinished and rewrapped to be put in a salable condition (agree, 100%), thus it was shipped to Proficient Billiards. End of story.
 
I made a deal on the phone with this person.The next morning he called to changre .Just to get things right I agreed to pay him an extra $100.The next day he wantd to change it again,I knew then that his word was no good.That was my first deal on az so I was afraid it would be that way with everyone,no honor.I knew the biggest person on AZ so I told him what happened,he asked if it were this person.When I said yes ,he told me what a nitty person he was,even down to asking for $25 for tips,same modus operandi I will never do business again with the person I am thinking about .but not identifying

Let your yes be yes,and your no be no
 
Last edited:
I won't "take sides" in this matter. I have had contact with both parties in this thread and I'll simply relate my perception of the outcome.

Mr. Gartland started a thread awhile back and asked that if anyone wanted to see pics of a Searing cue he had for sale, to PM him your email address. After a little time went by, I started noticing abrasive comments from Mr. Gartland that frankly offended me. I particularly liked this one: "Unlike virtually all the cues that I have ever sold on and off AZB, this cue will not be sold at a give away price. My price will be reflective of market value and I will be firm. In other words, this cue is not for widows and orphans". I immediately asked Mr. Gartland to drop me off his list. I know this is of no concern to an "unblemished" person who has "a customer list a mile long". Of course now that he has established additional criteria to determine who should be worthy to buy from him i.e. repeat customers, the guy he has bought all his cues from, etc., etc., I don't qualify anyways, but I won't be on the list even if widows and orphans are invited back...

On the other hand, Chris Sebastian sold me my first Szamboti. He didn't make value judgments on my ability to purchase it. His correspondence was great, he sent the cue via Express Mail, so I had it in hand the day after our deal, the cue surpassed my expectations, and we've talked several times since. I hope to do more with Chris in the near future, as I was impressed with my buying experience with him.

I'm not the most religious guy in the world, but my grandmother taught me a Bible verse when I was a kid that I haven't ever forgotten...

Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour, rather than silver and gold...

Happy Holidays!

Steve Feld
 
Last edited:
Quality Cues said:
I refused to return Seabas' cue until he advanced the funds for the return shipping. When I rejected his cue, he tried to tag me for some ebay fees, and I told him to pound sand because he sold be a cue that was grossly misrepresented. Dave Wasserman, a very reputable cue guy and a good friend, brokered the settlement. He wanted to buy the cue and play with it, perhaps as his everyday player and help me resolve a dispute with Seabas in the process. When he received the cue for a whopping $200.00 discount, he agreed with me that the cue was in need of a complete refinish and sent the cue to Proficient Billiards and spent $390.00 to have the cue refinished and rewrapped. That's right, Dave got a whopping $200.00 discount from Seabas, and then had the privilege of paying Proficient $390.00 to get the cue in an acceptable condition as well as shipping to and from PA. After Dave played with the cue, he decided it was not the player he was looking for (like most every player in the world who is looking for the Holy Grail of a pool cue). Dave is the guy I have purchased approximately 98.5-99.0& of my cues from since August 2004, when we did our first deal. He offered me the cue at a loss in a package deal and I accepted. He had more than $2,800 in the cue, and I did not get that much for the cue here on AZB. So tell me, was it a good deal? I think not. In any event, Sebas being the coward that he is, did not chime in when the cue was on AZB earlier this year. That should tell you all you need to know about him. He probably figured that if he posted negative comments about our transaction at that time, that I would post the truth about him losing my AMEX chargeback for fraudulent selling practices. Enough said. I'm done with this thread and the nonsense. If you want to purchase a MINT/UNCHALKED or NEAR MINT CUE for an undermarket price with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, then buy from me. If not, good luck with your next cue purchase. Best regards.
Click to expand...



For $390 I would have sent it to Joel.:confused:
 
Last edited:
Why fight? Every time you shot with his cue, you would get a bad taste in your mouth anyway. Better luck next time.

Edited: I just read the entire thread and though I don't mind a 59" cue, I am not a person making a living swapping cues for people.

I think Mike is making a living in a difficult business and has to make some difficult choises when confronted with an unknown that makes a cue difficult to sell.

I do not know Mike, though I spoke to him on the phone two years ago, but I find it strange that people bandwagon against him so strongly when it seems that he is just trying to find good cues and can't afford to get burned on any deals.

In my opinion, I would certainly buy a cue from Mike because he has certainly done the tough work of getting a pristine cue in his line-up. It might be tougher to trade a cue to him... but he has to be tough to get good cues.
 
Last edited:
My Favorite Quote From The Bible Is: "Let Them Eat Cake"

Hunter said:
Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour, rather than silver and gold...
Happy Holidays!
Steve Feld
Click to expand...


While true, what about the people that suck out on the river ?
Doug
( Happy Holidays to you, too ) :)



.
 
vinniebabarooch said:
For $390 I would have sent it to Joel.:confused:
Click to expand...

LOLOL...I've had several cues refinished and rewrapped at Proficient...full refinish including one shaft = $80. Linen wrap = $40. For $390 at Proficient, you could get another cue to go with that refinish!!
:p
 
Smorgass Bored said:
While true, what about the people that suck out on the river ?
Doug
( Happy Holidays to you, too ) :)



.
Click to expand...
It is tough to deal with those blind ass luck fellatio experts.
 
Szamboti

Hunter said:
I won't "take sides" in this matter. I have had contact with both parties in this thread and I'll simply relate my perception of the outcome.

Mr. Gartland started a thread awhile back and asked that if anyone wanted to see pics of a Searing cue he had for sale, to PM him your email address. After a little time went by, I started noticing abrasive comments from Mr. Gartland that frankly offended me. I particularly liked this one: "Unlike virtually all the cues that I have ever sold on and off AZB, this cue will not be sold at a give away price. My price will be reflective of market value and I will be firm. In other words, this cue is not for widows and orphans". I immediately asked Mr. Gartland to drop me off his list. I know this is of no concern to an "unblemished" person who has "a customer list a mile long". Of course now that he has established additional criteria to determine who should be worthy to buy from him i.e. repeat customers, the guy he has bought all his cues from, etc., etc., I don't qualify anyways, but I won't be on the list even if widows and orphans are invited back...

On the other hand, Chris Sebastian sold me my first Szamboti. He didn't make value judgments on my ability to purchase it. His correspondence was great, he sent the cue via Express Mail, so I had it in hand the day after our deal, the cue surpassed my expectations, and we've talked several times since. I hope to do more with Chris in the near future, as I was impressed with my buying experience with him.

I'm not the most religious guy in the world, but my grandmother taught me a Bible verse when I was a kid that I haven't ever forgotten...

Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour, rather than silver and gold...

Happy Holidays!

Steve Feld
Click to expand...

BTW steve I am working on getting that cue back.
 
I figured it might come full circle, Chris! Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Steve
 
BillYards said:
....Edited: I just read the entire thread and though I don't mind a 59" cue, I am not a person making a living swapping cues for people.

I think Mike is making a living in a difficult business and has to make some difficult choises when confronted with an unknown that makes a cue difficult to sell....
Click to expand...

You interject an interesting point that bears consideration. I would be willing to bet a large sum that Mike G. is not "making his living" off selling cues. Trust me, nobody is, save maybe one or two. Dealing custom cues has never been anything remotely close to something that affords somebody a reliable means to live. Hobby, yes, livelihood....hardly.

Steve, I didn't quote you here, but another great, insightful post.

I think many eyes have been opened here with this post. Everyone should remember that you are only as good as your word, no matter who you are.
 
Str8PoolPlayer said:
I seem to remember him saying he is a Lawyer (in one of his old ebay ads) ...
Click to expand...

ME TO. I CAN BS MY WAY OUT OF ALMOST ANYTHING, IF I HAVE TO.

MARCUS<--- SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LAWYER, BUT FLIPPIN BAD CUES IS EASIER
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top