'I' never saw/met any customers back in the factory, or otherwise!
Shipping cue
- Thread starter muskyed
- Start date
Thanks.
No worries.
I might tap you for other historical info about the shop and the cues as I go forward.
I am not sure if this is a National or a Gandy, and I don't think there is any way to tell for sure, unless I track down Dick Antonini, the original owner of this cue.
I added you to the history. LINK
Toadshot
Active member
USPS horrible. I had the same thing happen to me multiple times with cues being shipped due to the size. Pay for a 3 day priority, and 16 days later its arrives. 8 days with no updates. OMG.
Pay for a 3 day, and they send it ground due to the size? Never again…..
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In the last couple weeks I've bought cues here and off of eBay, shipped by USPS. In both cases they were hung up for several days with no updates other than it's late and moving through the system. Luckily both sellers were cool about it and kept pestering USPS about where they were and when will they get delivered. Eventually both arrived in great condition, however one of the boxes was smashed and split open. Luckily the seller packed it well inside and the cue is undamaged. USPS service has gone to crap and yet they want more price increases.
i go for usps. strictly because they are all federal employees and have a job they do not want to lose. and few would ever steal a package and risk it.
however the time you receive the package can be much longer than you thought. but more likely than the others to not be destroyed.
and no way im taking pay pal. but would use it to buy.
however the time you receive the package can be much longer than you thought. but more likely than the others to not be destroyed.
and no way im taking pay pal. but would use it to buy.
Actually, Dick Helmstetter started making cues in Washington DC, with the help of Gordon Hart. I've seen at least one of Dick's very eary cues. Looked like a Paradise, but with Gordon's super joint that would be later used in his Viking cues.
Well folks, here is the happy ending.
The seller responded immediatley. They offered a return for refund...but I want the cue. Honestly, I got it cheap as an "unknown". The shaft is worth double what I paid.
A little while later they refunded my money and said keep it. They said they had packed it in a box, but FedEx took it out of the box, slapped the labels on it you see in my pictures, and sent it like that. I have no reason to not believe them.
The wrapping and padding he had looked adequate to put in a box or tube. But without a box or tube no way. He is a volume seller, seems to know his business. I do think the shipper is at fault.
He sent me my refund and opened a claim with the shipper based on my pictures.
So, the adventure will be to have the cue rebuilt. All the breaks are on the glue lines. I think it can be reassembled.
If nothing else, it provides some documentation of the construction of these cues, which is pretty standard and not surprising, but at least we have some documentation for posterity.
If you use Paypal have your buyer pay via "friends and family." That way there is no commision charged and the buyer cannot cancel the sale or make a claim against you.
I got burned by Paypal shipping a 1,500 value cue. The guy made a claim and asked for his money back. They complied and he sent my cue back in a $10 case. I was severely damaged and the guy claimed it was how he got the cue. I tried to make a claim with Paypal and they said case closed! I got screwed, so be careful using their "service."
I got burned by Paypal shipping a 1,500 value cue. The guy made a claim and asked for his money back. They complied and he sent my cue back in a $10 case. I was severely damaged and the guy claimed it was how he got the cue. I tried to make a claim with Paypal and they said case closed! I got screwed, so be careful using their "service."
There might be an empty box on the receiving end. Been there, seen that.
Just curious, what year would that be?
I frequently ship cues in the $1000+ range. I ask the recipient if they have a preference for UPS or FedEx. Never USPS.
I ship the cue in a small 1 by 2 case, within a box, Always. I’ll them ship ground, uninsured (good luck getting paid out), and I only add signature confirmation.
I’ve had an excellent success rate with this method.
I ship the cue in a small 1 by 2 case, within a box, Always. I’ll them ship ground, uninsured (good luck getting paid out), and I only add signature confirmation.
I’ve had an excellent success rate with this method.
Not sure of the exact year, but I believe sometime in the 60s.
Personally, I wouldn't Bet on this info!
But, this is what 'AI' says!
AI Overview
Bob Meucci is approximately 82 years old. [1]
While his exact birth date is not widely publicized, historical records and biographical details from sources like the Meucci Cues Wikipedia entry provide clear landmarks for his age: [1]
- Birth Location: He was born in Glenview, Illinois. Census and public records list a Robert J. Meucci born in Illinois in circa 1944. [1, 2]
- Early Career: He began crafting pool cues at age 19 in his father's tool-and-die shop during the early 1960s (math aligned with a mid-1940s birth). [1]
- Legacy: He went on to establish Meucci Originals (now Meucci Cues) in 1975. He was inducted into the International Cuemakers Hall of Fame in 2006 and officially retired from the business in 2022
Coos Cues
Coos Cues
Sometimes it doesn't matter how you package it the shipping company will find a way to screw you.
I sent three full cores with handles installed on them to another cue maker just one state over. I bought insurance for the entire value which was modest but I bought it anyway. UPS left it leaning up against his gate on the sidewalk and it was of course, stolen. Insurance refused to pay because UPS had a photo as proof of delivery. Probably thrown away by the thief when they opened it and realized it had no value to them.
My advice is always require a signature no matter how you ship. The few extra bucks are worth it. Had I done this my package would likely not have been stolen. This gives an added layer of protection to you and somewhat insulates you from lazy drivers. I was penny wise and pound foolish and paid the price for it.
I sent three full cores with handles installed on them to another cue maker just one state over. I bought insurance for the entire value which was modest but I bought it anyway. UPS left it leaning up against his gate on the sidewalk and it was of course, stolen. Insurance refused to pay because UPS had a photo as proof of delivery. Probably thrown away by the thief when they opened it and realized it had no value to them.
My advice is always require a signature no matter how you ship. The few extra bucks are worth it. Had I done this my package would likely not have been stolen. This gives an added layer of protection to you and somewhat insulates you from lazy drivers. I was penny wise and pound foolish and paid the price for it.
This is crazy talk.
Do you think anyone who handles packages has the time to check the shipping details?
Can anyone other than the shipper even look that info up?
Don't count on a required signature. One of the cues I mentioned earlier that were delayed had signature required on it, but was still left sitting at the door without a signature.
Coos Cues
Coos Cues
Well at least this greatly improves your chance of a successful insurance claim. Harder for the weasels to argue when they can't produce a signature that is required. It's hard to defeat lazy drivers but this at least gives you some ammo.
I thought I recalled tales of helmstetter in DC and the international cuemakers HoF agrees.
It details helmstetter cues started 1966 in DC and also that he worked with gordon (hart) prior to that.