Ted Harris is NOT a rip-off artist!!!

[Peter Ghostine]

Jerry,

My name is Peter Ghostine. I've seen you and spoken to you briefly on several occasions at the Tuesday night tourneys at Champion (Laurel). I don't know you well, but I know you're an OK guy. I also know the entire story behind the two pool cues that you've ordered from Ted since he and I have been friends for 13 years.

In a nutshell, you have every right to be pissed off at him for repeatedly missing the delivery deadline. I'd go as far as to say that since you don't know him well enough, it wouldn't be unreasonable to question his character. That being said, I also know that he's not a "rip-off artist" and that the assumptions that you're making couldn't possibly be any further from the truth. Let me first of all assure you that you'll be getting your cues before the end of the year (2006). In fact, Ted is feeling your pain and has already put an extra $500's worth of material into the cues (ivory, ferules, etc, Rambow butt plate, and a couple of other things).

Look, you and I have got it relatively easy compared to most people. Ted is an extemely talented cuemaker and repairman, but he's been handed the short end of the stick a few times in his life. Sometimes I'm not sure how he could stay on his feet with so much bad luck constantly coming his way. Granted, some of the "bad luck" is his own doing, but in short, he's feeling the pain, both his and yours. Again, I assure you you will be getting the cues within the next two weeks.

When he called you to let you know that the cues were ready, they in fact were. I happened to be in Ft. Lauderdale that week and I swung by his shop and saw them. He then noticed glue lines on the cues and refused to send them out. He basically trashed them and started all over again. It so happens that during his recent move to Florida, at least one of his machines got partially damaged. Knowing him, there's no way in hell he was going to send you the flawed cues, especially since he came recommended from own of his best friends (Danny Green) whom you know very well.

There are a few other reasons for the delay, and those are health-related and not necessarily worth getting into here. But again and for the third time, I tell you that you'll be getting more than you paid for, notwithstanding the pain and suffering associated with the endless wait.

Let's give the guy two more weeks and refrain from the trashing and name-calling. If he doesn't deliver in two weeks, I'll get back online and trash him myself.

Peter

 

[uwate]

Ted Harris can give the last four to most people in the strength of the bad rolls he has gotten in life lately. Seriously, if people had any idea on some of the things he has had to fade lately it would open your eyes.

I know Ted too, and he is a proud man he doesnt want to bring his personal life to the boards, especially in this way since it would come off like a "sad sack, plz feel sorry for me way" with all this crap about him not delivering a cue that is paid for.

 

[manwon]

Gentleman, I agree that this not the place to let this situation get out hand , however this gentleman is known throughout the entire industry for these type of problems. He has been banned by distributors of cue builders supplies, over the last couple of years his world has become much smaller due to his actions.

I think the purpose of a forum like this is to keep it's membership informed, about good things and bad things, so that they do not have to deal with these kind of problems.

While continuous bashing of anyone serves nothing, warnings about an individuals business dealings when positive or negative do serve the purpose of helping others make a decision about dealing with the individual, and this information can help others from making the same mistake, that the posters did.

It may also help the other individual realize that bad behavior is not acceptable, and not keeping the information flowing (answering emails)
is not acceptable to anyone.

Manwon

 

[bruin70]

"Ted Harris is NOT a rip-off artist!!!"

he may not be an "artist" at it, but it seems he sure has it down pat .

 

[BVal]

Gentleman, I agree that this not the place to let this situation get out hand , however this gentleman is known throughout the entire industry for these type of problems. He has been banned by distributors of cue builders supplies, over the last couple of years his world has become much smaller due to his actions.

I think the purpose of a forum like this is to keep it's membership informed, about good things and bad things, so that they do not have to deal with these kind of problems.

While continuous bashing of anyone serves nothing, warnings about an individuals business dealings when positive or negative do serve the purpose of helping others make a decision about dealing with the individual, and this information can help others from making the same mistake, that the posters did.

It may also help the other individual realize that bad behavior is not acceptable, and not keeping the information flowing (answering emails)
is not acceptable to anyone.

Manwon

Well said - enough said.

 

[cueaddicts]

Gentleman, I agree that this not the place to let this situation get out hand , however this gentleman is known throughout the entire industry for these type of problems. He has been banned by distributors of cue builders supplies, over the last couple of years his world has become much smaller due to his actions.

I think the purpose of a forum like this is to keep it's membership informed, about good things and bad things, so that they do not have to deal with these kind of problems.

While continuous bashing of anyone serves nothing, warnings about an individuals business dealings when positive or negative do serve the purpose of helping others make a decision about dealing with the individual, and this information can help others from making the same mistake, that the posters did.

It may also help the other individual realize that bad behavior is not acceptable, and not keeping the information flowing (answering emails)
is not acceptable to anyone.

Manwon

Excellent post and 100% agree. If you CHOOSE to be in a service industry, then an expectation of that is that you will provide service. Everyone has some bad luck at times, but if that prevents you from meeting a deadline, it's your responsibility to inform your customer. That's what service is all about.

 

[Tokyo-dave]

I'm self employed in the housing industry here in Japan. I contract exterior siding and roofing. When I promise a job will be done by a certain date, it gets done by that date..................period. Sure there are natural disasters, family emergencies, and other unexpected events that may have an affect on my work schedule, but when it happens, the first to know about it is the customer. That's the way it should be because it's my job, and I consider myself a professional.
I have no idea of the hard times Ted has possibly been through, but it seems that those close to him will vouch for his apparently tough times, so I probably sound a little harsh without knowing him and his apparent misfortunes to be so critical of his record. But as I see it, Ted is self employed. In other words, he has every right to accept, or turn down orders. If he finds himself in situations with equipment problems, or any other possible problems that are likely to have an affect on his ability to serve his customers, then maybe he should be honest with himself and even his customers and stop taking orders for a certain period of time until he can get his ducks lined up.
I know that for myself anyway, if I feel that I might be spread so thin that it may have an effect on the quality of the work I'm doing, I slow down and stop accepting jobs. As a professional anything, quality and professionalism in fewer numbers will always be more appreciated than greater numbers with a sacrifice in quality and professionalism.
I think Ted makes a great cue, and I've always kept my eyes open for the right one that might pop up on the used market. But I'd never feel comfortable sending a deposit to him to wait for one to be made, and those feelings are strictly based on what I've read just here in these forums. It's pretty sad because out of 100 transactions, it could be that one bad one that we read about that can possibly scare us away.
dave

 

[ShootingArts]

Excellent post in all respects

Dave,

You covered all of the bases perfectly. As businessmen we are ultimately responsible to deliver a product or service on time. If we don't, it doesn't really matter why, we are at fault. That may not always seem fair but it is the way I see things and this has worked as part of my business model since 1968. I'm scheduled for major surgery and my business planning is reflecting that now so I won't be in a bind at the last minute.

Also very good that you noted that unhappy customers make much more noise as a rule. A few very vocal unhappy customers made me very shy to do business with someone that has very rapidly became my favorite supplier. Often nobody knows about the hundreds of good deals, but one bad one and the world can know with the Net, even if the bad one is only in a customer's mind.

I was considering a new moderately high end lathe a few years ago. When I did a net search I found dozens of postings listing issues with the machine at over a dozen different websites. A huge red flag to say the least! Only when I started opening the posts did I discover that over 90% were from one very unhappy poster and there were maybe two or three others that had cosmetic problems or minor leak issues with the machine.

The net is a great research tool but a person does have to filter the information for themselves.

Hu

I'm self employed in the housing industry here in Japan. I contract exterior siding and roofing. When I promise a job will be done by a certain date, it gets done by that date..................period. Sure there are natural disasters, family emergencies, and other unexpected events that may have an affect on my work schedule, but when it happens, the first to know about it is the customer. That's the way it should be because it's my job, and I consider myself a professional.
I have no idea of the hard times Ted has possibly been through, but it seems that those close to him will vouch for his apparently tough times, so I probably sound a little harsh without knowing him and his apparent misfortunes to be so critical of his record. But as I see it, Ted is self employed. In other words, he has every right to accept, or turn down orders. If he finds himself in situations with equipment problems, or any other possible problems that are likely to have an affect on his ability to serve his customers, then maybe he should be honest with himself and even his customers and stop taking orders for a certain period of time until he can get his ducks lined up.
I know that for myself anyway, if I feel that I might be spread so thin that it may have an effect on the quality of the work I'm doing, I slow down and stop accepting jobs. As a professional anything, quality and professionalism in fewer numbers will always be more appreciated than greater numbers with a sacrifice in quality and professionalism.
I think Ted makes a great cue, and I've always kept my eyes open for the right one that might pop up on the used market. But I'd never feel comfortable sending a deposit to him to wait for one to be made, and those feelings are strictly based on what I've read just here in these forums. It's pretty sad because out of 100 transactions, it could be that one bad one that we read about that can possibly scare us away.
dave

 

[jay helfert]

Gentleman, I agree that this not the place to let this situation get out hand , however this gentleman is known throughout the entire industry for these type of problems. He has been banned by distributors of cue builders supplies, over the last couple of years his world has become much smaller due to his actions.

I think the purpose of a forum like this is to keep it's membership informed, about good things and bad things, so that they do not have to deal with these kind of problems.

While continuous bashing of anyone serves nothing, warnings about an individuals business dealings when positive or negative do serve the purpose of helping others make a decision about dealing with the individual, and this information can help others from making the same mistake, that the posters did.

It may also help the other individual realize that bad behavior is not acceptable, and not keeping the information flowing (answering emails)
is not acceptable to anyone.

Manwon

I nominate Manwon to be back up moderator, when Mr. Wilson needs a break.

 

[manwon]

I nominate Manwon to be back up moderator, when Mr. Wilson needs a break.

NO NO NO!!!!!!! then Shorty would be after me

Thanks but no thanks!!!

Manwon

 

[Kid Dynomite]

My 2 cents

Hi Pete and Jerry,

I know both of you two guys and play at Champions as well. I have a Ted Harris Cue and loved mine so much I bought another off the wanted board and troll the boards for more even to this day. The guy is really talented and his work is in "MY OPINION" on par or better than the southwest I have played with and other top name makers.

It is a shame he is having issues. Is their anyway he can get back on his feet and up in running full steam? I have noticed Ernie Martinez has someone helping him and it seems to be working. Plus, he has a list of people in line to purchase what he produces. This same scenario may work for Ted as well??? I don't know whats going on but if he was set up and stable I would be throwing another order his way.

I know Pete and Ted go back a ways and he is a stand up guy. I also know that jerry has tried to resolve things for some time. I truely believe Ted will make up for the trouble.

Sincerely,
Kid
Dynomite