Tony Zinzola...

clandis

clandis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I really hate this kind of thread.
In about July of 2010 I contacted Tony about buying a cue. I wanted a wrapless PJ. He said he had one in the works that could be completed in a couple months, and sent pics. I picked out ring work, he put a price on it and I sent him payment. He was busy and cue was delayed. He allowed me to upgrade the ring work because they hadn't been done yet, at no extra expence. I recieved the cue just before Christmas 2010. I did not like the hit of the cue at all, best way I can explain is it was dead, no feel. I listed the cue for sale here for the price I payed. I had no interest in cue and dropped price. Afte a couple months of bumping thread Tony contacted me and asked what was wrong with the cue. I told him and his response was that shouldn't be. He said he tried something different with the core but never hit the cue before it left. He offered to replace the cue. He said he had another wrapless in the works that could be done in a couple months. I said that would be fine and I sent him back the cue I had. I asked him to please hit the cue when he got it and let me know what he thought. I have still to this day have never been told his thoughts on the hit of this cue. I wanted to know if it was me or the cue. I sent the cue back to him in about May of 2011. He said the cue I would get, I should be able to sell if I didn't like it, or he would help sell it. In December of 2011 I was getting tired of waiting. I asked Tony if he could just finish the cue and sell it and send me what ever he could get. He said he would just give me my money back and would have it before Christmas. Nothing. Then the post by Double dave hit AZ and I started to see a lot of other problems. I contacted Tony and said I want my money. He said he didn't have it. I told him I was thinking about posting on the other thread, and he said he would get me my money before the end of January 2012, but might have to be a couple payments. As of today I have recieved nothing. At the end of January he told me he didn't have the money yet.
To end this post, I have recieved no communication from Tony that I didn't start first. I have also been told a lot of things that didn't happen. He has told me about all of his issues, but this does nothing for me as a customer who paid in full. Sorry for the long post.

Chuck Landis
 
You do know that times are tough and Tony has a lot of money tied up in made cues right?? Im sure Tony will pay you when he gets your money due!! Ive sent my cue in to be touch up and didnt have a problem. Ive known Tony for over 20 years and he is a solid guy. I know he'll see this thread and have something to say about it.
 
Sould like a thread that was started by Double Dave, and Double Dave finally got satisfaction. Maybe you need to call Tony on the phone, or just wait like Double Dave did.

IMHO Tony makes a hell of a nice Pool Cue.
 
Wasn't there to hear what was said or not said, but as others have mentioned, waiting is in the nature of buying a cue direct from the builder. If you want the hit to be a certain way, or the delivery to be on an exact timetable, buy from a reputable dealer.

That being said, I share the thread author's frustration when made a promise by a cue builder that is not fullfilled. No market condition or "money out there for built cues" absolves a man from delivering on his word. If one can't refund a purchase, don't gamble and assure a customer he will soon. Best intentions only allow the person who owes to rationalize their lack of integrity as being something beyond their control.

To Mr Zinzola, I admire the beauty of your work and have liked the hit of each of your cues that I have tried. If I can help you at the Superbilliards expo by taking a cue on consignment with no added fee or aftersell comission, I will do so to aid in this situation. I think we all agree that no one likes to read negative threads involving known builders and AZ members.
 
RunoutJJ said:
You do know that times are tough and Tony has a lot of money tied up in made cues right??
Click to expand...

You know that is not a reason for a Reputable Cue maker to not deliver on goods promised nor is it an excuse to accept customers money then make excuses he's broke. Bad business is "bad business" and that is what this sounds like. Bad Business.
 
Chopdoc said:
Dealers make cues?
Click to expand...

i am not knocking dealers, hey everybody got to make a living somehow right ?

this was one of the points i brought up in the custom cue thread i started.

buying from a dealer defeats the purpose of having a custom cue made to your specs , right ?
 
clandis said:
I really hate this kind of thread.
In about July of 2010 I contacted Tony about buying a cue. I wanted a wrapless PJ. He said he had one in the works that could be completed in a couple months, and sent pics. I picked out ring work, he put a price on it and I sent him payment. He was busy and cue was delayed. He allowed me to upgrade the ring work because they hadn't been done yet, at no extra expence. I recieved the cue just before Christmas 2010. I did not like the hit of the cue at all, best way I can explain is it was dead, no feel. I listed the cue for sale here for the price I payed. I had no interest in cue and dropped price. Afte a couple months of bumping thread Tony contacted me and asked what was wrong with the cue. I told him and his response was that shouldn't be. He said he tried something different with the core but never hit the cue before it left. He offered to replace the cue. He said he had another wrapless in the works that could be done in a couple months. I said that would be fine and I sent him back the cue I had. I asked him to please hit the cue when he got it and let me know what he thought. I have still to this day have never been told his thoughts on the hit of this cue. I wanted to know if it was me or the cue. I sent the cue back to him in about May of 2011. He said the cue I would get, I should be able to sell if I didn't like it, or he would help sell it. In December of 2011 I was getting tired of waiting. I asked Tony if he could just finish the cue and sell it and send me what ever he could get. He said he would just give me my money back and would have it before Christmas. Nothing. Then the post by Double dave hit AZ and I started to see a lot of other problems. I contacted Tony and said I want my money. He said he didn't have it. I told him I was thinking about posting on the other thread, and he said he would get me my money before the end of January 2012, but might have to be a couple payments. As of today I have recieved nothing. At the end of January he told me he didn't have the money yet.
To end this post, I have recieved no communication from Tony that I didn't start first. I have also been told a lot of things that didn't happen. He has told me about all of his issues, but this does nothing for me as a customer who paid in full. Sorry for the long post.

Chuck Landis
Click to expand...

What's funny is that I read these threads about Tony and I personally have never had a single problem with him. Communication and customer service are perfectly consistent and couldn't be better. I know Tony will make this right, one way or the other. I've been in this situation before but not with Tony, so I feel you pain man.
 
lorider said:
i am not knocking dealers, hey everybody got to make a living somehow right ?

this was one of the points i brought up in the custom cue thread i started.

buying from a dealer defeats the purpose of having a custom cue made to your specs , right ?
Click to expand...

I just wanna know how a dealer makes a cue hit a certain way.


I think I might understand the delivery part. If the dealers will just please give us a list of makers that give dealer cues preference over individual customers as far as completion then we can all know.........

Originally Posted by Drawman623
If you want the hit to be a certain way, or the delivery to be on an exact timetable, buy from a reputable dealer.
Click to expand...

Not knocking dealers at all. :smile:
 
I've been waiting on a cue he promised me since February 2011. We had worked out a deal where I traded some freelance design work for a plain jane cue. Every two months he said it would take another 2 months. Now he hasn't responded to my emails since December. The part that bothers me is that he keeps promising to deliver the cue raising my hopes up even though I've told him that if he hasn't started I would just cut my losses and move on. I don't understand the guy...
 
I am not a cue dealer but have bought many cues, several direct from cue makers built to my specs and taste. I used to think cue dealers were hurting cue makers, buying for say $500 and selling for $1000, making more money then the cue maker but then I realized something. Cue makers do not have the capital usually and dealers help people to get a cue they like by a certain maker without all the weight. Some people are patient and okay with waiting and others are impulse or right now buyers.

It would be nice if you could get the custom cue you want without all the wait, order on Friday and pick up on Monday but that is not reality. Almost every cue maker out there seems to have trouble keeping orders on time, most have had troubles with customers but not all. If you have ever owned a business you will eventually have some trouble, a picky customer, supplier issues, shipping issues or whatever else.

I prefer to buy cues already built, less trouble that way. If a cue maker tells me 3 months I figure in an extra month or 2 for them, it would be nice if they figured this time in themselves. I ship product and state 7-10 business days for delivery, most of the time its there in much less time but sometimes life gets in the way so I have this cushion, no surprises for the buyer unless they cannot read. :smile:
 
A good businessman will always "under committ and over deliver". This makes for a happy customer. And a happy customer is a repeat customer.

I have never understood why a cue maker would "over committ and under deliver" as a rule. The customer is always disappointed no matter how understanding. I guess they feel the buyer will do business with the cue maker that can get it done first. And that may be a valid reason, but the buyer will usually not do repeat business with someone who made a false promise.
 
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JMW said:
A good businessman will always "under committ and over deliver". This makes for a happy customer. And a happy customer is a repeat customer.

I have never understood why a cue maker would "over committ and under deliver" as a rule. The customer is always disappointed no matter how understanding. I guess they feel the buyer will do business with the cue maker that can get it done first. And that may be a valid reason, but the buyer will never do repeat business with someone who made a false promise.
Click to expand...


I think the key is to understand it is generally about intentions. I would think in general their intent drives their promises....not any bad intent but good intent.

Of course, there may be exceptions, but in general I think they intend to do what they say.

Of course, that does not forgive the failures. The road to hell is paved with good intentions....

.
 
why would anyone ever trust a person like this
this is just another of a long line of complaints against the same cuemaker

i would never buy from him
 
JMW said:
A good businessman will always "under committ and over deliver". This makes for a happy customer. And a happy customer is a repeat customer.

I have never understood why a cue maker would "over committ and under deliver" as a rule. The customer is always disappointed no matter how understanding. I guess they feel the buyer will do business with the cue maker that can get it done first. And that may be a valid reason, but the buyer will usually not do repeat business with someone who made a false promise.
Click to expand...

Think one word make for good customer relation in any business... COMMUNICATION
 
Chopdoc said:
I just wanna know how a dealer makes a cue hit a certain way.
Click to expand...

Dealers front the cash and wait the wait. Often for years. When the cue is delivered, the end user need only look it over, hit a few balls and decide. For the priveledge of feeling the hit before investing a dime...for the convenience of not waiting a single day for the cue, for the certainty of seeing the design completed before making any committment, the buyer pays the dealer a premium price.

His exact specs are not considered and dealers don't offer any advantage in that aspect of chosing a custom cue, but as the originator of this thread pointed out, they got a custom cue to their specs and didn't like the hit. Working with a dealer is the best way to ensure your satisfaction with every nuance of playability. If the cue is not right then walk away. You risk no money or time or relationship with the cue builder.

Dealers face the same long waits, inconsistent production and even lose their orders to end users who drop loads of cash. Many cuemakers have strict rules of integrity but others do not. Some do what they must to pay the rent. If a dealer gets a 30% price break, he may find himself at the end of a very long line of retail customers.

I brought up the subject because the initial problem was dissatisfaction with a cue's feel. For some buyers, trying a cue first is the only way to ensure they get what they want.
 
I have never had any problem with Tony,,and every cue he has made for me hit very well,,as for this thead,,should not of been made,,you have a problem with someone you work it out like man between each other,as for if you not like the hit,,that is no reason to turn a cue,,unless it make a noise like it is broke,,it is your cue if you not like it sell it,,,!!

BR
Kenny
P.S.
no one is prefect if you claim to be you should be at god;s right hand
 
Drawman623 said:
Dealers front the cash and wait the wait. Often for years. When the cue is delivered, the end user need only look it over, hit a few balls and decide. For the priveledge of feeling the hit before investing a dime...for the convenience of not waiting a single day for the cue, for the certainty of seeing the design completed before making any committment, the buyer pays the dealer a premium price.

His exact specs are not considered and dealers don't offer any advantage in that aspect of chosing a custom cue, but as the originator of this thread pointed out, they got a custom cue to their specs and didn't like the hit. Working with a dealer is the best way to ensure your satisfaction with every nuance of playability. If the cue is not right then walk away. You risk no money or time or relationship with the cue builder.

Dealers face the same long waits, inconsistent production and even lose their orders to end users who drop loads of cash. Many cuemakers have strict rules of integrity but others do not. Some do what they must to pay the rent. If a dealer gets a 30% price break, he may find himself at the end of a very long line of retail customers.

I brought up the subject because the initial problem was dissatisfaction with a cue's feel. For some buyers, trying a cue first is the only way to ensure they get what they want.
Click to expand...
Correct about the cue dealers, many people talk crap about them but they do offer some benefits.
 
fourkingscues said:
I have never had any problem with Tony,,and every cue he has made for me hit very well,,as for this thead,,should not of been made,,you have a problem with someone you work it out like man between each other,as for if you not like the hit,,that is no reason to turn a cue,,unless it make a noise like it is broke,,it is your cue if you not like it sell it,,,!!

BR
Kenny
P.S.
no one is prefect if you claim to be you should be at god;s right hand
Click to expand...

Work it out like a man? It takes TWO to communicate. You know that Kenny. If you're leaving unanswered texts and phone messages what other recourse does one have but the forums? I like Tony, BUT business is business.

Unfortunately it comes to this.

Lets ask this question... How come I never see a cuemaker post a problem with a customer not paying for his cue? Or not answering e-mails?

JV
 
JV,
I know many a guy that owe cue makers money ,,but they keep that between them,,i am sure we all got a few problem here and there with buyers and sellers,,they can come to my booth anytime ...I am sure if you really like to you can go to the cue makers shop,,or see him at a show,,If i am really that upset anyone maybe see me on there door step,,LOL,,

JV,
Also there are both sides of the story,,and i am sure the truth lays in the middle,

BR
Kenny
 
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