THANK YOU!!!! exactly how I would read it.
warped cue?
- Thread starter dirks
- Start date
THANK YOU!!!! exactly how I would read it.
Well I read through the entire post a couple of more times but I didn't see anywhere that it was mentioned that Dirks new that there was an issue with the cue BEFORE he traded for it. What makes YOU think that he (Dirks) knew there was a problem with the cue when he traded for it? Do you know something we dont? I DO KNOW MR. DIRKS. WE LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN AND I PLAY IN LEAGUES WITH HIM. HE IS NOT THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE HIM OUT TO BE, AND I THINK YOU OWE HIM AN APOLOGY!!
Thanks,
Mike H.
Mike, I agree it was not mentioned that Dirks knew there was an issue with the cue befiore he traded for it. I attributed normal caution on his part, and assumed he inspected the cue before trading it (briefly, at least). It only takes a few seconds to diagnose a warp. If he was duped by the trader, I believe his issue is with that person, not the cuemaker - and he should humbly contact the cuemaker, asking for help - not casting aspersions about his work. I do not know Dirks, and he may be a standup guy like you believe, but I still don't feel comfortable with viewing him as a poor little victim. If he is that, my apologies are extended.
Mr. Dirks PMed me to ask about repairs to this cue and I called and talked to him. He seems to be a mellow and likable person. He told me that he sent an e-mail to the maker a week or so prior to his coming onto this forum. he said that he put custom cue and a question mark as the e-mail was just that - a question about this custom cue that he needed answered. He said the cue-maker contacted him all upset as he must have taken the ? mark as an insult which Dirks said was not the case. You will notice that Dirks never stated the cue makers name, he did that himself.
I, as most cue makers, guarantee my cues for life except for damage from abuse or warp age which is something I have no control over once it leaves my shop. Was this damage done through abuse? Who knows until you see the cue.
To just come out and state that he intends charging to correct the problem, without ever seeing the cue is dead wrong. The impression that I got from this cue makers response is what occurs often on this forum. He's a fairly new cue maker, unsure of his abilities, so that he gets irrationally upset when someone brings up a slight flaw in their technique or product feeling they are taking aim and besmirching his abilities. In this case the damage is probably the customers fault but how do you know without looking. I feel he is letting pride stand in the way of good business practices.
Dick
I, as most cue makers, guarantee my cues for life except for damage from abuse or warp age which is something I have no control over once it leaves my shop. Was this damage done through abuse? Who knows until you see the cue.
To just come out and state that he intends charging to correct the problem, without ever seeing the cue is dead wrong. The impression that I got from this cue makers response is what occurs often on this forum. He's a fairly new cue maker, unsure of his abilities, so that he gets irrationally upset when someone brings up a slight flaw in their technique or product feeling they are taking aim and besmirching his abilities. In this case the damage is probably the customers fault but how do you know without looking. I feel he is letting pride stand in the way of good business practices.
Dick
Dick,
I felt that Mr. Dirks was being a bit scarcastic, giving me the impression that a custom cue would never have a problem like this. I never refused to help him. I just advised that there may be a charge based on what was wrong with the cue. That's why he posted this thread. He wanted to have other opinions on what was causing the cue to roll off. He also told me that he would be sending the cue to me for my inspection. I have not seen it as of yet. I've been making cues since 2005 and have over 150 of my cues out in the field. My work has always exceeded my customers expectations, and those who purchased from me know that I stand behind my work. If Mr. Dirks had contacted me stating "hey I just traded for one of your cues and love the hit and the look but have an issue rolling it." I would have said send it to me and I'll check it out no problem, glad you like the cue. I'm an easy going guy that loves to make cues, and loves it even more to see others enjoying my work. Mr. Dirks, I will PM you with my address to send the cue to. Don't worry about the cost.
Jon Spitz
I felt that Mr. Dirks was being a bit scarcastic, giving me the impression that a custom cue would never have a problem like this. I never refused to help him. I just advised that there may be a charge based on what was wrong with the cue. That's why he posted this thread. He wanted to have other opinions on what was causing the cue to roll off. He also told me that he would be sending the cue to me for my inspection. I have not seen it as of yet. I've been making cues since 2005 and have over 150 of my cues out in the field. My work has always exceeded my customers expectations, and those who purchased from me know that I stand behind my work. If Mr. Dirks had contacted me stating "hey I just traded for one of your cues and love the hit and the look but have an issue rolling it." I would have said send it to me and I'll check it out no problem, glad you like the cue. I'm an easy going guy that loves to make cues, and loves it even more to see others enjoying my work. Mr. Dirks, I will PM you with my address to send the cue to. Don't worry about the cost.
Jon Spitz
Hello guys. I feel obligated to say something here. Like I said before I like the look of this cue and the hit. Yes I traded for it knowing that the cue had a roll in the shaft. I didn't know about the butt until a couple of months of shooting with it I was going to trade for a cue of equal asking price. I was then told that there was something wrong with the butt and I immediately traded back. I asked friends for advise and contacting the maker was what I was told to do. I obviously came off wrong to mr. spitz and I apologize. Now I started this thread for some more opinions on what the problem may be and what I would be looking at price wise. Never, never was I bashing mr. spitz or his cues. I am not looking for a hand out and never asked for the work to be free. I wanted the cue to be inspected and told what my options are, which is exactlly what mr. spitz said he would do. I was just asking around before I sent the cue. Also I never got this cue with the intent of making a cheap profit. I'm a bit of a cue whore and like shooting with different ones so I will trade and buy and sell cues but I am not here to rip anyone off. I just love pool and cues. Honestly guys I am not a bad person and I am sure mr. spitz isn't either I believe its more of getting off on the wrong foot. If the problem with the cue is do to any past abuse I will gladly pay for all charges and work. I will pay for the work to be done as if I owned the cue from day one.
I would have read it as "Is this a custom cue?" If you want it to read as you gentlemen are reading it there should be a space between "cue" and the "?". And while it isn't sarcastic, I think that:
Is pretty blatantly casting aspersions. If I were writing ANY business about an issue that I had, I would be as formal and professional as possible as that is going to be your best chance at getting what you want. I think this is a great learning opportunity as everyone should revisit formal letter writing in situations like this.
I'm pretty sure that if I came on here and said I had a cue of yours that I thought was a crap cue, you wouldn't be saying the same things. While I am not privy to the original email, his words in the 3rd post in this thread are in black and white. I have and will always continue to appreciate your postings here, but I just can't imagine anyone not getting upset over a statement like that. I'm about as mellow as they come, and I would be pretty irate.
It takes a big man to apologize for any reason, and I feel that this should and will go a long way to helping make things right. I would also change your words in post #3, as I disagree with you in that you were bashing his cues by saying you "have a crap cue". I will also delete my quotations of that post if you do that.
"I'm pretty sure that if I came on here and said I had a cue of yours that I thought was a crap cue, you wouldn't be saying the same things. While I am not privy to the original email, his words in the 3rd post in this thread are in black and white. I have and will always continue to appreciate your postings here, but I just can't imagine anyone not getting upset over a statement like that. I'm about as mellow as they come, and I would be pretty irate."
Well truthfully, I wouldn't be upset in the least. I would do as I said and ask to see the cue so as to make a determination of what caused the problem. If it was a problem that I created then it would be repaired or replaced free of charge. If it was not a problem that I caused, but through abuse, then I would state why and what evidence I believe to make my determination. One note to consider though is that the cue makers name was never brought up so as far as any reader would have known, it could have been a Chinese cue. A while back another cue maker on this forum who I have had issues with in the past, said that in his opinion, my cues were junk and hit like crap. This never got me upset at all and I told him that everyone is entitled to their opinion but his opinion would hold more weight if he had ever seen one of my cues let alone play with one before making his opinion. Besides that. just what would you call a cue with swelled rings, a warped shaft and a warped butt? A Classic. I'm sure I've got a number of crap cues floating around. Just like mine, I'm sure this cue makers cue was in fine condition when he built it. Time and abuse take their toll. Once it leaves your shop you have no control over it's environment or usage.At present it sounds as though it's had better days but since I don't have it in front of me to form a more objective opinion, I would have to say that that description fits pretty well.
This is a business and this business depends almost solely on ones reputation and word of mouth. It does no good to get hot over others opinions or statements. What must be done is the proper knowledge must be put forth in such cases so that readers see your side of the situation. Some people are very opinionated and only see their views as being correct and arguing will not dispel them. You need to show logic so that the other readers see your side and see that the opinion of your nemesis is incorrect. This is why I stated what I did to Mr. Spitz. It wasn't to belittle him but to let him know that, even if his assumption that the cue was abused was correct, as it probably is, good business practices need to be employed for a business to succeed.
Dick
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