What should i do?

obrien714

obrien714

Pool Video Addict
Silver Member
A highly respected cuemaker has had 4 of my Hoppe cues since 3/2003. I asked him to pick the best one and convert it for me. He was a friend of mine and we played on the same pool team. I have called him maybe 7 times since 2003. I moved from the area so I dont see him anymore. I would say back in 2005 he said he had my cue out and was starting plans for it. HE had moved his shop and was ready to get rolling on it. No problem. I was in no hurry and with the reputation he has understand the wait. I called maybe a time or 2 and got the usual kind chit chat from him and he asked me to email my ideas to him again. I also asked him if he picked the best out of the four cues and could send me the others so i could have them to give to other cue makers to begin converting. He still never sent them.

The other 2 times i called i asked him again to ship my other Hoppe cues back. I still havent received them. I email him my adress as he promises to send them and to no avail i still dont have them. I even offeref to pay shipping.

So my last call that i actually talk to hom was back in march. I asked him how my cue was coming and he said he hadnt even picked one out yet. I was a little upset. He tells me hes been doing alot of research and developement and runs all this stuff by me. I kinda interupted and spoke my mind. He appologized and said he was sorry. Itold him at this point i waited 5 years and i am upset. I almost want to ask for all of my cues back and forget it. I also know that the cue will be awsome because when i tell you he is in the top 5 cue makers, he is. I say look i understand research and developement, you arent even building me a full cue. You are just doing a conversion. The conversation ends with me again giving him my adress and asking for my other cues.

So that brings me to a call every 2 weeks for the last 6 weeks and he wont return my calls or answer my emails. Short of flying to his shop, i dont know what to do.

I respect the cuemaker and dont want to drag his name out in a flame thread, but i do not know what to do from here.
 
I'd go get them all or have a friend who still lives in that area go get them for me.... maybe a BIG friend.
 
I would be very upset.
headagainstwall.gif
This is totally INSANE.
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I would not drag his name into the thread as we dont really need to know that.
What is odd is that YOU have let it ride for so long.
Is he doing it for free as a friend?
Is he giving you a BIG break on the cost?

I would have had them back two years ago and in the hands of a cue maker that was ready and willing to do the work.

YOU are to blame for letting it go for so long.
He is to blame for not being a very good friend.
 
My advice....

Have a friend get your cues, have him mail them to you.

Move on, quietly and without regret. You have learned a lesson.

Thanks for sharing.

Your friend in pool,

Ken
 
This is what you do. You get your best buddy now and get on a plane and fly to his shop and pick up your cues.
 
I don't think you should need backup to pick up "your cues" from am old friend.
This forum is great for these situations. Find somebody that lives in the area and ask them to pick them up. If that turn into a confrontation then you might fly down with help.
Posting his name is up to you. If you feel your getting screwed you might want to let others know. Thats what this forum is about! Help others help you.
If he was a small builder would you post the name? Sometimes the big builders need a slap in the face. I've heard a few stories about big name builders that should be mentioned here. They are human. Don't let their name stop you from telling the story.
 
My advice was from experience. I remember when my friend here in Jackson recovered some cues. He took his friend, got on a plane to Maryland and payed a visit to the cue makers shop. Problem resolved!
 
WilleeCue said:
I would not drag his name into the thread as we dont really need to know that.
What is odd is that YOU have let it ride for so long.
Is he doing it for free as a friend?
Is he giving you a BIG break on the cost?

I would have had them back two years ago and in the hands of a cue maker that was ready and willing to do the work.

YOU are to blame for letting it go for so long.
He is to blame for not being a very good friend.
Click to expand...


WHAT? HUH?

I think he was giving his friend the benefit of the doubt. I don't understand how immediately you blame the customer. It's his fault?

I just can't even begin to comprehend this attitude. If I ran my business with this attitude I would have been out of business many times over.

I understand cuemaking takes time and most of the best have long waiting lists. What I don't understand is where this SOUP NAZI attitude comes from.

NO CUE FOR YOU!
 
Graciocues said:
I don't think you should need backup to pick up "your cues" from am old friend.
This forum is great for these situations. Find somebody that lives in the area and ask them to pick them up. If that turn into a confrontation then you might fly down with help.
Posting his name is up to you. If you feel your getting screwed you might want to let others know. Thats what this forum is about! Help others help you.
If he was a small builder would you post the name? Sometimes the big builders need a slap in the face. I've heard a few stories about big name builders that should be mentioned here. They are human. Don't let their name stop you from telling the story.
Click to expand...

TAP, TAP, TAP.

It seems that you have taken all reasonable steps to resolve the situation, so hats off to you. My advise is don't take a friend to the shop and make the situation any worse than it is. Also don't call every other week, as this will probably shut off all communication, if it hasn't already. Please post at least the city and state of this person so that one of us can pick up the cues for you. If he's in the Chicago area I would be glad to help.

If this situation were early in it's development, I would say don't post the name, just keep trying to work it out as reasonable people. However, it seems like you have approached the situation reasonably, and have exausted most of your options. In this case posting this person's name would not be in bad taste, and it would serve to assist many others who use this forum to make their purchasing decisions. We're here to share our knowledge and experiences.

Many of the top builders won't do conversions as they can get much more ($$$) for their efforts focusing on strictly customs. I'm surprised that he took your order in the first place, but he probably lost interest for this reason. Too bad that he's not willing to stick to his word. :(

Mr H
 
Another part to the story to clarify.

I was never in any way this guys best friend. We played pool league and i know him from there and never really hung out with him. I always expected to be treated like a regular customer and in no way expect a discount in his fees.

I know he has a longer than average wait time and i have had cues built before and know the cue makers take a little longer than average. I gave him the cues at the super billiards expo in MArch 3003 and the following is a letter of what he mailed me to the jist of when the cue would be ready. He sent me this PM on AZB November 2005.

Hi Pat,

This is your new contact info above.
I have the cue prepared, but have not done much more to it since. I'm hoping to be able to bring to expo if your going, and if not, send to you around same time. I'm still tying to get caught up, I'm booked thru the holidays. So I should be back on it after that. Pat I want to thank you for all the nice words on AZ. I hope when you get the cue that you'll be very happy with it.


This will be the last i post about this. I just left him a message asking him to return all my cues. I will update the thread on that when it happens. If i have no reply I will fly there to get the cues. Thanks for the help .

Depending on how things go I may or may not post his name. At this point i want to give him the benifit of the doubt.

Thanks for everyones advice.

PAt
 
I have to say that the actions are most uncharacteristic for the cue maker you are having trouble with.
 
What's so ironic is once everyone here finds out the name, it will likely drive the demand and prices for his cues up (that is if it's a big name maker).

I feel for you....really I do. Been there....done that....have the tee shirt....and there now. Hopefully you will soon get the Titlist cues back and can move on to greener pastures.
 
cueaddicts said:
What's so ironic is once everyone here finds out the name, it will likely drive the demand and prices for his cues up (that is if it's a big name maker).

I feel for you....really I do. Been there....done that....have the tee shirt....and there now. Hopefully you will soon get the Titlist cues back and can move on to greener pastures.
Click to expand...

nah...demand and prices are already through the roof for his cues....surprised he was doing a conversion actually.
 
Last update for now

The cuemaker contacted me via pm here at azb. I got his attention and he says he will ship my cues back. I am not sure where the hoppe conversion stands. I will post that update after i get my cues back.

Thanks to all that joined in on my thread.

Cheers

NOW GO WATCH THE TAR REPORT.

PAt
 
The last of the last

I got the last Pm from the cuemaker. It is good and he plans to ship my cues out tomorrow. He also promises to have my cue done by the end of the year. I think communications should be handled a little better than having to do this but it got the job done for me. Will i tell who it is. I am not sure. The problem was resolved in a quick manner and i am happy. I am just a little confused why a phone call wouldnt be in order. Ah well.

NOw i think i am done.

Cheers and back to the TAR.

PAt
 
obrien714 said:
I got the last Pm from the cuemaker. It is good and he plans to ship my cues out tomorrow. He also promises to have my cue done by the end of the year. I think communications should be handled a little better than having to do this but it got the job done for me. Will i tell who it is. I am not sure. The problem was resolved in a quick manner and i am happy. I am just a little confused why a phone call wouldnt be in order. Ah well.

NOw i think i am done.

Cheers and back to the TAR.

PAt
Click to expand...

Well it's a good thing.................I was getting ready to tell you to get in your car and drive over there...pound down his door and when he answered, grab the back of his underwear and give him the biggest wedgie he has ever had!
 
If you don't get your cue by the end of the year throw his name to the dogs!
Five years holding somebody else's property is an outright disgrace.

On second thought he might be a friend of mine..hmmm just forget it and be happy!
 
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