Whats the Point of having a waiting list???

Marcl3954

Marcl3954

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Last night my wife and I went to our favorite Pool Room in RI.
We were third on the list for a Table and sat and waited our turn.
After waiting an hour and a half we watched someone come in and be put ahead of everyone on the list. He was put right on a table.
They had someone leave the balls at the Table instead of turning them in, and just had him start playing.
I guess it depends on how much money you spend not on how much you go or how long you wait. We do go in a least three times a week.
They're having a big Tournament and all the table were being used by people gambling and practicing (This guy wasn't), so the wait for another table was going to be a long time.
When I complained it was admitted that he was put right on a Table and we'd get the next one.

I guess waiting your turn doesn't always count, it's how well you're known.

We just left and went home.

The waiting list policy should read.... We will call names in order except if someone more important to us comes in. Then we reserve the right to push them ahead of less important people.
 
Last edited:
A waiting list! In a New England pool room! That is encouraging. The good old days....Friday and Saturday nights....and my favorite day (weekend) of the year, the day after Thanksgiving. Been thinking about another room. Maybe I should actually start looking into it.

As far as the wait list- I used to treat my regulars and the occasional customers as equals with no special treatment. Sometimes what you sort of described would happen- one set of friends would be on a table ready to leave and another set would come in an"take over" the table. That I allowed. But no matter how "special" a regular was, he would not bounce to the top of the list. As a matter of fact, I used to tell my regulars, Friday and Saturday nights are for the general public. The other nights of the week I wouldn't put bangers on certain tables, leaving the regulars in a section to themselves.

Bob
 
I travelled down to RI a few years ago to play in an event. All tables were full, so I put my name on a waiting list. Everyone there was gambling and asking to play for money, I just wanted to hit balls and see how the tables play. A table opened and I was next on the list. The two guys playing left the balls on the table and waved to their buddies, who quickly jumped up and took the table. I told the staff that someone took my table and they made a bullshit excuse why they got the table (the group walked in after I got there. I told them that I drove 8 hours to get there, and don't have all night to wait (these guys were local).

A guy there practising (over heard) and offered to hit balls with me. If not for him, I wouldn't of been able to practice.

This same place is holding an event this weekend. Other than the waiting list issue, it is a great room.
 
8-hours for a tourney in Rhode Island? OMGWTF:shocked: How many hours is it to Phoenix from NB? I wouldn't drive 8 hours for the finest piece of tail in Rhode Island and I'm a DESPERATE man. We are so spoiled out here that we don't appreciate your kind of problem. KUDOs to you for your dedication to the GAME.:bow-down:
 
There are some rooms that reserve certain tables for "regular" customers, or otherwise play favorites.

I used to frequent a room that reserved the tables up front for whomever the owner deemed as his "regular customers" and one day I asked if I could get one of those tables and was told no, that only "regular customers" could use those tables.

At that point I had been going to that particular room for about ten years.
 
I guess you learned a different lesson in pool that night. Sometimes, life just ain't fair. In many cases, how you are treated depends upon the relationships people have with the staff and owners and that doesn't pertain just to pool halls.

If I were you, I would buy a pool table, that way, you get to be first on the list every time.


Marcl3954 said:
Last night my wife and I went to our favorite Pool Room in RI.
We were third on the list for a Table and sat and waited our turn.
After waiting an hour and a half we watched someone come in and be put ahead of everyone on the list. He was put right on a table.
They had someone leave the balls at the Table instead of turning them in, and just had him start playing.
I guess it depends on how much money you spend not on how much you go or how long you wait. We do go in a least three times a week.
They're having a big Tournament and all the table were being used by people gambling and practicing (This guy wasn't), so the wait for another table was going to be a long time.
When I complained it was admitted that he was put right on a Table and we'd get the next one.

I guess waiting your turn doesn't always count, it's how well you're known.

We just left and went home.

The waiting list policy should read.... We will call names in order except if someone more important to us comes in. Then we reserve the right to push them ahead of less important people.
Click to expand...
 
12310bch said:
8-hours for a tourney in Rhode Island? OMGWTF:shocked: How many hours is it to Phoenix from NB? I wouldn't drive 8 hours for the finest piece of tail in Rhode Island and I'm a DESPERATE man. We are so spoiled out here that we don't appreciate your kind of problem. KUDOs to you for your dedication to the GAME.:bow-down:
Click to expand...

I didn't walk:thumbup: 8 hours is a short trip, most events require a solid 12+ hours. Turning Stone is 14 hrs, US Open 16 hrs, Canadians is 15 hours. Just the local events are 1-4 hrs. Married with a bunch of kids, the long drive prepares me for pool. To clear my head takes about 1 hour per kid and the rest of the way for yelling wife.
 
I remember the old Chalkers in Emeryville Ca back in the 80's had a club membership. If you were a club member you always got a table and at a discounted rate.
 
SK Custom Cues said:
I guess you learned a different lesson in pool that night. Sometimes, life just ain't fair. In many cases, how you are treated depends upon the relationships people have with the staff and owners and that doesn't pertain just to pool halls.

If I were you, I would buy a pool table, that way, you get to be first on the list every time.
Click to expand...

When you own a place you can do whatever ypu want.
I just learned that it's not worth anything to have your name on a waiting list if it's not going to be honored.
Why wait just leave. Maybe bribes work?

having a table doesn't change honoring a policy
 
Life in pool world just sorta rolls this way sometimes. If you want some real frustration, try waiting on a cuemaker's list for eight or ten years, only to see people who you told about the cuemaker (after you'd been on the list a couple of years) get their cue first... I actually have a friend or two that make cues that I know do the same for me, so I can't complain. It's all about relationships sometimes. That's just life...

Better luck in the future!

Steve
 
Our Community Room with 29 Tables seldom has a "list", except maybe on MONDAY AFTERNOON from 1-3 PM, when the Ladies Club, aka Purfume Mafia takes about 2/3rds of the TABLES. We use to have on (1) 3C Table, but now have (2) so that problem is SOLVED for Now. The (1) 3C Table had time when someone else want to Play, and the Table was in USE!
 
Last edited:
Marcl3954 said:
When you own a place you can do whatever ypu want.
I just learned that it's not worth anything to have your name on a waiting list if it's not going to be honored.
Why wait just leave. Maybe bribes work?

having a table doesn't change honoring a policy
Click to expand...

hell yes bribes work.....I like to visit tulsa for the holidays couple years ago I was up at Magoos and the place is SLAMMMMMMEDDDD full of people.

I wanted to play......and if you want to play sometime ya got to pay

so i gave homie a $20 and I was up on the next one.....

so someone got bumped.......but I didn't get it for free either.

it is what it is,
-Grey Ghost-
 
Been there

Well the way it was done when I was 'younger' was. If there was a waiting list and you were playing and your buddies also wanted a table, you would just invite them to play a few games then nonchalantly walk away and leave your table to your buds. Go and pay your table time and split. Not saying it's kosher just the way the locals keep tables...
 
Well, to be honest, if there was a big tournament this weekend (The Ocean State), I personally think the players in the tournament should get first priority. However, I *also* think this should be made clear to everyone. So you go in, show your ID, they check the list of registered players for the tourney. I see no issue with that, as long as they say up front what they are doing. If you are out for a casual night out, that's great and please make it a night of pool! However, remember that there are many people with a lot more invested in pool in terms of time, interest, and livelihood. Maybe they have never played on those tables and need to warm up for the tourney.

But like I said, POST the policy, and stick to it. I'd make it that if there are no registered tournament players on the list, you get the next table and are guaranteed an hour. If no other tourney players sign up you stay as long as you want. If a tourney player signs up, the first non-tourney players that went out and have been there for more than 1 hr get politely asked to move aside (and maybe the tourney player buys them a round of drinks :-)

Anyway, I'm off to go watch that tourney!!

KMRUNOUT
 
marcl3954 said:
last night my wife and i went to our favorite pool room in ri.
We were third on the list for a table and sat and waited our turn.
After waiting an hour and a half we watched someone come in and be put ahead of everyone on the list. He was put right on a table.
They had someone leave the balls at the table instead of turning them in, and just had him start playing.
I guess it depends on how much money you spend not on how much you go or how long you wait. We do go in a least three times a week.
They're having a big tournament and all the table were being used by people gambling and practicing (this guy wasn't), so the wait for another table was going to be a long time.
When i complained it was admitted that he was put right on a table and we'd get the next one.

I guess waiting your turn doesn't always count, it's how well you're known.

We just left and went home.

The waiting list policy should read.... We will call names in order except if someone more important to us comes in. Then we reserve the right to push them ahead of less important people.
Click to expand...


This is one of many reasons why the pool world is that way it is. This practice happens all the time and it seems like its neva gonna stop. And these are the same people always wanting you to support them. Why should I support you when you treat me like '#2'? I feel your disappointment.

Peace

WUTANG
 
wutang said:
This is one of many reasons why the pool world is that way it is. This practice happens all the time and it seems like its neva gonna stop. And these are the same people always wanting you to support them. Why should I support you when you treat me like '#2'? I feel your disappointment.

Peace

WUTANG
Click to expand...

oh please come on brother....thats the least of our worries to be casting blame for the condition of the sport.

We all have friends, and if you don't then money talks and BS walks......

each and every one of us is guilty of at least trying to get a friend to do us a "favor" or throw us a "saver" at a pool hall, bar, resturant, busisness bla bla bla

Everyones looking for a discount or to get to the front of the line at lunch.

If you could get your friends to put you in the front of the line at the f*king DMV you would have a SH*T eating GRIN on your face......be skipping to my lou happy as hell.

If they skipped you for some local......whip a $20 and see if they don't boot that a** off the table. Yes sure it cost you, but you still get your way so you win.

If you cant do that then thats were we get statements like "oh well thats life"

I hear that more like I'm going to let life screw me in the rear an i can't do nothing about it.....

i hate that mentality. cuz yea lifes random and you cant control others actions.....but if you do nothing boys and girls you can't influence the final outcome so you can't complain about the game being lopsided.


pots and kettles man pots and kettles
-Grey Ghost-
 
greyghost said:
oh please come on brother....thats the least of our worries to be casting blame for the condition of the sport.

We all have friends, and if you don't then money talks and BS walks......

each and every one of us is guilty of at least trying to get a friend to do us a "favor" or throw us a "saver" at a pool hall, bar, resturant, busisness bla bla bla

Everyones looking for a discount or to get to the front of the line at lunch.

If you could get your friends to put you in the front of the line at the f*king DMV you would have a SH*T eating GRIN on your face......be skipping to my lou happy as hell.

If they skipped you for some local......whip a $20 and see if they don't boot that a** off the table. Yes sure it cost you, but you still get your way so you win.

If you cant do that then thats were we get statements like "oh well thats life"

I hear that more like I'm going to let life screw me in the rear an i can't do nothing about it.....

i hate that mentality. cuz yea lifes random and you cant control others actions.....but if you do nothing boys and girls you can't influence the final outcome so you can't complain about the game being lopsided.


pots and kettles man pots and kettles
-Grey Ghost-
Click to expand...
Wow that's like saying that we can expect the world to take advantage of us.
I'd rather live up to my word and hope the next man will live up to his.
I'm not looking for a free ride or a favor just equal treatment
 
Marcl3954 said:
Wow that's like saying that we can expect the world to take advantage of us.
I'd rather live up to my word and hope the next man will live up to his.
I'm not looking for a free ride or a favor just equal treatment
Click to expand...

thats exactly what I'm saying....the world takes advantage of us every day....I'm not looking to ride for free either but would at least like to be able to do what every one else is doing to enjoy themselves.

Its kinda like say your heading to a tourney thats a 10 or twenty dollar entry.....you have two choices either your late and can not enter.....or you forefit first round match and pay entry. You can either boo hoo or take your penalty pay the money and dive in the water and swim with the sharks.

If i couldnt get a table there id just go to another pool hall......if its a big deal, well thats why i have a home table so I don't have to go out to play pool if I don't want to b/c I don't need too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top