Why pay to recover table

[TATE]

Wow. I had no idea cloth was that expensive. I'm sure installers must get a hefty discount (hope they do anyhow) but still, that's pricey!

You can get cheaper alternatives to Simonis. The Championship similar cloth in worsted wool is probably $75 - $100 less. Some play pretty good and in some cases you can't tell much difference. There are texture and color differences.

So you might save $100 on a cheaper cloth. I decided a while back that since I spend so much time on my table, I want the best. For the average recreational table, other brands will definitely do the trick.

 

[K2Kraze]

I look at it this way. If your business is buying and selling cloth, then by all means make a profit. But if your business is charging labor to work on pool tables, don't be shy about quoting your labor rate, be honest and up front about it, defend it even. BUT, a table mechanic is NOT in the business of selling cloth, THEY should be focused on their labor and NOT trying to hide behind the higher cost of cloth to make more profit or they're going to get called out on it. Example, customer calls table mechanic to get pricing. Gets told $200 labor and $330 cloth....he says ok great, but I've already bought the Simonis cloth, so you'll do the labor for $200 right? Mechanic responds, well....I'm all booked up so I can't do it right now.....because he knows he's not getting that extra $150 because the customer already has the cloth!!!.....and THAT'S what happens.

Your point is understood and I happen to agree with you the way you presented it. No comeback either - image that

K.


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[K2Kraze]

I agree with this 100%. When I was doing guitar repairs, I always charged for my time, and materials were charged at my cost. Period. Simple. You want to bring your own strings? GREAT! I encourage that. Want to use my standard set? Great! You'll pay a lot less with me than buying them at the store. Whatever you want, I'm happy to do it because I'm not playing games with the invoice.



I've had this discussion with people and they wondered about why I didn't markup. The answer is simple. I'm not a retail store. I'm not in the business of selling product. I stock certain standard products as a courtesy to customers so they don't have to make multiple trips for basic supplies they might also need, but it's strictly a courtesy.



Hiding the labor cost in some markup is a pet peeve of mine. As a pro, I should get paid for my time and knowledge, and part of that knowledge is how to acquire supplies at better pricing than some guy off the street.

Just to be crystal clear - my posted reply and comments were about a large and reputable retailer of all things billiards that has a team of table installers, mechanics and so on that are all on his payroll - that take care of not only new installs but also recovering, Etc. And from what I have seen and know about that part of the business (retail) his prices are on the fair and reasonable side - no hiding any profits or margins there, boys.


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[john coloccia]

Just to be crystal clear - my posted reply and comments were about a large and reputable retailer of all things billiards that has a team of table installers, mechanics and so on that are all on his payroll - that take care of not only new installs but also recovering, Etc. And from what I have seen and know about that part of the business (retail) his prices are on the fair and reasonable side - no hiding any profits or margins there, boys.


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Wasn't directed at you. Just agreeing with Glenn. I'm sure the store prices are reasonable and it all works out in the end. It's different when you're a retail store. For example, I'm a dealer for some products. I typically have a MAP that I can't sell below, so everyone basically sells for the same price. If you buy through me, you get a free installation. Basically, I make nothing on the item and the markup pays for my labor. But for my services, you pay a straight labor charge and everything is billed at cost.

 

[Texdance]

Sure, a handy DIY'er could probably assemble a table and do a satisfactory job of installing bed cloth.!

I agree, and in my experience I would extend it to say a home-study mechanic can recover rails just fine, if they research properly beforehand, and if the table is not some fancy antique with odd fitments. I've done it myself once, and both bed and rails came out looking near perfect, no, they were perfect, to the best of my knowledge, which I agree is not the equal of King Cobra.

These are all problems that an expert knows how to fix the right way.!

Even the experts are human and can make rookie mistakes. I have seen it myself. After recovering all the cloth, including the rails, The Pro forgot to re-fill the bolt holes which he had just just dug the beeswax out of to loosen the slate bolts for leveling.


...and one rail was so rough, with a visible staple on top that caught on my shirt sleeves, a rail so bad that I bought another strip of Simonis at my expense, so he could re-do it when he returned to re-cover his re-cover job, and fill in the bolt holes like he should have the first time...

...but of course he never returned to fix his mistake. Nor did he return any of my attempted contacts. It's been two years, so I don't think he is interested in making good on his rookie mistakes any more.

Oh well, live and learn. And pay for the privilege.

Of course, I can't go raise hell at his shop because being a Pro Mechanic he works out of his pickup truck... and a storage building somewhere.

...and no, I am not talking about King Cobra, whose work I respect, and who has been a big help with the free advice he has given to all and sundry.

 

[K2Kraze]

Wasn't directed at you. Just agreeing with Glenn. I'm sure the store prices are reasonable and it all works out in the end. It's different when you're a retail store. For example, I'm a dealer for some products. I typically have a MAP that I can't sell below, so everyone basically sells for the same price. If you buy through me, you get a free installation. Basically, I make nothing on the item and the markup pays for my labor. But for my services, you pay a straight labor charge and everything is billed at cost.

Thanks, John --- I didn't take anything you said directed at me per se, I just didn't want my comments to be perceived as disagreeing with anyone else's opinion - and I respect the way others conduct their business and beliefs.

Trying to offer up constructive and helpful feedback often times prove challenging


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[realkingcobra]

I agree with this 100%. When I was doing guitar repairs, I always charged for my time, and materials were charged at my cost. Period. Simple. You want to bring your own strings? GREAT! I encourage that. Want to use my standard set? Great! You'll pay a lot less with me than buying them at the store. Whatever you want, I'm happy to do it because I'm not playing games with the invoice.

I've had this discussion with people and they wondered about why I didn't markup. The answer is simple. I'm not a retail store. I'm not in the business of selling product. I stock certain standard products as a courtesy to customers so they don't have to make multiple trips for basic supplies they might also need, but it's strictly a courtesy.

Hiding the labor cost in some markup is a pet peeve of mine. As a pro, I should get paid for my time and knowledge, and part of that knowledge is how to acquire supplies at better pricing than some guy off the street.

Amen brother

 

[PoolTable911]

Wow guy...you're absolutely right I left my crystal ball off. I should've known I would get screwed. My bad. Or maybe all that table glue has eaten all your useful brain cells.

Everyone who read this - you can do it yourself, there's no reason to pay anyone to do this. These guys are very close to full out scammers, don't be a sucker.

The first part of your post was funny & witty. The second part was just plain ignorant. :angry:

 

[ROB.M]

Post

Paying someone to install,service or repair a pool table is just that> a service that requires labor,skill,tools and knowledge of the trade.

There is your answer to the OP's silly statement.

So why pay anyone...?



Rob.M