"... within a couple weeks" - cue refinish frustration

[xianmacx]

Thanks for posting the conclusion, glad to hear you have your cue back.


I feel "we" partially enable this behavior. There are reports frequently of top tier cuemakers being protected and not outed for this type of behavior. I am currently doing the same thing. I sent a blank for conversion to a top tier guy. He told me 6 months and its been 2.5 years. I won't give his name though as I fear it will delay even further. I've had him build me a handful of cues in the past with accurate timeframes. This will be the last time I work with him.

Can't say enough for the guys that make great cues and know how to run a business.

Ian

 

[maha]

he isnt a top tier guy if his word is no good. if he has it for 2.5 year and didnt do anything he may have lost it or will take ten more years and never do it. ask for the blank back no hard feelings. he may send it or then maybe do what he said.
either way you get action. or you just become his sucker like all the other people are that kiss a makers ass. there are many great cuemakers now a days that will do what they say and do it on time.

 

[Coos Cues]

*** UPDATE *** and conclusion...

I finally had enough and contacted the cue maker. Aug 8th. I asked him status of the cue. His response was to send him my address and it'd be shipped the following week. I kindly told him that if the cue wasn't done BY Friday, to send it back AS IS.

One week had gone by and never got a messag that cue was shipped. Again I reached out and was persistent in asking if the cue had been shipped. I was told that he was out of of the town and he'd ship it when he'd get back...

Finally, two weeks later he reached out that'd he'd ship it. He had a few choice of words for me as I did for him. We kept it civil but direct and to the point. We were never disrespectful towards one another but our choice was of words were firm. I do feel that he tried to hold me accountable due his high demand in cue work. But hey I look at it like this. Why take on another project if your hands are tied up with "all these other projects"

Fortunately, I won't be contacting him anymore whatsoever for any work. Kinda sad... I chose his cue out of many but hey we learn and move on.

My cue was finally on it's way not knowing exactly what I'd receive once I opened it. Not to mention USPS. Delivered it 2 days later than expected. So upon receiving the package... The cue came in 100% finished! I couldn't be happier with the work. Even the engraving on the butt was better than expected... I'm extremely satisfied despite having to haggle him for it. Kinda bummed things ended the way they did. But finally my cue is in my possession.

Thank you all for the valuable advice and Patrick too!

This is far and away not the worst story of this type.

Not even close.

Dude is a cue builder integrity "8"

 

[Keith E.]

A better question would be:

"Has anyone here NOT had a bad / horrible experience with getting their cue refinished whether it be price? Time frame? Horrible work?"

Pool players and cue collectors are reluctant to post anything negative about cue makers as the person or people relating bad experiences are usually crucified by personal friends of the cue maker.

Even the most notoriously bad cue makers have their defenders.

Guilty as charged. Lomax crapped on me for over 13 months. That seems to be a common time frame for him as two other people were dumped on for that same time amount of time.

Keith

 

[TATE]

Glad to hear a happy ending - the cue maker does deserve credit for finally following through, love it! They need to give realistic completion dates.

I have a great story coming up next week about a case maker - you won't believe it and I promise to name him!

 

[classiccues]

Would be the yelp review for 500 cuemakers...

JV

Builds a great cue, but a terrible business person.

 

[Type79]

This post raises two recurring issues:

1) These posts which serve a primary purpose of providing a platform for the customer to vent their frustrations in which the cue maker remains anonymous, hurt ALL cue makers and help NO ONE. The good cue makers are lumped together with the bad and customers are not provided with any meaningful information.

2) There are too many people representing themselves as professional cue makers who are not. So when people discuss cue makers everyone from the true experienced professionals are lumped together with people with little experience beyond minor maintenance.

 

[xianmacx]

This post raises two recurring issues:

1) These posts which serve a primary purpose of providing a platform for the customer to vent their frustrations in which the cue maker remains anonymous, hurt ALL cue makers and help NO ONE. The good cue makers are lumped together with the bad and customers are not provided with any meaningful information.

2) There are too many people representing themselves as professional cue makers who are not. So when people discuss cue makers everyone from the true experienced professionals are lumped together with people with little experience beyond minor maintenance.

Good points Jay. And I agree, they end up being a venting session that help no one. (and I am guily as well) Maybe a "good action list" for cuemakers is needed.