Terrible customer service Stamford cues

[Potters Bar]

Absolutely fuming after just coming off the phone to Stamford cues
I've been emailing them as regards to the catches on my Stamford cue case
I've owned the case for 20 months and at first I was cuffed to bits with it but after about a year the brass catches started to lose there lustre and look decidedly tatty this isn't great for the cost of the case but not the end of the world but what's happen since is
All 3 catches are just flapping in the breeze and the case is totally reliant on the buckelled straps ( which also have discoloured)
After being ignored by email for several weeks I called Stamford to be told they're having problems keeping stocks of these cheap and nasty catches
Then when I commented on there poor quality and how disappointed I was with hearing they'd do nothing to help the lady on the other end became very short and stated being vocal on how they've never had a problem
Well for one I've taken the time and effort while at Great Yarmouth this weekend to talk to players that own Stamford cue cases and in fact most suffer from this problem so don't be an ostrich and bury your head in the sand to the fact you advertise you use quality materials when these catches are cheap and nasty
It is a shame as the rest of the case is great but I look after my cues with great care and now I've just bit the bullet and ordered a case from Parris cues who dose use quality catches and I will tell anyone that listens to me at my club that Stamford really aren't all that in the way of cases or customer service

[Neil Taperell]

Not good to hear . You can buy Cheney replacement ones on eBay .

I didn't hear back from Stamford regarding the purchase of a case for over a week .
So ended up using Snooker Warrior from here , who replied the next day .

[ADR147]

I have some bad news for you.... the spring loaded ones on Parris cases are even worse, they are the same sort of thing as on a halo case. Actually thinking about it nobody does a really solid catch, it is the weakest point of every case.

[Potters Bar]

Hi adr 147
I'll take my chances with a Parris case my partner has had one the same amount of time I've had my Stanford case and never had a problem
Hers hasn't discoloured and works perfectly she's also travelled all over Europe playing pool and the case has been with her and it still functions as new
The only I'll miss is the embroidered parts of the Stanford case as Parris only uses gold leaf wording

[ADR147]

I guess you can be lucky or unlucky with anything.

[ghost121]

I replace all my case catches with Cheneys if they are not fitted as standard. I also add two more where only three catches have been used. They will tarnish over time and do loosen with age, but they are the best available. Parris catches are inferior and Peradon catches are also poor.

[Shockerz]

Absolutely fuming after just coming off the phone to Stamford cues
I've been emailing them as regards to the catches on my Stamford cue case
I've owned the case for 20 months and at first I was cuffed to bits with it but after about a year the brass catches started to lose there lustre and look decidedly tatty this isn't great for the cost of the case but not the end of the world but what's happen since is
All 3 catches are just flapping in the breeze and the case is totally reliant on the buckelled straps ( which also have discoloured)
After being ignored by email for several weeks I called Stamford to be told they're having problems keeping stocks of these cheap and nasty catches
Then when I commented on there poor quality and how disappointed I was with hearing they'd do nothing to help the lady on the other end became very short and stated being vocal on how they've never had a problem
Well for one I've taken the time and effort while at Great Yarmouth this weekend to talk to players that own Stamford cue cases and in fact most suffer from this problem so don't be an ostrich and bury your head in the sand to the fact you advertise you use quality materials when these catches are cheap and nasty
It is a shame as the rest of the case is great but I look after my cues with great care and now I've just bit the bullet and ordered a case from Parris cues who dose use quality catches and I will tell anyone that listens to me at my club that Stamford really aren't all that in the way of cases or customer service

Was it Cheney catches you had on the Stamford case or just catches that look like it (Cheney written on the rear).

I'm sure that decent catches also lose their lustre after a while but I'd like to hear if that's not the case as I'm sure it is.

[Potters Bar]

Yes they are Cheney catches and Ive ordered some now on eBay but I think the points shifted from my original post which is the customer service I've received from what is one of the premier cue makers in the U.K.
Also why is it acceptable for catches to tarnish inside two years let alone lose there sole use of fastening the case?
I know customer complaints are a pain in the back side but if you advertise yours premium business then you should offer a premium service?

[Shockerz]

Yes they are Cheney catches and Ive ordered some now on eBay but I think the points shifted from my original post which is the customer service I've received from what is one of the premier cue makers in the U.K.
Also why is it acceptable for catches to tarnish inside two years let alone lose there sole use of fastening the case?
I know customer complaints are a pain in the back side but if you advertise yours premium business then you should offer a premium service?

Yeah it's a strange one inside 18 months, thought they would last longer than that.

I guess if that's the best catches out there then even Stamford are stuck with them and the tarnishing.

It seems the Cheney catches are seen as a replacement item as they are on Ebay as replacements so clearly there's a market for them.

Either way, if both items are seen as acceptable within the case market then delivery of unwanted information is always better with a cuddle than a sledgehammer.

[Neil Taperell]

I had the Cheney ones , and they tarnished after a couple of years . Quick rub with Brasso did the trick .

[Potters Bar]

Tried brasso but they didnt come back
My real frustration with leather cases is with the increase of demand their seems to be in demand for quality luxury leather cases the makers dont seemed bothered that the hinges and catches dont seemed to be up to purposes
If the ferral of a high end cue discoloured or warpped inside 2 years their reputation would be in tatters
These cases are in high demand by the waiting times and theyre not cheap so why should it be acceptable for anything on a top end case costing sevrel hundred pounds not to work over the life of a case?

[Shockerz]

Tried brasso but they didnt come back
My real frustration with leather cases is with the increase of demand their seems to be in demand for quality luxury leather cases the makers dont seemed bothered that the hinges and catches dont seemed to be up to purposes
If the ferral of a high end cue discoloured or warpped inside 2 years their reputation would be in tatters
These cases are in high demand by the waiting times and theyre not cheap so why should it be acceptable for anything on a top end case costing sevrel hundred pounds not to work over the life of a case?

I can see your point that's for sure.

If the cases has brass catches they should come up ok as they're brass, why wouldn't they? Maybe they are plated so that's a strange one.

I've looked for a different type of catch for ages but can't see a contender!

[crispian]

I used the Cheney latches on my cases for 12 years, they are perfect (in fact no latches are) but the main reason was they were easy to replace following the pilot holes from the original latches !

I've not made any cases for about 14 months but at the time I was struggling to get latches and through my regular supplier they just seemed more tinny than ever

[Cue crafty]

I can see your point that's for sure.

If the cases has brass catches they should come up ok as they're brass, why wouldn't they? Maybe they are plated so that's a strange one.

I've looked for a different type of catch for ages but can't see a contender!

Could it be they are lacquered and the tarnish effect is where the lacquer has broken down? Maybe a lacquer remover would help, rustins do one for about £3. Worth a try.... They might polish up nice once that's removed fully.

[ste bed]

I've had 2 plain black Pearson cases 1 3q and 1 slimline 1 piece had the 3q at least 13 years and the slimline since 2007 not a problem with either.