Mastercraft Cues

[Maverick54]

I know that many new players ask for advice on here when they are looking for recommendations for a cuemaker, so I would just like to share my first experience with them in the hope they may avoid the same problems that befell me.

I visited Mastercraft in person on Jan 12th 2012 and asked if they could make a cue for me. certainly was the reply and details were given, a deposit left and an estimate of 3 weeks was given.

Now I had seen a fellow member on this forum advertising their cues on ebay with an estimate of 4-6wks. so I though perhaps the 3 week estimate I was given was good and was probably due to me calling in person and agreeing to collect the cue when it was completed.

I was told to phone if I had heard nothing in 3 weeks which I did. Oh your looking at another 2 weeks yet was the reply. I phoned again after 2 weeks. Oh your looking at another 10 days was the reply.
I asked if they had actually started making it. Oh yes just a couple more splices to fit thats all. I asked if they would phone me soon as it was done. Yes no probs was the reply. Over 7 weeks now and nothing.

What a way to treat customers. If they do ever complete it they can sell it to someone else now. I'm off to craftmans cues at Leeds to buy one off the shelf. 210 mile round trip but at least I will have a cue to show for it.

[ste bed]

7 weeks for a custom cue is not a long time considering some of the top makers are near to 1 year i know they told you 3 weeks but give them time mastercraft custom cues are very good. just give them a ring and ask them straight how long is it going to be.

[Deepscrew]

Shot themselves in the foot i think here. Just say standard 10 weeks might be the better option!

Dissapointing.

[potter741]

I visited Mastercraft in person on Jan 12th 2012 and asked if they could make a cue for me. certainly was the reply and details were given, a deposit left and an estimate of 3 weeks was given.

3 WEEKS !!!

Are you sure, i've had s few made by Dave in the past and i've never been quoted 3 weeks, last time i enquired i was quoted 4-8 weeks with the possibility of 12 weeks if it was complex splicework.
Even so if you consider that MW, TW ,JP are estimating 6 months or more it doesn't sound bad at all to me.

[Deepscrew]

20 weeks isnt bad but its managing expectation isnt it....

When i ordered my cue from them i was quoted 3-6 weeks. Took just over 7.

[cueman]

Whilst I don't condone what Mastercraft did I don't think a wait of a few months is such a big issue when some cue makers are quoting over a year, and most certainly 5-6 months on average. Mastercraft are an improving business and obviously what has happened is they have taken on a number of orders and are trying to get them all out as quick as possible. Otherwise they might end up quoting longer waiting times which could then lead to losing business. Its a tricky balancing act, I'm sure they are working on your cue, its just that with being very busy on other cues at the same time, sometimes when they hit a problem or two it means delays on others are inevitable.

Just to say I ordered a cue from them in November, was quoted 3-4 weeks, got it exactly on 4th week of ordering, however I did e-mail them 3 month beforehand and never got a response, so maybe in their defence they made sure I got preferential treatment having never got a prompt reply from the original quotation.

[Maverick54]

As Deepscrew said its the expectation of it all. Had they told me it would be 8 weeks I would have counted the weeks off waiting in anticipation of receiving my cue. But the way they have dealt with it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth.
It makes me feel that I'm being given a load of bull and thats not good for business.
I had read the comments on here and did think I was going to a couple of good guys (which I'm sure they probably are)
They really should reconsider giving customers unrealistic waiting times knowing that they will be dissapointed when those times can never be achieved.
I would much rather be told 10 weeks and the cue then be ready on time or earlier. That way I would have been very happy and would have recommended them to others.

[Deepscrew]

Fingers crossed when you do get it its better than you could have hoped!

[ADR147]

i am afraid all the good cue makers do this - they are usually good at making cues and not so hot at the rest!

[old school]

If you have paid a deposit it would be foolish to say " if they do ever complete it they can sell it to someone else now " as often deposits are non re-fundable.Why not wait and see what she plays like.If you are so disheartened then after trying it , you could sell it on , shame not to try a cue that is made to your specs , but your choice anyway.Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[perpetualboredom]

The issue isn't that 7 wks is too long to wait, and this has absolutely nothing to do with how long a waiting list any other cue maker has - it's about delivering on what was agreed and what ye bloody well paid for!

No such thing as a non refundable deposit where the agreed terms of sale have not been met, I'm sure the doubling (more) in the delivery time constitutes a breach of contract! Especially since you've have to chase the updates, and they haven't given you the opportunity to cancel due to the delays.

Get your money back I say...

[mng86]

Are you sure Dave said 3 weeks instead of 3-6 weeks?

I placed an order for a custom cue with Mastercraft on Jan 18 and was quoted 3-6 weeks. I paid in full instead of a deposit. Almost 7 weeks had gone by, and I haven't been bothered to contact Dave once since Jan. Personally thinking, if it has to take a bit longer than originally quoted, I wouldn't get too paranoid as long as the finished product will be good.

I'll probably drop him an email this weekend and ask for some pictures, just to see where things are at.

Cheers,

Marvin

[ADR147]

just been on the phone to dave - I don't want to say too much without asking dave first but the delays some people are facing are because he has some family issues of the sort you would not wish on your worst enemy.

[Deepscrew]

If its appropriate to do so pass on my best when you next speak to him.

[ADR147]

If its appropriate to do so pass on my best when you next speak to him.

i will do that.