Beware of hobbiest cue makers

[old school]

I did not suggest that you were complaining about the price , I asked what you consider to be a " professional price " . As an example John Parris cheapest cue is about £266 + post , plain ebony and ash , Glover in one piece is £350 , Hunt is £300 + as is the top end Phoenix , Mastercues , Niche , etc etc , so if you paid less than say £200 , then it cant be a " professional price " . I agree that a new cue should be perfect and straight and to the spec you asked for , but surely a mediation between you and the " hobbyist " is the way to go , not on a public forum. If you get no satisfaction then , in my opinion , that is the time to go public with a name and shame and yes that sometimes works too.

[golferson123]

Why do hobbiest cue makers charge profesional prices when the cant produce anywhere near the same quality of cue!

definition of a pro is someone who does it for a living! price don't enter into it, you mean expert.you could always try yourself, you never know

[markz]

I did not suggest that you were complaining about the price , I asked what you consider to be a " professional price " . As an example John Parris cheapest cue is about £266 + post , plain ebony and ash , Glover in one piece is £350 , Hunt is £300 + as is the top end Phoenix , Mastercues , Niche , etc etc , so if you paid less than say £200 , then it cant be a " professional price " . I agree that a new cue should be perfect and straight and to the spec you asked for , but surely a mediation between you and the " hobbyist " is the way to go , not on a public forum. If you get no satisfaction then , in my opinion , that is the time to go public with a name and shame and yes that sometimes works too.

Totally agree, much better to sort it out with Jim in private. I'm sure having had dealings with him in the past he would happily take the cue back and give a refund. No need to come on here and discredit his work.

[bradwight]

Should also bear in mind that the majority of 'professional' cue makers started out as part time hobbyists!

I doubt many have left school and went straight in to being a full time cue maker. I'd imagine most would be like me where you start off playing the sport and decide to try your hand at re-tipping and minor repairs. before long it snowballs, word spreads and you're re-tipping everyone's cue and carrying out major repairs and modifications. before long it's inevitable youy're going to try making a cue.

[Brianwalter]

Im glad he got your cues ryt but i didnt no whether to play pool or snooker or to tie string and shoot arrows with cuei got a refund eventualy well got most of wat i paid him!

[Brianwalter]

And i wudnt off done this had he given me full refund and not called me a ball bag i even paid for postage wen i sent cue back

[Stupree]

Beware of hobbiest cue makers

This surprises me as I have always found Jim to be a true gent, so the responses you've received could be as a result of the tone of your communication to him.

We all have different expectations as to what we will receive for our pennies and it may be you would be happier with your pennies spent at an online store or high street retailer where the consumer is king and the staff get paid to put up with disgruntled customers whether justified or not.

[ADR147]

i have always found jim a nice guy. baw bag is a term of affection!

[Bigmeek]

i have always found jim a nice guy. baw bag is a term of affection!

Andrew, you 're a baw bag, lol

[ADR147]

Andrew, you 're a baw bag, lol

and proud of it!

[willtyson]

Sounds like you expected a professional cue for a hobbyist price, from someone who is quite openly a hobbyist cue maker. Jim has always been a lovely chap whenever I've dealt with him.

[Brianwalter]

I paid. 230 for a eureka style which is ebony with 4 lower splices of tullip wood the drill sliped wen drilling badge so he had to put front splice of choco bola which i understand accidents happen i told jim that was fine but when i got cue some off splices were as much as an inch different in length i asked for a 30 mm butt it was 27 i put a strait edge againt cue and the last 4 inches were as much as 5mm out of strait depending on where u rotated the cue "in my opinion unacceptable" i asked jim for refund he sed hed fix it but im sorry a brand new cue shudnt need fixed so i cudnt accept that! I cud get a hand made cue from "craftsman cues in leeds craftsman " there majestic cue which is the same kind of cue jim tryed to make me for £234 it is number 2 in there cue range and it wud be 10 times quality jim sent me! Im sorry his cue was no where near there quality as i now owned 2 of there cues and a friend owns one! I was nothing but nice when asking for refund jim ignored me for days then i finaly get refund of 221 after i paid to send cue back aswell i never swore i told him if i got refund that wud b end of it all but he was nothing but rude to me! I mean hu calls there client a ball bag!

[willtyson]

I paid. 230 for a eureka style which is ebony with 4 lower splices of tullip wood the drill sliped wen drilling badge so he had to put front splice of choco bola which i understand accidents happen i told jim that was fine but when i got cue some off splices were as much as an inch different in length i asked for a 30 mm butt it was 27 i put a strait edge againt cue and the last 4 inches were as much as 5mm out of strait depending on where u rotated the cue "in my opinion unacceptable" i asked jim for refund he sed hed fix it but im sorry a brand new cue shudnt need fixed so i cudnt accept that! I cud get a hand made cue from "craftsman cues in leeds craftsman " there majestic cue which is the same kind of cue jim tryed to make me for £234 it is number 2 in there cue range and it wud be 10 times quality jim sent me! Im sorry his cue was no where near there quality as i now owned 2 of there cues and a friend owns one! I was nothing but nice when asking for refund jim ignored me for days then i finaly get refund of 221 after i paid to send cue back aswell i never swore i told him if i got refund that wud b end of it all but he was nothing but rude to me! I mean hu calls there client a ball bag!

I agree with some of what you say and agree that a cue not being straight isn't on however, why didn't you get one from Craftsman cues if you knew that it would be 10 times better? Also, use of the word 'client' would indicate that it was a professional set up, which Jim clearly doesn't market himself as, not saying calling you a ball bag was right though.

[Brianwalter]

I wanted to try diffrent i wont again and if jim isnt profesional "which hes clearly not" dnt charge same prices as they do!

[ste bed]

If your paying 230 for a cue it should be of a certain standard if jim cant produce that he shouldn't
be selling cues he's made for that sort of money. I have had a few cues off j butters who considers
himself a part timer and he produces quality cues at half that price.