The Billiard shop Cairns.

AFashionableLife · 10-09-09

Hi,

Not really a bad supplier experience, just a really bad experience overall.

Just a quick rant tolet you know of the experience I just had with the Billiard Shop in Cairns.

I ordered a custom built pool table and paid my deposit.
Was told by the owner "John" it would take 2 to 2 and a half weeks at max'.
No problem! I was excited!
3 and a half weeks later I phoned them to find out what was happening...
They told me it was going to be ready to deliver on the Monday, that would make it just over 4 weeks from ordering...Not that big adeal, I just wanted the table, probably would have been nice if they rang me to tell me of the delay tho..instead of me ringing them.

Monday comes, day for delivery.
I get a call in the morning asking if I will be home for delivery that afternoon? YES!! I took the day off from the business to be there! I was really excited now!
Monday at 4:52pm, an employee rings me, "no the table isnt being delivered today, maybe tomorrow". I ask if the owner can ring me, he says "I'll leave your number and hopefully he'll get back to you."
Anyway...long story short..pool table doesn't get delivered until following Monday...5 weeks after ordering.

Pool table is delivered, and set up.
Pool table is not the one I ordered and discussed design of with John.
Pool table has screws sticking out of at the bottom all the way around and they are really sharp and visible the whole way round.
Also, not all the accessories ordered come with the table either.

I visit John in store at the The Billiard Shop in Cairns.
He offers no apologies for the wrong table, just that he thought it looked better his way...
He did apologise for the screws and offered to come knock them off..WTF!?!

After the poor service, no phone calls etc, the wrong product being made etc all I wanted now was a refund for the table and for it to be taken away.
I had paid them in full for the table, accessories and delivery / setup.

After some disagreements and me quoting the law and the ACCC John gave me money back.
He did this by throwing it on the counter from over a metre away.
I counted it, as he did not.

I asked him at what time he would want to pick the table up, so I could arrange to be there,as no one is usually at home.
He literally grunted "5" at me and never said another word.

At after 5, no surprise that he was late, he arrived at my house.
He did not come to the door, he just entered the property and started to take the table.
As he was removing it, he bounced it down my one step and smashed the edging on the tiles that had been laid in the area especially for the pool table only 3 weeks prior...
I asked John what he was going to do about the tiles and I quote "F@#king nothing" was his reply.

So at the moment, I am in the process of collecting photo's and quotes for my solicitor....
What a hassell for something that was so exciting and was being looked forward to by my whole family...

In summary...
stay as far away from the Billiard shop Cairns as possible...
REALLY!!!

That feels better now...ahhh

David.Pagotto · 05-10-09

Hello Jamie,

That sounds like the WORST business to deal with, and I have heard some pretty bad "customer service" stories.

As I was reading I could feel the pain you were going through.

I hope it all works out for you and if you need a hand with anything I can help with let me know.

Charlie · 25-02-10

Jamie,

Sorry to hear about your bad experience, however, good to see you stood your ground and got your cash back.

Just down the road on Scott St is a little shop called Billiard Empire. On the surface, it would seem that you pay a few extra dollars for a similar item - that is until you look a little further in to it.

First of all the tables made at Billiard Empire are all genuine handmade tables, raw timber comes in to the shop and it leaves as a quality pool table. I believe that other tables so called made in cairns from opposition establishments are imported from china, pre made.

Second point that I discovered was that when you added up the quality accessories, the delivery cost, the make and quality finish of the tables, and the good old fashion service most times the cost is usually similar if not cheaper in some instances.

I can truly understand your disappointment, if you were to go to a car yard and pay for a red Holden you definitely would not be happy if they handed you the keys to a green ford. At the very least with Tom at Billiard Empire, if you pay for a red Holden then that is what will be delivered to your home (undamaged) and it definitely will not have screws poking out the bottom of it.

In my experience, i was always welcome to visit the shop, go out the back and see the progress of my 8 ft New Guinea Rose Wood table being made and to the exact specifications my wife insisted on.

If you are looking for a quality slate table made to your liking then Billiard Empire is definitely the place to shop.
Best of luck mate
Charlie