-I think the way the Balabushka cues are represented in your on-line catalog is reprehensible. These cues are made in Asia by a company who doesen't give a damn about quality or ethics. Your advertizing with it's offer to include a certificate of authenticity is completely unethical. You will never be considered as a potential dealer of MY cues!-

Sincerely,
Sherm Adamson
EMAIL- shermcue@choice.net
Cincinnati, OH

Due to the nature of the above review, we felt it necessary to offer the following reply.

Dear Mr. Adamson:
Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the marketing methods used to sell the Balabushka cue and your opinion regarding their quality. At first glance, I can see why you would believe the practice may be unethical. Your are correct that George Balabushka past away some 20+ years ago and the cues bearing his name are currently manufactured in Asia. Please allow me to explain a few things that you may or may not be aware, which may change your opinion of us and perhaps the marketing method used.

1) We are just a Dealer which uses the marketing material and copy provided by the manufacturer. We allow the market place to determine whether a cue is of high enough quality to justify their price, and if the marketing method used is acceptable to the widow and heirs of a great cue maker then it is certainly acceptable to us. If we found that the marketplace overall determined a marketing method to be unethical or quality to be unacceptable, we would certainly be the first to discontinue the line.

2) In defense of Richard Helmstetter, a giant in the Billiard Industry, the Balabushka cue unlike most any other cue in the world was the subject of numerous "knockoffs" claiming to be original Balabushka's. Richard Helmstetter, already an accomplished cue maker in his own right, approached the widow and heirs of George Balabushka with a simple yet effective business proposal which would allow the legacy of George Balabushka and his cues to live on despite his death and to put a stop to the real unethical and low quality manufacturers. Both Mr. Helmstetter and Hawley's in no way represent that the cues we sell under the Balabushka name were made by Mr. Balabushka prior to his death. The certificate of Authenticity is merely a promise that the cue purchased is made by the people who have legally and ethically earned the right to the name. This only seems fair, as when a man, like George Balabushka, works all his life making cues of such high quality, I believe that even though no one truly may be able to match his expertise after he passes on, shouldn't his children and grandchildren derive some benefit of his life time accomplishments. While the "new Balabushka's" may or may not be to his liking, I believe that overall, he would be pleased with what his heirs and Richard Helmstetter have accomplished.

3) Regarding their geographical origin, I believe this to be irrelevant, as Americans, despite their excellent and well deserved reputation for making high quality cues, we do not have a monopoly on high quality cues.

4) We have found that no cue is perfect and therefore some cues will always be of higher or lesser quality than others, even within individual lines and models. We have had hundreds of satisfied Balabushka cue purchasers over the years who are very happy with the quality of their cues and know that since they did not pay upwards of $10,000 to $20,000 for it that it was not made by George Balabushka himself. Certainly they may not be as good as your cues and many others, they are nevertheless better than many others and have a tremendous satisfied customer base to prove it. They may even be somewhat overpriced vs. the quality that they do have, but if the market place is willing to pay the price for the name, i.e. Cadillac, Schon, etc. then they should be able to capitalize on it. That is not unethical, that is business 101. Personally, I believe that some of the market is willing to pay a little extra for a name so they can be assured that there is a level of quality there that may not be there from a no name manufacturer, with out having to become an expert in cue manufacturing.

5) Your a cuemaker yourself, and when you pass away, wouldn't you like your heirs to benefit somewhat from your lifetimes work and do what ever they can to protect your good name even if it doesn't necessarily live up to your standards. Please think about this and perhaps you may understand the why's and wherefore's behind the current Balabushka line, and draw a less harsh conclusion.

Once again, thank you very much for your comments. We are pleased to post your review unedited. Take care.

Sincerely,
Walter Hawley