Down on Bettinardi

[tsecor]

The other day I contacted the Hive to place an order for a custom putter. After doing all types of research on what putter to buy, I settled on Bettinardi. Obviously we all know the these putters are amazing. BUT when I received my email back from the Hive, they said they were focused on a social event and I could get on a waiting list and it wouldn't be until mid June before they could take any order. I have agonized over spending this kind of cash for a putter but they are beautiful and I wanted a collector / gamer and a piece I could be proud of 20 years from now. I was finally ready to spend at least 2,000 on this thing and was told I had to wait. I am a little disappointed and now am retreating from spending this type of money on a company with questionable customer service. I'm not sure how to feel about this. Is it bad service? is it better that I wait? I guess I'm just shocked at this point. Should I go with another company? if so who?

[gioguy21]

> @tsecor said:

> The other day I contacted the Hive to place an order for a custom putter. After doing all types of research on what putter to buy, I settled on Bettinardi. Obviously we all know the these putters are amazing. BUT when I received my email back from the Hive, they said they were focused on a social event and I could get on a waiting list and it wouldn't be until mid June before they could take any order. I have agonized over spending this kind of cash for a putter but they are beautiful and I wanted a collector / gamer and a piece I could be proud of 20 years from now. I was finally ready to spend at least 2,000 on this thing and was told I had to wait. I am a little disappointed and now am retreating from spending this type of money on a company with questionable customer service. I'm not sure how to feel about this. Is it bad service? is it better that I wait? I guess I'm just shocked at this point. Should I go with another company? if so who?

 

as a Bettinardi customer myself -- i can tell you whole heartedly it's worth the wait; IMO. to be honest - you are putting your order in at their busiest part of the season for them -- their summer socials are AWESOME to go to - and they're always building things/putters in advance of that. Not to mention - they have major releases -- and they're all jammed up this year.

 

have patience - juice is worth the squeeze.

 

think of it this way -- you could wait (forever?) for a custom lamb, forget scotties, and the lajosi/mills/mann/etc routes are available but, for a custom fit and finish putter -- they're hard to beat for the price. only one i'd suggest otherwise is piretti as well.

[tsecor]

Thanks Gio. I know they are a high quality company and I'm sure its worth the wait. I'm not tearing up the company, just expressing my disappointment in having to wait....mainly because I will not be able to use it for more than a few rounds once the summer is over...> @gioguy21 said:

> > @tsecor said:

> > The other day I contacted the Hive to place an order for a custom putter. After doing all types of research on what putter to buy, I settled on Bettinardi. Obviously we all know the these putters are amazing. BUT when I received my email back from the Hive, they said they were focused on a social event and I could get on a waiting list and it wouldn't be until mid June before they could take any order. I have agonized over spending this kind of cash for a putter but they are beautiful and I wanted a collector / gamer and a piece I could be proud of 20 years from now. I was finally ready to spend at least 2,000 on this thing and was told I had to wait. I am a little disappointed and now am retreating from spending this type of money on a company with questionable customer service. I'm not sure how to feel about this. Is it bad service? is it better that I wait? I guess I'm just shocked at this point. Should I go with another company? if so who?

>

> as a Bettinardi customer myself -- i can tell you whole heartedly it's worth the wait; IMO. to be honest - you are putting your order in at their busiest part of the season for them -- their summer socials are AWESOME to go to - and they're always building things/putters in advance of that. Not to mention - they have major releases -- and they're all jammed up this year.

>

> have patience - juice is worth the squeeze.

>

> think of it this way -- you could wait (forever?) for a custom lamb, forget scotties, and the lajosi/mills/mann/etc routes are available but, for a custom fit and finish putter -- they're hard to beat for the price. only one i'd suggest otherwise is piretti as well.

 

 

[gioguy21]

completely understand man - and i'm sure once they get your order you will surely be taken care of. their customer service really is top notch - give them the benefit of the doubt as they're probably cranked up to get stuff out for the social (it's a big deal for betti to be a part of one - i'm upset i couldn't go to the one i was invited to)

[xxio]

On the flipside all the guys excited for the Social would be down if the putters for the event couldn't get finished because they had to design/CAD and run the mill for an inserted custom ?

[tsecor]

totally understandable...and that is more important than 1 customer :) . > @xxio said:

> On the flipside all the guys excited for the Social would be down if the putters for the event couldn't get finished because they had to design/CAD and run the mill for an inserted custom ?

 

 

[Ish]

It’s better that they were honest and up front with you. I’m sure you would have been more upset if they took your order/money and later told you your putter is on the back burner for other projects they are trying to complete.

[tatertot]

> @Ish said:

> It’s better that they were honest and up front with you. I’m sure you would have been more upset if they took your order/money and later told you your putter is on the back burner for other projects they are trying to complete.

 

This is a great point ... They could have banked your order, and just kept quiet about the delays. Actually, pretty awesome customer service if you ask me.

[mmowen01]

Bettinardi’s response would even push me harder to be patient and get my putter made when they can.

[Maximilian]

I’m sure a custom Bettinardi would be awesome and worth the wait. But with that said, there are many options from the smaller yet legendary guys like Byron, Moore and Mills (even if it’s his son now) to name a few, that could make you something of very high quality as well, with a lot shorter waiting time. But you have to follow your heart on this one and go with what feels the most exciting for you.

[Lord Helmet]

What about Machine?

B)

[cardoustie]

I'm a fan of my custom Piretti

Up front about the delay.. .that's a good thing

[MakersMarsh3]

Artisan?

[FlashinLeather]

Just wait it out. If this is something you want to have for 20 years and its the exact putter that you want then waiting a few months should not be a big deal.

[gsrjc]

They are worth the wait. Ask for Mike Biviano and he’s the guy that takes care of the HIVE. He fitted me and got me what I needed for my 40th birthday. I still keep in touch with him and reach out when needed. It’s possible that they are just busy since golf season has started up.

[MattM97]

I emailed them last week about a custom and got the same email from Mike. I'm not going to go through with it due to price at the moment but I'm glad they informed me about their hold on making customs. I think it's better that their customers know of a planned delay/shut down vs them not saying anything, people waiting and getting angry.

 

 

[tsecor]

very true. I appreciate the honesty. Just disappointed and a bit shocked they cannot handle both the social event and custom orders at once. I guess its good they are a smaller shop in that regard as more attention would be paid to the order itself> @Ish said:

> It’s better that they were honest and up front with you. I’m sure you would have been more upset if they took your order/money and later told you your putter is on the back burner for other projects they are trying to complete.

 

 

[toophewbirdies]

Lajosi, MannKrafted and Mills would be my go to makers of "rock rollers". Not necessarily in that order. These gentlemen can make anything, you would want your putter to be. Lajosi's damascus is insane and made in house!

[MattM97]

> @toophewbirdies said:

> Lajosi, MannKrafted and Mills would be my go to makers of "rock rollers". Not necessarily in that order. These gentlemen can make anything, you would want your putter to be. Lajosi's damascus is insane and made in house!

 

Now when you say Lajosi makes his own damascus in house are you saying he forge welds the damascus vs buying a block from a supplier?

[toophewbirdies]

I believe that is the case. If I'm mistaken, someone more knowledgable will correct me. ;)

[tgoodspe1991]

If you want a putter you can be proud of 20 years from now then you can handle waiting a few more months to get it.

 

I've been to Bettinardi's locale in Tinley Park and inside their vault where all their Tour putters sit. The quality is top notch and the people are nice. It's a very, very small shop, and the machining in the back isn't used just for putters too. They aren't the kind of place churning out 100 putters a day. It takes time, but they are cool putters that you'd be proud to game.

 

I will say though, I have bought a tour putter from them as well, and their communication isn't always the best. Not rude, just sort of lackluster lol.

[tsecor]

unfortunately the Betti order didn't work out. I was finally contacted by them and was told the minimum order would be 2k-$2500. That was fine, but when I wanted to get a specific putter I was told no and was directed to other putters which I did not want. So for a $2500 putter I would have had to take something I did not want or for $1500 take something that was already produced. Its sad because their putter are beautiful but ive moved on to 2 other vendors who are not acting in this manner. Working with two others who are very accommodating. Oh well. We all have to find what works for us. My match isn't betti at this time

[ProphetLogic]

You mean they wouldn't make what you wanted, or you wanted a specific putter they had already made and sold?

[tsecor]

they would not make me what I wanted AND _they_ pointed me to some putters already made and sold.> @ProphetLogic said:

> You mean they wouldn't make what you wanted, or you wanted a specific putter they had already made and sold?

 

 

[ProphetLogic]

Ah, bummer. What was the problem? If you feel like sharing that is.

[tsecor]

coupled with what you can read above, I wanted to buy a STUDIO RESERVE JAM F, just like u see here

I wanted the same putter with a different color paint fill....that's it. I was told that was not possible and was directed to the DASS putters in their registry that had been sold in the past. No hard feelings or anything, they just didn't want to do it for the $2500. For a simple 303 stainless putter, I would think they would want the easy money but that wasn't the case. Other manufacturers are much more accommodating and one of them is bringing back an old design to make it work. It is what it is.

> @ProphetLogic said:

> Ah, bummer. What was the problem? If you feel like sharing that is.

 

 

[zed]

You can get 3 Lajosi’s for that, his solid copper examples look amazing, I would love to roll one. I have a stainless Sensor (Newport 2 style) on order, and have a carbon DD 201 Anser Dalehead style.