MACHINE Putters Picture Thread

[mpf08796]

I just picked up an M20, and it's a beauty. I would love to find some additional hosel to test out. Does anyone have the inside track of where to look? Thanks

[UnderPar18]

16 minutes ago, mpf08796 said:

I just picked up an M20, and it's a beauty. I would love to find some additional hosel to test out. Does anyone have the inside track of where to look? Thanks

Follow Machine Starter on IG. They are back up and running and I bet Dave would be able to help you order a new one. 

[BYK]

59 minutes ago, UnderPar18 said:

Follow Machine Starter on IG. They are back up and running and I bet Dave would be able to help you order a new one. 

Seems like a lot of folks were left waiting for old orders.  Is that all sorted out yet?

[UnderPar18]

10 hours ago, BYK said:

Seems like a lot of folks were left waiting for old orders.  Is that all sorted out yet?

Yes, from what I was told. I think a lot of things were speculated on here and I think Machine went through some really tough times (not always being able to post on here due to court stuff). I've been critical of how some things have unfolded with customers in the past, but there is a larger story Dave may or may not share. Either way they are back and I wouldn't hesitate to order from them now. 

[braincramp52]

10 hours ago, BYK said:

Seems like a lot of folks were left waiting for old orders.  Is that all sorted out yet?

That's what I was wondering. I would have to know a lot more before I'd spend my money with this company.

[viking_norway]

Its been since 2015 and im still upside down waiting for a partial refund...it has been a total nightmare dealing with Mr. Billings.. that's all i have to say on that... 

 

I would look elsewhere for a putter as there are plenty of other talented putter makers out there to deal with these days...

 

Good luck

[MattM97]

Seems like their new business model is crowd funding a putter project, I've been on their sites a few times and have never seen a project funded or even have a single backer. They have a few individual putters for sale but that's it. 

[jonradus]

Is this the maker that kept everyone’s custom-putter deposited money after they went out of business and claimed it was because of some lawsuit? Maybe it’s just me, but this “crowd-funded putter” business model sounds like it will end the exact same way. Is this not some kind of Ponzi scheme? More power to you if you want to give this guy more money and risk losing it. I suppose if you’re lucky you’ll be one of the few that end up with a new custom putter. Or, you could just go buy a new custom putter from another maker that will definitely deliver. 

[UnderPar18]

21 minutes ago, jonradus said:

Is this the maker that kept everyone’s custom-putter deposited money after they went out of business and claimed it was because of some lawsuit? Maybe it’s just me, but this “crowd-funded putter” business model sounds like it will end the exact same way. Is this not some kind of Ponzi scheme? More power to you if you want to give this guy more money and risk losing it. I suppose if you’re lucky you’ll be one of the few that end up with a new custom putter. Or, you could just go buy a new custom putter from another maker that will definitely deliver. 

I hear what your saying, but lets keep in perspective this thread started in 2006 and was thriving until about what 2017 when things went down. Probably 225 pages of thread of putters that were crazy cool and a putter maker who delivered on those putters. Sounds like some customer stuff still needs to be sorted out and I get the hesitancy, but i have owned 4-5 machine putters and they were awesome. I miss having one in the bag and if i get the chance to get one custom made again I am totally going for it. 

 

Happy to post the outcome either good or bad LOL

[jonradus]

13 minutes ago, UnderPar18 said:

I hear what your saying, but lets keep in perspective this thread started in 2006 and was thriving until about what 2017 when things went down. Probably 225 pages of thread of putters that were crazy cool and a putter maker who delivered on those putters. Sounds like some customer stuff still needs to be sorted out and I get the hesitancy, but i have owned 4-5 machine putters and they were awesome. I miss having one in the bag and if i get the chance to get one custom made again I am totally going for it. 

 

Happy to post the outcome either good or bad LOL

I guess you’re one of the lucky ones who got your putter(s). It sounds like @viking_norway was not one of the lucky ones. He was on the wrong end of The Great Machine Ponzi Scheme.

[UnderPar18]

15 minutes ago, jonradus said:

I guess you’re one of the lucky ones who got your putter(s). It sounds like @viking_norway was not one of the lucky ones. He was on the wrong end of The Great Machine Ponzi Scheme.

 

I did get my putter, and it was not what I wanted at all and i sold it for a huge loss as soon as I got in the mail, so i wouldn't consider myself lucky. All I am saying is the company has  200+ page thread with a lot of positive feedback over a decade of putter building. You make it sound like the company was created to rip people off and that was their entire track record. Sure the end of it was ugly and I think customers need to be made right. Not excusing that part at all. 

 

It sucks for @viking_norway and any other customer who didn't get their putter back, money back, etc. I think all of that should be addressed before anything going forward. 

 

But as a putter enthusiast, Machine made some of the coolest putters I have seen and used. 

 

 

[jonradus]

Machine likely wasn’t created to rip people off. But it is “possible” that at the end, the company realized it could rip people off. So…it could be “possible” that the company started another “similar” company with the intent to rip people off. Or maybe not. I’ll never find out because I’m not going to pledge money for a potential reward (i.e., a putter) with little clarity on what happens if the funding goal isn’t reached. Am I refunded? Do I get a hat as my reward instead of a putter even though I pledged $700? I literally don’t know. 
 

Edited August 17, 2022 by jonradus

[braincramp52]

2 hours ago, jonradus said:

Machine likely wasn’t created to rip people off. But it is “possible” that at the end, the company realized it could rip people off. So…it could be “possible” that the company started another “similar” company with the intent to rip people off. Or maybe not. I’ll never find out because I’m not going to pledge money for a potential reward (i.e., a putter) with little clarity on what happens if the funding goal isn’t reached. Am I refunded? Do I get a hat as my reward instead of a putter even though I pledged $700? I literally don’t know. 
 

Umm, no thanks. 

[BYK]

11 hours ago, UnderPar18 said:

Yes, from what I was told. I think a lot of things were speculated on here and I think Machine went through some really tough times (not always being able to post on here due to court stuff). I've been critical of how some things have unfolded with customers in the past, but there is a larger story Dave may or may not share. Either way they are back and I wouldn't hesitate to order from them now. 

Doesn’t sound like they did what they should have done before “starting Over” again. 
 

that’s just wrong 

[PixlPutterman]

I assume getting lucky on eBay is the answer, but is there anywhere to find spare necks/flanges?

 

 

[PixlPutterman]

Found this in Austria 

[5hort5tuff]

I just inquired about one recently and they are still quite pricey.  

 

I definitely felt a bit weird even thinking about buying a machine after many people losing money during their first run. 

 

[dj6627]

Sorry to try to open this thread again.

I acquired a left hand copper Machine putter.   
Looking for contact to determine type, value, etc…

I do see Machine Starter on IG and 303 Milled on Internet.

Thanks

DJ

[kmbean]

Dave Billings is a terrible businessman and a worse human.  There is no reason to consider this fraudster when there are so many reputable craftsman out there. 

Edited January 18, 2023 by kmbean

[viking_norway]

well said, spot on!~

[dj6627]

Thanks.   I will reach out to current / established putter experts…

[5hort5tuff]

@DH6627 DJ, based on other comparable machines i have seen over the years, I would guess that around $350USD.  Some really nice ones can still fetch some better prices, but most are in the $250-$400 range.

 

A lot of people treated the wrong way by this company. They did have a. Nice run back in the day. 

[dj6627]

Thanks