Hey all,
I have an observation I would like to share with you and I would like some feedback.
I have been spending a good deal of time recently looking for the right cue. By that I mean the one that I like the aesthetics of as well as the hit/playability. I had a cue for about a month the fit the playability requirement but I ended up selling it to a friend because he really wanted it and he needed a good cue as his game has been improving significantly lately and I didn't want him to be held back by the crappy POS he was playing with.
Anyway, as I have been looking at all the for sale threads here I have found quite a few cues that I have liked and quite a few that I didn't. What has me confused is the pricing on some of the offerings. I'm not going to single out any particular maker with the exception of Paul Drexler as his cues are the ones that have me the most confused.
The reason for my confusion is I just can't seem to figure out where the current pricing trend is coming from. Paul had been making cues for 20 years and in that time he has demonstrated his ability to make truely magnificent cues both in terms of playability and aesthetics and from what I've seen in the responses in these threads many people agree with me.
While browsing the ads here I found some of his cues have been offered for ridiculously low prices. Meanwhile there are makers that have been only building cues for a few years that are commanding much higher prices. Not for nothing and no offense intended, but many of these offerings I wouldn't pay half or even a third the asking price for. I mean really, $800, $900, $1000 and even upwards of $1600-$1800 for a PJ wrapless cue from makers who have only been making cues for less than 5-6 years? No way can you tell me that they are worth this much money.
To be more specific regarding Pauls cues, I would like to call attention to a few of his Titlist conversions that I have come across listed for sale. One example is the one Quality Cues has listed. It has been available for 3 months now and no one has purchased it and it's very reasonably priced at $1290 OBO with an Ivory joint. On the contrary, there was a Titlist made by another maker that sold for around $1800. It's not to say that I don't respect this maker because I do but there is no way he builds a better cue than Paul. Maybe he's on par with him but certainly not better IMHO.
Another thing that has me puzzled is the current wait time for a PFD cue. I ordered one recently and was shocked when Paul told me I would have it in only a few months. A FEW MONTHS????? Really? Only a few months for a PFD? How can that be when there are makers out there with 2,3, or even 4+ year waiting lists that don't make cues nearly as good in quality? Not to mention the cue I ordered had 4 IVORY points w/veneers with an elephant wrap and Ivory Hoppe ring and the cost was only $1500.
So whats the deal with PFD cues in the market right now? Why are they not commanding the pricing that is more in line with the quality of workmanship? Can someone please answer this for me?
Thanks,
'Mash
I have an observation I would like to share with you and I would like some feedback.
I have been spending a good deal of time recently looking for the right cue. By that I mean the one that I like the aesthetics of as well as the hit/playability. I had a cue for about a month the fit the playability requirement but I ended up selling it to a friend because he really wanted it and he needed a good cue as his game has been improving significantly lately and I didn't want him to be held back by the crappy POS he was playing with.
Anyway, as I have been looking at all the for sale threads here I have found quite a few cues that I have liked and quite a few that I didn't. What has me confused is the pricing on some of the offerings. I'm not going to single out any particular maker with the exception of Paul Drexler as his cues are the ones that have me the most confused.
The reason for my confusion is I just can't seem to figure out where the current pricing trend is coming from. Paul had been making cues for 20 years and in that time he has demonstrated his ability to make truely magnificent cues both in terms of playability and aesthetics and from what I've seen in the responses in these threads many people agree with me.
While browsing the ads here I found some of his cues have been offered for ridiculously low prices. Meanwhile there are makers that have been only building cues for a few years that are commanding much higher prices. Not for nothing and no offense intended, but many of these offerings I wouldn't pay half or even a third the asking price for. I mean really, $800, $900, $1000 and even upwards of $1600-$1800 for a PJ wrapless cue from makers who have only been making cues for less than 5-6 years? No way can you tell me that they are worth this much money.
To be more specific regarding Pauls cues, I would like to call attention to a few of his Titlist conversions that I have come across listed for sale. One example is the one Quality Cues has listed. It has been available for 3 months now and no one has purchased it and it's very reasonably priced at $1290 OBO with an Ivory joint. On the contrary, there was a Titlist made by another maker that sold for around $1800. It's not to say that I don't respect this maker because I do but there is no way he builds a better cue than Paul. Maybe he's on par with him but certainly not better IMHO.
Another thing that has me puzzled is the current wait time for a PFD cue. I ordered one recently and was shocked when Paul told me I would have it in only a few months. A FEW MONTHS????? Really? Only a few months for a PFD? How can that be when there are makers out there with 2,3, or even 4+ year waiting lists that don't make cues nearly as good in quality? Not to mention the cue I ordered had 4 IVORY points w/veneers with an elephant wrap and Ivory Hoppe ring and the cost was only $1500.
So whats the deal with PFD cues in the market right now? Why are they not commanding the pricing that is more in line with the quality of workmanship? Can someone please answer this for me?
Thanks,
'Mash
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