Over-priced Cues - your opinion please!

dave sutton said:
sure its translates. cars from the 60's and 70s arent build as good as cars today. same goes with cues.


I've seen a few episodes of MTV Cribs, and I'd bet the Bentleys I saw in (or outside) garages on that show aren't appreciated for being handmade....lol. BTW, I'd take the Chebby over the Mopar too. I had a 70 SS that I'd wish I woulda hung on to. My uncle has a cherry 65 Malibu right now (that I can't talk him out of). :mad:

I understand the prices cues command, but what I want is bang for the buck - hence the Z06 reference.....that thing is SO MUCH CAR for the money. Tons of cue makers out there making Z06s that the Bentley makers don't really interest me :eek: :grin:
Click to expand...
 
hdgis1 said:
dave - it's not the same thing man! Let's say dennis and dave do a conversion from an old house cue. Nothing fancy. New joint. Add a butt cap. New ferrule and tip. Refinish it. Turn it down a bit. Whatever. All things being equal (materials/design) - who gets more $? That is clearly not the same as a kia and bently...



Keep'em coming dave! My self image is beginning to be affected...:frown:
Click to expand...

u realize there isnt one person on this that agrees with you. Your just typing words that dont make sense.

What kinda of question is this and what do you get from an answer you already know.

Of course dennis gets more. He has 100,000$ shop and god knows how much more invested in wood time ect.

He is the best cuemaker in the god damn world. If he was overpriced ppl just wouldnt buy his cues. Geez. Your starting to annoy me

that is exactly the same. I am the kia. He is the bentley of cuemakers. Both our cars have 4 wheels and can pocket balls but he is the best. You pay for the best.

You have to be one of the most hard headed ppl on here in a looong time
 
Can't answer about cues since I am new, but when I was painting cars years ago. People couldn't understand why I charged $4K to $6K for a paint job when Macco got $199 for thiers. Some people never understand and I won't take the time to explain it anymore. It's just a waste of time!

Larry
 
63Kcode said:
Can't answer about cues since I am new, but when I was painting cars years ago. People couldn't understand why I charged $4K to $6K for a paint job when Macco got $199 for thiers. Some people never understand and I won't take the time to explain it anymore. It's just a waste of time!

Larry
Click to expand...

VERY TRUE. GOOD POST

I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A MACCO PAINT JOB ON THE CHEVELLE WITH THE ORIGINAL BLACK DECAL STRIPE KIT. DID I.. NO

I SPEND 4k$ AND I GOT A DEAL. I GOT THE STRIPE KIT PAINTED ON EVERYTHING HAND SANDED AND CLEARED OVER SO YOU COULDNT FEEL THE STRIPES AT ALL WITH YOU HANDS.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. AND EXPERIENCE COSTS...

IM NOT EVEN RESPONDING ANYMORE. JUST REDBOMB AND CALL IT A NIGHT...
 
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here, and I'm not a cuemaker.

I've spent about 10k , and built about 6 cues. Now, I build out of my house, obviously don't do it for a living(actually don't even sell them), and carry no insurance's for my hobby. So, if I get $400 for a cue, that's $2400, yeah, I'm ripping people off!

Try paying for a shop(rent,mortgage), health insurance, taxes, etc.,etc.,etc. Now pay yourself $15 an hour, work 60 hours a week(no overtime pay), pay all the rest of your bills out of that money, and after you sell say 100 cues a year, tell me how much you have left. Don't even take into account how much wood gets thrown out as unusable(warped, cracked, f-up, etc.)

No one looks at the big picture, only the parts cost x amount, why is the price so much? LOL

Rodney----Poorly written ranting.
 
Last edited:
It was a rhetorical question Dave...of course I know Dennis' cues will get more.

dave sutton said:
u realize there isnt one person on this that agrees with you. Your just typing words that dont make sense.

What kinda of question is this and what do you get from an answer you already know.

Of course dennis gets more. He has 100,000$ shop and god knows how much more invested in wood time ect.

He is the best cuemaker in the god damn world. If he was overpriced ppl just wouldnt buy his cues. Geez. Your starting to annoy me

that is exactly the same. I am the kia. He is the bentley of cuemakers. Both our cars have 4 wheels and can pocket balls but he is the best. You pay for the best.

You have to be one of the most hard headed ppl on here in a looong time
Click to expand...

Gosh...I kind of take that as a compliment.
 
I love these discussions.

1st Superman Comic Book
1957 Chevy 210 Post
Babe Ruth Baseball card

Are they worth what is paid? Only to the guy that pays it.

Its all relative...

Voo
 
hdgis1 said:
All things being equal - Why does one cue maker get away with charging "$2600 for a joint and a signature" and another barely makes enough to pay for materials?

Furthermore, when one pays for a cue, should they then expect that cue to be what they were expecting? Overpriced or not. Playing cue or collecting cue. (Funny there is even a distinction) Does the consumer have the right to be honked off when their expectations are not met?

Tell me what you think. Though watch out for the cue making god on this forum. He may take offense...
Click to expand...

Depends on whether the expectations are realistic. If you are a c player and you expect to start running 100 balls you don't have a leg to stand on.
 
alstl said:
Depends on whether the expectations are realistic. If you are a c player and you expect to start running 100 balls you don't have a leg to stand on.
Click to expand...

What should one realistically expect from a $400 dollar sneaky? Construction wise?
 
I play with a Clark Cue. (builder in PNW) Its just a plain janer. Looks like a bar cue, but it sure doesnt play like one. Have been playing with it for about 8 yrs. I wouldnt sell it for anything. It hits sweet. I have been offered 1k for it. Still wont sell it. Its not replaceable.

I agree, its all relative on the value of cues. Mine is priceless to me.:)
 
Golfers are the worst . . .

Voodoo Daddy said:
I love these discussions.

1st Superman Comic Book
1957 Chevy 210 Post
Babe Ruth Baseball card

Are they worth what is paid? Only to the guy that pays it.

Its all relative...

Voo
Click to expand...

Senseless rant from me . . .

I've played with a lot of (not owned mind you) the "best" cue makers stuff over the years. Had friends who owned them, etc. Hit a Gus - Hit an Ernie - Hit an Ariel - etc. etc. Actually, some (SOME - not necessarily those builders) of them did not feel as balanced and hit as well as some ridiculously CHEAP cues I've hit. I hit a $7K cue for over an hour - I'd have to say that it was no big thrill. If they hadn't told me what it was and the price, I'd have just given it back to the owner and said I'm not interested in that one - what else you got.

I really don't know a soul who's bought an elite upper end cue and watched it CHANGE their game dramatically. You know - somethin' thats a couple of thousand bucks. More often then not they were scared as hell to pick it up, let alone play with the thing. There's a lot of pride in owning it . . . showing it to friends . . . wow factor etc. Playing with it . . . WHOA! I couldn't do that . . . da-da-da-da.

These comments are not meant to offend or downplay the, IMO incredible artistry and creativity of many of these dedicated cue craftsmen. If they can make a living at it . . . go for it. I admire and would love to own one of their creations.

But, will I ever own a $2k+ cue . . . probably not. I buy cues to play with them. And I do buy customs now - but their relatively low priced compared to many of the artisans mentioned in this thread. Many of the "establishments" I frequent are not environments appropriate for these incredible pieces. I buy on balance - feel - hit - price - in that order.

To each his own - I mean - THIS IS AMERICA BABY. If you've got the money, then we've got something that fits your budget, uh . . . and you. I mean - its THEE right thing for your game. This thing was made for you!

I commend anyone who can make a living making cues, or for that fact doing anything they love. But, all Cue builders need to pray that their cue customers begin adopting the average Joe the golfer's mentality . . . I CAN BUY my game . . . this thing, if I HAD IT I COULD CRUSH MY OPPONENTS . . . 300 yards DOWN THE MIDDLE . . . make every putt! Ooooops - the next new model will be out in 9 months.

I've seen too many guys that had "the gear" beat by the guy with a "house cue" . . . oh well. Good thread . . . please don't blast me.
 
not entirely true....

trustyrusty said:
most of the Bentley purchasers are probably wanting to be seen in a Bentley, and have no idea why they are better than a Kia (other than the $$$$$$ of one). Hard to compare that to cues really....what's a 60's 'Cuda with a 426 equivalent to in the cue world (purchased new for $3K and commanding 6 figures now). Is a 60's 'Cuda built better than a new car commanding that price? Probably not, but it's rare (in great shape), and demand for one drives the price up.

Just sayin' price doesn't always reflect supreme quality (especially in the car world). A new Z06 is a preformance BARGAIN....that's what I try to look for in cues (instead of a trailer queen/collectable cue). :wink:
Click to expand...

Bentleys are hand crafted one at a time and many people who buy them are buying them for the care that is put into them and because so few are produced and the way they are produced knowing the care that is put into each one.

That is the same case with many of the more expensive cues. Even if it is just buyer perception, that can go a long way.

People believe that more time and care goes into the expensive recognizable name cues and they are often right.

Remember something else, the percentage of profit increased with additional care and precision is NOT linear. It is exponential.

Jaden
 
A lot of opinions here. All make sense depending on your outlook.If there were not people willing to pay more for the same things we would have no Mercedes,Rolex etc. Is a Mercedes worth more then a Ford if you just want to get from here to there? Probably not but one does it better and with more style.
I drive a Ford Taurus, I buy $16 Wrangler jeans and play with a Lucasi cue. All three do the job just fine. If i was a rich guy i would drive the Mercedes,buy $100 jeans and play with an expensive cue.
I got to play with a Schon last night and could not say it felt better then my Lucasi ($250) Schon ($800). The Schon looked nicer and the parts all fit together much smoother then my Lucasi but the playabiliy seemed the same. If you have the money buy what you want and if you can't, buy the best you can afford and move along with your life. There are much more important things to be concerned with besides if a pool cue is worth the money.
 
measureman said:
A lot of opinions here. All make sense depending on your outlook.If there were not people willing to pay more for the same things we would have no Mercedes,Rolex etc. Is a Mercedes worth more then a Ford if you just want to get from here to there? Probably not but one does it better and with more style.
I drive a Ford Taurus, I buy $16 Wrangler jeans and play with a Lucasi cue. All three do the job just fine. If i was a rich guy i would drive the Mercedes,buy $100 jeans and play with an expensive cue.
I got to play with a Schon last night and could not say it felt better then my Lucasi ($250) Schon ($800). The Schon looked nicer and the parts all fit together much smoother then my Lucasi but the playabiliy seemed the same. If you have the money buy what you want and if you can't, buy the best you can afford and move along with your life. There are much more important things to be concerned with besides if a pool cue is worth the money.
Click to expand...


It's not always about income or net wealth though. Sam Walton (Walmart) drove a 78 Ford pick-up truck when he was a MULTI-Billionaire!!! If he were a poolplayer I'd guess he'd likely not play a $10K cue. The style part of your comment is the key....even if you like and want a 'Cedes, or Rolex, part of owning it is having other folks acknowledge you owning it. As I stated, absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. That's just never been important to me. If someone sees me driving in my Jeep Wrangler and looks differently at me than someone driving an SL55...that's on them. Their's may be more prestigious, and flashy, and may have 500 hp....whatever, but it probably couldn't get to my favorite fishing hole :wink:

Play what you like! :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
Shawn Armstrong said:
It's only overpriced if you can't afford it.
Click to expand...

nope, something can be overpriced if you're not willing to pay whatever they are asking. I know I've been places where you couldn't buy a drink for under $10 (for, say, a beer)....I can afford $10 for drinks, but I can still think the drinks are overpriced. Will it break me to buy drinks...not even close, but I'll be less likely to partake if I feel something is marked up 100% or more....that's me.
 
trustyrusty said:
nope, something can be overpriced if you're not willing to pay whatever they are asking. I know I've been places where you couldn't buy a drink for under $10 (for, say, a beer)....I can afford $10 for drinks, but I can still think the drinks are overpriced. Will it break me to buy drinks...not even close, but I'll be less likely to partake if I feel something is marked up 100% or more....that's me.
Click to expand...

Fundamental Economic Law - if you feel the item is overpriced, it is usually beyond your economic means to afford it. Case in point - $10 drinks won't break me. I may not sit there and get plastered, but given the choice of Bar A, which has cheap drinks, but not much else, or Bar B, which charges a $2 premium drinks, and plenty of other distractions, I will choose Bar B.

Now, let's apply this to anything in life. Millionaires drive nice cars for a reason - THEY CAN. For the OP to insult people by calling cues "over priced" sounds like he's a little peeved about people that own nice cues. If they can afford it, and the cue is of value to them, who can say the cue is over priced? Certainly not him.

If money was no object, what kind of car would you drive? What kind of cue would you own? Chances are, it would be something different than you own now. There is nothing wrong with this mentality. Owning nice things can be rewarding. I could care less about the value of someone's cue. The only thing I find funny are people that think an expensive cue will play better. They may or may not. Price is never an indicator of performance. It usually is, however, a good indicator of the quality of the product.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top