South West Cues-Why $$$ ????

SCCues said:
You beat me to the punch on the "over 300 cues a year" statement. Maybe because the numbering system for SW cues starts a 300 each year is where the confusion came from. I believe you are right on the money with your estimate of 100 to 150 cues a year. They have a small shop and they also do repair work so I don't think they could build over 300 cues a year and keep up their quality.

I've kicked myself for selling the SW cues i've owned over the years (at least 6 SW cues with the AB rings and triple veneers), but at the time I was ready to move on to something else.

James
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James

I don't know where I got the 300 from either, maybe it was confusion over their numbering system. Even at 125 cues a year, that's 1250 cues on their wait list. That's 83 to 100 years if it was Barry or Searing. People would be willing their spot for a cue on to their heirs.

Kevin
 
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dacue said:
I have owned 5 or 6 SW cues over the years, never kept one for very long.
Please can anyone explain to me why SW cues have such inflated prices. It's nuts. Thank you for anyones explaination or opnion.
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They are not over priced from SW. It is the after market where people are more then willing to pay a premium for the cue to get it now. Thus a bidding market so to speak. Real values are irrelevant, it is a market created by demand and what someone is willing to pay. It only takes two to want the same item to start a bidding war and the cues are in limited supply with a world wide market.

There is nothing really nuts about it, look what someone is willing to pay for a paper ticket to a sold out sporting event that 3 hours later is worth nothing. The cue has real value. I had a nice SW I got from Jerry Franklin and I have to say, I never hit a ball with it. He charged me $260.00 for the cue and it took a few years to get it. I sold it at the BCA show for $1500.00. probably worth twice that today. I have owned several and they were just small investments I made profits on.
 
Where does one find out what the wait list actually is? Or could it be just something thrown out there over the years to create hype and inflated prices? Has anyone who's bought one from them actually ever waited 10yrs? SW always sounded like a production cue outfit the same that people say Schon is a production cue.
 
Lumocolor said:
Where does one find out what the wait list actually is? Or could it be just something thrown out there over the years to create hype and inflated prices? Has anyone who's bought one from them actually ever waited 10yrs? SW always sounded like a production cue outfit the same that people say Schon is a production cue.
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I can only go by my experience. This was years ago and I waited about 2 1/2 years. Then one day I get a call saying my cue was ready to ship and they sent it express next day delivery. There are plenty of people to attest to the waiting times.
 
SCCues said:
You beat me to the punch on the "over 300 cues a year" statement. Maybe because the numbering system for SW cues starts a 300 each year is where the confusion came from. I believe you are right on the money with your estimate of 100 to 150 cues a year. They have a small shop and they also do repair work so I don't think they could build over 300 cues a year and keep up their quality.

I've kicked myself for selling the SW cues i've owned over the years (at least 6 SW cues with the AB rings and triple veneers), but at the time I was ready to move on to something else.

James
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I started this discussion, I appreciate every ones thought and opnions.
I understand a price is driven by a buyer willing to pay it.
But their is nothing magical or special about a SW cue. I just don't get it, name a world champion that used a SW cue. If you know of one let me know.
You are 100% correct every year South West cues start with the pin number 300-301. It's been this way like for ever.
Their production was much higher 10 years ago. Now it is around 100+,(possible less) cues a year. Check around try to find a 2011 SW pin with a number in the high 400's.
Thanks guys.:smile:
 
dacue said:
I have owned 5 or 6 SW cues over the years, never kept one for very long.
Please can anyone explain to me why SW cues have such inflated prices. It's nuts. Thank you for anyones explaination or opnion.
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One factor not mentioned is that people who purchase a new or used South West on the secondary market have high (and justified) confidence that they will be able to resell the cue at some point without incurring a substantial loss (as happens with most brands of cues). There are very few brands of cues with high resale similar to South West. I also believe that Laurie and the guys at South West are extremely dedicated to building a consistent and well made product.

Martin
 
The 10 year wait is real. I ordered mine back in 04. About 1 year ago, Laurie told me they're working through their 01 orders. So it looks like it'll be my turn in 2~3 years.

I've also read somewhere that they make ~300 cues/year. However, that does sound like a lot of cues from a small shop, even if they have perfected the way they make cues.

One thing that is driving (and will keep on driving) the demand for SW is the Asian market. SW was made extremely popular in Taiwan by players such as Wu, Yang and others. Current players like Ko, Chang, Fu and many other Taiwanese pros all play with SWs. It has kinda of cult following amongst Taiwanese pro players. Now that following has spread to China, where the Taiwanese pros/coahces have influence. I know a room in Shanghai where on any given night you can find 3~5 SWs being used. Most people don't know much about custom cues in China, but they know the "mystic" of the SW cues. I think there are at least 30 to 50 SWs on the public secondary markets in Taiwan and China (Yahoo and Taobao) at any given time. There are more in the non-public markets.
 
While I dig old Schons a lot I have to say I got a chuckle out of comparing Schon to SW. Its not even apples and oranges...its like apples and bowling balls. Both are kinda the same shape but the similarities pretty much end there.

I dont have enough money to collect nice cues and I fall out of love with cues quickly so a big thing for me is knowing I wont take a complete bath on a cue when (not if) I sell it. Thats one of the reasons why South West cues are my benchmark when comparing high end cues. I know that as long as I dont overpay for a South West and its not some complete oddball cue with regards to weight or woods I am assured of being able to get my money back out of it. There are very few brands/makers out there you can say that about.

Also I have always really loved the designs. Everyone and their brother seems to make a cue that "hits like a South West" or has offered a "South West style" cue. They are to me quite simply an icon in the cue world. I am lucky enough to know the people who make them and a finer crew I have yet to meet. I also am lucky enough to have had the chance to meet and speak with many of the best cue makers in the world. I cant ever remember any of them saying a bad word about South West with regards to quality or business practices. Two things that for the most part are not subjective topics.

If someone doesnt like the cues thats all good, different strokes and all that. Theres lots of cues I dont like and TONS of cues that make me scratch my head regarding pricing but for some reason certain people seem to have some real venom about South West's and that I dont understand. If someone really doesnt understand how something achieves it's market value then I doubt an internet thread is going to enlighten them. Besides this exact same thread comes up about once a year. If the question is legit just hit search....because I am sure this is at least the third time I have written this post over the years.
 
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the simple answer is that they are the best cues made
they are not overpriced

they hold their value
and they are the best people to work with

part of the charm is the no nonsense design,they make a simple looking cue that plays lights out

and if you order a new one call me and i will give you $500 profit the day you get it
 
dacue said:
I started this discussion, I appreciate every ones thought and opnions.
I understand a price is driven by a buyer willing to pay it.
But their is nothing magical or special about a SW cue. I just don't get it, name a world champion that used a SW cue. If you know of one let me know.
You are 100% correct every year South West cues start with the pin number 300-301. It's been this way like for ever.
Their production was much higher 10 years ago. Now it is around 100+,(possible less) cues a year. Check around try to find a 2011 SW pin with a number in the high 400's.
Thanks guys.:smile:
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Dennis Orcollo
 
They should really do a production line.

10 year wait is absolutely ridiculous for a business.

They are not very efficient.
 
I think the thing that irks people is that some people will wait 10 years, claim it's the best cue in the world, and then flip it for $500 profit. It's no secret SW cues are good flip cues because some people don't want to wait 10 years for a cue, and for the most part they do seem to be nice looking cues that hold their value fairly well on here... it just seems to bother some more than others. If you don't like the wait or the look of it just buy a different cue. If people are willing to pay X for it, then people should of course charge X for it....good ol supply and demand.
 
Lumocolor said:
Where does one find out what the wait list actually is? Or could it be just something thrown out there over the years to create hype and inflated prices? Has anyone who's bought one from them actually ever waited 10yrs? SW always sounded like a production cue outfit the same that people say Schon is a production cue.
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The wait is 10 years. I ordered 2 cues in 2001 and SW is building them now. I spoke with her on Monday and I will have the cues around September or October. I have owned 14 Southwests and they play great and are a thing of simple beauty.
 
southwest

First off I think southwest has the the best playing cue IMHO, they also have an 11 year wait and they are lucky if they hit 150 cues a year now. They used to make more when jerry was alive. I got my new cue last year in late december and it was number 389 so that means 89 cues made maybe 100. And people are willing to pay 5000 plus for szambotis and I dont think they are even close as players southwests hit much better.
 
dom_poppa said:
Everyone I know that owns a SW didn't like the weight and they sold it.

There's one guy that bought a spot from a guy on the waiting list and he designed everything from scratch and swears by it. It's pretty plain looking cue for the price he paid.

It's kind of bad business practice because for all we know, for everyone one cue that SW sells to a customer, they may be selling 2 cues to a dealer. The dealer can mark up the price and it will affect SW by causing a demand and SW can raise it prices too.

In this instance, I think people are buying into the hype of the cue because I have yet seen a SW that is worth the money that someone paid for.
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Well then they should have made a lighter cue. southwest asks for the weight and there balance is 2nd to none
 
tommygunn78 said:
Well then they should have made a lighter cue. southwest asks for the weight and there balance is 2nd to none
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The one guy that bought his from SW is built to his liking with weight.

The others were bought probably second hand and didn't like the heaviness of them. Which SW is on the heavy side.
 
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