Buy/hold/sell.your cues
- Thread starter bbb
- Start date
Boy, that's a great question....the million dollar question. Wondered when this thread would come up. :thumbup:
We get contacted by guys all the time for an idea on what their cues are worth. Many of them have been out of pool for some time. Most are inclined to sit tight for a bit longer because the cues were usually bought during the market boom and premium prices ('90s to '07ish).
We are now at a place in this market where some cues appear to just not be sell-able, even for very cheap prices. I think most of the blue chips are still pretty solid though, but most have backtracked some from their peaks...
Excellent thread, I look forward to people's responses.
Old Nine Baller
Banned
I figure to wait for a better price. I have a:
1. B. Szamboti with two shafts in perfect condition.
2. Meucci Original "Buddy Hall" edition with one shaft.
3. Meucci "Sneaky Pete", can't remember right now how many shafts..
4. A very nice old Schon with two shafts.
5. A nice Jack Madden cue with two shafts.
6. A Pechauer with 4 identical shafts. This particular cue hits so good it's unbelievable.
I tried to sell the Pechauer with all 4 perfect shafts included for $500 to a friend of mine. He ended up not wanting it. If that's the market for cues then I'll wait.
ONB
Really good question.
I think old cars should be driven, old watches should be worn and old cues should be crushing balls into pockets on a daily basis. I understand the compulsion to collect, to find an old thing you had a long time ago but lost somehow. However, I get the bad feeling when people buy 30 or 40 cues from custom cue makers and secret them away form the world... its just wrong. It's bad and it's wrong. WRONG I SAY!
That said... I think everyone with more than 3 cues should send their extras to me for safe keeping.
and I think that anyone selling their rare birds in this climate is a little short-sighted.
Regards,
Lesh
I think old cars should be driven, old watches should be worn and old cues should be crushing balls into pockets on a daily basis. I understand the compulsion to collect, to find an old thing you had a long time ago but lost somehow. However, I get the bad feeling when people buy 30 or 40 cues from custom cue makers and secret them away form the world... its just wrong. It's bad and it's wrong. WRONG I SAY!
That said... I think everyone with more than 3 cues should send their extras to me for safe keeping.
and I think that anyone selling their rare birds in this climate is a little short-sighted.
Regards,
Lesh
I think we're due for a lift. I remain optimisitic. I continue to believe that the industry is overdue for a strong growth spurt. Pool was pretty dead until the troops returned from WWII and Brunswick started its commercial leasing program. Then in the late 50's, Mosconi and the other touring Brusnwick pros, convinced Brunswick to bring out the 9' table so that amateur play and pros both could play on the same size pool table dimensions. Keep in mind championship play was conducted on 10' tables up until the early 60's. The 9' table also meant pool room operators could get more tables in the same space area than with 10' tables.
What else happened to "lift" pool........1962, The Hustler was released..........pool interest soared.......then it went into a downturn and then what.....1986, The Color of Money was relased......pool interest exploded and both the interest in and actual value of collectible cues went up enormously as well.
We're about 4-5 years behind the last two movie release intervals and it will take two things. A great movie once again that appeals to the youth and a change in branding by cue-makers and cue case makers and everyone else in cottage industries relating to pool. I think a talented actor/producer/director like a Matt Damon type could pull off the film and not have to be the star either. Take a movie based upon Cornbread Red going back to pool in the late 20's, 30's, & 40's and have someone like Shia LeBeouf play the lead and the right lead actress, etc. and screen writers for adapting the storyline to the big screen, and the film could become another Color of Money and probably would too. The theme is set in a very popular time in America when it comes to films. Look at the appeal and popularity of of HBO's Broadwalk Empire series.
The topic of "Branding" is too lengthy of a topic to go into right here but suffice to say, the pool industry just refuses to change or evolve like other successful industries do when the marketplace dynamics shift and the consumer profile evolves. As an example, cue-makers or case makers are apathetic and rely on what.......word of mouth.......for market penetration and business expansion. In today's marketplace, that's just primitive and ignorant minded and these businesses need to establish an identity and create a more appealing image of their business through intelligent marketing programs tailored and targeted for specific markets utilizing contemporaneous media sources and using a modern website design.
What else happened to "lift" pool........1962, The Hustler was released..........pool interest soared.......then it went into a downturn and then what.....1986, The Color of Money was relased......pool interest exploded and both the interest in and actual value of collectible cues went up enormously as well.
We're about 4-5 years behind the last two movie release intervals and it will take two things. A great movie once again that appeals to the youth and a change in branding by cue-makers and cue case makers and everyone else in cottage industries relating to pool. I think a talented actor/producer/director like a Matt Damon type could pull off the film and not have to be the star either. Take a movie based upon Cornbread Red going back to pool in the late 20's, 30's, & 40's and have someone like Shia LeBeouf play the lead and the right lead actress, etc. and screen writers for adapting the storyline to the big screen, and the film could become another Color of Money and probably would too. The theme is set in a very popular time in America when it comes to films. Look at the appeal and popularity of of HBO's Broadwalk Empire series.
The topic of "Branding" is too lengthy of a topic to go into right here but suffice to say, the pool industry just refuses to change or evolve like other successful industries do when the marketplace dynamics shift and the consumer profile evolves. As an example, cue-makers or case makers are apathetic and rely on what.......word of mouth.......for market penetration and business expansion. In today's marketplace, that's just primitive and ignorant minded and these businesses need to establish an identity and create a more appealing image of their business through intelligent marketing programs tailored and targeted for specific markets utilizing contemporaneous media sources and using a modern website design.
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This got me to thinking that it might finally be the time to unload my Dale Perry 1 of 1s
before the bottom really drops out.
Anyone have an idea of what I should ask for a matching set.
I was thinking that $4000.00 might be fair.
before the bottom really drops out.
Anyone have an idea of what I should ask for a matching set.
I was thinking that $4000.00 might be fair.
Can I have an example of "blue chip" cues?
A Gus Szamboti is going to fly any day of the week. A mid-range Blackcreek bought at top dollar is going to sell today for less than you paid, unless you get lucky. Pretty much any cue aside from non-living superstar makers has slid in price some because everyone is broke. Market reality. I would hold them until more collectors get into the game.
A Gus Szamboti is going to fly any day of the week. A mid-range Blackcreek bought at top dollar is going to sell today for less than you paid, unless you get lucky. Pretty much any cue aside from non-living superstar makers has slid in price some because everyone is broke. Market reality. I would hold them until more collectors get into the game.
The market may recover a bit...but I honestly don't think it will ever be as it was. Top tier cues will continue to sell, but it may take a little longer. As for all the rest, I think things may remain static for a while.
It would be interesting to know if custom orders, overall, are up, down, or level. Could be what money is being spent is being spent directly into the cue makers' pockets vs secondary. Sooner or later, there will be a glut.
Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk
It would be interesting to know if custom orders, overall, are up, down, or level. Could be what money is being spent is being spent directly into the cue makers' pockets vs secondary. Sooner or later, there will be a glut.
Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk
Mostly agree, but what happens when all the older collectors begin to leave this earth and some of their collections hit the market? We're not talking guys with 4 or 5 cues...but guys with 50, 100, 200, or 400+ cues...all super nice, collectible cues. What scares me is at the events I go to, I still seem like one of the 'young guys' and I'll be 42 in a few days.
Current 'blue chip' cues are the small number of makers (just a handful or so) that the market deems ultra-desirable, usually because they are difficult or impossible to get a cue from....or there is a seriously long wait.
Interesting conversation, this topic....
Mostly agree, but what happens when all the older collectors begin to leave this earth and some of their collections hit the market? We're not talking guys with 4 or 5 cues...but guys with 50, 100, 200, or 400+ cues...all super nice, collectible cues. What scares me is at the events I go to, I still seem like one of the 'young guys' and I'll be 42 in a few days.
Current 'blue chip' cues are the small number of makers (just a handful or so) that the market deems ultra-desirable, usually because they are difficult or impossible to get a cue from....or there is a seriously long wait.
Interesting conversation, this topic....
You're right, the floodgates will open there. But! If collectors are smart about educating their families or trustees about what they have, those collections will only trickle in, preserving the value and giving more people the opportunity to buy rare, amazing cues.
Most cuemakers are slower than they used to be, from the rumblings I have heard. But! There are more makers popping up all the time, so more customs are hitting the market, driving prices down. My guess is that you are right, in that the market will never be the same, but it will force the cream to rise to the top.
I agree with your observation and concern about true collectibles. But I think the "blue chip - not super fancy" cues will also face the concern of changing tastes for future generations of players. I don't know if any cue purchase is totally safe over time, unless you found a real bargain. I only own cues for which I would remain happy even if they lost their original value.
Hey BBB,
When you see a pool table, do you want to play or walk away? I always want to play, so I don't see how pool is dying. The only way pool dies is if no one wants to play anymore.
Keep your cues. They have been your partner in your pool adventures. If they could talk, I'm sure they'd have a story to tell.
Things are only worth the money someone is willing to pay for them.
Keep the faith BBB....see you around in AZB.
I think if you are building and selling most of your cues for the overseas market your probably doing better than builders selling domestically.
Hmmm...my personal invesment allocation involves 0% allocated to cues. I generally am loathe to hold an illiquid asset. Having said that, I love my $250 Thompson 8 pointer. It's prolly worth about the same $ as firewood to someone else, but is priceless to me, dings and dents and all. It is a well used and well loved piece of equipment.
I can appreciate other folks cue collecting for their artistic merits, but I am unwilling to shell out a nickle for one myself.
I once met a fella who had "invested" in beanie babies. Hmmm....
One other thought is that I really love getting paid to own stuff, rents, interest, dividends, etc. My cue has paid me nothing to date in cold hard currency...
I can appreciate other folks cue collecting for their artistic merits, but I am unwilling to shell out a nickle for one myself.
I once met a fella who had "invested" in beanie babies. Hmmm....
One other thought is that I really love getting paid to own stuff, rents, interest, dividends, etc. My cue has paid me nothing to date in cold hard currency...
Hot Wheels Mustang Stocker cars were probably a better investment than pool cues.:sorry:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981Mustang...19261?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item3a88f1503d
If I didn't have to sell it I wouldn't. This is the time for buying if you can afford to.
I have been kicking around the idea of buying up a few tables with the hopes of one day opening a pool hall. But I still can't convince myself that I could get one to fly in my area. (And we don't even have a pool hall anymore!)
I have been kicking around the idea of buying up a few tables with the hopes of one day opening a pool hall. But I still can't convince myself that I could get one to fly in my area. (And we don't even have a pool hall anymore!)
