World's most expensive Chinese production cues

Agent 99

Agent 99

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Has Predator priced themselves out of the cue market?

How much would you pay for a Chinese production cue from an unknown manufacturer?

Far as I can tell the Predator 8K series is basically the exact same cue as the Ikon, with a white butt cap and a higher price .. lol

Oh yes, they still come with Predator's, or whomevers, extra slippery plastic wrap - so they still have that going for them.

Would you really pay from $669 to $1500 for one of these cues?

Just wondering because I do not know anyone who would.
 
If predator are an 'unknown' Chinese manufacturer, give me their resale values over known American brands any day.

And their performance, obviously.
 
Well, nobody is going to say Predators are cheap, but they do perform well.
The designs are similar, yes, but certainly not the same. Fancier ringwork and
fancier pointwork.

gr. Dave
 

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Double-Dave said:
Well, nobody is going to say Predators are cheap, but they do perform well.
The designs are similar, yes, but certainly not the same. Fancier ringwork and
fancier pointwork.

gr. Dave
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Furthermore, i would say the 8ks are a continuation of 2,3,4,5Ks, rather than being the next Ikons.
 
mark187187 said:
Entry level Predator's are quite reasonable. I picked up a new sneaky Pete with 314-2 shaft for $350, and it plays great. As with all manufacturers, you pay more for fancy inlays, but I can't imagine a better cue for this price.

Sent from my GT-I8190N using Tapatalk
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I agree a Sneaky Pete w/ 314/2 for $350.00 represents a nice value. I bought one myself, it plays just fine. I have been shooting the 314/2 shaft for some time and don't care to adjust to another shaft.

Currently a Predator Sneaky will cost you $424.00 from an on-line discounter.

But man, seven, eight, nine hundred or more? We all know that any butt will play the same with a 314/2 shaft attached to it.

Personally, If I wanted a fancy cue, for this money, I would but a Schon or a Peachauer and order it with a Predator shaft.

In the future I could call the manufacturer, since I would know who they are, and order weight bolts, be able to have warranty work done by the manufacturer, ect.

Just wondering what others thought about the value in the new 8K cues.

I know Predator will not be selling any of these cues to folks who shoot a wrap less cue .. what's up with that? Why no ebony finished wraps on these models, that can't be good for sales.
 
Sometimes you just don't know what someone will do. That's why they make chocolate & vanilla... so we have choices of what we buy.,
 
Back in the 80's Toyota and General Motors opened a joint factory in Fremont California called New United Motor Manufacturing Inc, or NUMMI for short. Off the same assembly line, one car was produced and either badged as the Toyota Corolla (AE82), or Chevy Nova. In showrooms, the Corolla outsold the Nova, and in ranked higher in customer satisfaction even though both were the same car. Shows you the perceived power of marketing.

If you're savvy, you could save yourself money by buying the Ikon or Lucasi, but it may not have the perceived resale value of the Predator name.
 
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I purchased several cues dirt cheap, about 2 years ago from a chinese company. Recently those same cue designs have shown up in the predator and poison lines of cues.
 
Double-Dave said:
Well, nobody is going to say Predators are cheap, but they do perform well.
The designs are similar, yes, but certainly not the same. Fancier ringwork and
fancier pointwork.

gr. Dave
Click to expand...

I like the look of the older cues better. Just my opinion though, for what it's worth.
 
Many of Predator's most valued cues are made by custom cue makers that may be production cues but along the lines of limited numbers. Samsara and PFD comes mind. There are more though. I am sure that they are not pricing themselves out though. But, they may be pricing their cues out of the reach of some players. Their own cues are produced in China and I'm sure that they could offer them for less and still make a profit. But the bottom line is that they make a valuable product in the eye's of people who will pay for what they consider a premium product. No different than Mercedes.

The problem would be when they can't turn a profit. I don't see any sign of this. Although there are many players that are disappointed that they can no longer afford them.

If you are one of these, take a look at some affordable custom cues. There are more available than any other time. Talk personally with them about LD shafts.
 
I seen a super nice Predator that was actually made by Jacoby, so it was actually a Jacoby made Predator branded cue. I thought it was really cool that Jacoby made some of the Predator cues. I could tell that it looked like a Jacoby though before I seen the Predator brand name on it (it was in the Jacoby style of points and inlay design that Jacoby uses on some of his super fancy cues).

SouthernDraw said:
Many of Predator's most valued cues are made by custom cue makers that may be production cues but along the lines of limited numbers. Samsara and PFD comes mind. There are more though. I am sure that they are not pricing themselves out though. But, they may be pricing their cues out of the reach of some players. Their own cues are produced in China and I'm sure that they could offer them for less and still make a profit. But the bottom line is that they make a valuable product in the eye's of people who will pay for what they consider a premium product. No different than Mercedes.

The problem would be when they can't turn a profit. I don't see any sign of this. Although there are many players that are disappointed that they can no longer afford them.

If you are one of these, take a look at some affordable custom cues. There are more available than any other time. Talk personally with them about LD shafts.
Click to expand...
 
I have an Icon 1-1. Love it. But I probably wouldnt have it if i hadn't won it in a Seyberts drawing. Love the hit. Love the action it gives the cue ball. But when it comes right down to it, I believe they are overpriced. when it comes time to get another cue, it probably wont be a Predator. Just cant afford over a week or more of pay for a pool cue. If I ever shell out 500 bucks or more on a cue, it will be a custom, or an OB. At least they are made in the US and are just as good. Again.... IMHO....after trying an OB over night.
 
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I have a Predator 7K92.5 FM, or whatever model it is. Its listed as $900. I didn't and wouldn't have paid close to retail on it. Paid $200 for it and had it refinished. Put a Players HXT shaft on it as it didn't come with a shaft.

I have a Sneaky, SS joint, approx $380 in Canada.

Does the esspensive cue play and feel better than the sneaky. Well sure it does. But 500 dollar better or obvious. Seriously doubt it.

Take any butt that is your preference, as long as you are comfortable with the weight and balance. Put a 314 or a Z on it.

There, you now have a 1500 to 3000 or close to the equivalent Predator cue.

Fancy points? well, for that price range from 1500 to 3000, most cue makers will build you a very nice cue, your design and choice of veneer colors for the points.

It will play well, look great and be your personal cue, not some 1 of 5000 Predator something K or an Ikon Shmikon cue.

And there won't be 3 other guys in your hall playing with the exact same cue.

Every Dog has it day and Predator is still going strong with new features and upgrades that also cost you more for each one.

Over the last 3 or 4 decades, I am always amazed at how many New and Improved Tide laundry soaps that they can come up with. The only thing that I found different is the box itself.

I have probably lost more games using my 7K or whatever it is, so far, and won more over all with my cheap Meucci, ($180) and my re worked Chinese Ebay, (well under $100) cue.

Go figure eh.
 
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Predators aren't expensive. The most expensive I've seen is about 2 grand and there are made by custom cue makers.
 
DAVE_M said:
http://www.predatorcues.com/pool-cues/limited-edition/dragon-limited-edition/
$2800 and "collaboratively designed" by PFD. Then there are all the cues that Predator had Jacoby make.

Predator is just a name. IMO, the shafts play like garbage and the butts (made by Predator in China) are cheap and lack quality.
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There are quite a few people who would disagree with you. A cue is personal preference and what's feels like crap to you might feel like the best hitting cue in the world to someone else.
 
DAVE_M said:
http://www.predatorcues.com/pool-cues/limited-edition/dragon-limited-edition/
$2800 and "collaboratively designed" by PFD. Then there are all the cues that Predator had Jacoby make.

Predator is just a name. IMO, the shafts play like garbage and the butts (made by Predator in China) are cheap and lack quality.
Click to expand...

Well it plays every bit as good as my lambros and I seem to run out pretty consistently with one. How about saying you don't like the way they play instead of saying they play like garbage. Personally I think that's N upgrade for a Jacoby lol never played with one I liked. But again that's personal preference.
 
The Roadline does offer a pretty good value. Ill have to find one to try out. And they look pretty good too.
 
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zpele said:
There are quite a few people who would disagree with you. A cue is personal preference and what's feels like crap to you might feel like the best hitting cue in the world to someone else.
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trob said:
Well it plays every bit as good as my lambros and I seem to run out pretty consistently with one. How about saying you don't like the way they play instead of saying they play like garbage. Personally I think that's N upgrade for a Jacoby lol never played with one I liked. But again that's personal preference.
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IMO is an acronym for In My Opinion.
I don't see why you two are getting riled up about an opinion.
 
I used to have (4) 3K's made here, and quite expensive for what they were.
The shafts were made well, but the butt construction, finish, and overall quality control was about the worst I've seen.
These new 8K's have to be better, they couldn't be worse and still be in business.
 
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