Predator Cues w/Revos Now Selling For Thousands of $$$ - Why?

Kickin' Chicken

Kickin' Chicken

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I'm noticing packages with Predator Cues featuring Revo Shafts are starting at about $1300 and going up to like $3k.

I also see that in many of these packages the cues are numbered as limited production run cues.

Aren't these Predators still just production cues made in China?

I get that the Revo shafts are in such scarce supply that the demand has gone through the roof but why are the cues that are with them so expensive?

imo, I think these guys have quite a racket going.

I'm actually intrigued by the Revo shafts and will likely be giving one a try but I'll be avoiding what I feel like is excessive predator package pricing.

Are these Predator cues worth what they're listing them for? What do you all think?

best,
brian kc
 
If people are paying the price, then it’s worth it. Now the question you’re really asking “is a $3500 production level butt better than a $500 production level butt?” and the answer is a resounding no. They should play the same. But why buy a Bugatti when a Lamborghini will do the same? Personal preference.
 
I probably could have asked the question a little better.

I'm guessing the cue butts (let's exclude the revo shaft) cost Predator about a c-note tops to produce.

Why are people buying them for $800 to $2500?

You can get better quality production butts like Schon, Mezz, Joss and Pechauer for much less, right?

best,
brian kc
 
What butt is on them? Throne, Ikon, Sotka, Maestro, Anniversary? Those will go north of 1K.

Production or not, I don’t mind paying more for beautiful designs, intricate inlays, Uniloc joint, and the Predator weight bolt system.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
I probably could have asked the question a little better.

I'm guessing the cue butts (let's exclude the revo shaft) cost Predator about a c-note tops to produce.

Why are people buying them for $800 to $2500?

You can get better quality production butts like Schon, Mezz, Joss and Pechauer for much less, right?

best,
brian kc
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You are way off in terms of cost to produce. The cheapest ones cost no more than $100 to build. The more expensive ones could cost almost $1000 to build. It’s all the extra time to cut out inlays and glue them in, specially if you have to do any more inlay milling after the first set of inlays. An extra two days to make a cue, it’s now up to $400 to make.

The most expensive Schon, Mezz, and Joss cues still don’t hit better than the cheapest of their lines.

People buy predator just to buy it. Don’t have a hissy fit on what others choose to spend their money on. Unless theyre trying to buy a $3500 Players cue, don’t open your mouth and just let it be.
 
Hits 'em Hard said:
You are way off in terms of cost to produce. The cheapest ones cost no more than $100 to build. The more expensive ones could cost almost $1000 to build. It’s all the extra time to cut out inlays and glue them in, specially if you have to do any more inlay milling after the first set of inlays. An extra two days to make a cue, it’s now up to $400 to make.

The most expensive Schon, Mezz, and Joss cues still don’t hit better than the cheapest of their lines.

People buy predator just to buy it. Don’t have a hissy fit on what others choose to spend their money on. Unless theyre trying to buy a $3500 Players cue, don’t open your mouth and just let it be.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I believe any of these Predator cues really cost a g-note to build. Not in China, imo.

No "hissy fit" here; just seeking some opinions is all. ;)
 
I paid $1,000 for my Roadline with a Revo shaft. That’s $4,000 less than the Southwest I saw in the for sale section and $2,000 less than what my friend paid for his used Hunter.
 
Why so much? I'll never know cause I won't pay 500+ for any shaft. It's not gonna happen in my lifetime. I sincerely doubt it's ability to make me even 1 ball better. I've hit/played a few racks with a 12.9. Just not impressed by them. That's just me. I will say I've beat guys who are using them. Again, I'm not impressed. If you love yours...good for you. Matt D.
 
Poolhall60561 said:
I paid $1,000 for my Roadline with a Revo shaft. That’s $4,000 less than the Southwest I saw in the for sale section and $2,000 less than what my friend paid for his used Hunter.
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I think this is a good one to use as an example.

Your setup sounds much more reasonable to me - figuring the Revo makes up $500 of it and then $500 for the cue butt.

My not being familiar with the Predator cue line could be the issue - what is it about the other Predator cue models that makes them cost so much more, in some cases triple what you paid for yours?

best,
brian kc
 
Hits 'em Hard said:
You are way off in terms of cost to produce. The cheapest ones cost no more than $100 to build. The more expensive ones could cost almost $1000 to build. It’s all the extra time to cut out inlays and glue them in, specially if you have to do any more inlay milling after the first set of inlays. An extra two days to make a cue, it’s now up to $400 to make.

The most expensive Schon, Mezz, and Joss cues still don’t hit better than the cheapest of their lines.

People buy predator just to buy it. Don’t have a hissy fit on what others choose to spend their money on. Unless theyre trying to buy a $3500 Players cue, don’t open your mouth and just let it be.
Click to expand...


Which cue has the better hit is an entirely subjective issue.

For many players a heavy maple shaft, with an ivory ferrule, and an original Moori tip is about as good as it gets. And many players flat out don't like the hit of a CF shaft.

We're already seeing CF cues with cracks and chips so who knows how they'll hold up in the long term. There would also be the issue of how much of their original value they'll retain. I'm guessing not much.

Lou Figueroa
 
Sunchaser said:
Why so much? I'll never know cause I won't pay 500+ for any shaft. It's not gonna happen in my lifetime. I sincerely doubt it's ability to make me even 1 ball better. I've hit/played a few racks with a 12.9. Just not impressed by them. That's just me. I will say I've beat guys who are using them. Again, I'm not impressed. If you love yours...good for you. Matt D.
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You've hit upon an important but oft overlooked factor: You can't buy a game.

If you suck (not saying you) you'll still suck with a CF shaft. Bad stroke? You'll still have a bad stroke with the CF. Bad or non existent PSR? You'll still suck with a CF shaft.

You will, however, look like one of the cool kids down at the pool hall with one of those black shafts.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Which cue has the better hit is an entirely subjective issue.

For many players a heavy maple shaft, with an ivory ferrule, and an original Moori tip is about as good as it gets. And many players flat out don't like the hit of a CF shaft.

We're already seeing CF cues with cracks and chips so who knows how they'll hold up in the long term. There would also be the issue of how much of their original value they'll retain. I'm guessing not much.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
The Revo problems seem to be "driver error" induced issues. Haven't heard of cues cracking or chipping just by playing with it. There were a couple pics on-line of damaged Revos but those apparently were caused by abuse/misuse. Carbon fiber composites are ridiculously strong and long-lasting. I've got fishing rods that are over 20yrs old(and golf shafts over 15yrs old) that still perform like new. They don't really wear out from normal use.
 
garczar said:
The Revo problems seem to be "driver error" induced issues. Haven't heard of cues cracking or chipping just by playing with it. There were a couple pics on-line of damaged Revos but those apparently were caused by abuse/misuse. Carbon fiber composites are ridiculously strong and long-lasting. I've got fishing rods that are over 20yrs old(and golf shafts over 15yrs old) that still perform like new. They don't really wear out from normal use.
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But cues, not even those carefully handled by the most loving of owners, are inevitably subject to being dropped, or hitting light fixtures or chairs or tables, or getting whacked on that metal strip of trim along GC rails. It happens regardless. I know because believe me, I cherish my Ginas. And as I recall, at least one guy here got himself a brand new CF and found it was already cracked. I believe another was lamenting a dent in the finish and he was probably looking at buying some Bondo and black spray paint.

I'm not saying they're not durable. But unlike fishing equipment, you're looking at and running your hands down the CF over and over -- it has to be *perfect*. A rod can get smacked up side the beer keg and still be OK. A pool shaft, not so much.

Lou Figueroa
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
I think this is a good one to use as an example.

Your setup sounds much more reasonable to me - figuring the Revo makes up $500 of it and then $500 for the cue butt.

My not being familiar with the Predator cue line could be the issue - what is it about the other Predator cue models that makes them cost so much more, in some cases triple what you paid for yours?

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...
My $1,000 cue is in the right,
My friend bought the one on the left , a Predator Mosconi tribute cue, for $1,200

The price doesn’t really bother me, it’s that the fact that getting one is difficult that sucks.



0635F498-D878-48A1-BF81-E68D12F0787F.jpg
 
lfigueroa said:
Which cue has the better hit is an entirely subjective issue.

For many players a heavy maple shaft, with an ivory ferrule, and an original Moori tip is about as good as it gets. And many players flat out don't like the hit of a CF shaft.

We're already seeing CF cues with cracks and chips so who knows how they'll hold up in the long term. There would also be the issue of how much of their original value they'll retain. I'm guessing not much.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

Which is the entire point of this thread. KC doesn’t see it as so. If it takes one week to manufacture a cue, and it gets sold retail for $400. How does that hit differ from a cue that takes two months to make, and gets sold retail for $3000. It shouldn’t. So if I want to buy a $3000 Predator, then I’m going to buy a $3000 Predator. Doesn’t matter if you can’t see the value there, I did.

Now as for KC, every time someone touches the cue in the manufacturing process the price goes up. Each time the epoxy containers are accessed their lifespan goes down. Not all inlays cut out make it into a cue. Some break as they get cut, some break on install. And not all inlays are the same size/value. Costs add up. If you can’t visualize it, then just think of every step you take you get paid. Answer the front door, 20 steps. Cook a dinner, 200 steps. Which one costs more? Subjective. If answering the front door gets you arrested, obviously that’s going to cost more than dinner.

Yes the Predator name to old school people isn’t worth much. To the new pool players, it has more value than Joss does. The real impact is the pros winning while using Predators. Can you tell me the last time a Joss or a Schon cue was used to win a pro level tourney?
 
It’s not a big deal. If you have discretionary spending then you drop extra cash for vanity. Predator has some nice products with lots of features and perceived value to them beyond just the production costs.
 
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