WHY are some cue makers so valuable and others (better in quality) NOT so valuable?

Bobkitty

Bobkitty

I said: "Here kitty, kitty". Got this frown.
Silver Member
I've owned SW cues build by Jerry Franklin in the middle 80's. I've played with a Balabuska cue that I bought from a lady that had him build her one in New York, Gena cue, TAD cue and a few others. BUT the quality of Ned Morris beats the hell out of them (in my opinion). Playability, looks, precision and perfection of his cues, cue ingredients are beyond every cue maker I've ever seen. However, the value of his cues are way behind the others I just mentioned. Is this like the POLO shirt vs. others just as good but not the Name brand? Ned never wanted the big names for the 30+ years he's been building cues. But the people that know his work insist him building their cues. His cues are magnificent in workman ship and quality. But the value is not has high as a simple Southwest. Amazing how consumers can be bought.
 
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Prairie dog said:
I've owned SW cues build by Jerry Franklin in the middle 80's. I've played with a Balabuska cue that I bought from a lady that had him build her one in New York, Gena cue, TAD cue and a few others. BUT the quality of Ned Morris beats the hell out of them (in my opinion). Playability, looks, precision and perfection of his cues, cue ingredients are beyond every cue maker I've ever seen. However, the value of his cues are way behind the others I just mentioned. Is this like the POLO shirt vs. others just as good but not the Name brand? Ned never wanted the big names for the 30+ years he's been building cues. But the people that know his work insist him building their cues. I have two of his cues in the 3rd edition of the Billiard Encyclopedia, and they are magnificent in workman ship and quality. But the value is not has high as a simple Southwest. Amazing how consumers can be bought.
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Willing buyer and a willing seller.
 
Markets are driven by many factors - just look how often a day in the stock market makes no sense. Same can be said for consumer markets / collectibles/ etc. I understand your point- why is X cue makers Hoppe cue- ( hoppe ring, 4 points 4 veneers, no inlays ) market valued at $3,000 and Y cue makers Hoppe cue- same design and same if not better point work, etc. selling for $1200?

Quality of goods is never the only factor in how a certain brand is valued in the markets - although for something like pool cues - the disparity in market value for equally constructed and designed products can be very large - two to three times the price.

Look at the secondary market of a Michael Capone Hoppe cue next to a similar design Scruggs / JW/ or Tascarella Hoppe- all three are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 the price of Mike's cues and Capone's construction and design of points, wraps, etc. etc. are second to none.
 
I concur on Ned Morris. He made me a cue over 20 years ago that I love. It's in my cue rack among a group of cues that I will never sell! There's a Ted Harris, a Keith Josey, a Samsara, Starkey, Prewitt and a special OB that Royce made for me, and a couple of others. These are not my most expensive cues by any means, but I really like how they feel when I play with them.
 
Prairie dog said:
I've owned SW cues build by Jerry Franklin in the middle 80's. I've played with a Balabuska cue that I bought from a lady that had him build her one in New York, Gena cue, TAD cue and a few others. BUT the quality of Ned Morris beats the hell out of them (in my opinion). Playability, looks, precision and perfection of his cues, cue ingredients are beyond every cue maker I've ever seen. However, the value of his cues are way behind the others I just mentioned. Is this like the POLO shirt vs. others just as good but not the Name brand? Ned never wanted the big names for the 30+ years he's been building cues. But the people that know his work insist him building their cues. I have two of his cues in the 3rd edition of the Billiard Encyclopedia, and they are magnificent in workman ship and quality. But the value is not has high as a simple Southwest. Amazing how consumers can be bought.
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Dennis Dieckmon from the grave has given me an enlightening question for you to answer….I dare not change a word lest he pull my toes in my sleep.


As a huge fan of Ned Morris’s work and so offended by low price it commands….

why don’t you pay him more money for his work straight from him.

or even second hand and bringing him long over due compensation for his fine labor?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Thunder Thighs said:
Basic supply and demand
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winner winner chicken dinner

supply and demand are ultimately what dictates cue prices while many factors such as quality, rarity, beauty, playability, materials used, status of ownership (real or imagined), etc, are all factors that can create demand which, of course, affects the supply.

best,
brian kc
 
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Prairie dog said:
I've owned SW cues build by Jerry Franklin in the middle 80's. I've played with a Balabuska cue that I bought from a lady that had him build her one in New York, Gena cue, TAD cue and a few others. BUT the quality of Ned Morris beats the hell out of them (in my opinion). Playability, looks, precision and perfection of his cues, cue ingredients are beyond every cue maker I've ever seen. However, the value of his cues are way behind the others I just mentioned. Is this like the POLO shirt vs. others just as good but not the Name brand? Ned never wanted the big names for the 30+ years he's been building cues. But the people that know his work insist him building their cues. His cues are magnificent in workman ship and quality. But the value is not has high as a simple Southwest. Amazing how consumers can be bought.
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Ned makes great cues.
But, let's not get carried away.
He does not beat the hell out of Gina and Tad . He'd be the first one to tell you that .
Anyone who beats the hell out of Gina and Tad goes to the hall of fame.
 
I have a friend (from the 1980s) who actually became a billionaire after selling his company to some bigger other company. One night (not long after) he ordered a $3000 bottle of wine for the diner table. He looked at use and remarked that to the cost is just like moving the decimal place over 3 digits! He saw this as a cheapo bottle of wine............
 
greyghost said:
Dennis Dieckmon from the grave has given me an enlightening question for you to answer….I dare not change a word lest he pull my toes in my sleep.


As a huge fan of Ned Morris’s work and so offended by low price it commands….

why don’t you pay him more money for his work straight from him.

or even second hand and bringing him long over due compensation for his fine labor?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
That does sound like something Dennis would say. Once a guy told me he did not feel like we charged him enough for a cue and gave me a $500 tip. But talking about Dennis. When he was going into the International Cuemakers Hall Of Fame I told him I wanted one of his cues for my collection and I picked out a blank he had started and gave him a deposit. When he brought me the cue he refused to accept the balance I owed him.
 
It is just a matter of perception. The more consumers that perceive a maker as desirable then that maker appreciates in value.
This can be manipulated so buyers should pay attention to be certain the maker exceeds their expectations to preserve the perception.
Personally I think AE has exceeded all expectations in the few I have owned, I would put them up toward the top.
 
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