Maybe it's summer but the cue market seem to be dead. I was speaking with a couple of friends we are collectors and they are saying that the dealers and resellers are killing the market with higer prices for custom cues to a point that is not affordable for many. I agree somewhat about the prices but I think it has to do more with the fact that dealers and resellers only looks favourably toward cues that they are able to flip quickly for a profit and unfortunately that haved killed the market for the other really good cues.
It's no secret that Southwest custom cue is by far one of the most liquid cue in the market today and prices are definitely going higher for more desirable combination of woods, etc. Next to Southwest, you have Tim Scruggs and older JW seem to be moving at decent rate but with prices going higher...even their sales seem to have slowed. There are just so many other amazing playing cues out in the market that should be getting the same attention but are just not and I just can't seem to understand why. My only explaination that is that high end cues fall under Luxury item sales which have been in decline for years and so understandable the cue market is affected.
Not sure if there is a branding issue for 2nd Tier custom cues like Tascarella, Paul Mottey, Kikel, McDaniel, Ed Young, McWorter, Richard Harris, Sugar Tree, Cog, etc... or if it really a pricing issue where the buyers are so confused with rising prices that they are afraid to buy to be the one holding the cue and not be able to get what they paid. Is reseller value something that buyers are now looking at when buying higher end cues? I always tell my friend that if you want to invest in cues, you better off playing the stock market....but I've lost enough money there that I wish I had them in cues lol
When you talking about 3rd tier cues, it's even worse in this market
I think resellers and dealers need to be able to communicate values of cues better in the market. The heavily branded cue like Southwest is taking all the attention, leaving buyers with no confident in the other excellent cues. I'm starting to see dealer and reseller trying to branch out their focus on other higher end cues but not sure if it a little late into the game now. Knowing that ebony is highly valued in SW, I wonder if this premium wood also translate to other quality cue builders?
Feedback or solutions?
Br,
Duc.
It's no secret that Southwest custom cue is by far one of the most liquid cue in the market today and prices are definitely going higher for more desirable combination of woods, etc. Next to Southwest, you have Tim Scruggs and older JW seem to be moving at decent rate but with prices going higher...even their sales seem to have slowed. There are just so many other amazing playing cues out in the market that should be getting the same attention but are just not and I just can't seem to understand why. My only explaination that is that high end cues fall under Luxury item sales which have been in decline for years and so understandable the cue market is affected.
Not sure if there is a branding issue for 2nd Tier custom cues like Tascarella, Paul Mottey, Kikel, McDaniel, Ed Young, McWorter, Richard Harris, Sugar Tree, Cog, etc... or if it really a pricing issue where the buyers are so confused with rising prices that they are afraid to buy to be the one holding the cue and not be able to get what they paid. Is reseller value something that buyers are now looking at when buying higher end cues? I always tell my friend that if you want to invest in cues, you better off playing the stock market....but I've lost enough money there that I wish I had them in cues lol
When you talking about 3rd tier cues, it's even worse in this market
I think resellers and dealers need to be able to communicate values of cues better in the market. The heavily branded cue like Southwest is taking all the attention, leaving buyers with no confident in the other excellent cues. I'm starting to see dealer and reseller trying to branch out their focus on other higher end cues but not sure if it a little late into the game now. Knowing that ebony is highly valued in SW, I wonder if this premium wood also translate to other quality cue builders?
Feedback or solutions?
Br,
Duc.
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