Kamui found the right recipe for success. Most Americans are rather spoiled and want the best if they can afford it what-so-ever. Kamui did just that. They made their tips outlandishly expensive and everyone equates highest price=best. The same with their chalk, 350 times more expensive than Master's or National. I, myself, don't like Moori's and haven't for about 15 years now so I never have really pushed them but I used to put on around 75 a year. I will say that Kamui's have definitely taken over Moori's hold on the high end tip market here in Cinti. however. Last year I put on no more than 5 Moori's and I've put on around 175-200 Kamui's. I hate putting them on also, not because of the quality of the tip but because of the attitude and pricing of the distributor. I've been told by a knowledgeable source that the USA pays more for Kamui's than any where else in the world. Profit is not a dirty word but robbery is.
Dick
Dick,
It is what it is.
If you think is a robbery don't buy the tips.
Are you saying that you are not making any money by installing them?
If you installed them at $35.00 a tip that's almost a 5K profit. Sorry, I am not counting the blades price or glue (probably around 4K profit and together with those installs I am sure you sold and got a few more orders on custom cues.
I know what the process is to manufacture the chalk and believe it or not, the profit is very, very low.
I know the price of your cues are very affordable, but if somebody says they are too expensive what are you going to say?
You will not lower the price of your cues just because the customer said it was very cheap or very expensive, are you?
Are you saying we now have to dictate how much a tip might cost? A Porsche, a Ford, a Ridgid router? Really???
Not defending Kamui or any other brand but if you do not like them, don't buy them, that simple.
In another hand I do think that the Kamui tips are the best layered tip in the market, bar none.
Your speech almost looks like Joe Beringers rant on Kamui tips...
Something you might forgot, Kamui does not sell the tips directly to players only to cuemakers and repairmen. Is that a bad thing? That's driving business to your shop...