Altering a cue: Does it add or detract value???

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
I've got a nice JD custom cue that I bought from another AZ'er last year for @ $350. It had a textured leather wrap on it that I thought was both inferior in quality and the seam showed more than I liked it to. I took the cue to a local cuemaker/repairman (Don Wallace) to have a stacked leather wrap installed. It turns out that Joel (Dadivas) cut his wrap channel deeper than a normal wrap channel is usually cut, so Don had to "build up" the channel so the new wrap would lay evenly with the top ring ("C" position) and the buttstock. The cue came out looking and feeling wonderfully good, but by the time the wrap channel work was figured in, the total cost for the job was $200. I am NOT complaining of the cost because the cue is way better in both looks and playability, plus the fact that I now have full confidence in the cue.

I was mostly wondering that if I were to ever decide to sell this cue (and as of now have NO interest in selling), has this work added or detracted from its value? If so, how much?

I realize that had this been a high-end collectors grade cue that I would have diminished its value.

Would the improvement I made on this relatively inexpensive custom cue make the cue worth more, less, or stay about the same approximate value??

Maniac
 
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I would agree with the above, negligible impact on value. Exceptions might be found with certain potential buyers, as some might prefer textured leather and dislike stacked wraps or vice versa. I wouldn't worry about it much though, I doubt you've either expanded or narrowed the potential market much anyway.
 
Generally speaking it can go either way. In this case it's probably a wash, meaning probably didn't alter the value either way.
 
Agree with everyone here. Like you said, if it is a high end collectors cue from the usual list of names, you would always want them to do any work that was needed provided they are able. If it's a Gus, Spain, etc. you would get Barry, Joel, or whoever was closest to that maker and his line to do the work.

As far as "cheaper" cues go, I don't think it would change the value to have someone else do any of the work.
 
It makes me laugh when sellers factor in alterations they've made for personal preference as somehow enhancing the value of a cue.

Generally, it doesn't. Knock yourself out in whatever way you want to pimp your cue, but don't charge me for it.
 
TheThaiger said:
It makes me laugh when sellers factor in alterations they've made for personal preference as somehow enhancing the value of a cue.

Generally, it doesn't. Knock yourself out in whatever way you want to pimp your cue, but don't charge me for it.
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I think if the alterations are something I would've done anyways,I'll gladly pay for it but if there not
I agree with Thaiger.
 
scsuxci said:
I think if the alterations are something I would've done anyways,I'll gladly pay for it but if there not
I agree with Thaiger.
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I agree with Thaiger also, as well as all the other posters thus far. I was just wondering what the concensus here would be. It pretty much was what I expected.

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
I've got a nice JD custom cue that I bought from another AZ'er last year for @ $350. It had a textured leather wrap on it that I thought was both inferior in quality and the seam showed more than I liked it to. I took the cue to a local cuemaker/repairman (Don Wallace) to have a stacked leather wrap installed. It turns out that Joel (Dadivas) cut his wrap channel deeper than a normal wrap channel is usually cut, so Don had to "build up" the channel so the new wrap would lay evenly with the top ring ("C" position) and the buttstock. The cue came out looking and feeling wonderfully good, but by the time the wrap channel work was figured in, the total cost for the job was $200. I am NOT complaining of the cost because the cue is way better in both looks and playability, plus the fact that I now have full confidence in the cue.

I was mostly wondering that if I were to ever decide to sell this cue (and as of now have NO interest in selling), has this work added or detracted from its value? If so, how much?

I realize that had this been a high-end collectors grade cue that I would have diminished its value.

Would the improvement I made on this relatively inexpensive custom cue make the cue worth more, less, or stay about the same approximate value??

Maniac
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What influences price is supply/demand. I've never counted, but I would venture a guess that there are probably 500 cues for sale on AZ at any one time. Probably 1,000s on e-bay. Who knows how many are sold privately or directly from the cue makers.

I think we have the supply side taken care of, now we just need to work on demand.

What I'm saying is there are more important things that will determine what you can sell your cue for than you changing the wrap. It's a $300 cue brother, don't sweat it.

Steven
 
The change did not get you a $550.00 cue.....the $350.00 cue is still what you have. What it will be worth will be determined by the market when you attempt to sell it.
 
High End cue: lowers value when altered or modified (unless done by original cue maker)

Lower end cue: hightened value when modified (for example leather instead of linen, but only if it is modified to buyers preferences)


Of course this is a general rule of thumb and exceptions do occur in both situations.
 
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