Anyone know about the china billiards expo

Chris Byrne

Chris Byrne

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Do any of you know anything about the china billiards expo? I got another email invitation this year but it is the same time as the superbilliard expo.(Within a few days I think) I wanted to see if anyone has any firsthand expirence with the show. I would consider it if it is worth the trip. Chris.
 
China Billiard Expo

I spent about 10 years working in China (off and on) so I have a pretty good idea of what to look forward to. For a custom cuemaker it would be a waste of time. There will be rows and rows of cheap billiard products that will probably just piss you off. Unless you have spent time in China I can almost guarantee you that you will be disappointed.
 
Thanks Bob. I have no idea what the market is like there so all info helps. I just checked and a ticket there is around $1500 at the moment plus hotel, vehicle, ect... sounds like I will be passing on it.
 
QMAKER said:
I spent about 10 years working in China (off and on) so I have a pretty good idea of what to look forward to. For a custom cuemaker it would be a waste of time. There will be rows and rows of cheap billiard products that will probably just piss you off. Unless you have spent time in China I can almost guarantee you that you will be disappointed.
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You may be right, but one thing to consider is that many Asian buyers who used to show up at our Super Billiards Expo and buy our high end cues are skipping our expo in favor of that one. So one or two high end American cuemakers there might do well. I wish one American would go and let us know how it goes. Another problem is Asians always wanted the Ivory inlaid cues and I would be afraid they would get confiscated taking them over, or even worse land you in jail.
 
cueman said:
You may be right, but one thing to consider is that many Asian buyers who used to show up at our Super Billiards Expo and buy our high end cues are skipping our expo in favor of that one. So one or two high end American cuemakers there might do well. I wish one American would go and let us know how it goes. Another problem is Asians always wanted the Ivory inlaid cues and I would be afraid they would get confiscated taking them over, or even worse land you in jail.
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This is not true.

This show is a very small show with a few manufacturers. There is absolutely zero business to be had for a custom cuemaker from the USA at this show. In fact most of the exhibitors pack it in after the first day and go home.

I went and it's nothing worth going to. You can meet some manufacturers and that's about it. This show is more for the domestic buyers to see the wares of the domestic producers.

Of course if you just have the money to blow and want to spend a couple days in China then by all means. But please don't be mislead into thinking that this is something more than it is. It is not a consumer show, the Asian buyers of high end cues are not going to be there.

This show may grow but I doubt it as many are leery of displaying their best products where their competitors can take pictures and knock them off. If you think knockoffs being imported from China to the USA is brutal you should see what the Chinese do to each other.

Right before the 2006 show here I went to visit a manufacturer and when I got to the show his competitor had not only knocked off almost all of their original designs but also even the point of sale displays used to show off the waterproof features of the cue.

Anyway that's my take on it and I would NEVER EVER forgo setting up and selling at the SBE for this show. I wouldn't skip the SBE if I had a choice from any other billiards event.

John
 
JB Cases said:
This is not true.

This show is a very small show with a few manufacturers. There is absolutely zero business to be had for a custom cuemaker from the USA at this show. In fact most of the exhibitors pack it in after the first day and go home.

I went and it's nothing worth going to. You can meet some manufacturers and that's about it. This show is more for the domestic buyers to see the wares of the domestic producers.

Of course if you just have the money to blow and want to spend a couple days in China then by all means. But please don't be mislead into thinking that this is something more than it is. It is not a consumer show, the Asian buyers of high end cues are not going to be there.

This show may grow but I doubt it as many are leery of displaying their best products where their competitors can take pictures and knock them off. If you think knockoffs being imported from China to the USA is brutal you should see what the Chinese do to each other.

Right before the 2006 show here I went to visit a manufacturer and when I got to the show his competitor had not only knocked off almost all of their original designs but also even the point of sale displays used to show off the waterproof features of the cue.

Anyway that's my take on it and I would NEVER EVER forgo setting up and selling at the SBE for this show. I wouldn't skip the SBE if I had a choice from any other billiards event.

John
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Might as well just go to Alibaba.com and talk to reps.
 
QMAKER said:
I spent about 10 years working in China (off and on) so I have a pretty good idea of what to look forward to. For a custom cuemaker it would be a waste of time. There will be rows and rows of cheap billiard products that will probably just piss you off. Unless you have spent time in China I can almost guarantee you that you will be disappointed.
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Well you will definitely see a lot of "expensive looking" cues. There are actually a few nice things there as well as some neato gadgets not yet seen in the USA.

But yes I agree that it would be a wasted trip as a custom cue maker looking to sell anything.

I passed on it this year and one of my friends who went left after an hour.

The booth prices are similar to the USA and that's just ridiculous for the small amount of exhibitors and visitors that actually attend.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Might as well just go to Alibaba.com and talk to reps.
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Pretty much. I guess the only advantage is if you are a buyer with no established relationships with Chinese suppliers then you can see and feel the quality on display.

On AliBaba it's very difficult to know who is a trade agent and who is a manufacturer - and in fact you can hardly tell at the show either as everyone represents themselves as manufacturers even if they aren't.

I guess I'd consider going if I were a buyer and didn't already know who to talk to. But that ignorance runs the risk of buying from the wrong people and getting shafted.

At the BCA show I had a customer of ours tell me a story about how they decided to import direct and how earlier this year they lost $60,000 when they received a container load of cues that are completely unsuitable for sale.

In another story one of my friends from Germany related to me a story about how they received boxes of bricks instead of the cues that they ordered.

I am sure that these types of stories are the exception rather than the rule but dealing with China is quite a learning curve. I learn something new EVERY DAY here about how to deal with Chinese businesses.

And to be fair there are MANY MANY MANY who are aboveboard, try their best to build a quality product, and are very nice to deal with. I'd be real scared though to ship over money to someone I didn't know though.
 
Chris Byrne said:
Thanks John.
Are you living there now or just working? Chris.
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Well, with a wife, a business, and a baby on the way, I don't think I will be making my way to Krispy Kreme any time soon. Unless they open one here which isn't too unlikely.

I'd say I am pretty permanently fixed in China now.
 
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