black boar
- Thread starter undertaker
- Start date
Tiffpoolbum
Banned
Donald A. Purdy said:
Lucky is a Japanese. I think almost everyone in this forum knows that. He does not sell mostly in Japan--he sells solely in Japan.
The prices are not inflated; they are a fair reflection of the supply and demand of the Japanese cue market--same as the prices of other items such as cars, eletronic...etc--some items are more expensive in the US than they are in Japan, and vice versa.
Inflation implies an adnormal increase in the volume of money resulting in a continuing rise in the general price level, which is not what is happening in Japan.
From what I understand, Lucky did not but *whatever* Tony makes, he asked Tony to only make cues for him and Tony only makes what he was asked to make.
When most of the cue dealers only want to sell things cheap and even pride themselves in being *cheaper*, the customers suffer. it is inevitable.
Last edited:
Tiffpoolbum said:
Once again gossip rules the forum, first off we should stop talking about this person because it's all speculation, leaving lucky out of the equation how bout we just talk business. If a person spends money to fly 1/2 way around the globe to meet with cue makers and buy cues, then spends in excess of 40K on a web-site, takes out many adds in monthly pool publications, opens a store just selling pool cues and has a giant investment in inventory shouldn't that person be allowed to price the products at a price that said person can at least break even let alone make a profit? After all this is a business is it not?? All those factors and we haven't even addressed the fact that you can buy the cue and get it in a few days, taking away a year or more wait list. I never hear 1 person complain when some thief who didn't put $1 down to get on the SW list puts the cue he just bought for 1,200 on E-bay for $2,200. Fact is anyone with 1/2 a clue about business can't fault someone in Lucky's position for doing what he does or for his prices. But the fact remains we should not speculate about things we don't know much about.
Jim
Last edited:
I would be willing to pay a premium if he can get the cue I want at virtually no waiting time. Compare a couple weeks to 5+ years, I would be willing to pay quite a bit of premium.
Tiffpoolbum
Banned
JimBo said:
Hey Jimbo,
Donald Purdy said that the cues in Japan are inflated and that lucky is an American, he also asked if anything he said was wrong, so I responded, that both of his claims are false. I do not think there is anything wrong with a cue being priced more overseas. When US dealers are trying to be as cheap as possible with their prices, customers are deprived of high quality in the US. The whole industry is hurt. There is no gossip about what I just said.
If you do not like someone accusing Lucky on his pricings, you should not be talking to me--I am not the one who said his price was "inflated," and I do not even agree with such an accussation to begin with.
About Tony of BB, I was stating what I heard and I stated that as such. In this open forum, I am allowed to state my opinions. Once again, you should talk to the person who thought Lucky was an American when it comes to passing on false information based on speculation.
I have also heard that you are Lucky's partner in the US. I know since you do want to talk about Lucky, you probably do not want to discuss that, and I will respect that.
Tiff
Tiffpoolbum said:
I said I was Lucky's partner in another thread, it was just a joke. Lucky doesn't need any partner and as far as I know he doesn't have any US partners at this time, but I don't know and don't wish to speculate. I never claimed his prices weren't inflated as a matter of fact I agree that they are. But I am just using comon sense and a business mind to explain it. It has little to do with the market and more to do with overhead. Sure his prices are high but please refer to my earlier post as to all of his exspenses. On a related topic I ddon't care what people want to sell their cues for, what I hate is when people put up a web-site and instead of a price they put down ask, that's a joke, if you don't want to sell the cue then put a dumb price like $200,000 and you can show it off all you want nobody will buy it. As of right now I have no partners and I have no cues for sale, that can change at any minute (you listening lucky??) LOL Check out my web-site www.Idon'tsellcues.com
Jim
buddha162 said:
My understanding that if I want to sell my cues in Asia (unless I am proficient in Japanese/Chinese/Taiwanize or buyer is proficient in English and can access my web page) I would probably need to sell to a dealer. My understanding is I would need to discount my retail price - and this can be as much as 40% since the dealer would price the cue about the same as my retail price. Why would a cuemaker do that - if you have bills to pay, cues available and no buyer, what would you do if you build cues full time? This is not what I have heard - this is from conversations I have had with various dealers. So these "select" cuemakers are not getting rich by doubling their price.
Jack Madden
www.johnmaddencues.com
Tiffpoolbum
Banned
JimBo said:
I did not read that thread you were referring to. Which one is it? I was just trying to throw more ungrounded gossip at you--I did not know you have actually said that you were Lucky's partner! It was meant to be a joke.......
O, well...
merylane said:
The Yen to Dollar rate fluctuates daily. Right now the rate is about 107 yen per american dollar. http://finance.yahoo.com/currency?u
Last edited:
Tim has been selling cues to some of the Japanese buyers for a number of years. I am not sure he sells to them on the same scale as the others mentioned in this thread.Barry Doc said:
I see nothing wrong with the cue makers selling to buyers in other contries, if that is what they have to do to make a living. It is a very hard business.
JimBo said:
Hey jimbo,
I'am sorry i came across that way to you, i think cuemakers have the right
to sell to whom ever they wish for what ever they can get for them.
I REALLY din't mean to slight Tim in any manner what so ever,spreading
a rumor wasn't my intent. i actually agree with what you say about
supporting cuemakers. i average purchasing one cue a year and a scruggs
is high on my list
doc
Hi Guys; (and Jimbo)I'am Jon P. Nusbaum,known as JP to all. I've been reading all the threads about Black Boar Cues,and thought I would finally chip in with some facts.
Tony of "Black Boar Cues" and Tim,of "Time Scruggs Custom Cues" have been personal friends on mine for many years, I see them 2 or 3 times a month,and share shop talk.
Here's the scoop;
Tony has a 10 year contract with Lucky of "I Love Cues",Japan to sell all of his output to him. Thats about 6 cues every 3 to 4 months. Tony felt that rather then have the highs and lows of the custom cue market,it was safer to have a constant client,constant income,"Don't we all wish we had his luck.
Lucky sells only to the Japanese market now,who knows about the future!
Tim has an agreement with Lucky to make a specific line of
cues only for him. The cues are of classic "Balabushka" design style with wide rings,14mm shafts,1/2" ferrules,wider butts,and a special shaft taper. The name "Lucky" also appears in decal on the shafts.(I did the artwork for Lucky's name). Tim is free to make cues for anyone in the USA market.
Mike Lambros is also a friend, he currently doesn't sell to Lucky. He has a arrangement with another large cue distributor in Japan.
I hope this helps clarify the marketing and sales questions.
JP Nusbaum,owner
www.cuesnthings.com
Jon P. Nusbaum said:
I'am Jon P. Nusbaum,known as JP to all. I've been reading all the threads about Black Boar Cues,and thought I would finally chip in with some facts.
Tony of "Black Boar Cues" and Tim,of "Time Scruggs Custom Cues" have been personal friends on mine for many years, I see them 2 or 3 times a month,and share shop talk.
Here's the scoop;
Tony has a 10 year contract with Lucky of "I Love Cues",Japan to sell all of his output to him. Thats about 6 cues every 3 to 4 months. Tony felt that rather then have the highs and lows of the custom cue market,it was safer to have a constant client,constant income,"Don't we all wish we had his luck.
Lucky sells only to the Japanese market now,who knows about the future!
Tim has an agreement with Lucky to make a specific line of
cues only for him. The cues are of classic "Balabushka" design style with wide rings,14mm shafts,1/2" ferrules,wider butts,and a special shaft taper. The name "Lucky" also appears in decal on the shafts.(I did the artwork for Lucky's name). Tim is free to make cues for anyone in the USA market.
Mike Lambros is also a friend, he currently doesn't sell to Lucky. He has a arrangement with another large cue distributor in Japan.
I hope this helps clarify the marketing and sales questions.
JP Nusbaum,owner
www.cuesnthings.com
I knew most of what you said, but it's nice to have things cleared up.
If i'm not mistaken, people that already have black boar cues, I think are allowed to give them to Tony to have shafts made, refinishing, and other maintenence things done, but he's not supposed to make any new cues for anyone but Lucky. (which i hope is true cause i have 3 black boars that will eventually need new shafts)
Here is Luckys websight in case you were all wondering what he sells, and what he looks like.
My browser doesn't fill in all the characters cause it's in japanese for the most part, but you can still navigate and check out stuff.
http://www.ilovecues.com/toppage3/top.html
SUPERSTAR