Blue Book Values

poolpro

poolpro

Not a pro
Silver Member
I am looking into helping a friend buy his first real cue. I was checking into a couple of used cues for him, and I pulled out my trusty blue book 3rd edition. Well, I used to reference this book everyday, and I remember thinking that a lot of the values were a bit on the low side or fairly aproximate.

Now I have not really used the book for reference in quite a while, and was just wondering about it. I mean we all know the economy is down and the market has dropped quite a bit, but about how much really?

How do you think that BB listed prices relate to the current market?


The example that really made me question it is this : I was looking at a J Pechauer model P27 ( it is on page 605 if you want to look). Well it says that it was made in 1996 with a retail of $950. Then it says that the value has actually increased to $1075 if it is in perfect condition, and goes to $520 in 70% condition. Well the one for sale is listed as in perfect condition for less than $500 with an extra shaft and custom jps. Seems like a very good deal to me especially if you believe the BB on this one.


I like Pechauer cues and think they are good playing cues, but they are production with a high output. I just don't remember them getting anywhere near $1000 for a used production model ( even a level 5).


Whay are your thoughts on this?




Jw


BTW my friend is looking for a good cue ( new or used in good condition) for under $500, if anyone wants to make suggestions. Thanks
 
poolpro said:
I am looking into helping a friend buy his first real cue. I was checking into a couple of used cues for him, and I pulled out my trusty blue book 3rd edition. Well, I used to reference this book everyday, and I remember thinking that a lot of the values were a bit on the low side or fairly aproximate.

Now I have not really used the book for reference in quite a while, and was just wondering about it. I mean we all know the economy is down and the market has dropped quite a bit, but about how much really?

How do you think that BB listed prices relate to the current market?


The example that really made me question it is this : I was looking at a J Pechauer model P27 ( it is on page 605 if you want to look). Well it says that it was made in 1996 with a retail of $950. Then it says that the value has actually increased to $1075 if it is in perfect condition, and goes to $520 in 70% condition. Well the one for sale is listed as in perfect condition for less than $500 with an extra shaft and custom jps. Seems like a very good deal to me especially if you believe the BB on this one.


I like Pechauer cues and think they are good playing cues, but they are production with a high output. I just don't remember them getting anywhere near $1000 for a used production model ( even a level 5).


Whay are your thoughts on this?




Jw


BTW my friend is looking for a good cue ( new or used in good condition) for under $500, if anyone wants to make suggestions. Thanks
Click to expand...

Use extreme caution is trying to evaluate a production cue, blue book reference or not. Now take into account the BB is now quite a few years old, and doesn't reflect the current market. Tell your friend to chip in a few hundred more and call Skip and George Weston and they will provide a great 4 point classically made custom cue for 750.00 with two shafts.

There are many cues though you can get for 500.00.

Joe
 
classiccues said:
Use extreme caution is trying to evaluate a production cue, blue book reference or not. Now take into account the BB is now quite a few years old, and doesn't reflect the current market. Tell your friend to chip in a few hundred more and call Skip and George Weston and they will provide a great 4 point classically made custom cue for 750.00 with two shafts.

There are many cues though you can get for 500.00.

Joe
Click to expand...

Yep, I agree! That is why I am posting this, just to check my gut. I think the cue for sale is priced very nicely. It is a good cue, with an extra shaft, and custom jp's in excellent condition for under $400. I think it is a good buy, and wanted to double check it. When I saw the BB list it at around $1000 for just the cue and no extras, I was a bit suprised to say the least. I thought it was quite a bit out of touch with current market values.



Anyway, I agree that a custom would be a better choice, but I know he isn't going to wait for one. If someone has some ready to go ( new or used), it could def be an option.


Jw
 
poolpro said:
Yep, I agree! That is why I am posting this, just to check my gut. I think the cue for sale is priced very nicely. It is a good cue, with an extra shaft, and custom jp's in excellent condition for under $400. I think it is a good buy, and wanted to double check it. When I saw the BB list it at around $1000 for just the cue and no extras, I was a bit suprised to say the least. I thought it was quite a bit out of touch with current market values.



Anyway, I agree that a custom would be a better choice, but I know he isn't going to wait for one. If someone has some ready to go ( new or used), it could def be an option.


Jw
Click to expand...

That's why I posted that. I know George Weston has a few that could be shipped in a day... He made a batch and has some left...

JV
 
classiccues said:
That's why I posted that. I know George Weston has a few that could be shipped in a day... He made a batch and has some left...

JV
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, but I am pretty sure he is capped off at $500. He is stepping up from a cue costing $100 or less. So, it is already a good jump up to spend $500. I have already mentioned the value of buying a good custom cue as opposed to production. It would have to be under $500 ( or maybe just a tad over for the right cue).



Jw
 
The only reason I ever look at any of the "Blue Books" are for reference for new prices only. The used prices listed have little in common with said cues real worth. The way they acquired the used prices of the cues was to ask the cue maker what his cues were worth used and he furnished the prices. A savvy maker often put down higher prices on his used than his new ones sold for to build their demand.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
The only reason I ever look at any of the "Blue Books" are for reference for new prices only. The used prices listed have little in common with said cues real worth. The way they acquired the used prices of the cues was to ask the cue maker what his cues were worth used and he furnished the prices. A savvy maker often put down higher prices on his used than his new ones sold for to build their demand.

Dick
Click to expand...

How do you know that this was the method used?

I don't claim to know what method was used, but I know the author and believe they would make an attempt to be accurate. The author is the most knowledgeable person on custom cues that I have ever met myself.

That being said, "GUIDES" on any used merchandise ... be it cars, cues, curios ... is exactly that. A guide.

They cannot in a free capitalist society be used as an absolute value but can establish something of a statistical average.

As an example, if I have a collectible cue with a fair market average value of $5,000.00 that I really don't want to sell ... it might take $8,000.00, maybe more, to buy it. OTOH if I'm in the hospital and after having exhausted all my resources I'm still $2,500.00 short on buying the kidney I have to have to live ... you might get a deal from me.

IOW ... an average is just that, an average, and takes into account those who pay too much and the "DEALS" that sometimes come up.

LWW
 
i'm sorry if this is a little off topic but can someone tell me where I could buy all 3 editions of the blue book here in the uk?.
 
LWW said:
How do you know that this was the method used?

I don't claim to know what method was used, but I know the author and believe they would make an attempt to be accurate. The author is the most knowledgeable person on custom cues that I have ever met myself.

That being said, "GUIDES" on any used merchandise ... be it cars, cues, curios ... is exactly that. A guide.

They cannot in a free capitalist society be used as an absolute value but can establish something of a statistical average.

As an example, if I have a collectible cue with a fair market average value of $5,000.00 that I really don't want to sell ... it might take $8,000.00, maybe more, to buy it. OTOH if I'm in the hospital and after having exhausted all my resources I'm still $2,500.00 short on buying the kidney I have to have to live ... you might get a deal from me.

IOW ... an average is just that, an average, and takes into account those who pay too much and the "DEALS" that sometimes come up.

LWW
Click to expand...

Excellent viewpoint....good post! It is what it is!!
Curly
 
LWW said:
How do you know that this was the method used?

I don't claim to know what method was used, but I know the author and believe they would make an attempt to be accurate. The author is the most knowledgeable person on custom cues that I have ever met myself.

That being said, "GUIDES" on any used merchandise ... be it cars, cues, curios ... is exactly that. A guide.

They cannot in a free capitalist society be used as an absolute value but can establish something of a statistical average.

As an example, if I have a collectible cue with a fair market average value of $5,000.00 that I really don't want to sell ... it might take $8,000.00, maybe more, to buy it. OTOH if I'm in the hospital and after having exhausted all my resources I'm still $2,500.00 short on buying the kidney I have to have to live ... you might get a deal from me.

IOW ... an average is just that, an average, and takes into account those who pay too much and the "DEALS" that sometimes come up.

LWW
Click to expand...

I know this as I'm in all 3 Blue Books and those are some of the questions that I was asked. You sent in the pictures of the cues you wanted submitted and a form and these and other questions were asked concerning the new price and used prices for different levels cues and different conditions. It was the same with some other cue makers that I know. Those were the prices that were in the book. I remember when the first book came out and everybody was running around trying to sell their Willie Hoppes for 750.00 when a few weeks before they were having trouble getting 150.00.

Dick
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top