Buying A Cue At A Trade Show or Expo
- Thread starter Grapenut
- Start date
its a great way to buy a cue cause you get to test drive it first. ESPECIALLY if its a player, if you order a rel nice cue from a great cue maker there is no guarantee it will play how you want your player to play. So with that in mond, I think for buying a cue that your going to designate as your player then buying a finished cue is the smartest move, and SBE is the place to be for being able to touch alot of wood.
my best advice is be instroke, if your not then you might not get a as good of judgement as you would if your playing everyday. when your playing everyday its easier to judge if a cue will work for you or not. Thats how it works for me, when i'm not playing everyday cues start to feel all the same(almost), when I'm in stroke I can tell more about a cue cause my senses are dialed in.
my best advice is be instroke, if your not then you might not get a as good of judgement as you would if your playing everyday. when your playing everyday its easier to judge if a cue will work for you or not. Thats how it works for me, when i'm not playing everyday cues start to feel all the same(almost), when I'm in stroke I can tell more about a cue cause my senses are dialed in.
OldTimer1943
Registered
I've been playing a very long time. Used a lot of different cues over the years. If you get a chance, try the new Lucas' Hyb. I have the H65, with 11-75 (stock shaft), with Kamui brown hard. Balanced very good. Had for 2yrs now. I can not shoot with anything else.
I have whitey on a string now.
Good luck,
Oldtimer19
I have whitey on a string now.
Good luck,
Oldtimer19
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Sbe 2012
All are welcome to come to booth 626 and hit a variety of styles and price range of Triple Cross Cues. No high pressure sales techniques. Just honest answers to your questions. See you soon.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues
Website: www.triplecrosscues.com
All are welcome to come to booth 626 and hit a variety of styles and price range of Triple Cross Cues. No high pressure sales techniques. Just honest answers to your questions. See you soon.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues
Website: www.triplecrosscues.com
Precicely what Eric said. Test drive as many cues as possible, even from the same maker regarless if it's a custom or production.
I think Keith Josey is usually there. He makes a monster player, and is a great guy to talk to.
Before you buy anything, make sure to look at everything.
It's easy to get caught up at shows like this and buy the first thing you see and like. The problem is, you'll find something you like even more 5 minutes later. Lol
I've been going to the SBE for about 15 years and I've made the "buy the first thing you see you like" mistake. I would recommend walking the floor completely and make a mental note of things you see that you like and that are in your price range.
Most likely, you'll see more than just a few. On your second trip around try and narrow it down to the top 4-5 you like the best and then go back and hit with them if you can. Hopefully there will be a few that you can choose from.
The last piece of advice I can offer is if at all possible wait until Sunday afternoon to buy your cue. At this point, the dealers are all trying to make last minute deals and this is your best opportunity to get the best deal. I remember my second or third year at the SBE. I had done exactly what I suggested you do and I had it narrowed down to two cues. One was a Dan Dishaw and the other was a Lambros. It was funny because their booths were across from each other and they both knew I was trying to decide which one to buy. I went back and forth a bunch of times and finally when they were starting to break down the booths, Dan called me over (I was in the middle discussing it with a friend) and offered me a deal I couldn't refuse. It was a $1400 cue and he offered it to me for $800. I bought it on the spot. Knowing what I know now, I should have bought the Lambros! Lol
Good luck!
Definately stop by and see Keith. As stated, he and his wife are great people. It's a bonus they make a very nice cue.
Bingo-Bongo on that...IF you like the feel & the hit, Josey cues play amazingly alike. Another guy in the hall I go to has a Joesy a few years older than mine. One day we swapped as an experiment. (not that I'll let anyone play with my cue). We couldn't tell the difference, feel wise.
If it's a player you're looking for, definitely add a Josey to your list of candidates. They are a very well made cue.
I have never had the opportunity to go....but someday!
With that said, I will tell you that the most regrets I have heard concerning SBE was that people found 'their cue' on the first day...only to decide to wait to see if the price came down as the SBE progressed...and when they went back for it...it was gone.
If you find 'your cue' on the first day....just buy it, because you certainly aren't the only one there looking to buy a new cue.
With that said, I will tell you that the most regrets I have heard concerning SBE was that people found 'their cue' on the first day...only to decide to wait to see if the price came down as the SBE progressed...and when they went back for it...it was gone.
If you find 'your cue' on the first day....just buy it, because you certainly aren't the only one there looking to buy a new cue.
How to pay
Ok i was thinking about this the other night, I know I won't make it their year but hopefully by next year I will be in the market to get a new cue and this to me sounds like the logical way to do it. Go somewhere that there will new a wide variety of cues to chose from.
My question is how to pay for it. I don't want to be walking around with anywhere from $500 to $2000 on me in a strange place with a lot of people.
And I figure Cue makers aren't going to take a check. So are a lot of them set up to take Credit/Debit cards?
To me it seems the safest and easiest way would to do a pay pal transfer from my phone. Do you think sellers are set up that way.
Heck in todays world seems like a pretty good way to gamble too. Just transfer my winnings into my account only info anyone needs is your email.
Ok i was thinking about this the other night, I know I won't make it their year but hopefully by next year I will be in the market to get a new cue and this to me sounds like the logical way to do it. Go somewhere that there will new a wide variety of cues to chose from.
My question is how to pay for it. I don't want to be walking around with anywhere from $500 to $2000 on me in a strange place with a lot of people.
And I figure Cue makers aren't going to take a check. So are a lot of them set up to take Credit/Debit cards?
To me it seems the safest and easiest way would to do a pay pal transfer from my phone. Do you think sellers are set up that way.
Heck in todays world seems like a pretty good way to gamble too. Just transfer my winnings into my account only info anyone needs is your email.
That's happened to me more than once, especially at the Black Hills Rally in Sturgis, S.D. "My" custom made vest panheaded off into the sunset without me in it.
Thanks for the great responses.
Nut
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It is a great place to buy a cue. The problem is there are so many great cues to choose from. You might find a great cue but decide to look around then when you figure out that is the one it may be gone. The other is you buy the first one you see only to find one later that you like better.
There are also many cue makers that will have their cues that you can try and inspect and will gladly build one to your specs and design.
Many of the cue makers have deals with the dealers to buy any cues left over so don't expect many fire sales at the end.
It is also a great place to buy other pool related products. Sometimes you will only save on shipping but you know what you are getting.
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It is a great place to buy a cue. The problem is there are so many great cues to choose from. You might find a great cue but decide to look around then when you figure out that is the one it may be gone. The other is you buy the first one you see only to find one later that you like better.
There are also many cue makers that will have their cues that you can try and inspect and will gladly build one to your specs and design.
Many of the cue makers have deals with the dealers to buy any cues left over so don't expect many fire sales at the end.
It is also a great place to buy other pool related products. Sometimes you will only save on shipping but you know what you are getting.
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On Sunday after you negoiate the crap out of a cue, make sure you say I want your best CASH price.... wait about 10 seconds and pull some no-name sneaky pete out of your case and tell the dealer you want 600 trade in value.
(Then run like hell)
JV (---its the trade show equivilent of leaving flaming dog poo by someones door
(Then run like hell)
JV (---its the trade show equivilent of leaving flaming dog poo by someones door
" Touch alot of wood " lol. Seriously though, I'm so jealous. Sweden has only got ONE custom cue maker.
Or leftover hardwood furniture frames from the IKEA factory!