Cue buying and selling.. needs some help.. Jeez WTF
- Thread starter classiccues
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I can tell by your I trader just how much of a expert you really are.:scratchhead:
I can tell by your I trader just how much of a expert you really are.:scratchhead:
I disagree with the posters of most of this thread.
If anyone buys ANYTHING from me, from joint protects, to a cue, and they aren't happy they send it back to me and they get their money back.
I don't give a damn if it because the sun shines on it funny, send it back and I give you back your money.
I think I have done it 2-3 times in about 10 years.
I don't discount it after I make a sale, if you aren't happy with price or cue, send it back.
The whiners about cue flippers makes my a$$ tired. If you want the product buy it, if you don't want it go to the next thread.
As Freddy the Beard says, "Cheese and crackers!"
Best of rolls to all,
Ken
If anyone buys ANYTHING from me, from joint protects, to a cue, and they aren't happy they send it back to me and they get their money back.
I don't give a damn if it because the sun shines on it funny, send it back and I give you back your money.
I think I have done it 2-3 times in about 10 years.
I don't discount it after I make a sale, if you aren't happy with price or cue, send it back.
The whiners about cue flippers makes my a$$ tired. If you want the product buy it, if you don't want it go to the next thread.
As Freddy the Beard says, "Cheese and crackers!"
Best of rolls to all,
Ken
Many cuemakers definately have lists. The ones I can think of off the top of my head are Haley, Searing, Showman, Szamboti, Mobley, Barrenbrugge, Southwest. I'll pretty much guarentee you wont call any of these guys and have a cue in 9 months. There are people that have been on lists or have standing orders of a cue or two a year that were placed a long time ago. I think these are the flippers that maybe you refer to although I prefer to call us cuemaker supporters.:thumbup:
There are also many great cuemakers that have Shorter lists.
Then there are guys that can get you a cue in under a year because cuemaking is what they do and for whatever reason the demand for their cues isn't there. It doesn't mean that they make a bad cue . I just talked to a well respected cuemaker known for his great playability and shafts and he quoted me 9 months.
I see no reason why people don't deserve to make a profit. If they took the time to place an order . design the cue , deal with the public's 18,000 questions and e-mails, box and ship the cue, then they have a right to make a few bucks. This goes double on cues that there are longer lists for . The upcharge is for the conveniance of getting what you want right now with no wait. Supply and demand baby!
Was thinking the same thing.
I pretty much buy cues only to play with, dealing directly with the maker...it's a custom cue, I want it custom TO ME. But that's me. I certainly understand the desire to collect cues and to purchase them on the secondary market...but I'm amazed at some cues and the prices the seller demands. I mean, come on...a plain jane cue, normal linen wrap, no ivory for $2k and up...? A house cue conversion for $3k? I know, I know, the market is the market. What frustrates me is seeing a cue that I KNOW sells brand new for $700 being advertised here for $1200 or more...and the forum rules forbid anyone from calling the seller out on it. You know there are newbies here that have no clue that will cash in their uncle's savings bonds to purchase it. Seems there must be a way to have a market based dialogue on valueation of cues without everyone getting butt-hurt and getting banned...If only positive compliments are allowed with no one being allowed to say, "hold on a minute...", then the secondary market can only be (artificially) driven up. As it is, the cues flip around 4-5 times, going up with each transaction and the music stops...the last buyer is stuck with a cue he paid 3 times retail for and can't unload. Then it's "PM me for price". 
i dont like when a cue is way overpriced and not described properly and you are not supposed to say anything as that is bad form.
but friends or shills for the seller can come on and say what a great deal or price that is for the cue.
its an open ad and should have any comments allowed or no comments allowed.
but friends or shills for the seller can come on and say what a great deal or price that is for the cue.
its an open ad and should have any comments allowed or no comments allowed.
I pretty much buy cues only to play with, dealing directly with the maker...it's a custom cue, I want it custom TO ME. But that's me. I certainly understand the desire to collect cues and to purchase them on the secondary market...but I'm amazed at some cues and the prices the seller demands. I mean, come on...a plain jane cue, normal linen wrap, no ivory for $2k and up...? A house cue conversion for $3k? I know, I know, the market is the market. What frustrates me is seeing a cue that I KNOW sells brand new for $700 being advertised here for $1200 or more...and the forum rules forbid anyone from calling the seller out on it. You know there are newbies here that have no clue that will cash in their uncle's savings bonds to purchase it. Seems there must be a way to have a market based dialogue on valueation of cues without everyone getting butt-hurt and getting banned...If only positive compliments are allowed with no one being allowed to say, "hold on a minute...", then the secondary market can only be (artificially) driven up. As it is, the cues flip around 4-5 times, going up with each transaction and the music stops...the last buyer is stuck with a cue he paid 3 times retail for and can't unload. Then it's "PM me for price".
Or. It is buyer beware just like in every other market on the planet.
No one is walking around Target warning customers that they can get their lamp cheaper at Walmart.
Not to say that a consumer reports type thread might not be a bad thing.
Maybe there should be one that is a sticky where people can voice their objections to the way a product is presented.
I just see interjecting negativity into ads as a open ended invitation to dog someone. Who decides what's a problem worth wrecking a for sale ad?
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Not to take the conversation into a different direction but its not just about an inflated perception of what something should cost. As someone just getting back into to cue building I've dropped about 10k in the last month and am pretty close to having the basics covered. Its a pretty substantial investment just to get to a point where you could even make a product, let alone market it or create a functioning business.
But even with that upfront cost aside the actual raw cost of making a cue can get quite expensive.
Not counting your time you're going to put a good 150 into the most basic of cues. We're talking no rings, uneventful mid to low quality wood, low grade wrap, cheap shaft wood...etc...
So when the regulars who consistently turn out cues as a living start factoring in their own personal labor, expenses and the cost of building a nice cue I can see why some climb up over 700 bucks pretty quickly. There has to be a margin there.
With all the time that goes into cue making I wouldn't be surprised if some actually divided their margins by real hours and ended up shocked by how low their hourly wage really is.
But even with that upfront cost aside the actual raw cost of making a cue can get quite expensive.
Not counting your time you're going to put a good 150 into the most basic of cues. We're talking no rings, uneventful mid to low quality wood, low grade wrap, cheap shaft wood...etc...
So when the regulars who consistently turn out cues as a living start factoring in their own personal labor, expenses and the cost of building a nice cue I can see why some climb up over 700 bucks pretty quickly. There has to be a margin there.
With all the time that goes into cue making I wouldn't be surprised if some actually divided their margins by real hours and ended up shocked by how low their hourly wage really is.
I pretty much buy cues only to play with, dealing directly with the maker...it's a custom cue, I want it custom TO ME. But that's me. I certainly understand the desire to collect cues and to purchase them on the secondary market...but I'm amazed at some cues and the prices the seller demands. I mean, come on...a plain jane cue, normal linen wrap, no ivory for $2k and up...? A house cue conversion for $3k? I know, I know, the market is the market. What frustrates me is seeing a cue that I KNOW sells brand new for $700 being advertised here for $1200 or more...and the forum rules forbid anyone from calling the seller out on it. You know there are newbies here that have no clue that will cash in their uncle's savings bonds to purchase it. Seems there must be a way to have a market based dialogue on valueation of cues without everyone getting butt-hurt and getting banned...If only positive compliments are allowed with no one being allowed to say, "hold on a minute...", then the secondary market can only be (artificially) driven up. As it is, the cues flip around 4-5 times, going up with each transaction and the music stops...the last buyer is stuck with a cue he paid 3 times retail for and can't unload. Then it's "PM me for price".
My uncle didn't cash in the bond, so I did ! Back off.
Your heirs may be selling your wood at the big garage sale...then the cues will show up on AZ at 150% over market.

Seriously though, I appreciate the flip brigade and the basement cue makers society. It gives the buyers more to choose from, but if I want a PJ from a custom builder I probably should go direct, but then maybe some buyers don't want to wait.
I just hate seeing the jacked up sale posts always floating to the top, causing me to have to sift through flotsam b4 I find good stuff. How about a sub forum for 20 + pos itrader ? Just a number for example.
Jim
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Don't know if this is in the context of this thread.
I can't remember his name but the guy who used to do The Escrow Service here.
For $20, he pretty much saved me from losing $1800.00.
Was going to buy a Scruggs cue. He told me that it rolled and was in bad shape in several areas. The seller wasn't mad but he told me that he took it to a well known cue maker in CA where the cue got a high rating and it certainly didn't roll.
So who was lying to me. Kind of easy to figure that one out.
I have been pretty leery since.
I can't remember his name but the guy who used to do The Escrow Service here.
For $20, he pretty much saved me from losing $1800.00.
Was going to buy a Scruggs cue. He told me that it rolled and was in bad shape in several areas. The seller wasn't mad but he told me that he took it to a well known cue maker in CA where the cue got a high rating and it certainly didn't roll.
So who was lying to me. Kind of easy to figure that one out.
I have been pretty leery since.