Cue Raffle Values

R

Renegade_56

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Let me start by saying I love the raffles. It gives me and alot of others a chance to own high end cues that we would likely never purchase otherwise.

What I don't know though is how the prices are set. In general, are the raffle amount totals a fair indication of the true market values of the cues?

I see some that I think are cheap, others that seem too high, often by makers I never heard of, and sometimes it appears the seller is flat out trying to move a cue for much more than he could likely get in a straight sale.

So how do you guys decide which raffles to participate in? I see a few on here that have had no interest shown at all, while others fill quickly. Maybe because the seller in question is new, or bad rep from previous transactions?

Where can I get info as to the values of these cues, or it basically (as far as collectibles go) that they are worth what someone is willing to pay?
 
I haven't been here too long but have played in about 7-8 raffles or so and they are very addicting. It was one of the reasons I became a member. The first raffle I chose to play was for a Predator BK2 and I remember saying "Man, I really really want that..." (This was right after I purchased and Ikon 1 player) so I bought 3 spots for 30 and 1 week later it was full.

I logged in and asked who won because no one posted and it was me!!!!! Lucky Number 36!
From then I was hooked.

I choose what raffles I play now by value, number of spots offered and sometimes how full the raffle is.

Im always trying to get at least 1 spot esp, if the cue is a Gina/SW/Tasc/anything of that value. Im a huge ivory sucker so I usually get spots in any cues that have ivory in it, and of course I usually get spots when it's pretty cheap ie: 3-6dollars a spot, 15-20 for 3 spots etc. I mean thas a half tank of gas for most people (gas is $3.45 out here in cali:angry:) and you could get a nice cue!

Start buying raffle spots! We need more people! GO GO GO GO!
 
I do believe that there are many raffles that are hyperinflated. I guess some people think that if you spread the gouging among a bunch of people it isn't as bad, but some of these raffles still fill so the market is there for them.

There has been Justis raffles where the case would sell on the market for $550 and the raffle went for $800. I've seen some Southwests be hundreds more than the market.

I guess if it fills then the price was set correctly, or at least close enough to correct.

I have run two raffles and I have tried to take fees and shipping into account when pricing, but that is all. I set my price at what I would sell it for individually then add 4% for paypal and $20 for shipping. Not everyone does that, but if that works for them more power to them.
 
People People People, just like in anything if you don't like it don't enter the Raffle. A seller can set any price that he wants, there is no guide or standards, Raffles are a way for anyone to sell a cue and make more than they paid for it in most cases. Is this unfair, Unethical, Unreasonable, or just out right stealing, I do think so as long as the raffle is run honestly where anyone who buys a spot can win. Outside of that who's business is it what the cue is actually worth, because some one is going to get a great deal for much less than the cue is actually worth.

Now to be clear I have never run a Raffle, and I doubt that I will in the future, but I have bought spots in them and I even Won once. I think if you feel like you are getting screwed or that it is unfair in anyway that you should not participate. I suppose it is kinda like the lottery you can buy Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars worth of Tickets and never win a dime, but if you get a Southwest for a $50 or $60 dollar investment I doubt you will have any complaints.

JIMO
 
The op was not complaining, it was inquiring. Basically, what is considered proper ettiquette, because for some unknown to me reason, there are raffles that come up that appear to me to be as good a deal as any other, yet no one bids, I still don't know why. The other part of the op was where to find values and such so I don't have to ask stupid questions, and JudgeDredd hooked me up with that.
 
wow all this over something you can just say NO to?

Howdy everyone,I cannot afford the big names BUT if I could I would love to own an original GUS,or any such names! but I pay the lady and takes my chances!!!!!
Please don't bad mouth let's just pass or play>(period)
I know of 1 person who almost quit raffleing (and once did) because of all the crazy talk it reminds me of the PC Police if you say something wron out of just not knowing you have to apologize to the whole world as you may have uspae someone ANYONE!
Man I used to ne on this push for hours a night and if they ever come up with a lifetime subscription rate I will be 1st in line please no flames or condemnation from the moderators I know this is the wrong place to say this but man-o-man I am upset
I PROMISE this is it I will keep my thots (good or bad) to myself after this PM
John Baker
aka
DirtyIrish
oh yeah one of my hreatest thrills was getting greenies now I guess no one gives them out anymore oh well it's only pride
 
createatks

As you can see my Account Info I just joined AZ... Raffle is the initial reason that i joined AZ, its fun and i think worth of time and excitment.

Honestly who care about the price is cheap or expensive for the actual item, because in other forum for selling/buying threads a lot of their price also didnt match the actual price. One thing im sure if you join the raffle you could get much much cheaper price than you buy it in any other forum / threads as the most people will only pick 1-8 spots the most.

I suggest only raffle the item that u love or like.. Good item sometimes didnt bring you a good feeling but for owning the item you love always make your feeling explode... YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LETS FILL IN THE BLANK....................
 
I agree that some seem high and others low, but generally the raffles I've looked at (for cues anyway) seem a little on the high side of what the cue would go for in a straight sale. Frankly, I think it should. Running a raffle is a much bigger pain than starting a for sale thread and bumping it 'til it sells. I've not run one but it seems like it is a lot more work, keeping track of who has what number, updating it after every entry, PM's back and forth especially when trying to get all the funds in. And let's face it, if you are looking to get a good cue on the cheap by getting lucky in a drawing, you pay a little vig for the chance.
 
Personally I like to see a cue selling high as to what people think it should sell for at this time. By at this time I mean most people will blame the economy to get a cue, or anything, for pennies on the dollar. I'd rather mine or anyone else's cue sell for what it's for what it's really worth instead of having to take a knock on it's value. I know that most of us are trying to make ends met, so we have to give up some of the luxuries so we can afford the staples. As for the true value of any cue, any cue dealer, builder or even the most knowledgeable pool pro can state the original sale price and what they think it's worth, but as to what it would bring right now is left up to the mass's.

To Renegade, the only stupid question is the one that's left unasked.

Personally I try to live by these words, I emphasize try.
"Better to be thought a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt". Mark Twain
 
Thanks for all the great responses. And wouldn't ya know it, the same day I inquire about raffles is the very day I actually win my 1st one! I love it!
You all make great points, so who cares if someone gets a little more for a cue, especially in this economy. More power to em then.

As for the OP, I don't want anyone to think I was complaining about raffle spot prices, what I was asking, without pointing to any specific threads, are why some just get no participation at all. Could seller location, new membership, etcc,,,,,,,,thwart participation? I personally have been waiting till I see the pros on here buy spots, before I jump in, just in case I overlook something about the cue that hurts it's value.
 
Guys if you are only paying 15 or 20 bucks for a spot and you win does it really matter what the owner of the cue is making on it??

15-20 bucks for a custom cue is a good deal no matter how you slice.

If you feel owner of the raffle is making an unfair profit in your opinion dont take a slot out.
I dont think anybody should be uncomfortable with a raffle that is near the value of the cue whether it be high or low.

Course if somebody wants 20 a slot for a Sears cue. Well that could be a problem. Perhaps drug related.
 
Thanks Sev, and I agree, but the second part of my last post is really what I want to know. There are a couple of raffles currently up that fit this bill.
 
I appreciate everybody who participates in my raffles. But, I'll tell you all right now, if you haven't ran one, you have no idea how much work is involved. Honestly I'd MUCH rather just sell a cue for a few bucks less than to spend as much time as necessary on the pc for a raffle. I personally think most raffles I've seen on here are within the range appropriate for the value of the cues/cases raffled etc...
 
my .02...

i feel there should be a "standard" ive been in a good bita raffles now and some i feel are over priced but like others said, your getting alot for alittle so i overlook a slightly overpriced one... also, the 56 spot ones..those are garbage, and rarely fill...

i feel raffles would fill faster and be much more successfull if the following were met..

-46 spot-megaball...thats a must for me...
-new cues atleast 20% off retail
-used cues should be raffled at normal to high market value..this accounts for paypal and shipping fees, altho if you think about it, its the same price as selling outright. 3.5 % off all the little payments is the same as 3.5% off the 1 big payment..i think they should be priced at what you would take for the cue realistically if sold to 1 person..
-must offer multiple spot discount

raffles going for retail price is absolutely ridiculous, i think people abuse the raffles and try to make a 9-5 outta it... ive seen way too many raffles where the cue can be bought brand new for 500 but the raffles pulling in 550 used bc it retails at 600..not cool...

it pretty much comes down to tho, if you dont like it, dont perticipate...its that simple...

there was a guy raffleing off brand new cues at retail there for awhile, it didnt last long...people caught on, he didnt even have the cues, was ordering them after the raffle was done.. that to me wasnt right...
 
jt's06sti said:
i feel there should be a "standard" ive been in a good bita raffles now and some i feel are over priced but like others said, your getting alot for alittle so i overlook a slightly overpriced one... also, the 56 spot ones..those are garbage, and rarely fill...

i feel raffles would fill faster and be much more successfull if the following were met..

-46 spot-megaball...thats a must for me...
-new cues atleast 20% off retail
-used cues should be raffled at normal to high market value..this accounts for paypal and shipping fees, altho if you think about it, its the same price as selling outright. 3.5 % off all the little payments is the same as 3.5% off the 1 big payment..i think they should be priced at what you would take for the cue realistically if sold to 1 person..
-must offer multiple spot discount

raffles going for retail price is absolutely ridiculous, i think people abuse the raffles and try to make a 9-5 outta it... ive seen way too many raffles where the cue can be bought brand new for 500 but the raffles pulling in 550 used bc it retails at 600..not cool...

it pretty much comes down to tho, if you dont like it, dont perticipate...its that simple...

there was a guy raffleing off brand new cues at retail there for awhile, it didnt last long...people caught on, he didnt even have the cues, was ordering them after the raffle was done.. that to me wasnt right...
Click to expand...

56 spot raffles allow people to buy spots at a lower cost.
20% off retail? You know, most dealers only get cues at 20-30% off right?
I don't make a 9-5 out of running raffles, but if I did, what would be wrong with that as long as people were satisfied with what I was offering and how I offered it?

I don't understand sometimes....
 
i participated in ur raffle bud, i wasnt talking about you..im saying the ones that are trying to get retail price for a cue..

i knew id be takin wrong and shouldnt of said anything...your raffles are fine, i didnt say any names and will say raffles have been much better than a few months ago...

love the raffles, and yes they are addicting... sorry if i was took wrong in first post
 
Last edited:
To answer the OP's question about why some raffles don't fill, the reasons probably fall into two categories usually. Either the asking price is way out of line or the per unit entry fee is high. There was a high dollar cue being raffled recently that didn't fill. But let's face it, if a spot is say close to $100 there are way fewer people that are willing to participate at all, even if the value is reasonable. I mean most people that are willing to put down a dollar on a lottery ticket might spend $5, $10,or $20 if the prize gets big enough. But if the cost of playing all of a sudden is more than $50 or $75 a lot of people just won't play.

That's a lot of money for a long shot to most people. Not many folks will go to Vegas and walk into a casino to put $100 down on one spin of the wheel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top