Cue rental poll thread

Would you pay a subscription fee of $50.00 a month to rent higher end production and custom cues

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 8.2%

  • No

    Votes: 45 91.8%
  • Total voters
    49
  • Poll closed .
Nyquil

Nyquil

Well-known member
I am just curious if people in our community would be willing to pay a subscription fee to get access to rent out high end production and custom cues. Predators-Mezz-Tasc's-Tonkin's Carmelis etc. Shipping is expensive and the cues are obviously as well. At 50.00 a month that should be a decent place to start with enough revenue to make this potentially viable.

The state I live in has ZERO cue dealers that have anything close to decent. So I have burned thru cash rolling the dice on cues and ended up selling a few this last year at a loss due to me not loving the hit. I would be interested in maybe throwing down some cash and waiting on a Tasc but I would like to shoot one first. Interested to see if others would pay for this service. Maybe if there is enough people willing someone will open a cue rental business. I for one would love this option. I know pool dawg has a 60 day guarantee but a lot cues sell out quick and customs are not really an option I would prefer to rent before I buy and see what I like vs dislike.
 
This was an idea kicked around a few years ago. It never drew much interest then and likely not now.
People that have top end cues don’t want to sell, lend or rent their cues. The concept requires a large
inventory of cues encompassing a variety of cue makers and shipping nowadays is more risk prone
than ever before. Cargo trains carrying Mail are being broken into and that includes packages by UPS,
and Fed Ex. The USPS is not without its own problems with slow delivery. And the question of damage
allegations and denials that can arise. And then there is the risk of confiscation if there is any ivory in any
of the cues because it involves interstate commerce. Despite that the cues aren’t being sold, moving cues
around can be misconstrued as sales being consummated. There are so many problems if a cue doesn’t
show up because the delivery was intercepted and the nuisance of recovering the cue is just aggravation
waiting to happen. And lastly, if you don’t have the right cue makers, then you wind up with cues not being
requested and a long waiting list for some of the others. $50 doesn’t even come close to covering start up
costs and can be seen as a waste of money if you can’t get the cues you want when you want them. It would
be nice to go to a pool hall where you could rent a top end cue, for say $40-60, and test it there. The cues don’t
leave and you can confirm it wasn’t damaged when returned to the front desk but you get to play with the cue.
That could work but people would want to rent cues for $10-20 and that just doesn’t work. You have to charge
a lot to make this profitable. If you rented a $7k Hercek or Searing, or say a nice Tim Scruggs, you’d need to rent
it a lot to make it worthwhile and the more use involves more risk of minor damage to the cue’s finish, etc. Nope,
you have to charge a lot, like the gun ranges in Las Vegas where you can rent and shoot machine guns, that ain’t
cheap. But how often do you do that? If you want to play with lots of different cues, you gotta spend time in the
better pool halls and make acquaintances with lots of pool players. That’s how I learned what I like and purchased.
 
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I like the idea, I guess my concern would be what condition the cues would be in. I definitely agree that dropping a week's pay to see if you might like something is a tall order and my local cue dealer doesn't have the broadest selection, nor a facility to test the cues. This service does something similar with guitar effects pedals:

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FWIW, their used prices are not bargains. I definitely agree there needs to be a better way to test cues. If I bought a cue and it wasn't good I'd send it back but I would feel like a douche buying 5 cues with the intention of sending back 4.
 
Bavafongoul said:
This was an idea kicked around a few years ago. It never drew much interest then and likely not now.
People that have top end cues don’t want to sell, lend or rent their cues. The concept requires a large
inventory of cues encompassing a variety of cue makers and shipping nowadays is more risk prone
than ever before. Cargo trains carrying Mail are being broken into and that includes packages by UPS,
and Fed Ex. The USPS is not without its own problems with slow delivery. And the question of damage
allegations and denials that can arise. And then there is the risk of confiscation if there is any ivory in any
of the cues because it involves interstate commerce. Despite that the cues aren’t being sold, moving cues
around can be misconstrued as sales being consummated. There are so many problems if a cue doesn’t
show up because the delivery was intercepted and the nuisance of recovering the cue is just aggravation
waiting to happen. And lastly, if you don’t have the right cue makers, then you wind up with cues not being
requested and a long waiting list for some of the others. $50 doesn’t even come close to covering start up
costs and can be seen as a waste of money if you can’t get the cues you want when you want them. It would
be nice to go to a pool hall where you could rent a top end cue, for say $40-60, and test it there. The cues don’t
leave and you can confirm it wasn’t damaged when returned to the front desk but you get to play with the cue.
That could work but people would want to rent cues for $10-20 and that just doesn’t work. You have to charge
a lot to make this profitable. If you rented a $7k Hercek or Searing, or say a nice Tim Scruggs, you’d need to rent
it a lot to make it worthwhile and the more use involves more risk of minor damage to the cue’s finish, etc. Nope,
you have to charge a lot, like the gun ranges in Las Vegas where you can rent and shoot machine guns, that ain’t
cheap. But how often do you do that? If you want to play with lots of different cues, you gotta spend time in the
better pool halls and make acquaintances with lots of pool players. That’s how I learned what I like and purchased.
Click to expand...
All valid points. For me it's a bummer pool is dead where I live for the most part. Almost every place that has opened shuts down within 2 years. In Utah we have pretty strict liquor laws still, not sure if that is part of the problem, but it's hard to get a liquor license. We have no good mechanics either. My diamond mechanic lives in CO. There is one spot that seems to be picking up traction I have only been there once since I got my table at home. Probably time for me to dust off my case and head down. I wish the place sold cues but they just have tables and drinks at least currently. I did hear of some cue conventions I think in Vegas that happen every now and then. I definitely want to go to one of those.
 
At one time around 2013 someone put together about 6 custom cue makers that all donated a cue and I think JB Cases donated a case and we shipped them around the country so we could all test each cue. It was really nice to do and was much appreciated. Ot sure what ever happened to the cues. Someone that is better with the search function here should be able to find it. I think each person wrote a review about the cues.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk
 
Nyquil said:
All valid points. For me it's a bummer pool is dead where I live for the most part. Almost every place that has opened shuts down within 2 years. In Utah we have pretty strict liquor laws still, not sure if that is part of the problem, but it's hard to get a liquor license. We have no good mechanics either. My diamond mechanic lives in CO. There is one spot that seems to be picking up traction I have only been there once since I got my table at home. Probably time for me to dust off my case and head down. I wish the place sold cues but they just have tables and drinks at least currently. I did hear of some cue conventions I think in Vegas that happen every now and then. I definitely want to go to one of those.
Click to expand...
If you want a great cue, look for used Bob Owen cues for sale or call Bob. See if he has any cues underway
that aren’t committed yet. Personally, I’d just have him build a cue and wait for your present to arrive. It would
admittedly take longer than you’d like but you’ll wind up with a cue that will make you happy the rest of your life.
 
I wouldn't take the risk involved in all the shipping. You need to go to some events that have dealers and hit some. Or just ask people that have a cue you like to try it. I've done it a thousand times and have always got to try one out. I don't see the rental deal ever working out myself. Too many risks as far as cue loss/damage and all the bs that would entail.
 
So many reasons Not to do this as mentioned in all the above posts. I would not let anyone play with one of my customs unless I am present, and even then - I just do not do that- how does someone reimburse you for a $3,000 cue that they just dented the finish on the butt? A proper refinish and needed rewrap is several hundred minimum - IF - you can get your custom resigned by the original maker, or you lose much of the value and it is no longer original in every respect. It is one of those luxuries either you can afford it or you cannot.

I had been playing pool since I was 10, did not buy my first true custom from the maker Richard Black until I was 49- sometimes very nice things are worth the wait.
 
Agreed too risky to lose a cue or damage it in shipping or other people not taking care of it. I think you would be losing money doing this. Also I considered, what if they don 't return it? Are you taking their bank info and charging them for it?
 
Klink said:
At one time around 2013 someone put together about 6 custom cue makers that all donated a cue and I think JB Cases donated a case and we shipped them around the country so we could all test each cue. It was really nice to do and was much appreciated. Ot sure what ever happened to the cues. Someone that is better with the search function here should be able to find it. I think each person wrote a review about the cues.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Recall that, but never heard end of story.

Today the USPS is struggling in many area of country.

Think the only safe was is USPS EXPRESS MAIL, Fully insured.

Your looking at $100.00 minimum per package.
 
Harley’s Action Billiards in Jacksonville FL had a nice idea in the 80s. Rental cues at the counter.
Nothing collectible but nothing cheap. I remember Meuccis were $2 on your total table time..
...Joss was $5.....there were other brands....it was perfect for a player who was looking to step up.

I can’t picture a market for collector cues....I’m not shipping mine anywhere.
 
pt109 said:
Harley’s Action Billiards in Jacksonville FL had a nice idea in the 80s. Rental cues at the counter.
Nothing collectible but nothing cheap. I remember Meuccis were $2 on your total table time..
...Joss was $5.....there were other brands....it was perfect for a player who was looking to step up.

I can’t picture a market for collector cues....I’m not shipping mine anywhere.
Click to expand...

I remember that. I usually played at little davids place because there was some easy/fun one pocket games but I do remember Harley rented cues. Is he still alive? Last time I saw him he was playing pool while in a rolling chair due to some muscle spasms he was having. I thought it was a hustle because Harley had a million different hustles, but I found out later it was true.
 
Z-Nole said:
I remember that. I usually played at little davids place because there was some easy/fun one pocket games but I do remember Harley rented cues. Is he still alive? Last time I saw him he was playing pool while in a rolling chair due to some muscle spasms he was having. I thought it was a hustle because Harley had a million different hustles, but I found out later it was true.
Click to expand...
I hope he’s still with us....Harley was as much fun as Townsend to be around.
 
pt109 said:
Harley’s Action Billiards in Jacksonville FL had a nice idea in the 80s. Rental cues at the counter.
Nothing collectible but nothing cheap. I remember Meuccis were $2 on your total table time..
...Joss was $5.....there were other brands....it was perfect for a player who was looking to step up.

I can’t picture a market for collector cues....I’m not shipping mine anywhere.
Click to expand...
In the 1990s there was a pool hall in downtown Denver - Wynkoop Brewery or something like that name and you could rent a cue there- I believe they had Schon cues that rented for about $2 or so per hour. I remember doing that when I traveled to Denver on business.
 
mikemosconi said:
In the 1990s there was a pool hall in downtown Denver - Wynkoop Brewery or something like that name and you could rent a cue there- I believe they had Schon cues that rented for about $2 or so per hour. I remember doing that when I traveled to Denver on business.
Click to expand...
Yeah...Schon about the limit for a rental cue...great players.

I recall meeting Barry Szamboti at a show....I talked about getting my Gus refinished. He gave me a business card and told me to wait a month to call him....then maybe I could ship it down...I told him I wasn’t shipping his father’s cue anyplace....when he was ready, I’d drive down. He grinned and told me to give the card back...wrote his cell phone number on it....he liked the respect I showed.
Gotta a feeling you’re like that, Mike.
 
pt109 said:
Harley’s Action Billiards in Jacksonville FL had a nice idea in the 80s. Rental cues at the counter.
Nothing collectible but nothing cheap. I remember Meuccis were $2 on your total table time..
...Joss was $5.....there were other brands....it was perfect for a player who was looking to step up.

I can’t picture a market for collector cues....I’m not shipping mine anywhere.
Click to expand...

Same concept was utilized at Jillians in Kendall Fl around the same time, maybe a little later. Wasn't into cues so I don't know which or how much...probably a basic two piece with four points. I'd imagine that they made a few extra bucks after cost, maintenance, and a occasional broken or stolen.
 
It just occurred to me that since the shaft is the main determinant of playability, you could just ship shafts and also offer a generic butt. I need to figure out how a cue hits, not inspect the inlay.
 
I just don't see the point. Support local cue makers or get out of the basement long enough to try some other people's cues. Once you find "the one" (which can be any cue, no matter the price) there's not much need to go chasing waterfalls. If you subscribe for 6 months, you have spent more than enough to get a decent production cue or something on the used market.
 
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