Cue Sales, Attention Buyers and Collectors
- Thread starter TATE
- Start date
You know, you got me thinking that the reason the lesser-priced cues are still strong (or stronger than their higher-end big brothers) may just be that that is where the new people entering the market always start. Maybe the high-ticket items are a little slow is because that is where the seasoned collectors go, and many of them have tired of the game. Maybe there is new blood!
The new guys will stair-step up the collecting ladder and inspire first the medium priced cues and then the monsters.
I'm holding Bushkas and waiting until they get there.
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It's a hobby for people who have some spare cash to mess around with.
I will say for me, so far, although cash intensive, overall it's been a relatively cheap hobby. Some cues I've lost on, but many were profitable. Overall I would say I've broken even except for maybe repair, selling and shipping costs and it's been a lot of fun, met some super people and learned some stuff along the way. Hard to match that in the hobby and activity world.
I will say for me, so far, although cash intensive, overall it's been a relatively cheap hobby. Some cues I've lost on, but many were profitable. Overall I would say I've broken even except for maybe repair, selling and shipping costs and it's been a lot of fun, met some super people and learned some stuff along the way. Hard to match that in the hobby and activity world.
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When I got back into pool about 3 years ago (after a decade hiatus), I decided I wanted a nice cue to play with since I could now afford it. After browsing the forum and playing with a few cues in my area I figured out exactly what I wanted. However, with the absence of prices on the sold listings, I couldn't get an idea of the price I should be paying. There were very few that had sold on ebay and not exactly the level of cue I had in mind. I don't mind paying market value, but I'm no sucker. It took months of asking and calling old friends to figure it out. This delay could have been alleviated by leaving the price. This would have certainly bolstered my confidence and I wouldn't be so hesitant to buy again.
Not trying to derail...this is a great conversation to read.
Hard to believe you've only been back for 3 years, you seem like a fixture here. What cue did you end up with?
Tasc hoppe. I started snooping around before I started back playing. This site sorta got me back into it.
Edit: It's actually been about 4 years...time seems to accelerate the older you get.
Edit: It's actually been about 4 years...time seems to accelerate the older you get.
That's no derail. That's exactly on point.
All markets are bolstered by comp sales. Like you said, people are way willing to pay fair market, nobody likes to get a bad deal. Its funny in pool, and really it permeates in all areas, where guys think sharing information is somehow bad for them.
If I can find several sales of Ginas price records, say for a 17C, and I can see them going a year ago for say, $1800, 6 months ago for $1900 and a few recent sales for $2,000, I'm way willing to pay $2100. Its how markets stair step. Imagine trying to buy a house and the realtor says its 650K and you ask what comparable houses have sold for and the realtor says that information is not available but here's an example of a guy asking $900K for the last 3 years.
I just don't think our big secrets help us in the long run.
Great example. I think it perpetuates itself too. I'm guilty. I have sold a few cues on here and deleted the price. Being relatively new to selling, I thought it was the right thing to do without really knowing why. I was just "following the crowd".
Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the fact that we get use and enjoyment out of these cues.
If you can sell something for what you paid for it or more, that's great, but did you really buy it as an investment? That might be something to tell the wife, but do we really believe that?
Jay
If you can sell something for what you paid for it or more, that's great, but did you really buy it as an investment? That might be something to tell the wife, but do we really believe that?
Jay
No, it was never as an investment. I bought the cues because I liked them and their history and wanted to put together an interesting collection.
The hustlers used to come in to the pool rooms when I was a kid and carry Gina's or Palmers and everybody would shake in their booties. I had one Gina Domino Titlist when I was in my 20's, everybody wanted to buy it and made a fuss about the cue - I was hooked.
Later on when I had the money to spend, I could finally pursue my interests. Cues are the only thing I've ever really been driven to collect at this level.
Palmers are fun to collect because you don't have to spend a million to get the most interesting cues. Many of them have that Balabushka quality about them. Imagine trying to collect 100 Balabushka's?
It's nice to know, however, that cues do have value and if you buy right you can get your money back (or most of it) at some stage if you like.
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On top of that, the sport is losing popularity and the number of cuemakers is increasing.
I'm not going to purport to speak for him, but I visit PFD Studios/Paul and Ellen Drexler from time to time and will give you my observation of their operation.
They appear to be flat-out busy. Whether it is to capacity or as busy as they were in 2004, I can't say, but he has alot of ongoing custom work that I see in progress. He has active orders and sketches everywhere and the shaft lathes are always humming.while Ellen is hard at work in her CNC room.
While he doesn't have a retail operation, it is not uncommon for other customers to stop by for tips, etc.
Paul did one custom cue for me in less than a month, a straightforward John Davis conversion, but his lead time in 2012 on my Model 20 tribute was 12 months and done in 15.
So I do agree that the sport is probably populated by more cuemakers than ever before and I would argue that this possibly contributes to a flood of new cues available with a downward effect on prices.
As for the loss in popularity of the game, that is lost on me. I can think back to when I was very very young and how the game of pool was so very fascinating. My only disappointment is the loss in popularity of straight pool, and of course, no more tuxedos.
Jay
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My mother gave me some advice as well.
I still have the Corvette I bought when I was 19, and I 50 now. One day, I said,"I am thinking about selling my vette, I have driven it for years." She asked me, "Do you need the money?", "No" I replied. Her advice was be careful when you price it because it will sell, and once it is gone, it is gone.
Same goes with cues. We don't need the money. Keep the ones that you cant replace, and buy a bargin dream cue if you can.
Ken