Demonstrator cue--good idea or folly?

jazznpool

jazznpool

Superior Cues--Unchalked!
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I have been talking to a few of the cuemakers whose cues I sell about making a very basic merry widow demonstration cue. I was thinking plain black phenolic collars and linen wrap. One shaft 13mm another 12.75mm. About 19.2-19.3oz. I am thinking this might be a good way for a well meant prospective buyer to test drive the cuemakers product without commiting to a cue buy in the dark. I would require a refundable deposit ($500) and limit the trial period to no more than 10 days. Keeping the demo cue would not be an option. Do you think this is a workable idea or folly? Thanks for your responses and best wishes for good health and cuemaking happiness in the new year.

Martin
 
Demo clubs have worked in the golf industry for years & have evolved into custom fitting.

Don't see how something similar, but would hurt in the pool world. It would at least give the customer somewhat of an idea & they could go from there.

Dependent upon both the customer & the seller they could exchange ideas by what the potential customer is feeling while test driving the cue. A cue could then be built or perhaps one might be on hand that would fit the customers needs.

Certainly a big step up from buying in the dark.
 
Wonderful idea

I think this is a wonderful idea and have tried to convince at least one "unknown" cuemaker to try this out.
 
Jazz, I was thinking that in most cases I'd pay shipping to the potential buyer and they would pay shipping back to me. If they made a cue purchase I would likely apply their shipping cost toward the cue. In all likelihood I would offer the demo cue to USA buyers, except perhaps in special cases. I'm searching for better ways to market custom cues and introduce people to what my cuemakers have to offer.

Martin


Jazz said:
Who's paying for the shipping? :D

Sorry, couldn't resist :D :D :D
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How about just getting extra shafts made from the cuemaker. Then you can screw the used shaft onto the cue so he can try it out without chalking the tip. This will work if you stock the cuemakers cues. If not then buying a lower end cue like you mentioned would work.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
cueman said:
How about just getting extra shafts made from the cuemaker. Then you can screw the used shaft onto the cue so he can try it out without chalking the tip. This will work if you stock the cuemakers cues. If not then buying a lower end cue like you mentioned would work.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Click to expand...

I think the worry there is that a $500 deposit isn't much incentive to return the cue when it costs $2k+! He wants something that isn't likely to walk away for $500 I think.
 
That is what I'm doing. If the potential buyer insist in trying that particular cue. I put my own used shaft and wrap the linen with serine ( cooking wrap?) so some what protects it. But it's possible because the potential buyer is in my pool hall. How ever in Martin's scenario if the buyer willing to try the Demo Cue that's a great idea.
cueman said:
How about just getting extra shafts made from the cuemaker. Then you can screw the used shaft onto the cue so he can try it out without chalking the tip. This will work if you stock the cuemakers cues. If not then buying a lower end cue like you mentioned would work.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Click to expand...
 
jazznpool said:
I have been talking to a few of the cuemakers whose cues I sell about making a very basic merry widow demonstration cue. I was thinking plain black phenolic collars and linen wrap. One shaft 13mm another 12.75mm. About 19.2-19.3oz. I am thinking this might be a good way for a well meant prospective buyer to test drive the cuemakers product without commiting to a cue buy in the dark. I would require a refundable deposit ($500) and limit the trial period to no more than 10 days. Keeping the demo cue would not be an option. Do you think this is a workable idea or folly? Thanks for your responses and best wishes for good health and cuemaking happiness in the new year.

Martin
Click to expand...

I used to carry a plain jane Birdseye Q with me & let people shoot with it at tournaments & leagues. It did get me a few orders, but in a very short time I had to refinish it. Scratches, dents & ever a cigarette burn. If you grew up in a pool hall like I did, you found out quickly, that none of those guys had any money. So I didn't sell many, that way. Things must not have changed that much, because I constantly see posts for "the best pool Q, UNDER $100- $200 or some other rediculous price range...JER
 
jazznpool said:
I have been talking to a few of the cuemakers whose cues I sell about making a very basic merry widow demonstration cue. I was thinking plain black phenolic collars and linen wrap. One shaft 13mm another 12.75mm. About 19.2-19.3oz. I am thinking this might be a good way for a well meant prospective buyer to test drive the cuemakers product without commiting to a cue buy in the dark. I would require a refundable deposit ($500) and limit the trial period to no more than 10 days. Keeping the demo cue would not be an option. Do you think this is a workable idea or folly? Thanks for your responses and best wishes for good health and cuemaking happiness in the new year.

Martin
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion. Get the customers order by stressing a full refund within 10 days after receipt. If the customer doesn't like the cue for some reason, return the cue "in like new condition" (which should be stressed) within 10 days for a full refund. If you do your quality job, then you shouldn't have any problems.

The only problem I can see with this, is if the cue is out of the ordinary and would be hard to sell to someone else.

Barry
 
Barry, I appreciate your suggestion. However, unless a cue has defective workmanship, I cannot let someone put 10 days of use on a cue and return a used cue to me for their dough back. I'd be out of business fast! :eek: With rare exception, I don't allow anybody to test hit with my new cues! I like to sell a cue that is completely unchalked new. I'm trying to find a simple way for the potential buyer to "test drive" a cue that is representative of what my cuemakers make. I decided to go ahead with the idea with 2 cuemakers right now so I'll see how it goes down the road. Thanks.

Martin


Barry C. said:
Just a suggestion. Get the customers order by stressing a full refund within 10 days after receipt. If the customer doesn't like the cue for some reason, return the cue "in like new condition" (which should be stressed) within 10 days for a full refund. If you do your quality job, then you shouldn't have any problems.

The only problem I can see with this, is if the cue is out of the ordinary and would be hard to sell to someone else.

Barry
Click to expand...
 
Barry C. said:
Just a suggestion. Get the customers order by stressing a full refund within 10 days after receipt. If the customer doesn't like the cue for some reason, return the cue "in like new condition" (which should be stressed) within 10 days for a full refund. If you do your quality job, then you shouldn't have any problems.

The only problem I can see with this, is if the cue is out of the ordinary and would be hard to sell to someone else.

Barry
Click to expand...

I tell every person that I sell a cue to to test drive it for a week or so and if it's not your cup of tea then fine, return it and I'll give your money back. Every body has their own tastes in what they like in the feel in a cue and I would rather take it back and clean up than have someone bad mouthing the hit.

Been doing this since I first started building cues about 15 years ago.

Dick
 
jazznpool said:
I have been talking to a few of the cuemakers whose cues I sell about making a very basic merry widow demonstration cue. I was thinking plain black phenolic collars and linen wrap. One shaft 13mm another 12.75mm. About 19.2-19.3oz. I am thinking this might be a good way for a well meant prospective buyer to test drive the cuemakers product without commiting to a cue buy in the dark. I would require a refundable deposit ($500) and limit the trial period to no more than 10 days. Keeping the demo cue would not be an option. Do you think this is a workable idea or folly? Thanks for your responses and best wishes for good health and cuemaking happiness in the new year.

Martin
Click to expand...

Great idea Martin
I would say for those that core on a regular basis, The overall cues from a certain cue maker would be pretty consistent with hit and playability, maybe not exact but in the neighborhood, where the ones don't core may vary a little more. Nice thread.
 
Martin, I know that you rep for several different cuemakers, I was just wondering if they all core their cues? Would each cuemaker make a demo cue in the event that they don't all core their cues?

By the way I got my cue from Joey and I really, really like the hit. PM me the next time you plan on going to Hard Times and I'll stop by.
Charlie
 
It's one thing for a cuemaker to fully guarantee a cue.
I don't think a dealer can do it the same way...
 
Sheldon said:
It's one thing for a cuemaker to fully guarantee a cue.
I don't think a dealer can do it the same way...
Click to expand...

So true Sheldon, especially because it could wind up in a lot of hands. I did go thru this once a long time ago, I won't mention names, It came back after about 6 months for a new shaft, on me of course, a few months later it came back again, all beat up for more free repairs. I said thank you and ran the cue thru the band saw. Come to find out, it made it's way to a lot of people but absolutely no care was given. I know for a fact Martin is way above anything like that.
 
martin, i think this is a good idea. in some cases, there'll be enough references that you wouldn't have to worry.....LIKE ME FOR INSTANCE :):):)

i'd make the loaner cues very plain and very ugly:):),,,but with all the required quality that the cuemaker puts into his work where "hit" is concerned.

in other circumstances, i'd make the deposit for considerably more than what the cue is worth, because if anyone decides to keep the cue, it's still a hassle for the cuemaker to build another loaner replacement.

it might also be a nice idea to have the cuemaker use one or two different woods in the nose.

ed young loaned me a cue with a paduuk nose. i was quite enlightened about the wood's hitting properties. another cuemaker let me hit with a full bocote. after 3 or 4 cuemakers told me how much they loved bocote, i was glad i got to try it,,,,,cuz i hated it!!!
 
$500 deposit.

1. If the cue is not returned in such and such time, the $500 goes to the cuemaker, minus possible small expenses?? to the dealer, and the cuemaker makes another plain jane and considers that a sale.

2. If the cue comes back with a problem that requires it to be sent back to the cuemaker for repair before it can be loaned to another prospective buyer, $350 of the deposit is returned, and $150 is sent to the cuemaker with the cue for repair. (or $400/$100, whatever cuemaker and dealer think is fair)

3. The buyer signs the form, any finish scratches, marks, shaft dings, etc are noted on the form he signed. The form says the buyer has looked over the cue and agrees with what is detailed regarding the condition of the cue.

4. The cost of the borrow is $20. If the cue comes back with no problems, $480 is returned. If the buyer buys a cue made by that cuemaker from that dealer, the $20 is credited towards the purchase ofcourse. In other cases, the $20 is to cover incidental expences such as shipping, and possible shaft tune up by the cuemaker every so often.

Just my thoughts,
Kelly
 
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