Do manufacturers make money on a pool table?

[Baby PacMan]

I'm buying a new pool table in the future (an Olhausen), and was just wondering if they had decent margins of profit on each table. I see staggering differences in price, anywhere from about 1700 dollars for a baseline model to about 9 grand for the coveted Gold Crown. Why such extreme price differences?

Second, I've been reading here that pool is a dying sport. So why just slash the prices of pool tables and flood the market and homes with them. I'm sure a 1,000 dollar pool table that was the same quality of a GC or Diamond (if that's even possible) would bring a surge of interest in the sport. Especially when you consider other sports that are almost free compare to pool. Most parks have basketball courts, and I see many baseball diamonds where I'm at.

 

[Dead Crab]

Manufacturers of good pool tables have a problem: With reasonable care, their product lasts for 50+ years. So, they don't get much repeat business, and the used market is always flush with tables.

Tough business.

 

[OTB]

buy used........the market is flooded with them...........

 

[Cdryden]

Well, I think you will like you olhausen table, I love mine. Olhausen, Brunswick, and Diamond are all great tables and you can hardly go wrong with any of them. If you get a used olhausen make sure you get one with the accufast cushions.
And I agree with the above post, buy a used one thats been treated right. I bought mine when it was 15 years old and it looks brand new. People are amazed when I tell them my table is almost 20 years old now.

 

[Black-Balled]

...new pool table in the future
1...wondering if they had decent margins of profit on each table.
2...So why (not) just slash the prices of pool tables and flood the market and homes with them.
3..I'm sure a 1,000 dollar pool table that was the same quality of a GC or Diamond (if that's even possible) ...

You bet there is profit. In general, businesses exist to make$. No profit, no business.

I assume you are asking why the manufacturers don't do this. See next.

I am sure the manufacturers would like to be able to give top quality for bottom dollar. Not realistic though. Ya gets no Mercedes for Kia price.

 

[Mike in MN]

With Brunswick charging $10k for a Gold Crown V, there is no way they aren't making a few dollars with every one sold.

 

[Baby PacMan]

That's kinda I dunno...ghetto. There is this sport, and because it costs so much, everyone recommends you buy used. Meanwhile, you can go to the store get an official regulation basketball for 70 bucks and hit a local court for free. And people wonder why pool isn't popular.

 

[rackem]

Don't forget the tax you pay to have that local court. :idea2:

 

[ridinda9]

No , the pooltable manufacturers don't make a dime on new tables . Thats why they are listed as 301-(c) non-profit corporations . Of course , they would love to take their top quality tables , made with imported Italian one piece slates , top quality carved woods ,genuine leather, and tournament quality cloth , and dump them on the market for $1000/each . Oh , and by the way , they are currently seeking motivated , highly skilled volunteers (bring your own lunch ) to work in their manufacturing and distribution facilities.
You mentioned a price point of "about 9 grand for the coveted Gold Crown" , but state that you are buying an Olhousen. Be ready for more sticker shock - here in Fla , Olhausens start at 9 grand.
You're right about one thing though - more tables mean more future players . So instead of selfishly spending 9 grand on an Olhausen for your personal enjoyment , why not take that money , buy 18 Sportcraft tables from walmart , and donate them to your local rec centers and Boys&Girls clubs ?
That would take only 6,264 dollars , leaving you 2,700 dollars to spend on a used table for your home. It would give you such a warm glow knowing you did so much good !

 

[pooladdiction]

That's kinda I dunno...ghetto. There is this sport, and because it costs so much, everyone recommends you buy used. Meanwhile, you can go to the store get an official regulation basketball for 70 bucks and hit a local court for free. And people wonder why pool isn't popular.

You're kind of comparing apples to oranges here. Here's the similarities and differences. Yes, you can go to the store and buy an offical basketball for $70 and then go to a court and play for free. The reason the court is "free" is because it was paid for with tax payer dollars. No town(at least that I know of) has a pool hall funded with tax payer dollars. So, if we're going to make a comparisson of the two sports, let's keep some things constant. Playing at home. All of a sudden a used pool table and a stick is now about the same price as setting up a quality basketball hoop and a basketball. Ya see where I'm coming from?:wink:

 

[Baby PacMan]

No , the pooltable manufacturers don't make a dime on new tables . Thats why they are listed as 301-(c) non-profit corporations . Of course , they would love to take their top quality tables , made with imported Italian one piece slates , top quality carved woods ,genuine leather, and tournament quality cloth , and dump them on the market for $1000/each . Oh , and by the way , they are currently seeking motivated , highly skilled volunteers (bring your own lunch ) to work in their manufacturing and distribution facilities.
You mentioned a price point of "about 9 grand for the coveted Gold Crown" , but state that you are buying an Olhousen. Be ready for more sticker shock - here in Fla , Olhausens start at 9 grand.
You're right about one thing though - more tables mean more future players . So instead of selfishly spending 9 grand on an Olhausen for your personal enjoyment , why not take that money , buy 18 Sportcraft tables from walmart , and donate them to your local rec centers and Boys&Girls clubs ?
That would take only 6,264 dollars , leaving you 2,700 dollars to spend on a used table for your home. It would give you such a warm glow knowing you did so much good !

Wow, you're getting ripped off. I took a road trip to Seyberts (where I plan to buy my Olhausen), they gave me prices for what I tables I was interested in, the range was $1800-2200. I have a sportcraft right now, I plan to give it away when I get my new one.

 

[Black-Balled]

That's kinda I dunno...ghetto. There is this sport, and because it costs so much, everyone recommends you buy used. Meanwhile, you can go to the store get an official regulation basketball for 70 bucks and hit a local court for free. And people wonder why pool isn't popular.

I amtrying to be patient here.

Do you honestly think a $70 basketball is a better value than a $7k Diamond pool table?

I think you be realfu king wrong, if you contend it is.

 

[ridinda9]

You're kind of comparing apples to oranges here. Here's the similarities and differences. Yes, you can go to the store and buy an offical basketball for $70 and then go to a court and play for free. The reason the court is "free" is because it was paid for with tax payer dollars. No town(at least that I know of) has a pool hall funded with tax payer dollars. So, if we're going to make a comparisson of the two sports, let's keep some things constant. Playing at home. All of a sudden a used pool table and a stick is now about the same price as setting up a quality basketball hoop and a basketball. Ya see where I'm coming from?:wink:

Plenty of towns in Florida have pool tables in our youth centers/rec centers . We even have a pool table in our Youth detention facility. If your town doesn't have pool tables in it's rec centers , lobby for them . If your town doesn't have a youth rec center , lobby for that!

 

[realkingcobra]

That's kinda I dunno...ghetto. There is this sport, and because it costs so much, everyone recommends you buy used. Meanwhile, you can go to the store get an official regulation basketball for 70 bucks and hit a local court for free. And people wonder why pool isn't popular.

When YOU compare the cost of playing pool, owning your own pool table and all the above...to the cost of a basketball, it kind of makes me wonder how you missed out on the cost of SOMEONE paying to build that basketball court that you play on....as part of that game.

It's the thought process of people like yourself that the pool world needs to rid themselves of....THEN, pool would be much better off.

Glen

 

[ridinda9]

Wow, you're getting ripped off. I took a road trip to Seyberts (where I plan to buy my Olhausen), they gave me prices for what I tables I was interested in, the range was $1800-2200. I have a sportcraft right now, I plan to give it away when I get my new one.

Seybert's won't quote prices on their site - what model Olhausen can you get into for that kind of $$$ ?

 

[Baby PacMan]

I amtrying to be patient here.

Do you honestly think a $70 basketball is a better value than a $7k Diamond pool table?

I think you be realfu king wrong, if you contend it is.

This has nothing to do with value. This is nothing to do with depreciation or anything of that sort. It's simple, money. Which is easier to come by, 70 bucks or 7k? I think you be realfu king wrong, if you contend it is. Maybe pool would be more popular if it wasn't so expensive. All I am saying is if you could put a pool table in 60% of homes, maybe it would be a lot more popular. Because I know that what happen in my case.

I bought a sears special just to knock around on. We have a dining room in our house we bought recently, and I'm not one for formal dining. So we turned it into a pool room. I bought it thinking I would just play a few games everyone once and awhile. It didn't take long before I was playing it more than my forms entertainment (TV, video games), then my daughter started playing with me, she's only 7, then my fiancee. Now were hooked. I would have never thought about dropping 2 grand on a table, but after playing on my cheepie, I want a real table. Buying a real table would have never happen without me starting with the Sportcraft, it's what got me hooked. I never played pool much before buying one, but now that I have one, it's my game. I'm sure there are other people who would love pool also, but just never gave it a shot due to the circumstances of price, and having a place to play, like a house.

 

[Ken_4fun]

I have an Olhausen I bought new, I like it, but if was/am going to do it again, I would buy a used Gold Crown or Diamond table.

I prefer the Diamond (older ones with no writing on them) and as I understand the new GC have the pocket issue taken care of so it is smooth like the Diamond.

JMO

I wish you the best.

Ken

 

[ridinda9]

That's kinda I dunno...ghetto. There is this sport, and because it costs so much, everyone recommends you buy used. Meanwhile, you can go to the store get an official regulation basketball for 70 bucks and hit a local court for free. And people wonder why pool isn't popular.

or you can go to someplace that pays rent, lighting , insurance , staff ,related overhead , plus buys & maintains tables, stick two quarters in their table , and play . That's a huge bargain , and people ***** when it gets raised to 3 quarters.

 

[Baby PacMan]

When YOU compare the cost of playing pool, owning your own pool table and all the above...to the cost of a basketball, it kind of makes me wonder how you missed out on the cost of SOMEONE paying to build that basketball court that you play on....as part of that game.

It's the thought process of people like yourself that the pool world needs to rid themselves of....THEN, pool would be much better off.

Glen

I did. The cost is ZERO. Yes, ZERO. Ok, I'm from the inner city. Basketball courts are located at just about every school, park and even churches. Now, growing up as a child, we had to bring ONE thing; a basketball. The cost to play basketball is just the ball.

Of course, I know someone built the court, and took the cost unto themsleves. However, they are so plentiful, the cost is negligable. Pool isn't the same way. No one just flooded the city with pool tables so everyone can play, but that's what happen with basketball.

 

[realkingcobra]

I did. The cost is ZERO. Yes, ZERO. Ok, I'm from the inner city. Basketball courts are located at just about every school, park and even churches. Now, growing up as a child, we had to bring ONE thing; a basketball. The cost to play basketball is just the ball.

Of course, I know someone built the court, and took the cost unto themsleves. However, they are so plentiful, the cost is negligable. Pool isn't the same way. No one just flooded the city with pool tables so everyone can play, but that's what happen with basketball.

Then WHY do you want to play pool?...Just play basket ball instead! Because what you're asking, expecting, wanting....is for pool to be dropped to the same level as "Free" basket ball...so you can save YOUR money for the other things in life you want to spend it on.

Are you married?...that's not free! Do you have kids?...that's not free. Do you have a job?...do you WORK for FREE? Do you own a car?...that's not free. Do you get free food at the grocery store when you go shopping?...that's not free!

My advice to you....is move to another country...the one that everything is either cheap or FREE!

Glen