Ruthless said:
John Barton - Materials, Design, and Perfection in workmanship is what makes the difference in value of any product that you buy (Diamonds vs. Cubic Zirconia to Rolls Royce vs. Toyota).
Is it? I could point to many products that are way better than most Gucci or Prada bags and luggage - that is better materials, better design, and better workmanship (imo) and they only fetch a fraction of the price of the brand names.
I have to disagree on what "value" is if you mean to say that it is fully embodied in only materials, design, and workmanship.
I will say that I think value is when you get more than expected for your money or at the least exactly what it expected.
But I have a hard time nailing down "quality" and attaching value to it.
What is quality?
(read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance before you answer.)
The point of the book is that we all know quality when we see it but we do not know how to define it - only aspects of it because quality exists beyond us and therefore just is there to be recognized but is impossible to define.
Now this is kinda heavy but it relates back to Dale and his cues. What is value and quality in regards to his cues? Does the average person pick up one of his cues in the 3-500 dollar range and feel that it is "worth" it?
Quite honestly I have put $95 Fury cues in people's hands - at shows where the average player is somewhat clued in as to what good cues are and cost - and told them that it costs $500 and asked them to go hit some balls with it. And many times these decent players come back and tell me that it's damn good cue for the money.
Conversely I have also witnessed complete aversion to the cues when people find out that it is a $95 cue.
So I wonder what the quality/value relationship is in people's minds? I think we all have some instinctive knowledge of quality but we are also somewhat prejudiced by our knowledge (or lack therof) and social standing.
Don't really mean to go off on this whole quality/value thing and I understand that some of you have a super hard on for disparaging Dale, whether deserved or not. I find though that he, as a small cuemaker, is somewhat unique in the cue making business. He has created a nice niche for himself through direct sales and doesn't seem to care too much about the "collector" set or being "honored" at shows.
Perhaps he is the best model of how to make money as a custom production shop in the post-Japan cue market.
It seems as though he is providing a level of quality that his ebay customers find value in. And isn't that how it should be at the end of the day? A good product for a fair price.
. I figured it was not a big deal since I let Mark Thomas from MTC cue repair take it down to a pro taper. It still hit good but was not quite the same feel I am use to
. I looked around for a 314 radial pin with a silver ring to match my cue but could not find one. I then bought a blank 314 and called Dale up to see if I could send him the shaft to match the collar for me. Getting him to do it was like pulling teeth!
I advised him that the DPR was not to my liking and what should it matter to him since he already made the money on the sale of one. I just don't get what the big deal was, I think he was a little offended because he went into a pitch that he designed their programs and that they are now all being made in China. I don't know if that was BS or not but it is beside the point. I'm the customer and I know what I want. I was not asking for a hand out I was willing to pay for his work to match it. I finally said never mind and had Tom Coker do it for me. Up to that point I was completely happy with Dale.
