Explain This to Me...

[realkingcobra]

Let me add on more economic item here...

Glen could reduce his wait times by charging more for his cues. That would make him more money per cue and shorten the wait times (and probably the size of the wait list) for those who want his cues so much and sooner that they'd pay more. The marketplace uses such peaceful ways to fix such things.


Jeff Livingston

But yes, I could thin out the waiting list buy charging more for my services when it comes to working on pool tables, but I don't really feel that's a fair way to decide who's tables I work on, based on who can affoerd me and who can't....so I charge what I feel is fair for the work I do...and leave it ar that....I know, how un-American of me to think that way:grin:

 

[chefjeff]

Hmmmm...cues? Sorry, but I don't build cues...LOL

Sorry...I knew I shouldn't have used a name coming from a quoted post. I was going to take it out before submitting the post, but noooooooo!, I had to post with only one cup o' coffee in me.

Change, "Glen" to "any cuemaker with a waiting list."

Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

But yes, I could thin out the waiting list buy charging more for my services when it comes to working on pool tables, but I don't really feel that's a fair way to decide who's tables I work on, based on who can affoerd me and who can't....so I charge what I feel is fair for the work I do...and leave it ar that....I know, how un-American of me to think that way:grin:

That is subjective, too. It isn't just a buyer who chooses; producers choose motivations for themselves, too. Having a long list hanging around one's neck for years is a choice (one I wouldn't make in a million years, but that's me).

My favorite cues I ever bought were the Mizeraks at KMart. I'd get mad cuz I'd have to visit 2 or 3 KMarts (oh, the time that took!) to be able to match up the few good butts with the few good shafts, but when that was done, I'd have one hell of nice cue for under $30. Good joint, good shaft and a decent butt. I won a lot of money with those cues and my subjective value was that I could to the bathroom and never worry about my stick being robbed or lost (both happened) cuz I could just head on down to KMart and buy another! Kinda like Bik lighters.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Maniac]

This is the greatest cue post EVER. Thank you for the rest of your life.

I rather enjoyed that post myself...tried to give him rep, but had to spread some around first!!!

Maniac

 

[jburkm002]

The only issue with this thread is I keep reading about cue makers. Not cue makers that are the issue. Not cue makers that are good to work with. Actually there have been a few good posts about specific cue makers. Every now and then a post will go up about a bad experience with a cue maker. Even in those post you rarely find others who have had issues with that cue maker. There really isn't enough info to go on. So you have to wait on hold for 30 minutes with a company. You tell everyone that company sucks. They may have an average wait time under a minute. You were an exception. You don't know about the other 10,000 calls that were handle without a wait time. You had a bad experience. Cue makers have bad customers. It happens all the time in the service industry.

 

[kvinbrwr]

Let me add on more economic item here...

Glen could reduce his wait times by charging more for his cues. That would make him more money per cue and shorten the wait times (and probably the size of the wait list) for those who want his cues so much and sooner that they'd pay more. The marketplace uses such peaceful ways to fix such things.


Jeff Livingston

Jeff

For sure Searing, Szam, Hercek, SouthWest and any builder with a 10 year or longer waiting list (or Glenn for his services for that matter) could double their prices, thin out their list (and maybe not even have that result) and, with the same production, double their income. They are smart enough to know that, yet they choose not to.

Why?

Because they are not businessman and not money-motivated.

They are artisans, craftsman, not business people. There's no sense in complaining about Mr Searing being more business like in his dealings with the public because if he was, he would be charging twice as much for his services and cutting the flippers right out of the market.

Kevin

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Interesting thought on Dennis S Kevin as I was thinking about him last night and where he might fit in re this thread.

Your comment about him cutting the flippers out.

Twice now, I have seen one of his conversions go a for crazy amount of money.

If I remember, the first one was a Dufferin. The seller was asking a flat out 3 K for it. As to whether he did get that much, I lost track.

The second one was not long ago. It was mentioned on AZ and then went to EBay. The bids started off ok but people were waiting until the end. Again, if I remember, that cue went for over 2 K.

I don't know what Dennis would have sold that cue for but was thinking that he probably didn't put it out the door for that much. Maybe I'm wrong.

Beyond joint collars, ring work and a butt cap with an S on it, no doubt a shaft of his quality with his taper, but what could have he done with that old Duff to make it
play more exceptional than how you'd expect an Old Duff to play.

Now, does that make him a Highly over rated cue maker?

Or is it just the fact that some will pay that kind of money just to say they have a Searing because it has an S on the cap.

Or at even over 2 K, the buyer knows that he will still be able to flip it for another few hundred.

If a person were to call Dennis and ask for him to make a conversion, would you be put on the same wait list, or would he tell you that he is too busy and doesn't make that many. Maybe that is what makes them desirable, the fact that they are on the rare side.

Funny because, I have approx 20 old Duffs downstairs. I could gussy one up a bit, put a 30 dollar AAA grade shaft one one, but I would be very fortunate to get $150 for it, and that would be a stretch.

Put Dennis's up against one of mine, would you be able to tell the difference.

 

[kvinbrwr]

Put Dennis's up against one of mine, would you be able to tell the difference.

I'm not a conversion guy, but to answer your question.

Yes.

Kevin

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[kvinbrwr]

If a person were to call Dennis and ask for him to make a conversion, would you be put on the same wait list, or would he tell you that he is too busy and doesn't make that many. Maybe that is what makes them desirable, the fact that they are on the rare side.

I think that Dennis is no longer interested in reworking other peoples' blanks.

 

[Straightpool_99]

[...................

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Kevin, you answered Yes.

In your opinion, what would be the major difference, the shaft?

Other than taking a lighter cue, boring it out and adding a weight bolt for forward balance,
what could he possibly do to that cue.

Or, you put a Searing Duff conversion in the hands of a player, someone whos game is even with mine. I use my Duff conversion.
Will my opponent beat me because he paid over 2 K for his Duff and mine, worth less than $150.

 

[kvinbrwr]

I don't get how anyone can pay that much for a converted housecue. So the maker makes a joint and a new shaft and maybe a ring or two. Lets say that the shaft is the best shaft that can possibly exitst. On the cueperfect site I saw a shaft for sale with 52 growth rings pr. inch and it was something like 620 dollars I think. I've never even heard of anyone else having a shaft like that. Even if he charges that for the shaft thats still close to 1400 dollars for an old dufferin butt with a joint. Are people completely out of their freakin minds?!!

Clearly you would think they are crazy. A 10 or more year old Searing conversion used has a secondary market value of over $2000. By value I mean one would find a buyer at that money with a few days of offering the cue.

 

[kvinbrwr]

Kevin, you answered Yes.

In your opinion, what would be the major difference, the shaft?

Other than taking a lighter cue, boring it out and adding a weight bolt for forward balance,
what could he possibly do to that cue.

Or, you put a Searing Duff conversion in the hands of a player, someone whos game is even with mine. I use my Duff conversion.
Will my opponent beat me because he paid over 2 K for his Duff and mine, worth less than $150.

The Searing would have a Searing joint.

Lets not be silly here and get into the fact that a Tercel will get you from A to B in many ways better than a Rolls, yet still some people buy the Rolls. When people are ooohing and aaahing over Gus veneers, nobody is pointing out that those veneers improve your stroke.

I think your opponent beating you would have to do with the relative skill level of the two players.

 

[Straightpool_99]

...............

 

[kvinbrwr]

Yes, I do think they are crazy. Who are these people?

Like you said. They must be crazy to not see it your way.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

A Searing joint. Ok, thats fair enuff.

I wasn't trying to be argumentative, just trying to make sense or figure out what the differences might be.

I certainly wasn't trying to make the comparison of a Tercel against a Rolls, altho I can see that the comparison of the same cue from different makers would be the same as your example.

 

[jburkm002]

In the WFS section there is a thread HELP ID CUE. Not the best picture of the overall cue but a descent picture of the butt. I find it funny that most replies say CHEAP IMPORT. Just because it doesn't have a brand. You can't tell the quality of the cue at all. I think it would be great if the next photo was of a SEARING logo. Just to prove a point.

 

[kvinbrwr]

In the WFS section there is a thread HELP ID CUE. Not the best picture of the overall cue but a descent picture of the butt. I find it funny that most replies say CHEAP IMPORT. Just because it doesn't have a brand. You can't tell the quality of the cue at all. I think it would be great if the next photo was of a SEARING logo. Just to prove a point.

Yeah but that would prove an imaginary point. The cue IS a cheap import and not a Searing.

 

[jburkm002]

How are you defining CHEAP? Quality or price. You certainly can't tell either from the picture. So why would they reply CHEAP IMPORT? Just seemed like a snob thing to say to me. Maybe I took it the wrong way.