I have zero complaints !! No worries with anyone's opinions. AT ALL !!!, I just want to say I am a dealer-flipper !!, or heck, you can call me a flipping dealer. Back in the later 70's and early 80's, yes, before this internet, before a fax machine even, I ran my butt off for the love of the game and the love of pool cues and yes, if I could put food on the table for one week, well, my family got a little further that month. I traveled a 125 mile area selling Hueblers, Mcdermotts, Vikings and Schmelke's and lord what a wonder when a Joss or Schon was sold. There was no " super stores " and I replaced tips which were hand edged and hand sanded. Sure, I would drive 65 miles one way, taught free pool lessons to just sell a $ 125.00 cue. Sure, I'd get 20-30 people come to see me at a location to see new cues, new equipment and such, but, my bar bill usually took away a few sales, lol. I'm proud of what I did back then to earn my keep. Then the fax machine came out and that was really cool as I would get the in stock list !!, wow...... In 1993, I put up a web page on the internet when no one knew what it was. My first request for a quote came six months later !! I would get a phone call, give a fair price, wait for the check, then deliver the cue personally. I wish I had $ 10.00 for every time someone says, well I can get the cue $ 10.00 cheaper from xyz superstore ??, or what's the taper, whats the tip, what's the this and that. Which I have no problem doing and taking photo's and describing every cue to the best of my ability. Does a super store do that ?? and as far as flipping goes, I love older cues, paying to have them restored to the condition as close as possible to what I remember them when they first come out, but, I get butt's of cues that are bowed, or nicks, dents, scratches, bad wraps, and of course not just a taper being out of center, but, warped !!!, who else will save a cue from yesteryear to give it another life for someone else to enjoy??
I don't have a problem if I pay for a dealer fee, a flipping fee or anything like that. Should the buyer pay for a purchase fee ??, be penalized when trades or used cues are under described ??
I believe Az Billiards gives me a great avenue to sell trade in's and restored / refinished cues. And yes, once in a while, I can make a fair sale on a new cue. but, most offers are under my cost !!, lol.
So, I do think this is a buyers market in the wanted-for sale section and most deals are done between dealers and flippers trying to get a cue trade to have a cue that sells better in their local area. I started selling cues as a teenager and am now 53 years old. Until ebay and az billiards and other outlets, I didn't know 97 % of cuemakers in the world. It's been fun and amazing and of course for me appreciative when a deal is done right for both parties. I am not going to sell cues that much longer as when I hit the 3,000 mark, I'm calling it quits. have about 250 to go roughly, but will get there. I hope this forum don't change much as I still believe it does more good than bad. Sorry to ramble, but, I have never had a problem with the ideal to buy low and sell high, even though, lately, it's buy low, list as high and sell just enough. Maybe leave the wanted for sale section alone and start a paid membership section that everyone can show and tell about the cue they own and if someone tries to sell or buy from that section gets a lifetime ban. Every cue has it's selling price, heck, someone make me a offer on my house and if the money gets to my bank account, I'll tell the wife to start packing, or, if it's good enough, we'll leave the keys on the kitchen table and walk out.
Hopefully, I am not going to get slaughtered for my opinion, but, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many good people here on Az Billiards, it's been wonderful to see all the cues and read all the forums. This one included !! Just would wish, that maybe the total view could be thought of as I don't get frustrated with reading OP posts like this, just sometimes think that as I do understand their opinion, but, maybe a little consideration towards how cues have gotten this far for us to enjoy a post in a billiard forum. Still some older guys & gals like me who could have only dreamed about something like this when we done our little part with a lot of energy helping cue makers and cue buyers back in the day when the industry was really struggling. If you were not apart of that era, then I will say, YOU have no idea what we went through in doing our part.
Not attacking any opinions here, just also sharing the thought that this is not so bad for everyone, in my opinion.
