I need help..

Nick B said:
There is a old man in my hall who watches a bunch of us play. Every other day he looks admirably at my cue and states. With a cue like that it's now wonder you shoot so straight.

I always politely thank him and nod and tell him it helps. He then goes on to ask me how much (he's nearly 80)...I always answer him it's a custom with many shafts that have been made for it over the years and I'm not sure how much it's worth. He then goes on to throw out figures...$200...$300...maybe $400.

What do I tell a man who probably operates on $800/month pension? I repeat the same line to him every time.

My Wife, Child, Homes, Cars, Watches and Cues are insured form theft or loss all other material possessions I would not shed a tear for. My wife joked one night over dinner that in a flood what would I do? Who would I save first?

Answer:
Wife on one arm. Daughter on other. Cue case clenched between my teeth. 8 Watches on each arm. Floating down the street like Flavor Flav.
Flavoroflovelogo.jpg


A $3000 SW I don't play with, I have no emotional attachment with. A $20.00 cue that I use as my primary playing cue is priceless. My father couldn't understand why I paid $4.00 for a coffee at Starbucks.

Mideshare + Heartshare = Marketshare

Nick
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Great post! :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
X Breaker said:
This is not the first time, when I was using my Southwest, some guy did the same thing.

"Who made this cue? What? Southwest, so that is the factory's name? Why is it so expensive? What, 93, that is too old, no wonder it looks so beat up...the tip is too fat..."


Richard
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Richard, three things:

Cue sticks are like automobiles.
People like to play with different kinds of cues just like people like to drive different types of automobiles.
It is up to each person to work out their own SALVATION.
(Say that last line with knowing eyes, like you may have something else to talk about and it will surely send them packing). :D

People who belittle another person's cue are the same people who put down other people who are not as smart as they are, not as good-looking, not as rich, etc. Some people feel better about themselves if they try to throw someone off the ladder. Decent people try to make others feel good about their own lot. OK, I'm done preaching.
JoeyA
 
Ahhh, Richard, I understand what you are saying. I remember when I first got my fancy Skip, and went out to play with it. Some guy, who claimed to collect cues, asks me if if my cue was a Viking?!!!!!:eek: As I concealed my freak out over the Viking comment...LOL...I very politely told him 'no', it is a custom cue that I designed. When he asked who made it, I told him, and of course he had that 'deer caught in the high beams' look on his face...he didn't have a clue. Then came the inevitable...'how much does it cost?' My reply to this is always the same....'I prefer to not discuss the value of my equipment.' That usually stops the conversation dead in it's tracks. Then I do not have to try and explain it...besides, I really do not want people to know what my equipment is worth...I feel like, by divulging that information, I might as well put 'Steal Me' stickers all over everything...lol.

Now, there are others in the area that really do collect cues. And at least they know who Skip is, or Josey, or....you get the picture. However, I don't ask them what they spent on their cues/cases, and they don't ask me what I spent either...we already kinda have a clue anyway.;)

Lisa
 
My daddy used to say:

'If all men were running after the same woman, life would be hell".

Substitute pool cue for woman.

You try to get what best suits you within a price range you can afford, be your standards lust, flash, the impression you want to make on others, or the qualities required for an enjoyable lifetime partnership. :D

You need not explain your choice. Others may not share your tastes, and, therefore, will not appreciate your reasons.

At least with a cue the cost is known upfront, and, therefore, it is an infintiely more sensible acquisition. Buyer's remorse isn't nearly as traumatic.

Alimony: (noun) a man's cash surrender value.
 
X Breaker said:
How should I explain to this guy, in a few simple sentences, why a James White is worth so much more than a Chinese $20 cue?
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Don't bother. If has to ask, no answer will satisfy him. My standard answer is two-fold:

1. I buy cues like other people buy cars, motorcycles, and stamps.

2. I buy cues because frankly, I'm an idiot.

Fred
 
Nick B said:
There is a old man in my hall who watches a bunch of us play. Every other day he looks admirably at my cue and states. With a cue like that it's now wonder you shoot so straight.

I always politely thank him and nod and tell him it helps. He then goes on to ask me how much (he's nearly 80)...I always answer him it's a custom with many shafts that have been made for it over the years and I'm not sure how much it's worth. He then goes on to throw out figures...$200...$300...maybe $400.

What do I tell a man who probably operates on $800/month pension? I repeat the same line to him every time.

My Wife, Child, Homes, Cars, Watches and Cues are insured form theft or loss all other material possessions I would not shed a tear for. My wife joked one night over dinner that in a flood what would I do? Who would I save first?

Answer:
Wife on one arm. Daughter on other. Cue case clenched between my teeth. 8 Watches on each arm. Floating down the street like Flavor Flav.
Flavoroflovelogo.jpg


A $3000 SW I don't play with, I have no emotional attachment with. A $20.00 cue that I use as my primary playing cue is priceless. My father couldn't understand why I paid $4.00 for a coffee at Starbucks.

Mideshare + Heartshare = Marketshare

Nick
Click to expand...

LOL this is funny, but actually happened to me this summer! Our house flooded here south of Cleveland and my father grabbed all the legal documents he could and I grabbed a bag of clothes and all my cues! Off to my sisters everything went till the house was rebuilt.

To answer the original question. I get alot of non pool playing and pool players ask the same question about my cues. Depending which one I have, I tell them it's the cheaper of em at 500.00 and the gently hand it back to me and ask why. Usually the explanation of having something nice for a sport I am passionate about is enough. But if it comes down to showing the skills, I will ask them to pick any cue in the room including a mop handle and I will play them and beat them. I don't need the fancy sticks, just have the money, respect and desire to own a few. That usually mutes the chat.
ez
 
Hmmm, mentioning the price of said $3000.00 cue in the first place was quite stupid, I wish we had guys like you where I used to play.
 
Scaramouche said:
My daddy used to say:

'If all men were running after the same woman, life would be hell".

Substitute pool cue for woman.

You try to get what best suits you within a price range you can afford, be your standards lust, flash, the impression you want to make on others, or the qualities required for an enjoyable lifetime partnership. :D

You need not explain your choice. Others may not share your tastes, and, therefore, will not appreciate your reasons.

At least with a cue the cost is known upfront, and, therefore, it is an infintiely more sensible acquisition. Buyer's remorse isn't nearly as traumatic.

Alimony: (noun) a man's cash surrender value.
Click to expand...

The funniest part about this post is that my taste in women directly mirrors my taste in cues, lol, I like simple cues, plain janes, and sneaky petes, as long as they hit well, and well, my women gotta have personality :rolleyes:

-despotic
 
Yes, I probably should not tell him the price, but it appeared to me he might think my cue was one of those $20 cue and he almost tried to pick it up. I thought telling him the price would stop him.

The main reason why I ask this is because I am hoping I can learn a way to explain this to him so he can perhaps develop an understanding of why certain cues are worth more. I am not looking for a way to show off or to belittle him.

Some players play the game and love the game, I love cues, although I am still crazy about playing the game.

I suppose that is the major difference: he was looking at it from a pure practical point of view as to how can such an overpriced piece of wood possibly make him a better player; I am looking at it from my point of view as to how this wonderful work of art would make me proud and satisfied when I look at it.

TATE, I like how you used the word "insanity":) , at the end of the day, that is probably what it is.

Richard<<<<<< Just another idiot...
 
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No matter what you tell a guy like that, it won't make any difference.

Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime. Some people can't recognize beauty when they see it.
 
X Breaker said:
Yes, I probably should not tell him the price, but it appeared to me he might think my cue was one of those $20 cue and he almost tried to pick it up. I thought telling him the price would stop him.

The main reason why I ask this is because I am hoping I can learn a way to explain this to him so he can perhaps develop an understanding of why certain cues are worth more. I am not looking for a way to show off or to belittle him.

Some players play the game and love the game, I love cues, although I am still crazy about playing the game.

I suppose that is the major difference: he was looking at it from a pure practical point of view as to how can such an overpriced piece of wood possibly make him a better player; I am looking at it from my point of view as to how this wonderful work of art would make me proud and satisfied when I look at it.

TATE, I like how you used the word "insanity":) , at the end of the day, that is probably what it is.

Richard<<<<<< Just another idiot...
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X, I think you found your answer in your own response.

"I suppose that is the major difference: he was looking at it from a pure practical point of view as to how can such an overpriced piece of wood possibly make him a better player; I am looking at it from my point of view as to how this wonderful work of art would make me proud and satisfied when I look at it."

Sounds fair enough to me. :)
ez
 
ez2h8 said:
X, I think you found your answer in your own response.

"I suppose that is the major difference: he was looking at it from a pure practical point of view as to how can such an overpriced piece of wood possibly make him a better player; I am looking at it from my point of view as to how this wonderful work of art would make me proud and satisfied when I look at it."

Sounds fair enough to me. :)
ez
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Aha... so the question is how it could make him a better player. I think the answer to that lies in whether that cue or any other cue of any particular value would help his ability to pot balls and get the shape he desires. When he finds a cue that works like that for him, he will hopefully realize what a gem he has in his hands, and want to acquire it. If he is unable to appreciate this, he may not be reachable.

If he plays enough and becomes engrossed by the game, it may happen that he'll shoot with someone's cue and love it, and offer perhaps a ridiculous sum for it. Why? Because he found what he was looking for...

Flex
 
If you think trying to explain a pool cue's price is tough, try bowling balls.

When I bowled, in leagues and in PBA regional tour stops, I'd get the railbirds who would show up and watch and the general league'rs who'd watch and ask questions and stuff.

Alot of the old timers/ or guys who didnt know any better would ask how much I spend a year on bowling balls. Which depended on how often i bought stuff. I think one year i bought something like 10-20 different bowling balls. Some I used alot some I used maybe once. And most bowling balls cost between 120$ to 275$.

So of course the john q public who didnt know any better would be like well, I've had this ball for X amount of years and can still average 180, and with all of your stuff your only averaging over 215. And of course GOD FORBID they would have A GAME that happend to beat me, by a score of say 235 to 237. They would give me the whole " see my ball is just as good as yours!" yet they wouldnt see the fact that for a 3 game series i shot 750. While they shot 570.

I've seen the same thing with Pool Cues. I know some guys who swear up n down by Schon cues. Which i think are the best Production/semi-custom cue made. I also know some guys who can buy any Custom cue and still play lights out. I know some guys who have had the same Viking cue for 10-20yrs. Or a top end custom cue.

trying to explain why you payed X amount of $ on a cue to someone who has no clue is like beating your head into the wall.

I've seen some guys they get the whole WOW look when you show them a nice 500$ custom cue, but they probably wouldnt know the difference between the 500$ cue and a 3000$ cue, but they know its custom.

later dave
 
I always ask them if they play any other sports. Most of them do and it can be very useful. Every sport has a hierarchy of equipment. I know a good deal about many sports. So I will throw out an expensive brand/well known quality piece of equiptment. Baseball "What kind of bat do you have? What kind of glove to you use?" Soccer "What kind of cleats do you have?" Hockey "What kind of stick you play with?" Bowling, ping-pong, etc.........then say "well they sell that at walmart and it is made of the same stuff." they usually get the point. To add a little more you can say, "there is a man that makes some of the finest *insert equipment for sport of their choice here* in the world, he has a twin brother that made this cue." Well, that was kinda Chinese proverbish lol. If you want to be a dick about it add "if you were a real pool player you would know the difference, maybe in a few years. *procced to run out here*" Then of course you can let them know part of it is style, collectability, status, craftsmanship, and yes a lot of it is PLAYABILITY. I like the art example.

"What kind of cue is this? Oh it was made by the cue artist James White, have you heard of him?" :D

Eric.A.
 
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