I would like to sell some shaftwood

[Double-Dave]

Hi guys,

I have had a nice stash of almost 20 year aged shaftwood squares for a few months now:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=343989
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=343991

I have bought from 4 or 5 different suppliers myself and I feel these are really nice for what I am asking.
Still, sales on AZ have been non-existent. I have sold a few hundred locally but the custom cue
maker market in Holland and Germany is very limited, nothing like in the US.

So, I would like to ask you what I need to do to convince some of you to order some.
Some ideas I have are:

- Splitting them up in 2 or 3 different grades (the problem I see here is only selling the highest
grade and therefore having to charge a lot for this grade).
- Send a few bundles out to trusted members without payment allowing them to sample the
quality and give feedback.
- More/better/different pictures
- Instead of just selling from the big pile take maybe 20 or 30, take pictures and sell those
as a specific bundle where what you see is what you get.

I am open to other suggestions aswell.

gr. Dave

 

[GBCues]

From my perspective, the shipping from The Netherlands to the States puts them over the top in cost. We have lots of good suppliers here in the States.
My 2 cents,
Gary

 

[Double-Dave]

From my perspective, the shipping from The Netherlands to the States puts them over the top in cost. We have lots of good suppliers here in the States.
My 2 cents,
Gary

Certainly a valid argument, but unfortunately not something I can change, I think though
that around ~$11 each shipped (if you take 50) is really not too much for what I am selling, but feel
free to tell me otherwise. I know I have paid $10 plus shipping upto $30 plus shipping each and never really
felt that I overpaid. Obviously the $30 dowels were all very, very good.

gr. Dave

 

[GBCues]

Dave,
Ooops, my bad I guess. I didn't re-read the old posts, that was just the memory I had of the deal.
My apologies,
Gary

 

[pescadoman]

Certainly a valid argument, but unfortunately not something I can change, I think though
that around ~$11 each shipped (if you take 50) is really not too much for what I am selling, but feel
free to tell me otherwise. I know I have paid $10 plus shipping upto $30 plus shipping each and never really
felt that I overpaid. Obviously the $30 dowels were all very, very good.

gr. Dave

Excellent English. It's pretty ironic, but the people I actually know personally in Europe speak better English than most Americans.. It's sad.

 

[GBCues]

Excellent English. It's pretty ironic, but the people I actually know personally in Europe speak better English than most Americans.. It's sad.

Randy,
The Dutch in particular are some of the greatest linguists in Europe - often literate in 5-7 languages. I guess because no one cares to learn Dutch, except the Afrikaners and they're a long way away. (For those that don't know, Afrikaans is similar enough to "old" Dutch that the two can understand each other.)
The Belgians are also great linguists.
But I digress from Dave's original subject, my apologies again Dave.
Gary

 

[GBCues]

Dave,

What would be the economics of smaller bundles - say 5 or 10?
The 50-70 stick bundles that you previously used as examples mean a guy has to take a $500-$650 gamble with a seller in Europe.

Just an idea,
Gary

 

[Guerra Cues]

Dave,

What would be the economics of smaller bundles - say 5 or 10?
The 50-70 stick bundles that you previously used as examples mean a guy has to take a $500-$650 gamble with a seller in Europe.

Just an idea,
Gary

Gary,

I have dealt Dave in the past several times and just because he's in Europe does not make him suspicious.
Look at his ITrader.
Dave's word is good as gold.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I think you should turn them round .
Take clear pictures . It's easier to see the quality of dowels than squares.
Grain run-out and knots can be seen on dowels much easier too.
Sometimes pits and holes don't even show up till they're tapered.

 

[Double-Dave]

Excellent English. It's pretty ironic, but the people I actually know personally in Europe speak better English than most Americans.. It's sad.

Thanks, I was lucky that my parents found it very important for me to learn english and I had some
private tutoring when I was around 10 and that really helped. My punctuation isn't good though.

gr. Dave

 

[Double-Dave]

Dave,

What would be the economics of smaller bundles - say 5 or 10?
The 50-70 stick bundles that you previously used as examples mean a guy has to take a $500-$650 gamble with a seller in Europe.

Just an idea,
Gary

Hi Gary,

I can send an 11 pound package for around $ 45 and a 22 pound package for around $ 65.
These squares weigh over a pound each so that's for 9-ish and 18-ish squares.

gr. Dave

 

[Double-Dave]

I think you should turn them round .
Take clear pictures . It's easier to see the quality of dowels than squares.
Grain run-out and knots can be seen on dowels much easier too.
Sometimes pits and holes don't even show up till they're tapered.

That option has occured to me but since I am not a cuemaker I would have to pack these
and drive for about an hour each way and pay my local cuemaker at least 2 or 3$ to give these a first turning.

I am not sure if they would bring the extra 3$ (better 4 if I add in my own time) when turned, would you pay 3$ more?

gr. Dave

EDIT: Just realised that they would be a lot lighter, they weigh around 1.25 pounds now
and I guess after a .95 to .700 turn that would be less then 0.5pounds so the shipping
would be at least $1 less per square. I guess that helps.

 

[LGSM3]

I'll go ahead and gamble. I'll take $500 worth to include shipping. I'll give an honest review after recieving them. Pm me your paypal.

 

[Big-Tattoo]

I'll go ahead and gamble. I'll take $500 worth to include shipping. I'll give an honest review after recieving them. Pm me your paypal.

you doing good, it is not a gamble, trust me. Dave is like a Diamond here, no worries.
Ralf

 

[HollyWood]

A man and his faithful dog- pretty easy to trust in my bk.

I will stick up for DD he's been here awhile - and a friend with many! Shaft wood is hard to get anywhere! USA or not. I buywoods all over the world.

 

[Double-Dave]

I'll go ahead and gamble. I'll take $500 worth to include shipping. I'll give an honest review after recieving them. Pm me your paypal.

Thanks! I will send you a pm right away. I will not be able to ship these before monday though.

gr. Dave

 

[GBCues]

Gary,

I have dealt Dave in the past several times and just because he's in Europe does not make him suspicious.
Look at his ITrader.
Dave's word is good as gold.

Dave, Tony, and all,
After another recent blow up on a different product/seller, I was trying VERY hard not to cast any aspersions on Dave's reputation or imply that he was like any other seller that has been here.
My apologies if it was taken that way.
Gary

 

[pescadoman]

Dave, Tony, and all,
After another recent blow up on a different product/seller, I was trying VERY hard not to cast any aspersions on Dave's reputation or imply that he was like any other seller that has been here.
My apologies if it was taken that way.
Gary

I don't think you need to apologize. It's very difficult, and almost always impractical, to get money back from someone in another state, let alone another country.

I think your caution makes a hell of alot of sense. It's great that he has a good itrader and some people vouch for him, but unfortunately good people get ripped off everyday.

 

[Double-Dave]

Dave, Tony, and all,
After another recent blow up on a different product/seller, I was trying VERY hard not to cast any aspersions on Dave's reputation or imply that he was like any other seller that has been here.
My apologies if it was taken that way.
Gary

Hi Gary,

I certainly did not take it that way, no worries.

gr. Dave

 

[Double-Dave]

I'll go ahead and gamble. I'll take $500 worth to include shipping. I'll give an honest review after recieving them. Pm me your paypal.

Hi,

Just letting you know that your shafts are packed up (I keep underestimating how long thatg takes) but it is too late
to get to the post office in time, they will go out tomorrow and I will pm you the tracking number.

gr. Dave