Identify this cue RANT

billiards_watch said:
If the cue was any good they would have a trademark or name of the cue maker.

It doesn't surprise me. If someone had something good than they would probably be notified by previous owner or whoever they received the cue from.

Only good cues are the ones someone may ask what it is and purchased from a pawn shop. If a pawn shop takes it than it has some value. Other than that....if nobody knows what it is than its mostly shit.
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I didn't understand a thing...
 
NathanDetroit said:
You have been here three months...stop wasting your time and ours
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Of all my years on the internet there was only one time that a "help identify my cue" was actually worth something. It was on reddit when a guy found a Black Boar at the pawn shop.

Out of 50 of these identification threads maybe one is a hit or a bargain. So its pretty much safe to say they are shit or instead of how they hit, its how they burn in the winter?

Lets not waste our time here because there are lots and lots of cue makers in this world. I love all cues but lets be honest some aren't not on the levels as some. There are:

Garage cue makers
Hobbyist
No maker's mark cues
Chinese cues
Hall fame cue makers

Just too many to list. So lets cut to the chase. Is it valuable or not. Most of these people are asking so they can sell it. That Black Boar I was talking about was sold after the owner said he wouldn't sell it. Therefore, its a quick judgement when someone says help identify my cue or what is my cue worth.

This is my opinion and probably a shit opinion. If you want high end collectors opinion then I'm not that guy. Obviously those guys aren't flocking to these threads either.
 
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Biloxi Boy said:
Is it possible to vote someone off AZB? Just wondering . . .
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The ignore feature is incredible. The only thing I don't like is it shows that the person you have on ignore has posted a comment and sometimes curiosity gets the best of me. I am VERY quickly reminded why I have them on ignore. But at least I have the option of whether or not I want to be impressed (in a bad way) by how confidently wrong someone can be. And it does make it infinitely easier to not engage with them.
 
Thank you. I had been driven to distraction. Good analysis.

The ones I really love are the ones who admit they know nothing, then don't like the answers, so they argue and argue the responses are wrong.
 
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Biloxi Boy said:
Thank you. I had been driven to distraction. Good analysis.

The ones I really love are the ones who admit they know nothing, then don't like the answers, so they argue and argue the responses are wrong.
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Brother, I've finally gotten to a point in my life where I just exclude people that cause more problems than they're worth. Occasionally it's unavoidable but that's honestly pretty rare for me. Sometimes I'll check in to see if they've changed (Spoiler Alert: They haven't.) Then I go about my life feeling dirty for hoping they'd somehow magically figured something out even though there were never any signs they were even trying.
 
classiccues said:
How much is my signed Balabushka worth? WOOHOO!!! If you bring an item to a qualified appraiser, you have to pay. Pool players want the safety of not leaving a dime on the table when selling, and they want that information for free. But then again, to save a buck they bring their own water to a pool room, so I guess I should not be shocked.
JV
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What makes a person 'qualified'? You got a certificate?
 
classiccues said:
How much is my signed Balabushka worth? WOOHOO!!! If you bring an item to a qualified appraiser, you have to pay. Pool players want the safety of not leaving a dime on the table when selling, and they want that information for free. But then again, to save a buck they bring their own water to a pool room, so I guess I should not be shocked.
JV
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I'd venture a guess that a lot of people asking about a cue's value aren't even pool players, though. They've gotten the cue from an estate sale, garage sale, or inherited it. So many of the "what's it worth" posts I see on Reddit are from people with no other posts in the billiards sub and obviously have no clue as to what they have. And the internet is an easy way to at least get an idea of whether it's worth a lot, nothing, or somewhere in between.

But, yeah. The vast majority of the cues people ask about are basically junk. I couldn't tell you how many times I've seen a five piece cue and someone thinks they've got a treasure because their grandad had it for forty years. Every once in a while though... Someone does actually find a winner. I mentioned in another post that I ran across a post somewhere that a guy found a cue that was obviously nice but unsigned. I knew the style looked familiar so I asked where he was located. Turns out he was in Florida and and the cue was a Wayne Gunn.
 
Jimmy_Betmore said:
I'd venture a guess that a lot of people asking about a cue's value aren't even pool players, though. They've gotten the cue from an estate sale, garage sale, or inherited it. So many of the "what's it worth" posts I see on Reddit are from people with no other posts in the billiards sub and obviously have no clue as to what they have. And the internet is an easy way to at least get an idea of whether it's worth a lot, nothing, or somewhere in between.

But, yeah. The vast majority of the cues people ask about are basically junk. I couldn't tell you how many times I've seen a five piece cue and someone thinks they've got a treasure because their grandad had it for forty years. Every once in a while though... Someone does actually find a winner. I mentioned in another post that I ran across a post somewhere that a guy found a cue that was obviously nice but unsigned. I knew the style looked familiar so I asked where he was located. Turns out he was in Florida and and the cue was a Wayne Gunn.
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JB, I get the occasional "family" or garage sale find, but it is WAY more people that are in pool. It is exactly as I said, they want to know so they can capitalize. In fact it just happened to me on FB. I sent him a link to our authentication/appraisal page and that was the last I heard from him. Even after he told me I was recommended by 2-3 other industry people.
If it is a junker or really a nothingburger, I absolutely tell them, no fee, just like when I contribute to threads of the like. But I am sorry to everyone else, you are asking for financial protection. Also, once I give the value, I can no longer buy it at a dealer friendly price, that is the nature of not only pool cues, but guitars, coins, cars whatever. My knowledge is worth something. To everyone that says it sets a negative tone, I can also count on one hand, after a fireworks incident, the number of times when I gave that info for free, it paid off. These are just facts.
FTR if I was a scumbag, all those Tawian Cane cues, and cues with the weights, and the 50 dollar junkers, I would tell them to send me the money and THEN tell them they spent $150 to hear they have a $ 25.00 dollar cue. Which is absolutely abhorrent IMHO.
JV
 
classiccues said:
JB, I get the occasional "family" or garage sale find, but it is WAY more people that are in pool. It is exactly as I said, they want to know so they can capitalize. In fact it just happened to me on FB. I sent him a link to our authentication/appraisal page and that was the last I heard from him. Even after he told me I was recommended by 2-3 other industry people.
If it is a junker or really a nothingburger, I absolutely tell them, no fee, just like when I contribute to threads of the like. But I am sorry to everyone else, you are asking for financial protection. Also, once I give the value, I can no longer buy it at a dealer friendly price, that is the nature of not only pool cues, but guitars, coins, cars whatever. My knowledge is worth something. To everyone that says it sets a negative tone, I can also count on one hand, after a fireworks incident, the number of times when I gave that info for free, it paid off. These are just facts.
FTR if I was a scumbag, all those Tawian Cane cues, and cues with the weights, and the 50 dollar junkers, I would tell them to send me the money and THEN tell them they spent $150 to hear they have a $ 25.00 dollar cue. Which is absolutely abhorrent IMHO.
JV
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Fair enough. I understand that you, personally, get more pool players than bargain hunting speculators. You're known in the industry and were probably referred by someone in the pool community. But I was speaking of the general "what's it worth" post we see here and on all the other billiards sites and such.

As far as getting paid for an appraisal goes, hell yes. Not only should an appraiser get paid for their time to look at the item, they should get paid for the time it took to attain the knowledge they have to make a good appraisal. Then there's the whole aspect that a professional appraiser is putting their name on out there with an actual number. If that number doesn't jive, that appraiser won't last long in the business. I've got a buddy who used to cut grass on the side and he told me a story about a lady who complained about how much he charged for "30 minutes of work." He turned around and pointed at his work truck, the trailer, his mowers, and his helper, and said simply said, "It's more than 30 minutes of work."

And, yes. Many pool players are incredibly cheap. Not all... But enough are and have been for it to be a solid stereotype.
 
billiards_watch said:
If the cue was any good they would have a trademark or name of the cue maker.
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They do get worn off. I have seen more than a few of nice Huebler cues with the vertical logo worn off.
I have seen and own one cue that the maker's name is either worn or just unreadable. Asking about it here got me the answer.

Mystery cues are fun. Something can be learned for someone in the posts. It is amazing how someone out there will know what it is.
I have two cues to ask about myself. Very nice cues with Hoppe rings but maybe not expensive cues.
 
Help!

"Identify This Cue" threads are my favorites. I do not know much about cues, but what I know, I learned from "Identify This Cue" threads. Plus, I am constantly amazed by both the expertise and willingness to share exhibited by AZB's resident experts.

I tried to post a poll to determine how the rest of y'all feel, but the AZB Bot did not like the way I did it. Will someone please do one for me? This one did not work:
"Should AZB continue to allow "Identify This Cue" threads?
Yes___ No___"
 
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Biloxi Boy said:
Help!

"Identify This Cue" threads are my favorites. I do not know much about cues, but what I know, I learned from "Identify This Cue" threads. Plus, I am constantly amazed by the both the expertise and willingness to share exhibited by AZB's resident experts.

I tried to post a poll to determine how the rest of y'all feel, but the AZB Bot did not like the way I did it. Will someone please do one for me? This one did not work:
"Should AZB continue to allow "Identify This Cue" threads?
Yes___ No___"
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Hell, I think they should have their own forum.
JV
 
billiards_watch said:
Of all my years on the internet there was only one time that a "help identify my cue" was actually worth something.
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Disagree.
I found a cue at second store..,paid$10…probably over paid for it…I posted pics of it in “Ask the Cue Maker.”

Posted this:
Can’t find any history about Imperial cues from Italy. Imperialusa doesn’t appear to be associated with the Italian Imperial company.
Just curious. Any info would be appreciated.
Got a response from Chopdoc, totally worth it.
 
My cue maker currently is known for appraising cues. I will ask him his thoughts whenever I get a chance.

I'm sure he doesn't see junk come his way but we'll see.

Like I said many times over....you have to pay to play! Appraisals aren't free. If someone is asking on the internet then I'm going to give my free advice. LOL
 
Jimmy_Betmore said:
Fair enough. I understand that you, personally, get more pool players than bargain hunting speculators. You're known in the industry and were probably referred by someone in the pool community. But I was speaking of the general "what's it worth" post we see here and on all the other billiards sites and such.

As far as getting paid for an appraisal goes, hell yes. Not only should an appraiser get paid for their time to look at the item, they should get paid for the time it took to attain the knowledge they have to make a good appraisal. Then there's the whole aspect that a professional appraiser is putting their name on out there with an actual number. If that number doesn't jive, that appraiser won't last long in the business. I've got a buddy who used to cut grass on the side and he told me a story about a lady who complained about how much he charged for "30 minutes of work." He turned around and pointed at his work truck, the trailer, his mowers, and his helper, and said simply said, "It's more than 30 minutes of work."

And, yes. Many pool players are incredibly cheap. Not all... But enough are and have been for it to be a solid stereotype.
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I can tell you half a dozen stories where the person SHOULD have paid for the authentication. One as recently as the last SBE. 🤣

JV
 
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