If the top 200 cue collectors all had to sell their cues, what would happen to value?

KoolKat9Lives

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
I was wondering how much the value of collectible cues is driven by the top collectors. I don't know if 200 is a good # to pick, but I think you get the gist. If these 200 sold out by putting their cues up for auction over a few month period, and these collectors stayed out of the market, what would happen to value for the next few years?

Would a Balabushka that just sold for $12,000 today drop to 1/2 that?
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
So how top heavy is this market vis a vis value? Can the market be or has it been manipulated?
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There have been at least a couple of collectors who have single handedly inflated prices on certain items by trying to buy all of them they could get, and paying whatever it took.

But I don't think they were consciously trying to manipulate the market.
 
The Mayans have predicted this. This coincides with the sun aligning with the center of the galaxy. On Dec 21, 2012, there will be a great shift in the billiard world. Those without cues will now become the holders of the greatest cues in the universe. Nobody knows what the reprocussions will be from this great shift within the cosmos.
 
NewStroke said:
The Mayans have predicted this. This coincides with the sun aligning with the center of the galaxy. On Dec 21, 2012, there will be a great shift in the billiard world. Those without cues will now become the holders of the greatest cues in the universe. Nobody knows what the reprocussions will be from this great shift within the cosmos.
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:bow-down: I love this guy! :thumbup:
 
NewStroke said:
The Mayans have predicted this. This coincides with the sun aligning with the center of the galaxy. On Dec 21, 2012, there will be a great shift in the billiard world. Those without cues will now become the holders of the greatest cues in the universe. Nobody knows what the reprocussions will be from this great shift within the cosmos.
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I need to make sure and get rid of all my cues before this!! :)
 
Qjunkie said:
suscribed to see what "top collectors" have to say
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I'd be too, although most may be hesitant to discuss, but who knows.

Maybe I didn't phrase the question right in my OP, but my main attempt was to get a feel for how heavily the market is influenced by the biggest $$$ collectors.

(rep to you for bringing the thread back on track, them Mayans are rough dudes man. ;) )
 
Oh I think its definitley infulenced. But for a small fish like me... I can only admire what top collectors have acquired.

Dont get me wrong... Im not hating on those that have the $$$ or have been in the game long enough to amass such amazing collections or have built relationships with sought after cue makers.

But certainly it comes to a point that some cues, cuemakers become unattainable for us small fish.
 
I never really cared about the cost, a great cue is great regardless of price.

the easiest way to get a cue you can't afford...just build it yourself. It's not rocket science, just takes alot of patience and the ability to learn, and you will find many people will lend helpful hands and advice. I mean really, what would be your favorite a 15k dollar szamboti or a sweet hittin beautiful cue you made your self? I for one would be much prouder in the fact that I made such a cue with my own hands, its your creation...what could be better than that?

Grey Ghost
 
greyghost said:
the easiest way to get a cue you can't afford...just build it yourself. It's not rocket science, just takes alot of patience and the ability to learn, and you will find many people will lend helpful hands and advice. I mean really, what would be your favorite a 15k dollar szamboti or a sweet hittin beautiful cue you made your self? I for one would be much prouder in the fact that I made such a cue with my own hands, its your creation...what could be better than that?

Grey Ghost
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Are you serious? How can you compare a Gus or Barry to what someone's first attempt at making a cue could possibly be? I am actually in shock for this blatant disregard for what time and experience an accomplished cuemaker has acquired.

:shakehead:


Chris
 
CMD said:
Are you serious? How can you compare a Gus or Barry to what someone's first attempt at making a cue could possibly be? I am actually in shock for this blatant disregard for what time and experience an accomplished cuemaker has acquired.

:shakehead:


Chris
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I think he is very serious. Some of the proudest monents in my life were when people would ask me at a car show" who painted your car " and I would answer I did. My Tim Scruggs hasen't left my house since I finished my first cue.

Back to the original question. I think it would be devastating to the market. Just like it would be in any collector market and it my not be such a bad thing. It would be nice to see these cues played with instead of being shown.

Larry
 
Simple market economics. The more abundance there is the lower the price. If suddenly there were a lot of competition to SELL a lot of high end cues then the price would drop on average for high end cues.

Some of the cues would however stay at the value because there is simply no more supply and they are always in demand. Those cues would change hands from those who have them to those who want them at just about any price.

On average a sudden influx of cues for sale would depress the market for sellers and be very good for buyers.
 
The topic is interesting.I have model plane engines, some which were very valuable 20 years ago, now are not worth 1/2 what I paid for them. The reason, simple, people don't know what they are , and current collectors don't seem to have the same passion.To replicate 1 engine will about 200 hours work for a value of maybe $400 is not economic and is still just a copy.
Unlike art, most collectables in the world are a fickel market.
Not many pool cues are held as Monet or any other famous paintings.
But to the topic, if 200 top colections come onto the market, the prices will be what ever people bid. It may be good, it may be bad. It all depends on how badly people would like to grasp a piece of history and treasure it.
 
collecting as an investment vs hobby

KoolKat9Lives said:
I was wondering how much the value of collectible cues is driven by the top collectors. I don't know if 200 is a good # to pick, but I think you get the gist. If these 200 sold out by putting their cues up for auction over a few month period, and these collectors stayed out of the market, what would happen to value for the next few years?

Would a Balabushka that just sold for $12,000 today drop to 1/2 that?
Click to expand...

Given the uncertainties of the stock market, currency fluctuations, rising unemployment, terrorism, wars on numerous fronts, unprecedented ecological threats, structural economic changes transforming us from an industrial economy to an unsustainable service & consumer economy, ... investors are moving to collectibles. Thus, the cue prices at auction might go up as investors move from stocks, currency... to collectibles.

Much of the irresponsible speculation eg. derivatives etc expanded the number of very wealthy people, who might be seeking collectibles. In interviews, they acknowledge that they did not buy these flaky economic instruments which they created.

There has also been a dramatic expansion of the super rich sector in emerging countries eg. India, China, who have inflated prices in fine art & horses. Here in Kentucky, wealthy Arabs have entered the horse market in force. A cue auction in Kuwait or Dubai might be really significant.

Arab students routinely wear extraordinarily high priced jewelry (often hidden by head scarfs) & carry $1500-$2000 Coach purses & Louie Batton (sp?) accessories which are even more exorbitant.

However, an important question is whether prices on the cue market have been seriously inflated over their intrinsic value.

Another interesting question relates to the supply of materials in high priced cues eg. exotic woods, restrictions on the import of elephant ivory & scrimshaw, restrictions on the hunting of elephants for their ears for wraps as well as ivory...

In my wildest dreams, perhaps cues will join gold, silver, corn, soybeans... on the Chicago Exchange.

I myself would settle for for a high performance, unadorned "plain Jane" cue. Given increasing unemployment & descending wages for the working class, these might go down in price.
 
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