Inflation killing you yet?

[JoeyInCali]

Looks like we all have to raise prices.by 20% and up or have no money left to replenish wood inventory and supplies.
That is if you can even find wood.
Let's not even talk about the.price machines now.

 

[jrctherake]

Looks like we all have to raise prices.by 20% and up or have no money left to replenish wood inventory and supplies.
That is if you can even find wood.
Let's not even talk about the.price machines now.

Inflation effects everyone and every business to varying degrees. Some have increases of 10 to 20% as you noted while others are facing ~40% increases or close down.

 

[jrctherake]

Looks like we all have to raise prices.by 20% and up or have no money left to replenish wood inventory and supplies.
That is if you can even find wood.
Let's not even talk about the.price machines now.

Unfortunately, pool cues are not high on the "necessity" list for "most", but fortunately there are probably enough people like myself that are willing/able to pay extra for luxury items during times of high inflation.

I'm sure you and all the other cue makers will be just fine.

 

[Dave38]

Due to the heating costs, and electric hike in my area I had to finally (after 15 yrs), raise my repair prices. Didn't want to, but had no choice.

 

[Tom1234]

Due to the heating costs, and electric hike in my area I had to finally (after 15 yrs), raise my repair prices. Didn't want to, but had no choice.

I, like you, didn’t want to raise repair prices; I had to though. Depending on how much adhesives, sandpaper and other essentials go up, I may not have seen the last increase I’ll have to institute. I have raised new tip installation prices only a little, but I no longer throw in free shaft cleaning. I’m sure at some point tip prices will increase; I’ll have to pass along some of that too. Dave, you and other established, well known repairmen may be able to absorb some of the increased costs, but I’m not in that position yet. Best of luck to all repairmen.

 

[Dave38]

I, like you, didn’t want to raise repair prices; I had to though. Depending on how much adhesives, sandpaper and other essentials go up, I may not have seen the last increase I’ll have to institute. I have raised new tip installation prices only a little, but I no longer throw in free shaft cleaning. I’m sure at some point tip prices will increase; I’ll have to pass along some of that too. Dave, you and other established, well known repairmen may be able to absorb some of the increased costs, but I’m not in that position yet. Best of luck to all repairmen.

I have absorbed alot over the yrs as My area is not known for people paying $$$ for simple stuff, and I grew up in a family business where your family name is on the final product, and sometimes people simply cannot afford it at the time....so you help a guy/girl out.... I always try to soften things. But nowadays...things are just getting priced outta sight and digging into my pocket just to do the simple hings, so now have to watch out for my self too.

 

[pescadoman]

At least you aren't burning 100's a gallons a diesel a day, while trying to earn a living... OH, and you have a REAL job

 

[Tom1234]

At least you aren't burning 100's a gallons a diesel a day, while trying to earn a living... OH, and you have a REAL job

Randy, I DO feel your pain when you fill your rig. Fuel prices are killing most people. I did have a real job, but since retirement I repair cues for a little extra income. It’s something I enjoy. Retirement is much nicer with a hobby you enjoy; I hope you will have this opportunity in your retirement.

 

[scdiveteam]

Looks like we all have to raise prices.by 20% and up or have no money left to replenish wood inventory and supplies.
That is if you can even find wood.
Let's not even talk about the.price machines now.

Joey,

An easy way to compensate and get more value from your cues is to put some inlays on them.

I charge 15 to 30 bucks an inlay depending on size and materials. Less for Dots. Large floating points up to 125 per. 4 stack veneer point 125 per.

Add silver to your cues and the cost of your labor skyrockets the value of your cue.

So do the math. 100 inlays on your cue would be 2 to 3 grand on top of you basic cost to build your blank.

Just saying. There is more that one way to skin a cat.

I don't understand why you have a problem finding wood for cues.

So some species are banned from harvesting. So just forget about those types of wood. A great piece of ebony can be had for 100 bucks or less.

If you buy Kiln dried wood you can get most wood ready to build in a shorter period of time. No need to hang all of your wood with wax on the ends for years.

Yes I still have hundreds of them on my ceiling but to be honest most of my custom orders I buy my kiln dried wood just in time and then let it acclimate to my temperature and humidity controlled environment. And I build my cues on a solid 3/4" x 30" dowel. So I don't really have to worry as I never had one warp since I quit A Joint cue in 2006 anyway.

If people complain about sandpaper, glue, and other essentials, guess what, your selling your cues too cheap.

Never apologize if you feel your not making the correct amount of profit from your efforts. Just adjust your price point and stick to it. If you are charging too much for the quality and craftsmanship you supply, your market will dry up in a New York minute. I don't think that is a problem with Joey Cue as they a solid players.

I never lower my price except 100 bucks to locals players because I don't have to ship and insure.

You make a fine cue, I would not sweat raising your price. People will understand and apparently you have a nice nitch market for your brand.

Rick

 

[JoeyInCali]

Joey,

An easy way to compensate and get more value from your cues is to put some inlays on them.

I charge 15 to 30 bucks an inlay depending on size and materials. Less for Dots. Large floating points up to 125 per. 4 stack veneer point 125 per.

Add silver to your cues and the cost of your labor skyrockets the value of your cue.

So do the math. 100 inlays on your cue would be 2 to 3 grand on top of you basic cost to build your blank.

Just saying. There is more that one way to skin a cat.

I don't understand why you have a problem finding wood for cues.

So some species are banned from harvesting. So just forget about those types of wood. A great piece of ebony can be had for 100 bucks or less.

If you buy Kiln dried wood you can get most wood ready to build in a shorter period of time. No need to hang all of your wood with wax on the ends for years.

Yes I still have hundreds of them on my ceiling but to be honest most of my custom orders I buy my kiln dried wood just in time and then let it acclimate to my temperature and humidity controlled environment. And I build my cues on a solid 3/4" x 30" dowel. So I don't really have to worry as I never had one warp since I quit A Joint cue in 2006 anyway.

If people complain about sandpaper, glue, and other essentials, guess what, your selling your cues too cheap.

Never apologize if you feel your not making the correct amount of profit from your efforts. Just adjust your price point and stick to it. If you are charging too much for the quality and craftsmanship you supply, your market will dry up in a New York minute. I don't think that is a problem with Joey Cue as they a solid players.

I never lower my price except 100 bucks to locals players because I don't have to ship and insure.

You make a fine cue, I would not sweat raising your price. People will understand and apparently you have a nice nitch market for your brand.

Rick

I still see 4-point cues with veneers for less than 1K at FB. Seen one with plenty of inlays for 1K.
Some repair people there still charge $10+15 for tip install.
Shafts can still be ordered for $200 . They will regret that a year or two from now .

There are a lot of woods I have you cannot easily find now . If you can . And if you can , they are nowhere near what I paid for them.
Curly purple heart and AAA BEM for example .

I can't complain about my niche.
Shipping is paid by cue owners .

 

[pescadoman]

Randy, I DO feel your pain when you fill your rig. Fuel prices are killing most people. I did have a real job, but since retirement I repair cues for a little extra income. It’s something I enjoy. Retirement is much nicer with a hobby you enjoy; I hope you will have this opportunity in your retirement.

I doubt I'll ever really retire, but thank you. I burn fuel on a boat. about 1.3 gallons a mile

 

[pescadoman]

I still see 4-point cues with veneers for less than 1K at FB. Seen one with plenty of inlays for 1K.
Some repair people there still charge $10+15 for tip install.
Shafts can still be ordered for $200 . They will regret that a year or two from now .

There are a lot of woods I have you cannot easily find now . If you can . And if you can , they are nowhere near what I paid for them.
Curly purple heart and AAA BEM for example .

I can't complain about my niche.
Shipping is paid by cue owners .

Makes me cry when I think I could have bought 3x's as much curly purple as that big piece of lumber I texted you....

 

[Tom1234]

I doubt I'll ever really retire, but thank you. I burn fuel on a boat. about 1.3 gallons a mile

As a side note, I just filled up my pickup and my wife’s SUV; neither one was on empty. The truck - $92.00 for less than 3/4 tank and $45.00 for the SUV that had over half a tank. Two years ago, that would have cost a little less than $70.00! Retirement is nice, but I never planned on gas pricing this high.