Interesting way to sell cues

conetip

conetip

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A friend just bought a new snooker cue.
At the place he bought it from, the guy asked him his budget. He said anything under 1200.
So the sales rep just got a selection of cues with no prices and said just play.They played for about 4 hours with various cues.In the end the cue he really liked was only 120. Keep in mind the price was not available to him until he chose a cue.
Initially I thought what a waste of time.But the company is getting alot of good recomendation and honest no pressure sales staff.
 
A most excellent way to purchase a cue actually. The shooter finds a cue he/she is confident in and doesn't have to break the bank to purchase it.

-saige-
 
Well, he could have just as easily and unknowingly chosen the $1,200 cue.
But he chose the cue that suited him best without the burden of knowing the price in advance. After all, selecting the right cue is of primary importance.
The price can be negotiated, within reason, but having the client make his selection based on the cue itself is about as good as it gets.

When someone comes to my store to buy a cue, the first thing I ask them is, 'where is your comfort-zone on price'? Once I know that, I can show them a selection of cues within that price range. There may be 1/2 doz. cues within that range.
Each cue has a price-tag on it but I make sure to tell the client, 'don't worry about that price, it doesn't apply to you'.
I also have a table in the store and tell them to hit as many balls as they like until they know for sure that they have narrowed it down to the cue they really want. Of course I cut them a better deal because the cue actually sold itself.
I did very little other than answer their questions and allow the buyer to select the cue that was best suited for them.
Of course, they are welcome to look (& play) any cue that I have in the store but when they start to move out of their predetermined price comfort-zone, I remind them that this cue is a little more money. Sometimes that doesn't matter.
That's the cue they want and that's the most important part of the sale.

I'm not at all into high-pressure sales. I don't do it and I don't like it when it's done to me. The client knows what he wants. Show him what you've got and let him decide.

I definitely agree with the sales method that Neil (the OP) illustrated.
 
thas good business....the best products for the person end up selling themselves, case in point from the message above!
 
You are supposed to hand them one cue (which happens to be the one with the highest markup) and then tell them how its the best cue you have. . . :eek:
 
they are going about it all wrong, you use the "deer method"

conetip said:
A friend just bought a new snooker cue.
At the place he bought it from, the guy asked him his budget. He said anything under 1200.
So the sales rep just got a selection of cues with no prices and said just play.They played for about 4 hours with various cues.In the end the cue he really liked was only 120. Keep in mind the price was not available to him until he chose a cue.
Initially I thought what a waste of time.But the company is getting alot of good recomendation and honest no pressure sales staff.
Click to expand...

No, no, no, he is doing it all wrong! If you have four identical cues you want $800 for mark three of them at $2000 and one at $1200 and let him look over an entire rack with these cues in it. When he rushes to buy the "$1200" cue then you mark one of the others down to $1200 for the next customer! :D :D :D

Actually I think the no price shopping is a great idea when somebody is looking for a playing cue. When they want to spend money on looks, then tell them the prices. Some people need to spend a bunch of money to be happy with something they buy.

Hu
 
This is the way everyone in my area buys their cues. I was playing for 5 hours before I settled on my perfect cue.

1. Pick 5 or 6 from the shop then have a knock about trying different types of shots.

2. put aside any cues you like from that batch. Go get another 5 or 6 and replace any from the first batch you didn't like.

3. Keep doing this until you have tried every cue in the shop and have narrowed it down to a handful.

4. try lots of different types of shot again with each of the finalist cues.

5. Pick the one you are most comfortable with,

6. Unclench butt cheeks,

7. Hand over the cash.

If you have done this is should take at least 4 hours to go through 200 cues to find the perfect one for you so you have no right to haggle on the price. A cue maker has produced a cue so good that YOU chose IT out of hundreds of sticks so trying to knock 5-10% off the price would be an insult IMO.
 
Exile said:
This is the way everyone in my area buys their cues. I was playing for 5 hours before I settled on my perfect cue.

1. Pick 5 or 6 from the shop then have a knock about trying different types of shots.

2. put aside any cues you like from that batch. Go get another 5 or 6 and replace any from the first batch you didn't like.

3. Keep doing this until you have tried every cue in the shop and have narrowed it down to a handful.

4. try lots of different types of shot again with each of the finalist cues.

5. Pick the one you are most comfortable with,

6. Unclench butt cheeks,

7. Hand over the cash.

If you have done this is should take at least 4 hours to go through 200 cues to find the perfect one for you so you have no right to haggle on the price. A cue maker has produced a cue so good that YOU chose IT out of hundreds of sticks so trying to knock 5-10% off the price would be an insult IMO.
Click to expand...

I like this process, and also that of the OP. Both demonstrate good thought put into the buying/selling process.
 
A team mate went into the local PH to buy a cue. The owner asked how much he wanted to spend and just to be funny he said that he wanted to buy the most expensive cue he had. The owner said I have the cue you are looking for. Came back with a cue and said "Here is a $12,000 cue try it out." The guy then admitted that he was just joking and wasn't interested in anything that expensive. The owner insisted that he try it as long as he had it out and for him to feel what a real expensive cue felt like. The guy tried it and was then asked what he thought. He said it was nice but couldn't afford it. The owner asked if I make you a deal would you buy it and the guy said yeah if it was $200 I would. The owner said then I guess you got a cue because it is only $125.
 
I have a different system. Every couple of years I decide that I can't shoot very well because my cue is lousy. Then I go to the cue store and I buy one for around $200 based purely on the way it looks. Then I repeat this process. It's not a great system.
 
conetip said:
A friend just bought a new snooker cue.
At the place he bought it from, the guy asked him his budget. He said anything under 1200.
So the sales rep just got a selection of cues with no prices and said just play.They played for about 4 hours with various cues.In the end the cue he really liked was only 120. Keep in mind the price was not available to him until he chose a cue.
Initially I thought what a waste of time.But the company is getting alot of good recomendation and honest no pressure sales staff.
Click to expand...

So which cue did he choose...?
 
I think this is great, and if the seller is honest, even better, however I do know a few who would leave the cues unpriced, and let you shoot with all o decide. Then, if they knew your budget was $1200, they would mark the cue way high to make the most money they could just because they could.
 
I like this salesman and wish his store was close by.....but lets get into a real world situation here......If I go into Billiards supply in Memphis....and ask to play for 3-4 hrs with a variety of cues......I'm gonna get run off quickly. The salesman is gonna say......hey,I cant let you chalk and play with 20 brand new cues.....if you play with them they are no longer new.
What I will do is let you use some of our house cues to determine which weight you prefer.....then you can choose one off the wall that meets your price restrictions. Honestly, how many suppliers will allow you to play with brand new cues????
 
danquixote said:
I like this salesman and wish his store was close by.....but lets get into a real world situation here......If I go into Billiards supply in Memphis....and ask to play for 3-4 hrs with a variety of cues......I'm gonna get run off quickly. The salesman is gonna say......hey,I cant let you chalk and play with 20 brand new cues.....if you play with them they are no longer new.
What I will do is let you use some of our house cues to determine which weight you prefer.....then you can choose one off the wall that meets your price restrictions. Honestly, how many suppliers will allow you to play with brand new cues????
Click to expand...

That is a good point. But most of their cues have chalk on them. If you are not happy with that,they just retip it and charge you for the new tip of your choice.As it was told to me, how do you know it is a good cue when it has never been played.
 
Wrong! Pick a cue based on looks and then worry about the price. What is wrong with people :scratchhead:
 
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