Jump Cue Jump Break Cue Who makes the best???

[X Breaker]

Richard,
The name Bunjee is in the cue because it is a line of cues I am building fo Bunjee. I am also part owner of Bunjee Billiards. Thanks for the compliments
about the cue also.

Thanks Again,

Steve

Steve,
You have done a great job on those leather wraps. I met you and tried your cues in Vegas, they hit very solid. The leather wrap was brown alligator if I remember correctly.
You had a phenolic ferrule and then another phenolic tip on top of the ferrule with a laminated shaft if memory serves me right. I think you told me the butt was also laminated or cored with a laminated core--I am sorry I cannot remember which one it was.
Best wishes,
Richard

 

[shinobi]

I don't understand why you would feel that way.

It's not how I feel -- It's just simple economics. If the X-Breaker cost less than $350, more people would buy it. Conversely...Fury, Sledgehammer, and Predator would all sell fewer break cues if they raised their prices.

Like someone else said, there is so much competition these days with jump/break cues which perform extremely well. When you find something that works well for you, there isn't a lot of motivation to buy another product which costs more money even if you know the product is a little better.

Think about Sony Betamax versus VHS. Betamax had a clearer picture and sound (especially with the Hifi add-on option) but it cost more money. Most people considered VHS more than adequate, and VHS sold so well that Betamax went out of business. Sony probably didn't understand why people would choose the format with inferior picture and sound, but it was economics. Later, Super VHS came about to fill the niche for people who did demand a better format.

In this case, it's even more difficult to justify spending the money because it isn't obvious whether or not the X-Breaker is superior. It may or may not be -- but it's a new product which has not been bought (and heavily reviewed) by several members here. Maybe over the next few months some better reviews will be posted, and maybe I'll decide it's worth it.

Actually, with regard to the price, if you are located in BC, Canada, you price would be USD$350 plus shipping plus 14% tax.

Hey, no friendly discount for the locals? In fact, an additional shipping charge and 14% tax? Boo... hiss!

 

[X Breaker]

It's not how I feel -- It's just simple economics. If the X-Breaker cost less than $350, more people would buy it. Conversely...Fury, Sledgehammer, and Predator would all sell fewer break cues if they raised their prices.

Like someone else said, there is so much competition these days with jump/break cues which perform extremely well. When you find something that works well for you, there isn't a lot of motivation to buy another product which costs more money even if you know the product is a little better.

Think about Sony Betamax versus VHS. Betamax had a clearer picture and sound (especially with the Hifi add-on option) but it cost more money. Most people considered VHS more than adequate, and VHS sold so well that Betamax went out of business. Sony probably didn't understand why people would choose the format with inferior picture and sound, but it was economics. Later, Super VHS came about to fill the niche for people who did demand a better format.

In this case, it's even more difficult to justify spending the money because it isn't obvious whether or not the X-Breaker is superior. It may or may not be -- but it's a new product which has not been bought (and heavily reviewed) by several members here. Maybe over the next few months some better reviews will be posted, and maybe I'll decide it's worth it.



Hey, no friendly discount for the locals? In fact, an additional shipping charge and 14% tax? Boo... hiss!

Actually, what you said about Sony vs VHS is true.

If you think their product is too expensive or not appealing to you in whatever way, it may be because you are not part of their target market to begin with. In other words, may be they never expect you to buy their goods. Or of course, they may have employed the wrong marketing mix.

The consumer behavior you have described is very common, it has to do with varies groups of consumers behaving differently during different stage of the product cycle.

Some believe the lower the price, the more units can be sold--since they equate the success of a business to the number of units sold--they believe that lowering the price would lead to better business.

If success of a business is measured in terms of the number of satisfied customers, then I have to respectfully disagree.

In the application of a marketing mix, a lot of novice focus on competing on price. Both consumers and business suffer dearly because of this. Usually, this would result in a drastic drop in quality and standards.

Thank you.

Richard

 

[shinobi]

What you say is true -- but I wasn't talking about the overall success of your business nor did I suggest you should lower the price. I said that if the price were lower, you'd likely sell more units. More specifically, I said that I'd be more inclined to buy one if the price was lower. I think we can both agree on that, heh.

I also said that the lack of reviews makes the higher price more difficult for me to justify. Of course if it costs more, but lots of people are saying "It is definitely worth it!" then that would alleviate some hesitation. I am aware of some positive comments about the cue, but of course there are many positive comments about the Sledgehammer, Predator BK, Stinger, etc as well. Not a useful comparison.

I agree that if I start to see it in the hands of many professional players that I would consider that a positive review. I will keep an eye on the pros.

I've owned a Bunjee Jumper, a Bunjee Jump Break Cue, a Predator BK, and two Sledgehammers. I think that proves I am not afraid to spend money on Jump/Break cues. The fact that we are even having this lengthy conversation shows I am interested in the X-Breaker, and it's just the honest truth that the price and lack of quality reviews is what has me hesitating. I doubt I'm the only one!

Of course, since we both see each other at the pool hall occasionally, I have a proposal. If you have some time, let's set up some practice breaks and jumps on one of the back tables with old cloth (he has some tables he is about to change the cloth on, so I don't think he will mind) and I will put it through its paces...and you can demonstrate some things to me.

Afterward, I would be happy to post an unbiased review of the X-Breaker on AZBilliards. If it performs well, I will sell one or both of my Sledgehammers on eBay and make the switch*

*After I make an effort to grind you down at least a little bit on the price for being a local

For those others who may be in a similar boat as I am, they might find it useful to see a review from someone who could meaningfully compare it with the Predator BK and Sledgehammer.

 

[X Breaker]

Thank you for being interested in the X Breaker.

May be you should wait till the X Breaker has reached the mature stage in the product cycle before you buy. It is in the introductory stage now. The X Breaker has only been around for about 2-3 months.

A lot of customers on my back order list are buying the X Breaker to use in the IPT, they trust that I will build them a cue which they can jump effortlessly as a full cue, and a cue which offer them control and power with their break--so, as you can imagine, I am really busy right now.

I certainly will not offer any discount to any particular customer because of his/her location. It is very unfair to all my customers if I do so. I only build about 4-5 cues a week now working full time. I hope you can understand that.

I also do not offer discount in exchange for a review in public--I do not need any such review; it is also unethnical to do so. Believe me, I have been asked and have turned down a lot of offers on this forum about this.

When my customers buy a X Breaker, they are buying it because they appreciate the quality. There are a lot of other products out there such as the ones you own now, which would fit your price range nicely. I hope you can find what you like.

See you in the pool hall.

Thank you.


Richard

 

[shinobi]

Richard,

I wasn't suggesting that you give me a discount to write a review. I wouldn't even have to buy a cue in order to write the review. It's your cue that we'd be using. We do some tests, and I write the review.

I realise you have never given any discounts, hence the winking smiley face.

 

[stevel]

Steve,
You have done a great job on those leather wraps. I met you and tried your cues in Vegas, they hit very solid. The leather wrap was brown alligator if I remember correctly.
You had a phenolic ferrule and then another phenolic tip on top of the ferrule with a laminated shaft if memory serves me right. I think you told me the butt was also laminated or cored with a laminated core--I am sorry I cannot remember which one it was.
Best wishes,
Richard

Richard,
All of the cues are cored with laminate cores and have laminated handles. The shafts are not laminated. The ferrules are phenolic and have a bunjee tip installed on the ferrule. Thanks for the comments on the wraps and the cue.

Steve