made in china
- Thread starter tom haney
- Start date
hondo said:
Fury, Nick Varner, Cuetec off the top of my head. I'm sure many others.
hondo said:
Stiff hit IMO. I had one. I liked the hit but the taper was a bit too thick for my tastes.
Wally in Cincy said:
This is a little bit off-topic, but a few years ago I bought a Helmstetter cue from the US. The finish on the shaft was too thick and sticky and the taper was a little bit too thich for me. The hit was very stiff and dull. I decided to have the shaft turned down a bit and make the taper longer. The change made the cue play surprisingly well, it was still quite stiff but had definitely more feel. I was amazed. I used the cue for a while to shoot billiards before one player tried it and wanted to buy it so I cashed in the cue
What my point is, it's not wrong to make changes on your cue if it doesn't feel right in the first place. With slight modifications, you can make an ok cue much better.
Made in China -tag sure doesn't attract me. Bleh.
hondo said:
I own a Lucasi break/jump cue and think it's great, especially for the money. IMO, there's nothing wrong with getting a cue that's made outside the US, especially when you consider that Efren Reyes, Jose Parica and Francisco Bustamante were all Made In The Philippines. We play an international sport. It's no surprise to me that solid products are going to surface all over the world. If you're going to let politics dictate what you carry in your case, that's your prerogative and I have a lot of respect for that but that just isn't me.
Add 5280, Scorpion, Palmer, Sigel Cues, Varner Cues and most other "private" label cues. There are no veneers or inlays on most of them. They are decals that eventually peel or scratch off. This says nothing about the hit. Only where the cue is constructed and the "retail" price in relation to an American made cue.
I've mentioned to most of the major American cue makers that they, in general, do a poor job of educating the NEW player why they should spend more for a better cue. Some are looking at adding a line of imported cues. Major manufacturers like Schon, Joss, Viking, Falcon, McDermott make great playing, modestly priced cues. They leave it to their dealers to educate the new player. It ain't going to happen! Most counter people know less than the people they trying to sell to. There will always be a Schick, McWorter, Gina, etc. Some people demand quality and are willing to pay for it.
I've mentioned to most of the major American cue makers that they, in general, do a poor job of educating the NEW player why they should spend more for a better cue. Some are looking at adding a line of imported cues. Major manufacturers like Schon, Joss, Viking, Falcon, McDermott make great playing, modestly priced cues. They leave it to their dealers to educate the new player. It ain't going to happen! Most counter people know less than the people they trying to sell to. There will always be a Schick, McWorter, Gina, etc. Some people demand quality and are willing to pay for it.
cardiac kid said:
Unfortunately, unless you're going out of your way to hire a poolplayer to sell cues, this is often the case. I'm actually surprised when a retailer can tell me something I didn't already. On top of that, the bottom line is, the majority of people who buy cues out there, don't know what the hell they're buying anyway. Seriously, they're buying cues because of asthetics or price (and usually a little of both).
I sold cues while working at a poolroom for a couple of years and I have to say, I was AMAZED by how quickly the flashy looking mass-produced cues would sell over the handmade pro-caliber models. You can "educate" all you want, the bottom line is this, people have a set budget that they're always going to work within. Once that's established, they're going to pick the one they think is pretty. It's that simple. The majority of cue-buyers have little to no interest in having the best playing cue on the planet. They simply want something that makes them look like a pool player.
Sales dictate everything. If you have a genuine concern for the American cue-maker, then perhaps they should learn something from their competition. Perhaps cue-makers should consider cheaper alternatives that are still asthetically pleasing and if decals are the answer, so be it. But let us not forget the order in which the market works. The buyer tells the dealer what he wants, not the other way around.
mjantti said:This is a little bit off-topic, but a few years ago I bought a Helmstetter cue from the US. The finish on the shaft was too thick and sticky and the taper was a little bit too thich for me. The hit was very stiff and dull. I decided to have the shaft turned down a bit and make the taper longer. The change made the cue play surprisingly well, it was still quite stiff but had definitely more feel. I was amazed. I used the cue for a while to shoot billiards before one player tried it and wanted to buy it so I cashed in the cue
What my point is, it's not wrong to make changes on your cue if it doesn't feel right in the first place. With slight modifications, you can make an ok cue much better.
Made in China -tag sure doesn't attract me. Bleh.
Well it may surprise you that all the Helmstetter, Adam, Balabushka (signed), cues from competition sport are all made in Japan, or China I believe. To be honest some of the product is ok. Instrokes are made overseas, as well as many other items. Some good, some bad. Doesn't seem to bother people who like Moori tips.
Joe
Good point Classiccues! You can grab something off of/out of your work desk and look at that item. About 95% of what is on/in your desk is NOT made in the USA, but overseas. Some good things are made overseas, some are not! Instroke and Moori are two prime examples in our industry.
Zim
Zim
Hi Jude,
Points well made. I spent almost half of my thirty seven years in the home electronics business on the retail floor. I always offered the customer the best products we offered first. As most consumers LIE about their budgets, I found most really wanted a good mix of both quality and value. Not just cheap! It took more than five minutes to do but, we offered a customer education area in our store. We took one of our quality components apart and sat it next to a Sony, JVC, etc. We explained about power supplies, heat sinks, etc and how it affected sound and reliability. Obviously, not all customers bought from our store. We did our best. At least we tried!
I suggested to some cue manufacturers to offer their dealers a modest kit. Perhaps a forearm, butt section, joint, etc from one of their products and a similar one from an imported cue. Perhaps a video tape of one of their cues in production. It may be a waste of time, but it sure cost the American home audio companies more. They are virtually all out of business. Yes there are a few still open. The market for their products can be compared to the number of Gina Cues sold each year. All the rest are from South East Asia. Not many Americans working there.
Points well made. I spent almost half of my thirty seven years in the home electronics business on the retail floor. I always offered the customer the best products we offered first. As most consumers LIE about their budgets, I found most really wanted a good mix of both quality and value. Not just cheap! It took more than five minutes to do but, we offered a customer education area in our store. We took one of our quality components apart and sat it next to a Sony, JVC, etc. We explained about power supplies, heat sinks, etc and how it affected sound and reliability. Obviously, not all customers bought from our store. We did our best. At least we tried!
I suggested to some cue manufacturers to offer their dealers a modest kit. Perhaps a forearm, butt section, joint, etc from one of their products and a similar one from an imported cue. Perhaps a video tape of one of their cues in production. It may be a waste of time, but it sure cost the American home audio companies more. They are virtually all out of business. Yes there are a few still open. The market for their products can be compared to the number of Gina Cues sold each year. All the rest are from South East Asia. Not many Americans working there.
classiccues said:Well it may surprise you that all the Helmstetter, Adam, Balabushka (signed), cues from competition sport are all made in Japan, or China I believe. To be honest some of the product is ok. Instrokes are made overseas, as well as many other items. Some good, some bad. Doesn't seem to bother people who like Moori tips.
Joe
Yes, true. Actually when talking about... umm, for instance cars, many cars aren't built where they are claimed to be built. The components are produced elsewhere and the final assembly is done in the country mentioned in the "made in X" tag. If 30% of parts are made in China, 40% in Japan and 30% in Germany and then the final assembly is done in UK, what difference does the "made in X" tag make except creating an image of a product made in some country.
IMHO, there is a great difference in imago of the product when comparing "made in China" and "made in Japan" -tags. That's why I don't see Japanese products inferior to many domestic ones. Moori tip is a good example. And there are many very skillful Japanese cuemakers. Name one skillful Chinese cuemaker
mjantti said:Yes, true. Actually when talking about... umm, for instance cars, many cars aren't built where they are claimed to be built. The components are produced elsewhere and the final assembly is done in the country mentioned in the "made in X" tag. If 30% of parts are made in China, 40% in Japan and 30% in Germany and then the final assembly is done in UK, what difference does the "made in X" tag make except creating an image of a product made in some country.
IMHO, there is a great difference in imago of the product when comparing "made in China" and "made in Japan" -tags. That's why I don't see Japanese products inferior to many domestic ones. Moori tip is a good example. And there are many very skillful Japanese cuemakers. Name one skillful Chinese cuemaker
Um, China is a socialist country. I don't think you're going to find very many Chinese cuemakers shipping cues overseas.
cardiac kid said:
Pechauer had a nice poster for their dealers with a cutaway view of their construction.
Jude Rosenstock said:
My point was, that many people think that a product made in Asia will automatically make an inferior product. People can't make a difference between a product made in Japan and China. Recently in a thread about Mezz cues some people were hesitant over the quality of a Japanese cuebrand.
OldHasBeen
Tom Ferry
Love My Lucasi!
Buddy turned me on to a Lucasi about 2 years ago when he was endorsing them. I needed a cue as my 42-year-old Balabushka is way too valuable to play with and it is now in a Safety Deposit Box.
I found the Lucasi style I liked on eBay and won it for $89. I LOVE IT.
I have a soft mori tip and the cue hits as solid as my Balabushka that Buddy says is one of the sweetest hitting cue he has ever played with.
They may be manufactured in China but I doubt they are engineered and designed there.
TY & GL
Buddy turned me on to a Lucasi about 2 years ago when he was endorsing them. I needed a cue as my 42-year-old Balabushka is way too valuable to play with and it is now in a Safety Deposit Box.
I found the Lucasi style I liked on eBay and won it for $89. I LOVE IT.
I have a soft mori tip and the cue hits as solid as my Balabushka that Buddy says is one of the sweetest hitting cue he has ever played with.
They may be manufactured in China but I doubt they are engineered and designed there.
TY & GL
lucasi
Playing cues are not to bad, as for jump break....i have seen two that in my opinion were crap, the seating on the joints were poor, threading rubbed, and the hit was hollow and unproductive. Their regular cues are not bad for the money, which shouldnt be much.
Playing cues are not to bad, as for jump break....i have seen two that in my opinion were crap, the seating on the joints were poor, threading rubbed, and the hit was hollow and unproductive. Their regular cues are not bad for the money, which shouldnt be much.
I own/run a game room, can't count the number of Lucasi's I've sold in the 2 years we've been in business,,, IMHO, for the fit, finish, & price, there's no comparison,,,
"made in china" doesn't necessarily mean what most people think,,, probably means made in 'taiwan' since items from taiwan must be labled "made in china" now,,, as for the name 'Lucasi', it's a take-off of the guy's last name, "Lucas"...Lucasi sounds/rings better than Lucas, don't you think ? although I can't find hard evidence, I believe some of Lucasi's cues are made by www.adam-japan.com ,,,either that or there is a lot of design copying in that part of the world,,,,,,,,
"made in china" doesn't necessarily mean what most people think,,, probably means made in 'taiwan' since items from taiwan must be labled "made in china" now,,, as for the name 'Lucasi', it's a take-off of the guy's last name, "Lucas"...Lucasi sounds/rings better than Lucas, don't you think ? although I can't find hard evidence, I believe some of Lucasi's cues are made by www.adam-japan.com ,,,either that or there is a lot of design copying in that part of the world,,,,,,,,
Jack Flanagan said:
Small detail: people in Taiwan think they are not part of China, sometimes referred as ROC, Republic of China, but not China. I think all or most of the products made in Taiwan will be labeled as made in Taiwan.
Hong Kong was officially handed over to China from the Brits a few years ago.
But you made an important point, everything what comes from China is not necessarily with inferior quality.