I talked with someone high up in a cue company at the Expo and they had a Jeanette Lee line of cues years ago and it didn't do anything to help them sell more cues.
Meucci has lost two pros in the past month
- Thread starter KAP1976
- Start date
I know that the solid white Earl Strickland model Cuetec cue sold well.
I've seen tons of them around for years.
My guess is that it is hit and miss with companies.
My first cue was either an Earl or Allison Cuetec (I can't recall which, but it was white). I got it because I could afford it and it was the only cue company name I knew at the time (from seeing it on TV while they played. I knew it wasn't a high end cue, or the same as what they were using, but I was just starting, could afford it, and recognized it.
This was in about '98.
This was in about '98.
I think the warping issue with Meucci may be somewhat overblown. I have a 30 year old Meucci sneaky and a 5 year old Meucci with a black dot shaft, neither of which show any signs of warping at all. The sneaky has spent most of its life in the trunk of my car in ambient temps ranging from -35f to +105f. I also have older Viking, Schmelke, and Sailor cues, as well as a newer Pechauer, and my favorite hit is still the Meucci sneaky.
I think the law of diffusion of innovation is at play (basic bell curve). The top 15% of early adopters will consider a pool cue based off what is new and buzz worthy. They will consider what the pros use. The next 35% of early majority won’t know what the pros use but they will know the brand names the early adopters use and talk about. The next 35% of late majority are similar but they are going to wait until things are fairly mainstream. The last 15% of laggards will stick with what they’ve always known and loved and aren’t interested in trying anything new regardless.
The early adopters are the key. They are what opens the door to getting access to the early and late majority. That’s why a cuemaker wants the endorsement of pros. That first 15% of eager beavers set it all in motion.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
The early adopters are the key. They are what opens the door to getting access to the early and late majority. That’s why a cuemaker wants the endorsement of pros. That first 15% of eager beavers set it all in motion.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Last edited:
Although I am one of those rare lovers of Meuccis, I'll have to disagree here. I believe you are right with what you are saying there about people like you and me. To openly state that you play with a Meucci may be somewhat heroic here in this forum. However, I believe there are way too many people who buy cues - no matter what brand - because some Pro/famous person is playing with it.
Let's take Predator as an example and this is not limited to the Revo. This company has excellent marketing strategies. They don't deal out their cues to pros without expecting to sell more to the general public.
People fall for so much crap in advertising. In pool cues, it may not be so obvious as in other walks of life or articles you need daily like food. Why are so many people buying brands? Blindfold them and let them try el cheapo stuff vs. expensive stuff and you will always see there is usually a very high percentage of people who don't have a clue why they bought brand X over the cheap stuff since in a blind test they actually liked the other brand or the cheap stuff better. Have enough samples to try and you will get astonishing results. They don't even recognize the highly prized stuff they ate for years in many cases.
The same applies to celebrities - in pool as in other walks of life. Imagine a significant proportion of first-rate pros switching to some underrated brand - from Predator. Don't you think that the formerly underrated brand would dramatically increase their sales? Were Predators when they started their rise in the market really such outstanding cues or rather was the herd just following the lead sheep? I can't believe that so many people would really choose a Predator (or a Meucci back in the 80's) if you put a "Chinacue" or some other label on them. Even if that was the currently "best" cue in the world.
They will buy the Predator (even if you hide a $ 30 housecue with corresponding quality) under their label. Not everybody, but most of the followers of the "crazes". The Apple IPhone was (and in some ways still is) an excellent example of that too. It was the most expensive phone for quite a while, you couldn't change the batteries normally and it lacked a few great features cheaper phones had - still, the "important" people needed to have one. So, they followed the other "important" and wealthy people even if they could barely afford one. Same with cues.
And then you see a significant percentage of winners of tournaments playing with a certain brand. Imagine the top 10 players switching to Players cues. I bet you any amount that Players' sales would skyrocket. Not everyone is going to fall for that but a very significant percentage will.
Yup. That's sponsorship for ya:
1) A company gives you a cue stick
2) Play with said cue stick
3) Say (at a minimum) it's a great cue stick
4) Stay on (above) script and don't get into trouble
Now, in all fairness to anyone who gets a sponsor.
YOU GOTTA EARN IT TO EVEN GET TO THAT POINT.
:thumbup:
Well... I said I don't believe people buy cues because Mr/Ms Celebrity use them because I want to have faith in people! I want to believe that people have common sense and are not easily swayed by BS!
And now, after reading your post, I am crushed.
I am C R U S H E D ! ! ! :sad:
But... you play with a Meucci so I consider you my brother and as such, I forgive you.
Some more marketing concepts apply fairly straightforward.
Functional Value: This type of value is what an offer does, it's the solution an offer provides to the customer.
Functionally there is basic performance which all cues are fine at. You can get a cheap cue that’s good enough.
But the rest is really about perceived value that drives up price and interest. There are minor performance aspects that people appreciate, e.g. pro taper and low deflection. There are conveniences too, e.g. smoothness, two piece, quick release joint, carbon fiber won’t warp/ding, etc. The special layered tip will be more consistent and less likely to mushroom. Whatever.
Social Value: The extent to which owning a product or engaging in a service allows the consumer to connect with others.
Having the newest buzz worthy cue or what a pro uses can draw interest in the cue from others. They might ask to hit it. You can tell them stories about who made it, how it was made, when it was made, what pros use it, etc.
Psychological Value: The extent to which a product allows consumers to express themselves or feel better.
Knowing you use the same stick as a pro might make you feel connected to them. It might give confidence that the stick is certainly good enough. You might take pride knowing the stick is pretty with intricate inlays and points. Or the hit of the stick may make you feel better using it.
In the end vanity and convenience drives most incentives to pay more for perceived value. And whether it is a car, cue or socks...if you have the discretionary spending to afford it, you just might choose a product above the bottom shelf.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Functional Value: This type of value is what an offer does, it's the solution an offer provides to the customer.
Functionally there is basic performance which all cues are fine at. You can get a cheap cue that’s good enough.
But the rest is really about perceived value that drives up price and interest. There are minor performance aspects that people appreciate, e.g. pro taper and low deflection. There are conveniences too, e.g. smoothness, two piece, quick release joint, carbon fiber won’t warp/ding, etc. The special layered tip will be more consistent and less likely to mushroom. Whatever.
Social Value: The extent to which owning a product or engaging in a service allows the consumer to connect with others.
Having the newest buzz worthy cue or what a pro uses can draw interest in the cue from others. They might ask to hit it. You can tell them stories about who made it, how it was made, when it was made, what pros use it, etc.
Psychological Value: The extent to which a product allows consumers to express themselves or feel better.
Knowing you use the same stick as a pro might make you feel connected to them. It might give confidence that the stick is certainly good enough. You might take pride knowing the stick is pretty with intricate inlays and points. Or the hit of the stick may make you feel better using it.
In the end vanity and convenience drives most incentives to pay more for perceived value. And whether it is a car, cue or socks...if you have the discretionary spending to afford it, you just might choose a product above the bottom shelf.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Gotta love Jose. :yeah:
When I was at the SBE this year I really wanted to try out the new Predator and Meucci Pro shafts and maybe but a Bob Meucci custom. The Predator people couldn't have been nicer, let me try everything for as long as I wanted.
At the Meucci booth they wouldn't give you the time of day, like they weren't even trying to sell anything. It was always the same Meucci people playing pool and shooting the shit with each other. I went back 4 times and got the same result. Needless to say my brief infatuation with getting a Meucci is now over.
At the Meucci booth they wouldn't give you the time of day, like they weren't even trying to sell anything. It was always the same Meucci people playing pool and shooting the shit with each other. I went back 4 times and got the same result. Needless to say my brief infatuation with getting a Meucci is now over.
That's too bad. All kidding aside, to me ( and I really don't care what anyone else thinks to the contrary ), Meuccis are great cues. Just goes to show how important first impressions are and also how important it is to have the right people representing your business.
That's weird, I was at the Meucci booth most of Thursday and Saturday and Chris was helping any customer that came over.