Moori tips and Preador shafts ...

WilleeCue

WilleeCue

The Barefoot Cuemaker
Silver Member
What is up with this?

If the old Morri tips and the original Predator shafts are considered to be better than the ones currently available today why did they change them and why dont they go back to making them like they did?

Is production numbers or cost a factor?
 
Willee,
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say IMHO, it's all about the money. Predator didn't move to China because they have a higher skilled work force. They did it because the Chinese will work cheaper. This translates to higher profit. One problem I've encountered because of this is that the Chinese are too rigid in their manufacturing processes. For example, you can no longer get a 30" Predator partial shaft. They now are all 29.625", no deviation. While this works well for Predator as far as shafts for their own cues, it leaves the custom builder in a bind. The buyer who wants a 30" Predator shaft for their sneaky is out of luck. Predator is aware of this but the money is with the mass market.

There was a time when Moori San had the best tip in the world and he knew it. He didn't have to resort to discount pricing to move his product. People wanted them and were willing to pay the price to have the best. Moori San was not going to lower his price, not even for Predator. During the run of the gen1 shafts, Moori was the only tip offered as an option from the factory. Predator then went to Tiger and got a better price on the Everest. Again, more profit.

IMO, the gen1 & gen2 partials are very much the same except for the length, tip & ferrule. The basic wood body of the shaft is the same. I've been told and I don't know how true it is, that Moori San sold his company. That's why the tips are different, Moori San doesn't make them anymore. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
it seems like Pred went to China and raised their prices,when maybe they should have stayed them same or lowered them since the labor is so cheap.
 
masonh said:
it seems like Pred went to China and raised their prices,when maybe they should have stayed them same or lowered them since the labor is so cheap.
Click to expand...

Yes, but some people want to be a millionaire ... tomorrow ... not next week :grin:
 
you're right.i also know a shaft supplier that claims Pred owes him a big figure.i hope that wouldn't stoop to that level.i don't know both sides of the story but it is one of those deals where the guy has no reason to lie so you have to pay attention to it.
 
masonh said:
it seems like Pred went to China and raised their prices,when maybe they should have stayed them same or lowered them since the labor is so cheap.
Click to expand...

While Predator moved their MANUFACTURING to China, they are still a US company and as such, are paid in US dollars. Since the value of the US dollar has fallen, Predator had to raise prices to compensate, to make the same as they were before the fall. This is a great strategy if you can pull it off. The price increase doesn't hurt buyers in other countries particularly if their currency is valued higher than the US dollar. Don't forget, Predator sells to the global market.

This whole devaluation thing has caused me to consider doing exactly the same thing, raising my prices. A lot of my cues are sold to the overseas market, Japan, Middle East, etc. Those buyers are in effect getting a discount because I'm also paid in US dollars. Since I spend my money in this country, where it is valued the least, I'm now getting less for my hard-earned money.

The valuation of any currency used to be, how much gold would it buy. The world was on the gold standard. Today, it's how much oil will it buy. Oil is the new gold.
 
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While Predator moved their MANUFACTURING to China, they are still a US company and as such, are paid in US dollars. Since the value of the US dollar has fallen, Predator had to raise prices to compensate, to make the same as they were before the fall. This is a great strategy if you can pull it off. The price increase doesn't hurt buyers in other countries particularly if their currency is valued higher than the US dollar. Don't forget, Predator sells to the global market.

This whole devaluation thing has caused me to consider doing exactly the same thing, raising my prices. A lot of my cues are sold to the overseas market, Japan, Middle East, etc. Those buyers are in effect getting a discount because I'm also paid in US dollars. Since I spend my money in this country, where it is valued the least, I'm now getting less for my hard-earned money.

The valuation of any currency used to be, how much gold would it buy. The world was on the gold standard. Today, it's how much oil will it buy. Oil is the new gold.
Click to expand...


makes sense.
 
that seems to make sense but i figured a company as big as predator would be in it for the long haul. raising their prices breaks them even for now but they'll probably make a decent chunk of change when the dollar regains some/all of it's strength.

i think they just got too greedy
 
I convert around 25 Predator shafts a year to fit mine and others cues. I feel the newer shafts are an improvement over the old. The ferrule is easier to work with and the shaft now comes with a Everest tip instead of a LePro. The only problem I have with them is the decals. Now, I just buy the unfinished blanks, not the completed with the insert and deco-ring but the price that I pay is exactly the same as I payed before the move. I've got no complaints what-so-ever.

Dick
 
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