Over-priced Cues - your opinion please!

hdgis1

hdgis1

New member
All things being equal - Why does one cue maker get away with charging "$2600 for a joint and a signature" and another barely makes enough to pay for materials?

Furthermore, when one pays for a cue, should they then expect that cue to be what they were expecting? Overpriced or not. Playing cue or collecting cue. (Funny there is even a distinction) Does the consumer have the right to be honked off when their expectations are not met?

Tell me what you think. Though watch out for the cue making god on this forum. He may take offense...
 
Quite a bit of difference between an asking price and a selling price.

I think we all have our own value and should not stoop below that value.

I also don't think you are paying "$2600 for a joint and a signature"
I believe that your are paying for that cuemakers years of experience.
That's why his product is right the first time you see it.....SPF=randyg
 
I am not a cue expert, but I will give my opinion. Just paintings why are some paintings worth millions of dollars, while others are not worth the canvas they are painted on. Some cue makers are respected for their artistic abilities. Other cues are sought for their playability.
Let's put aside the cost of materials. If you go to a place like Valley Forge in March you will see many cues from many different cue makers. Last year I saw a cue which was on display, but already sold. It sold for $140,000. All those zeroes are not mistake. I thought the $90,000 was nicer in looks. These were works of art. Right now there is no market for cues. If they were bought as an investment I don't see how any profit will be made. If they were bought just for the art and to be put on display then good for them for being able to put out that kind of money.
Playability is a personal preference. Everyone likes a different feel. If a particular cue is in demand then the value and price go up.
 
There are some incredible craftsmen, ARTISTS out there, and there are some who build great playing cues for very reasonable prices. I don't mean to belittle their work in any way.

Pricing is simply about status, and demand.

If you wanna make $100k building cues, build 100 and charge $1000 or build 1000 and charge $100. What can you GET for the cue you built?

Back when I started Richard Black was spoken of in reverent, hushed tones, Miz played with one and you had to handle them with white gloves and avert your eyes.

A few years later and they've fallen out of favor and you can buy a nice player 4-point for less than new.

I can't figure it out.

I do know the economy is crazy, and cue prices and buyers are fickle. Buy what you want to PLAY with so if you get stuck with your "$8k wrapless full splice conversion" aka sneaky pete.... you'll get some use out of it.

The rest is just paying $400 for a $40 "Coach" bag, cuz it says "Coach".
 
DoubleD said:
Free-market, supply and demand.

The fallacy with your question is that you want all things to be equal--they never are. A lot of people want a Scruggs, but a lot of people can afford a Lucasi.

If you are attempting to flame someone, or point out some kind of unfairness, why don't you just man up and say what is on your mind?

Nobody 'gets away' with anything. High-priced cues aren't forced upon anyone. I've only ever been to two places that don't have cues just hanging on the wall--Free (just like the umbrella's at restaurants).
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Nope. I'm not trying to flame anyone. As for saying what is on my mind (here comes the negative rep!), I have said it before - No cue (except maybe from god himself) is worth $4000! I dont care whose signature is on it. How's that...
 
ScottR said:
Who is the cue making God on this forum? I want to meet him.

Scott
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Scott

I'm thinking the OP is looking to slam someone so I'll weigh in before it gets ugly.

Son of god - Barry S. a sometimes poster who is way to smart too weigh in on discussions.

New god - Dennis Searing

Sat at the right hand of god -would be Joel, although I'm sure if he is a member or not.

False gods - Eddie Wheat or Kevin Varney depending

among non-forum members:

Buddha - Tad

Columbian god (as opposed to a pre-Columbian god) - Ernie

Kevin
 
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You are paying for the hit, balance and overall playability. When you buy a McDermott one in a hundred with have the great hit, balance and overall playabiltiy. When you buy a Paul Mottey cue you can rest assured all of his cues have an outstanding hit, balance and overall playability. The outsanding play of Mottey cues only comes with years and years of cuemaking experience and the attention to the tinest details that makes these cues standout from other cues.

This is just one cue maker of several others that command a high price.
 
Hey good buddy, there's more than a few catch phrases that'll work here-- supply and demand, if you build it, they will come, etc.
Most discerning buyers can recognize value, be it $400 or $4000. It's what the market will bear.
 
Let me be clear on this - I am not trying to bash anyone. Someone on here has taken it upon themselves to negative rep me every time I even think about mentioning my opinion about cue prices and I simply want to know what the rest of the community thinks. If I come anywhere close to bashing anyone, you can read about it in "The Dark Side of Cuemaking"...

kvinbrwr said:
Scott

I'm thinking the OP is looking to slam someone so I'll weigh in before it gets ugly.

Son of god - Barry S. a sometimes poster who is way to smart to weigh in on discussions.

New god - Dennis Searing

Sat at the right hand of god -would be Joel, although I'm sure if he is a member or not.

False gods - Eddie Wheat or Kevin Varney depending

Kevin
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I like your list...Kind of sets things right for me. Mayhaps I spoke incorrectly then.
 
It comes down to if you don't wanna pay for what they are going for , don't buy it and don't worry about what they are asking for a cue. A price is set because the cuemaker must be able to get that price $ for the cue or he would lower the price so he can sell it. There alot of highly saud after cuemakers out there and if you don't wanna pay the prices, apparenly someone else will and do !! Supply and demand !!<< jmo<<ED
 
kvinbrwr said:
Scott

I'm thinking the OP is looking to slam someone so I'll weigh in before it gets ugly.

Son of god - Barry S. a sometimes poster who is way to smart to weigh in on discussions.

New god - Dennis Searing

Sat at the right hand of god -would be Joel, although I'm sure if he is a member or not.

False gods - Eddie Wheat or Kevin Varney depending

Kevin
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Too funny, Kevin! Thanks for the laugh.

Scott <<== thinks Kevin's west coast friend might also qualify
 
hdgis1 said:
Nope. I'm not trying to flame anyone. As for saying what is on my mind (here comes the negative rep!), I have said it before - No cue (except maybe from god himself) is worth $4000! I dont care whose signature is on it. How's that...
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Is in your opinion an original Picasso worth millions when you can buy a print of it for $20? A good deal of mass produced cues are inspired by the work done by the custom cue makers. So in a way, when you buy the Lucasi cue you are in a way buying a "print" of much more expensive cue...

And there are also people who think spending millions on a painting is crazy.

Brian
 
hdgis1 said:
All things being equal - Why does one cue maker get away with charging "$2600 for a joint and a signature" and another barely makes enough to pay for materials?

Furthermore, when one pays for a cue, should they then expect that cue to be what they were expecting? Overpriced or not. Playing cue or collecting cue. (Funny there is even a distinction) Does the consumer have the right to be honked off when their expectations are not met?

Tell me what you think. Though watch out for the cue making god on this forum. He may take offense...
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Of course you think it is illogical, look at your jump-off point. There's your problem: how can 'all things be equal'?

You started out with an untruth then ran with it. Send more money now!
 
hdgis1 said:
All things being equal - Why does one cue maker get away with charging "$2600 for a joint and a signature" and another barely makes enough to pay for materials?

Furthermore, when one pays for a cue, should they then expect that cue to be what they were expecting? Overpriced or not. Playing cue or collecting cue. (Funny there is even a distinction) Does the consumer have the right to be honked off when their expectations are not met?

Tell me what you think. Though watch out for the cue making god on this forum. He may take offense...
Click to expand...


The $2600 cue maker started out making the $260 entry level custom cue you see on here.....actually, with inflation, he was probably getting much less for his work.....over time, word got around about the quality of his work, the way the cue played, the consistency, and overall value he provided for his customers.....now people pay $2600 because they know the work is top notch, the quality is there, the playability, the attention to detail....

It's kinda like the difference between Mercedes and Kia.....Kia actually makes a good car these days.....but, if your Mercedes is in the shop, they give you a Mercedes for a loaner.....the fit and finish is much better than the Kia, the lines are better, and the performance is more.....also, you feel much safer doing 120mph in the Mercedes....

There are a number of great starting custom cue makers on this site.....and some provide one hell of a cue for $300....and someday, that same work will likely cost you $2k......but those are few and far between....many will go other directions....they'll do something else, or sell off their business to a mass producer, or continue to make affordable cues....but a rare few will get a reputation for great service, a great hit, and extreme value for the dollar....those guys will eventually get the big dollars, and they deserve it.....
 
hdgis1 said:
Let me be clear on this - I am not trying to bash anyone. Someone on here has taken it upon themselves to negative rep me every time I even think about mentioning my opinion
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I did not read the thread you mentioned... REP TO YOU for having an opinion. Sorry if u got red repped by the cattle that may not agree, or respect that you are allowed to think and ask question things on ur own. Seems there's too much of that here at times.

Please continue think, and have an opinion.

hdgis1 said:
Kind of sets things right for me. Mayhaps I spoke incorrectly then.
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There is no "incorrectly" when you are just offering opinion or asking for opinion.

Speak & ask freely, IMO... At times this forum could use less people tip toeing around personal opinions or questions that are outside of "the popular main stream" for sake of upsetting the apple cart (ie; "hiearchy").

I have opinions, sometimes they maybe outside of what most people here think or at least want to say out loud. Sometimes, I get angry at myself for feeling like I can't share them. I think other people here fight with this too.

Rep to you.
 
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