Hope this post stirs up some reactions. It amazes me that some people, who claim to love the game of pool, show such disrespect for the game and the billiard industry as a whole by offering new cues at highly discounted prices. For those of you that may be unaware, there is an unwritten rule by most cue manufactures asking that you do not sell their products for less than 20% off of retail and to that end the wholesale price is set accordingly. Most retailers adhere to that policy. However, with the ease at which anyone can set up a website, list on Ebay or billiard forums, unscrupulous individuals are seizing the opportunity to make some extra money by taking advantage of the normal pricing policy. Now don't take me wrong, I'm not against anyone trying to make an honest living, we all have that right, but do it on a level playing field. So who really loses here? Well the manufactures product is devalued in the eyes of the consumer, the retailers lose customer's trust and revenue, the local pool and pro shops lose much needed revenue ( some of which could be channeled into tournament prize money). In short, the industry loses, the players lose, the sport loses, WE ALL LOSE !
Overly discounted Pool Cues
- Thread starter LiLStick
- Start date
This is exactly why I sold all of my DP Cues! He's lowballing himself on eBay and I get screwed because I pay retail for a cue and then he devalues it by his business practices. I thought the cue played well but wanted nothing to do with him for this very reason!
cut shot said:No disrespect intended or implied but, if ABC offers a cue less than XYZ I am going to take it if its what I want!
A lot of pool rooms are guilty of that. They will even sell cues for their cost because they make their money off the tables and the few dollars they may make on the cue doesn't matter. In the long run this is bad for the cue company and they should cut off anyone who is doing this. It undermines the whole system and is unfair to the billiard supplier who depends on a profit from the cue.
cut shot said:
I go to school and work for the university and live right next to Billiards downtown!
Fair as far as I'm concerned. If tour lucky enough to pay a deeply discounted price, I say CONGRATS. Airlines fix prices, we don't need other businesses doing the same. If the price is still to high? Check off-shore. I'm sure their quality is improving rapidly. Now you saved some money you can buy that great flat panel TV, woops that's made off-shore to. OK so you do not have any money, or a job? Maybe you need to go off-shore to.macguy said:
LiLStick said:
You really need to quit listening to politicians ("level playing field???---give me a break!) and give yourself a lesson in economics...Your post is filled with many false premises, but your last sentence sums them up nicely by attempting to create victims out of all those who benefited by trade.
I suggest the site that Colin talked about a while back:
mises.org
Your answers can be found there as to who won by the trades you described in your post. It will take much work to understand, but as Murray Rothbard said: (I'm paraphrasing) "It's Ok to not understand the details of economics, but it is not OK for those with such ignorance to attempt to use economic arguments in a rational debate."
Sincerely,
Jeff Livingston
chefjeff said:
Sorry, I was too funny huh? The reality is that I am very familiar with off-shore stuff. I have employees over there. Before they struggled for money to buy food. Now they eat hot dogs. (another funny) They have a much better chance at life and the whole process will means that we all will benefit. The down side is the western economy affect on lower to middle class jobs throughout this very long process. And things will get very bad until each re-adjustment period.
This is exactly why I sold all of my DP Cues! He's lowballing himself on eBay and I get screwed because I pay retail for a cue and then he devalues it by his business practices. I thought the cue played well but wanted nothing to do with him for this very reason!
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Rackin_Zack
You paid retail? Surely you meant wholesale.
The wholesaler can't fix the price the retailer sells the item for because that is called price fixing.
Many manufacturers will sell their product for the "suggested retail price" to anyone who wants to buy directly from them. Of course this suggested retail price is well above the retail price that a dealer sets.
DP may just be unloading his overstock that dealers won't buy. And there the market sets the price. Some might go for well above his wholesale price.
You think selling cues is tough - try selling toy trains.
Jake
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Rackin_Zack
You paid retail? Surely you meant wholesale.
The wholesaler can't fix the price the retailer sells the item for because that is called price fixing.
Many manufacturers will sell their product for the "suggested retail price" to anyone who wants to buy directly from them. Of course this suggested retail price is well above the retail price that a dealer sets.
DP may just be unloading his overstock that dealers won't buy. And there the market sets the price. Some might go for well above his wholesale price.
You think selling cues is tough - try selling toy trains.
Jake
I've only paid full price for two cues and I've had a lot of cues. Not as many as some on here but over 2 dozen. I think for every cue I bought wholesale there was two people paying full price at the counter. The cues I bought from the poolroom at 45 percent off came right from the cuemaker so my buddy made a couple percent for his time showing them to me. What cheapens the industry can be seen on ebay and some other sites, cheap poorly made knock offs cashing in on a brand name. Unscrupulous? Ask Daytona Joe about that I think he's dealing with one right now.
Jake, you're right about toy trains man that is a cuthroat bussiness. What kind do you sell? I worked for an importer of LGB for4 years starting 1990.
Andy
Jake, you're right about toy trains man that is a cuthroat bussiness. What kind do you sell? I worked for an importer of LGB for4 years starting 1990.
Andy
I personally don't have a problem with cue prices, because i wouldn't buy a cue that's off the shelf, too superficial. I think a cue is a piece of art, it should be very personalized. If i'm going to get a cue, i would want to have some sort of conversation or interaction with the cuemaker, and have a unique cue made for me. That makes the cue much more special. I know it's more expensive to do these one-off cues, but if i can't afford say a custom Ginacue now, then i won't get one now. I'm just trying to say i'd rather own a cue that me and the cuemaker worked together on rather than another cue from the same cuemaker that was off the shelf.
For cue dealers though i can sort of see how it can be a problem.
Just my 2cents.
Tim <-- glad he's not a cue dealer.
For cue dealers though i can sort of see how it can be a problem.
Just my 2cents.
Tim <-- glad he's not a cue dealer.
timbo.hobo said:I personally don't have a problem with cue prices, because i wouldn't buy a cue that's off the shelf, too superficial. I think a cue is a piece of art, it should be very personalized. If i'm going to get a cue, i would want to have some sort of conversation or interaction with the cuemaker, and have a unique cue made for me. That makes the cue much more special. I know it's more expensive to do these one-off cues, but if i can't afford say a custom Ginacue now, then i won't get one now. I'm just trying to say i'd rather own a cue that me and the cuemaker worked together on rather than another cue from the same cuemaker that was off the shelf.
For cue dealers though i can sort of see how it can be a problem.
Just my 2cents.
Tim <-- glad he's not a cue dealer.
That's pretty much my current thinking as well. I currently have two Skip Westons, one that I custom ordered from Skip and one I bought from Joe. From now on I will pretty much just order straight from the cuemaker. As you say it is more expensive that way, but you get something that is yours and was made specifically for you with your input!
Some companies do try and keep their cues in the "retail" price range. My best friend owns the pool hall here and he happened to put a Viking on eBay to see how well the bid did. A few hours after he put up the auction, he was contacted by Viking and asked to remove the cue because of their 20% retail agreement or face losing his dealer contract with them. It seems most companies do check eBay and other sites to see if their dealers are binding to their agreement. However, anything can happen when pool hall owners are selling cues in their local rooms.
azbicyclis85376
Banned
I personally believe in FREE ENTERPRISE
I personally believe in FREE ENTERPRISE, buy a Manufactures, Wholesalers, Jobbers, etc. can ask a Retailer, or jobber to Control Prices, or Percentage of Discounts.
Than if the End Seller, or Jobber does not comply with the wishes of the Manufactures, Wholesalers, Jobbers, etc. Future Orders are not filled.
I am VERY TIGHT with my Money. I shop for Deals, but sometime no Deal are too be had.
Also remember be it a Cue, Car, or Fine Gun, or Be it New or Pre Owned is only worth what someone will pay for it. More true in the Used or Pre Owned Market, but still true.
www.pooltablemagic.com
Has some Collectable & High Dollar Cues for sale that in my present state of Mine, and Income, I just would not buy. If I won a Power Ball for Millions, and Millions. Think I would be call them for some of that High Priced Stuff…
LiLStick said:
I personally believe in FREE ENTERPRISE, buy a Manufactures, Wholesalers, Jobbers, etc. can ask a Retailer, or jobber to Control Prices, or Percentage of Discounts.
Than if the End Seller, or Jobber does not comply with the wishes of the Manufactures, Wholesalers, Jobbers, etc. Future Orders are not filled.
I am VERY TIGHT with my Money. I shop for Deals, but sometime no Deal are too be had.
Also remember be it a Cue, Car, or Fine Gun, or Be it New or Pre Owned is only worth what someone will pay for it. More true in the Used or Pre Owned Market, but still true.
www.pooltablemagic.com
Has some Collectable & High Dollar Cues for sale that in my present state of Mine, and Income, I just would not buy. If I won a Power Ball for Millions, and Millions. Think I would be call them for some of that High Priced Stuff…
XzyluM said:
What happens when its the other way around? We used to deal with a few production companies for our in house low end stuff. We were told we were at the "peak" allowable discount, then found out that an online retailer that sold the same product was getting an addition % off? You can't have it both ways, the cue companies tend to be very hypocritical at times.
Joe
cut shot said:I have to get back there for a visit... I will PM you when I am coming... It will be a few months though...busy,busy and busy... no time to smell the Roses!
Sounds good. We'll get together and play some!