pool cue once in a lifetime buy

[jimmyco]

Yard sale sellers just want their shit gone.

I went to visit my pops and saw a bunch of high quality tools with ridiculously low yard sale price tags on them.
I told him he cannot sell that stuff that cheap.
He said, "I know, nobody bought these."

People just want their shit gone.

 

[SBC]

A league team mate showed me a cue that he bought at a yard sale.
He said there were a group of crap cues and the old man running the sale said he had another cue in the house.
He brings out an old soft case and my friend pulls it out and it's a Joss with CNC points and he says how much?

The old man says $5 and he buys it.
I saw it last night and other then a real skinny shaft the cue was in great shape.
Do you think my friend should have told the old man it was worth maybe $4 or $5 hundred or just pay the $5 and move along?
I have a thought that it might have been someone else's cue and that's why it was not out at the yard sale.
Remember this was an old man and maybe he was confused.
Thoughts?

I'd have given him 200 on principle and because I have a conscience.

 

[SBC]

Normally I’d say it’s best to be straight with people. If it were a one to one transaction or some widow, then definitely.

It’s a yard sale though.

This is expressly where you shop to find gems.

It’s not like it was worth 10k.

I say enjoy the deal.

I've more than once been the guy to tell someone the real value of what they have when its a unknown or good cue listed too cheaply....only to have them not want to sell it to me at the new higher price because, "Now they know what they have!"

I don't even chase collectible cue finds anymore because of this sort of thing....but I have made some awesome finds/purchases in the past. And sold every one of them, playing with a Predator.

 

[Positively Ralf]

Memorize the third Blue Book of Cues as a starter. Then follow this site and others for cue sales and cue discussions night and day. You, alone, are responsible to educate yourself. if you don't have a strong passion for it- then find another hobby- it is really that basic. You have to love it !

BTW, I went and googled that book and holy smokes. I don't believe I'll be shelling out $200-$400(depending on where you go) anytime soon.

 

[mikemosconi]

BTW, I went and googled that book and holy smokes. I don't believe I'll be shelling out $200-$400(depending on where you go) anytime soon.

They sell on here for about $100. Learning all about a serious hobby is not cheap!

 

[Mensabum]

A league team mate showed me a cue that he bought at a yard sale.
He said there were a group of crap cues and the old man running the sale said he had another cue in the house.
He brings out an old soft case and my friend pulls it out and it's a Joss with CNC points and he says how much?

The old man says $5 and he buys it.
I saw it last night and other then a real skinny shaft the cue was in great shape.
Do you think my friend should have told the old man it was worth maybe $4 or $5 hundred or just pay the $5 and move along?
I have a thought that it might have been someone else's cue and that's why it was not out at the yard sale.
Remember this was an old man and maybe he was confused.
Thoughts?

I've done some pretty stupid shit lately, all attributable to aging. That being said, if you went back and talked to the old dude for a bit and told him what that cue was and how much it might bring if in top shape, my guess is he'd still let you have it for the 5 bucks and be happy that someone from a younger generation took the time and cared enuf to do just that. Impressed and make his day.