Ron Thomas 2x4 Black Elephant Case

[nokishoff]

Asking price is now SOLD with USPS Priority shipping to the lower 48, insurance, and PayPal fees included. Sorry no trades or offers will be considered.

I have decided to sell one of my two playing cues, two break cues, and two cue cases. So for your consideration here is my Ron Thomas 2 x 4 black elephant leather case with friction fit top,
shoulder strap, side carrying handle, and secondary button snap.

I purchased this case new from Ron in 2011 and it's in excellent condition. I've had this case for seven years but given the toughness and grain of the elephant leather I can't see any damage.
Please see the pictures to determine the condition for yourself and feel free to ask any questions or request more pictures. Also just an FYI - I always store my chalked shafts tip up, so while
I'm sure some chalk drifted down inside the case I was unable to see any signs of chalk when looking down each pocket with a flashlight.

Please PM me if you're interested.

 

[nokishoff]

I guess there isn't as much appreciation for Ron Thomas cases as I expected. I'm really surprised given how sleek, compact, and durable his cases are. Add the rarity of genuine elephant leather
and the uncertainty of whether he's even making cases anymore and I thought there would be more interest than this.

Oh yeah and here's the last picture I originally wanted to post but couldn't because of the limit on the number of attachments.

 

[nokishoff]

I've had a few offers but I still think this case should sell for a bit more, but maybe that's just wishful thinking lol.

 

[deanoc]

I think Ron Thomas cases are among the finest

they are appreciated but when something this special comes
at a collector price,it is not unusual to get offers

sometimes it indicates the price is wrong

 

[nokishoff]

Thanks for the input deanoc!

However, I think you may have misunderstood me on one point. I’m not complaining about the offers, I actually welcomed them in my second post. In fact,
if the highest offer had split the difference between their offer and my original price I would have said yes. I haven’t countered any offers because I not the
type of person that likes to haggle so I’ve decided to just assume any offer I get is their best, and I’m trying to give a simple yes/no response. I don’t even haggle
when I buy a car, I just call a few places, ask for their “off the lot price”, and then buy from the one who gave me the lowest price.

The reason I say underappreciated goes back to the fact that I’ve sold three things on these forums so far. First, I sold a Ron Thomas 1 x 2 in brown elephant
that I bought the same time as this case. It was brand new and the reason I sold it was because I decided I didn’t really care for 1 x 2 cases. It took a long time
to sell and ultimately I had to part with it for less than half what I paid. Then I sold a 2 x 4 black Jack Justis in regular leather after I upgraded and bought one in
elephant. I put that up for about 66% what I paid for it and it sold instantly. Most recently I sold a Mezz Power Break Pro which I also listed for about 66% what I
paid and that sold almost instantly as well. All three cost me about the same when I bought them brand new but the Ron Thomas case took a long time to sell
and I had to take a much bigger loss.

I thought the reason it took longer to sell and sold for less was because maybe 1 x 2 cases were less desirable or because maybe brown was a less desirable
color but now I’m starting to wonder. From your perspective I’m asking for a “collector price” but from mine I’m already offering this for a very significant discount.
I guess fair market value is different for each of us but I’m definitely starting to agree with you that my price may be wrong if I want to sell to this current market.

What I can tell you is this case cost me about twice as much as anything I’ve sold here before so if I sell for similar percentages my losses will also be about
twice as much. Given the condition of the case and how rarely a 2 x 4 in elephant goes up for sale I’m hesitant to even go down to 66% (although I’m getting
pretty close already) because that would be a very big loss. And I definitely will not go down to 50%. If the market dictates I have to go that low then I’ll just
keep the case and the market can wait another five years for a 2 x 4 Ron Thomas in elephant to go up for sale.

God that’s a lot of words, I applaud anyone who has read this far, and I apologize for the length. I really hope none of this comes across as angry or argumentative
or anything because I really don’t mean any of it that way. I’m just trying to explain my current thinking from my perspective. And I really do appreciate your input,
thanks again. – Nick

 

[Jon Manning]

I think your price is fair, right now anything that is over $1,000 is very difficult to get a fair price on. Cue/Case market is very soft for higher end stuff.

If I had the cash I would snap this beauty up! One of my favorite style of cases.
GLWS!

 

[nokishoff]

Thanks for the input Jon Manning!

I take that as encouraging, although I do wonder how it bodes for the Mike Webb cue I just listed. Lol

 

[nokishoff]

Sorry Wednesday and Saturday price reductions have been halted.

 

[runscott]

This is one of the most beautiful cases I've ever seen, but as pointed out, people have a tough time letting go of large chunks of money for a case, even if it's a good deal. I look at this case every time you bump it!

Good luck.

 

[nokishoff]

Lol. Well that helps explain why this thread has so many views. Thank you runscott for the kind comment!

Hopefully my price will soon be at the point where someone won't be able to resist it or risk someone else buying it out from underneath them.

 

[nokishoff]

Quick update. I've started to receive a number of inquires and offers. While I definitely believe it never hurts to ask, I think
I can save everyone some time by putting this out there for the record -

I'm sorry but at the moment I'm not considering any offers. Given I'm lowering the price by $50.00 increments twice a week,
my current plan is just to wait until someone decides to jump on it, or I decide to give up and keep it. This way it's fair for everyone
who might be interested and/or waiting for the price to hit a certain number. Thank you all for your continued interest.

 

[cuesblues]

Lol. Well that helps explain why this thread has so many views. Thank you runscott for the kind comment!

Hopefully my price will soon be at the point where someone won't be able to resist it or risk someone else buying it out from underneath them.

For the record, the number of views is the total number of members who have viewed your case.
If I view the case 50 times it only counts as one.

Very nice case, you don't see black elephant 2x4 Ron Thomas cases often, especially in that condition.
Also an interesting way to reduce the price.
That technique adds a little intrigue to the sale.

 

[nokishoff]

For the record, the number of views is the total number of members who have viewed your case.
If I view the case 50 times it only counts as one.

I didn't know that, thanks for the info. I wonder if Ebay is the same way. There's been times I wanted to buy something, but I couldn't justify paying the asking price,
and I've often wondered if my frequent viewing was part of the reason the seller wasn't reducing the price.

Also an interesting way to reduce the price.
That technique adds a little intrigue to the sale.

Yeah I really like the idea, but I can't take credit for it. After I listed my Mike Webb cue, one member was kind enough to message me with his thoughts on what I paid
for it and what I was asking for it. Eventually he suggested the idea of lowering the price by $50.00 once a week. I decided to modify his idea to twice a week to justify
bumping the threads a second time so they wouldn't get buried as deep in the forum.

 

[nokishoff]

The Wednesday and Saturday $50.00 price reductions have generated a lot of interest in this case. However I've started noticing a trend - every time
I lower the price I get more and more offers, but with each price reduction the offers also keep getting lower and lower.

Because of this I've decided $1200.00 is my bottom number. I'm very sorry to anyone who was hoping my asking price would drop just a little lower,
but I think this is a very price for this case.

Sorry no trades or other offers will be considered.

 

[Dedeye1209]

I can offer a suggestion, but it's only my point of view. Pre-ban ivory is one thing, it's been in the US for at least 40 years, much of it FAR longer. This means the elephants were killed a long, long time ago.

Elephant leather and elephant ear wraps are entirely different. I personally find these things absolutely despicable (I doubt I'm alone in this opinion) and should be illegal. There is nothing you could say to convince me otherwise.

I have a Thomas leather Ostrich print 1x2, and it's a magnificent case. But after getting my JB Ultimate, I will never own another leather case.

 

[vinniebabarooch]

I can offer a suggestion, but it's only my point of view. Pre-ban ivory is one thing, it's been in the US for at least 40 years, much of it FAR longer. This means the elephants were killed a long, long time ago.

Elephant leather and elephant ear wraps are entirely different. I personally find these things absolutely despicable (I doubt I'm alone in this opinion) and should be illegal. There is nothing you could say to convince me otherwise.

I have a Thomas leather Ostrich print 1x2, and it's a magnificent case. But after getting my JB Ultimate, I will never own another leather case.

What is your suggestion?
Sounds like a opinion.

 

[runscott]

What is your suggestion?
Sounds like a opinion.

If his comment was simply about elephant ear leather, though it would be an uninformed opinion, I could at least understand his poor logic since tusks and ears both come from elephants (just as horns and hide both come from a bull). But since he mentioned that he doesn't like 'leather' in general (any animal, I assume), he's blatantly disregarding the rules of this sub-forum.

I won't say anything more about elephants here, as it would be 'poaching' the seller's thread, but if someone wants to start a thread elsewhere to discuss why elephant ear leather is (or isn't) a different situation from elephant tusks I'll be glad to add my opinion.

 

[Texas Carom Club]

If I view the case 50 times it only counts as one.

Sorry. But are you certain of this?

I have a thread on straight rail in the carom forum thats got 23 24k ish views

I dont know for certain, but id bet my house that 24k members have not looked at it


26k now i just checked

 

[cuesblues]

Sorry. But are you certain of this?

I have a thread on straight rail in the carom forum thats got 23 24k ish views

I dont know for certain, but id bet my house that 24k members have not looked at it


26k now i just checked

I am certain
Go back and forth 10 times and see.
I've been wrong before

 

[cuesblues]

I just checked
Stayed at 1959 after 3 views