sang lee chalk a fraud?
- Thread starter berlowmj
- Start date
Even if it is what does that matter and what does it say about perception?
You were enjoying it, it works for you so who cares who made it, how it was made, or where it was made at that point?
It is very doubtful that Sang Lee (rip) developed his own special chalk and produced it. It is more likely that the chalk is a private label production run from a billiard chalk company.
While there are definite differences in billiard chalk from differing companies I find it funny how many folks will swear that the chalk with the red label is better than the chalk with the yellow label even though it is the same exact chalk.
Perception is often self-delusion.
You were enjoying it, it works for you so who cares who made it, how it was made, or where it was made at that point?
It is very doubtful that Sang Lee (rip) developed his own special chalk and produced it. It is more likely that the chalk is a private label production run from a billiard chalk company.
While there are definite differences in billiard chalk from differing companies I find it funny how many folks will swear that the chalk with the red label is better than the chalk with the yellow label even though it is the same exact chalk.
Perception is often self-delusion.
What matter is that a box of 12 silver cup chalks is about $6. Sang Lee chalk costs $13 for 3 cubes!. If they're acting like their product is the absolute best and worth spending that kind of money for a few pieces of chalk, it should be a unique and refined product. If I buy a Ford Taurus and put a Mercedes logo on it and charge you $95K for it, you think you might be pissed?.Roadie said:
Trust me. Sang Lee IS NOT THE SAME as Silver Cup.
Most chalk is made by Tweeten Fibre Company, based in Chicago. This includes Master, Triangle and several private label chalks. IPT Chalk, which has been praised recently, is probably made by Tweeten, though a slightly different formula than Master.
Silver Crap, um, er, Cup, is made by Silver Cup Chalk, Inc out of Macon, GA. It is not favored by most players, and even a novice player can feel a difference between Master and Silver Cup.
I have been playing with Sang Lee Chalk for some time now. It is pricey, but is my favorite chalk. I would say the difference between Sang Lee and good, dry piece of Blue Masters is not very big, but it is a little different.
But under no circumstances would a Player ever confuse Sang Lee and Silver Cup. There are HUGE differences between those 2.
Could Sang Lee be made by Tweeten? Sure. Is it still worth it? Yep. Sang Lee made by Silver Cup? Possible. But it's a very different formula then the Silver Cup Brand. So still worth it? yep.
-von
Most chalk is made by Tweeten Fibre Company, based in Chicago. This includes Master, Triangle and several private label chalks. IPT Chalk, which has been praised recently, is probably made by Tweeten, though a slightly different formula than Master.
Silver Crap, um, er, Cup, is made by Silver Cup Chalk, Inc out of Macon, GA. It is not favored by most players, and even a novice player can feel a difference between Master and Silver Cup.
I have been playing with Sang Lee Chalk for some time now. It is pricey, but is my favorite chalk. I would say the difference between Sang Lee and good, dry piece of Blue Masters is not very big, but it is a little different.
But under no circumstances would a Player ever confuse Sang Lee and Silver Cup. There are HUGE differences between those 2.
Could Sang Lee be made by Tweeten? Sure. Is it still worth it? Yep. Sang Lee made by Silver Cup? Possible. But it's a very different formula then the Silver Cup Brand. So still worth it? yep.
-von
berlowmj said:
Thank you. I felt foolish but had nothing to say. Before I bought the Sang Lee, I looked all over "the web" & could only find it at High Rock. It might be psychological, but it seems to adhere more readily to my phenolic break tip & I am pocketing more consistently in 8-ball breaks on a 9' table.I am also having more high runs with my Universal Shaft. Thank you again.
No, it's not being made. I don't believe in holding onto items which will eventually turn to dust or not assist me in my grave. It's like buying a cue to put in a case, it's not meant for that. Play with it or sell it to someone who will 
AFAIK it's worth around $60 a box. It's really fantastic chalk, adheres great, and has a super intense blue color. Why let it sit until it's useless?
AFAIK it's worth around $60 a box. It's really fantastic chalk, adheres great, and has a super intense blue color. Why let it sit until it's useless?
xidica said:No, it's not being made. I don't believe in holding onto items which will eventually turn to dust or not assist me in my grave. It's like buying a cue to put in a case, it's not meant for that. Play with it or sell it to someone who will
AFAIK it's worth around $60 a box. It's really fantastic chalk, adheres great, and has a super intense blue color. Why let it sit until it's useless?
I bought a box and hated it, some of the messiest chalk I ever used. I gave my box, one slightly used, to another poster on here who happens to share your enthusiasm for it. Personally, I think there isn't much difference between one chalk and another, though recently I got some IPT chalk and thought it adhered marginally better than Masters. I feel if you chalk every shot like you should, then a little difference in the properties of the chalk isn't going to make much difference.
berlowmj said:
Sang Lee chalk isn't Silver Cup in another wrapper. IMO - it plays much better than Silver Cup.
The chalk really adheres well but the main deal is that it is packaged individually (3) in a clear plastic hard case with a desicant to control the humidity during storage. Often bulk chalk is stored in a cellar or storage room that is either too dry or too humid which changes the consistency of the chalk.
Its not for everyone - its for people that are going to carry their own chalk around instead of relying on unreliable house chalk. The plastic case is nice so that the stuff in your cue case doesn't get dirty from chalk residue.
For those of you that don't know him, Ira Lee (previous poster) is one of the more respected 3-cushion players in New York City and he is an A-level pool player. What's more, he is a super-nice guy and knew Sang Lee quite well.
IMHO Triangle is the best, it's not as messy/crumbly as Master and sticks just as well
Jake
Jake
Here is a site that did a comparison and test of different chalk.
http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_chalk.php
http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_chalk.php
Klopek said:
Again, the question was one of enjoyment. The original poster stated that he was enjoying the chalk, i.e. he had no problems with the way it worked for him and was dissapointed to find that it "may" be Silver Cup chalk. If, in fact the chalk were Silver Cup then the original poster ought to have been delighted that he could now purchase it for much less then the specially packaged "Sang Lee" brand.
Price is often equated with value. This is not very often the case. If you were able to repackage a Taurus as a Mercedes and leave a lot of satsified customers in your wake then I would say kudos to you. If however you did not deliver the implicit quality that the Mercedes brand stands for then you would be committing fraud and yes I would be upset to have been defrauded. If you repackage something and create a new brand and attach claims of performance to it that satisfy the consumers then there is nothing wrong with charging a price the market will bear for that as long as the market will bear it. Should the Sang Lee chalk begin to aquire signifigant market share then it will aquire competition and the price will either drop or there will be a slew of competitive brands claiming equal performance for less. Especially if the chalk is only repackaged, which is the likely situation given the relatively small market for "Sang Lee" branded chalk.
I have never heard of Sang Lee chalk before this discussion. I have no idea what the advertised properties of this chalk are. I have no idea whether it is claimed to be "better" than any or all other "brands" of chalk. I know that the original poster claimed he was enjoying it. So his enjoyment was evidently worth the price paid in my opinion.
A brand is only a way to identify a promise. Some companies dilute the promise by allowing their brands to be pasted on various products that stray from their beginnings. "Mercedes" and "Ford" both have a particular signifigance to consumers. Both of these brands are known for their technical advantages and weaknesses and both have developed stereotypes. Additionally each has a certain psychological and social status attached to them. Of course it devalues a Mercedes to brand it as a Ford while the reverse is true for the Ford. So the only question remains as to whether a purchased item that displays a known brand fulfills the promise that the brand signifies? To me the words Sang Lee mean seriously good 3-cushion player. Seriously good 3-cushion player means a person who is very meticulous about their equipment. Thus, to me "Sang Lee" chalk means a type of chalk that is good enough to satisfy meticulous billiard players. That's the promise and apparently it is being kept. How does not matter. If it is merely repackaged Tweeten or Silver Cup then kudos to whoever came with the idea. If it is newly developed then again kudos to whoever saw it through to completion. Either way, if it provides the satisfaction and delivers on the promise then it's worth the money and has good value.
berlowmj said:
Hello, I think that if you enjoy the chalk then it can not be a fraud for you!!
However, Sang Lee chalk is made in the Far East, it is no different than the Balabushka chalk in that it is designed to take advantage and to make money from the name of a Famous person associated with pool or Billiards.
Sang Lee, did not use Sang lee chalk. Sang Lee used Masters or Triangle during National Three Cushion Tournaments. I have been a score keeper, a host, and a referee in one National and one World Three Cushion Tournament were Sang Lee was a participant in Tacoma Washington.
Moral of this story is simple, if you like it, and it works for you use it, but it is no better or worst than other chalk, it is not Rare, and if you want to purchase something for the name alone and pay 300 or more times over wholesale for something have at it this is a free country.
But, do not be deceived by a name.
Manwon
Isn't Sang Lee chalk manufacutred by the Competition Cues company? I bought some and I have been very disappointed thus far. Just my opinion but don't waste your money.
Forgive me, but this is something that bugs the crap out of me.
Buying chalk like this, Sang Lee and Balabushka etc etc etc and paying high prices, because you think it will help your game is nonsense or superstition at best.
Master blue (pre or post flag) chalk is pretty much the best out there. It has been used for years to great success by champions and amatures alike. It is all you will ever need from a chalk.
If you are having problems spinning the cueball, or miscuing...... chances are its mostly a stroke problem. Put the focus on what needs to be worked on and quit paying $4.25 for a frigging cube of chalk.
Rant done
Chuck