Hey Guys!
I just got back from the SBE and I wanted to share a few thoughts.
For the first time I went with someone other than my friend Mike. I went with my new girlfriend Stacie and had an outstanding time! Not that I didn't have a good time with Mike, but this was..... different.
Anyway, Stacie had been playing with a Meucci since we met and I have been trying to explain how much different/better it is playing with a custom cue. I explained balance, feel, materials, workmanship, value, and pride of ownership but I don't think she really got it until we hit the floor at the SBE. It was quite the eye opening experience for her and she loved every minute.
When I tell you she looked at every cue on the floor, I mean she looked at EVERY cue! She is a quick study and learned very quickly how different each cue can be. By the end of Saturday she knew the different construction methods, what the pros and cons of each were, and how the makers name can really effect the value. She also started recognizing some of the woods and by Sunday afternoon would point to a cue and say things like, "thats Bacote right"? And she would be right almost every time.
She hadn't intended to buy a new cue when we left but after spending some time with some of the makers and vendors she quickly changed her mind. Without any influence from me, she immediately fell in love with Purpleheart. She ended up buying a beautiful curly Purpleheart Wrapless from Keith Josey. She could have bought just about any cue she wanted (within reason of course) but bought the Josey because of the way Keith and his wife treated her. This leads me to my thanks and WTF's.
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to the following for making this years SBE special for Stacie and I.
Keith Josey and his wife for being such fantastic people. They were more than happy to answer any questions Stacie had and let her take a few hits with the cue before she bought it. This was here first custom cue purchase and they made it special for her.
Bill Grassley of Cornerstone cues. I have spoke with Bill on several occasions in the past but never bought anything from him (yet). Bill was awesome and he has a great attitude I wish more people in and out of the this sport had. He spent some time with Stacie and I and was more than willing to answer all her questions.
Scott Murphy. Murph and I have done a bunch of deals in the past. He is always honest and fair with his prices and willing to do anything he can to make you happy. I bought a Blackcreek from him on Saturday night for a song and he was willing to give me all my money back on a trade when I realized I didn't like the way it hit after playing with it. It's funny because this was the second time I owned this particular cue and I couldn't play with it last time either. Lol. It took me about 30 seconds of playing with it to remind me why I sold it the first time.
Tim Cole of Findcue4u. I have done 2 deals with Tim in the last two weeks and he is a great guy. I needed a Bender for a friend a few weeks ago and I traded him two cues for it. He knew he got the better end of the deal but he made up for it at the SBE by trading me a PFD Davis blank cue for the above mentioned Blackcreek.
Mike at Cues4Christ. I had never met Mike before but enjoyed spending a few minutes with him. We didn't do any deals but after meeting him I would have no hesitation doing one in the future.
Don Shureman. For just being Don Shureman! Lol.
Bogey. Chris is an all around great guy. When he has something listed for sale, buy it. You know you will be happy and he gives it to you straight with the facts.
Now onto the WTF's.
This goes out to all of you who make it hard to enjoy the expo because of your poor attitude. Not only is it bad for the SBE but it's also bad for those new to the sport and/or how others look at the sport. The people/cuemakers I'm referring to are the ones who act like they are better than you or as soon as they find out that you're not going to buy something from them they act like assholes and won't give you the time of day.
I'm not going to mention specific names here but just as an example, I brought a cue to the maker to get an original value when it was sold new and he basically was just rude and couldn't have cared less. He must have figured I wasn't a potential customer at that moment so I didn't matter. Let me give you a little advice because I know you are a member here. When a person comes and asks you for a value on something you made, that is an opportunity for you. Try this in the future:
I remember that cue. It originally sold for $XXXX.
That cue is special because.......
Did you have questions regarding it?
Have you had a chance to play with it yet?
How did you like it?
If I can answer any other questions for you or if you would like to discuss you own design for a cue in the future please be sure and let me know.
I know that most cue makers don't have a marketing degree but it doesn't hurt to try and be nice to people. I know the show is long and maybe it wasn't the greatest for you but a little courtesy will go a long way. At least act as if you give a shit.
I just got back from the SBE and I wanted to share a few thoughts.
For the first time I went with someone other than my friend Mike. I went with my new girlfriend Stacie and had an outstanding time! Not that I didn't have a good time with Mike, but this was..... different.
Anyway, Stacie had been playing with a Meucci since we met and I have been trying to explain how much different/better it is playing with a custom cue. I explained balance, feel, materials, workmanship, value, and pride of ownership but I don't think she really got it until we hit the floor at the SBE. It was quite the eye opening experience for her and she loved every minute.
When I tell you she looked at every cue on the floor, I mean she looked at EVERY cue! She is a quick study and learned very quickly how different each cue can be. By the end of Saturday she knew the different construction methods, what the pros and cons of each were, and how the makers name can really effect the value. She also started recognizing some of the woods and by Sunday afternoon would point to a cue and say things like, "thats Bacote right"? And she would be right almost every time.
She hadn't intended to buy a new cue when we left but after spending some time with some of the makers and vendors she quickly changed her mind. Without any influence from me, she immediately fell in love with Purpleheart. She ended up buying a beautiful curly Purpleheart Wrapless from Keith Josey. She could have bought just about any cue she wanted (within reason of course) but bought the Josey because of the way Keith and his wife treated her. This leads me to my thanks and WTF's.
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to the following for making this years SBE special for Stacie and I.
Keith Josey and his wife for being such fantastic people. They were more than happy to answer any questions Stacie had and let her take a few hits with the cue before she bought it. This was here first custom cue purchase and they made it special for her.
Bill Grassley of Cornerstone cues. I have spoke with Bill on several occasions in the past but never bought anything from him (yet). Bill was awesome and he has a great attitude I wish more people in and out of the this sport had. He spent some time with Stacie and I and was more than willing to answer all her questions.
Scott Murphy. Murph and I have done a bunch of deals in the past. He is always honest and fair with his prices and willing to do anything he can to make you happy. I bought a Blackcreek from him on Saturday night for a song and he was willing to give me all my money back on a trade when I realized I didn't like the way it hit after playing with it. It's funny because this was the second time I owned this particular cue and I couldn't play with it last time either. Lol. It took me about 30 seconds of playing with it to remind me why I sold it the first time.
Tim Cole of Findcue4u. I have done 2 deals with Tim in the last two weeks and he is a great guy. I needed a Bender for a friend a few weeks ago and I traded him two cues for it. He knew he got the better end of the deal but he made up for it at the SBE by trading me a PFD Davis blank cue for the above mentioned Blackcreek.
Mike at Cues4Christ. I had never met Mike before but enjoyed spending a few minutes with him. We didn't do any deals but after meeting him I would have no hesitation doing one in the future.
Don Shureman. For just being Don Shureman! Lol.
Bogey. Chris is an all around great guy. When he has something listed for sale, buy it. You know you will be happy and he gives it to you straight with the facts.
Now onto the WTF's.
This goes out to all of you who make it hard to enjoy the expo because of your poor attitude. Not only is it bad for the SBE but it's also bad for those new to the sport and/or how others look at the sport. The people/cuemakers I'm referring to are the ones who act like they are better than you or as soon as they find out that you're not going to buy something from them they act like assholes and won't give you the time of day.
I'm not going to mention specific names here but just as an example, I brought a cue to the maker to get an original value when it was sold new and he basically was just rude and couldn't have cared less. He must have figured I wasn't a potential customer at that moment so I didn't matter. Let me give you a little advice because I know you are a member here. When a person comes and asks you for a value on something you made, that is an opportunity for you. Try this in the future:
I remember that cue. It originally sold for $XXXX.
That cue is special because.......
Did you have questions regarding it?
Have you had a chance to play with it yet?
How did you like it?
If I can answer any other questions for you or if you would like to discuss you own design for a cue in the future please be sure and let me know.
I know that most cue makers don't have a marketing degree but it doesn't hurt to try and be nice to people. I know the show is long and maybe it wasn't the greatest for you but a little courtesy will go a long way. At least act as if you give a shit.
