Selling used shafts

[SCCues]

How much roll out or wobble when you roll a shaft on a pool table is too much? Some people are very picky and want a shaft to roll perfect and others don't pay too much attention to it. I've got 2 used Schon shafts that I'm planning on selling and one of them rolls almost perfect and the other one has a little up and down motion to it when you roll it on a table, but not enough to affect playing with it.

How do you describe it to a potential buyer without sounding like the shaft is worthless? If you screwed it onto a cue and started playing with the shaft with the roll out you wouldn't notice a thing, but if you roll it on a table it does move up and down a little.

Suggestions are welcome.

 

[ribdoner]

How much roll out or wobble when you roll a shaft on a pool table is too much? Some people are very picky and want a shaft to roll perfect and others don't pay too much attention to it. I've got 2 used Schon shafts that I'm planning on selling and one of them rolls almost perfect and the other one has a little up and down motion to it when you roll it on a table, but not enough to affect playing with it.

How do you describe it to a potential buyer without sounding like the shaft is worthless? If you screwed it onto a cue and started playing with the shaft with the roll out you wouldn't notice a thing, but if you roll it on a table it does move up and down a little.

Suggestions are welcome.

I'd describe it JUST how you described it here

Because these judgements are sooooo subjective I'd also offer $ back (less shipping) if buyer not satisfied.

 

[TATE]

How much roll out or wobble when you roll a shaft on a pool table is too much? Some people are very picky and want a shaft to roll perfect and others don't pay too much attention to it. I've got 2 used Schon shafts that I'm planning on selling and one of them rolls almost perfect and the other one has a little up and down motion to it when you roll it on a table, but not enough to affect playing with it.

How do you describe it to a potential buyer without sounding like the shaft is worthless? If you screwed it onto a cue and started playing with the shaft with the roll out you wouldn't notice a thing, but if you roll it on a table it does move up and down a little.

Suggestions are welcome.

I use descriptions like "very slight roll out" or even I will measure it. Fact is on a shaft a small roll out of 1/16th inch looks pretty wobbly rolling on a flat counter at eye level but not too bad screwed onto a cue, gunsighted and turned. You can measure this by measuring the high and low gap with business cards, then measuring the difference with calipers.

An even slightly warped Schon shaft won't bring much when new ones go for $125. The old ones are in demand if they have stitch rings and especially micarta ferrules. I've paid $75 to $100 for used Schon shafts and "very sligtht roll" won't scare off everybody.

Chris

 

[classiccues]

How much roll out or wobble when you roll a shaft on a pool table is too much? Some people are very picky and want a shaft to roll perfect and others don't pay too much attention to it. I've got 2 used Schon shafts that I'm planning on selling and one of them rolls almost perfect and the other one has a little up and down motion to it when you roll it on a table, but not enough to affect playing with it.

How do you describe it to a potential buyer without sounding like the shaft is worthless? If you screwed it onto a cue and started playing with the shaft with the roll out you wouldn't notice a thing, but if you roll it on a table it does move up and down a little.

Suggestions are welcome.

Well here is the big question...

I think rib is right on offering the money back upon dissatisfaction, just don't spend it or give it to your buddy first.

What I have come to realize and how I judge a shaft is I roll the shaft. If the first 6-8" stays on the table, and the last 2-3 inches stay on the table , its a good shaft. It is possible to over sand one side, it happens alot, giving the shaft an appearance of a wobble, or a belly. But if the ends are concentric they will not leave the table when rolled. I see these argued all the time about being warped or not straight, when its really not the case.

JV

 

[cueaddicts]

Great question. Just be as honest and forthright as you can about describing the shaft. It will eliminate lots of potential problems. Remember, especially for used shafts, 'dead straight' is so not the norm. It's a real rarity, actually. Most shafts, even on brand new unplayed cues show some degree of uneveness or 'warp', even though it might only be a couple to five throusanths of an inch. Those shafts are straight in my book. Wood is 'alive' and moves with temp, humidity changes, etc.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT:

State the shafts are X, sell the shaft to a buyer, run and give the $$ away to your buddy (whom you actually sold the shaft for in the 1st place), money goes to the pawn shop to get something out of hock, then refuse the shafts back and a refund when your buyer gets they are not X and is thus unhappy with them. Then after 150 "OH POOR ME" posts from the seller, the scammed buyer has to work to sell the misadvertised shafts HIMSELF to recoup his $$, the seller has the AUDACITY to then say, "In the end it [transaction] turned out just fine. All is well in the end."

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=42254&page=43

Unbelievable. If you can avoid the latter, you'll go far in life.

In all seriousness, I'm sure we all know what a bad transaction is like. Just do what you can to avoid one...plain and simple. Your credibility is paramount. Sounds like you've described these shafts well, and Chris has a great suggestion about the business cards. Offer them as satisfaction guaranteed upon receipt. That will go a long way to reassure any potential buyer.

 

[SCCues]

Great suggestions on selling used shafts!

Thanks everyone for the ideas on selling used shafts. I agree with Sean that it's rare even on a brand new cue to find a shaft thats rolls perfectly with no up and down motion. I think as long as both ends stay on the table when the shaft is rolled without too much up and down motion the shaft is fine.

 

[Hal]

Just be honest.