Worminator said:
Lisa,
Obviously, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that is what forums like this are all about. However, you seem to have a bit of an obsession when comes to the pricing of Eric's cues on the secondary market. The market will bear what the market will bear. You seem to be fine with the fact that Searings are *extremely* high priced players cues (the majority of Searings are simply designed players cues). OK, OK...I get the fact that Dennis is very anal about his construction methods and I certainly appreciate that aspect of his cuemaking skills. But Eric is also very particular about the work he puts out and players and collectors alike have figured that out.
I believe you have stated you have never played with one of Eric's cues. If you have not, that may be the reason you are having trouble with the state of the current market for Eric's cues.
Jamie...you know me to be one of the more level-headed posters here...so, I guess it takes a lot to get me going...lol.
It's not even so much that this is even about Eric's cues.....unfortunately, his happens to be the latest example of a larger picture here. Do I think that it craziness to pay $6-7K for a PJ Searing on the secondary...of course I do!!! Especially given the fact that I know roughly what these cues would go for directly from Dennis.
Look, I am not opposed to someone making a little money here or there. And I fully understand that certain people are going to pay what the market will bear. But when the pricing begins to border on the ridiculous...well....I guess I am a 'cuemaker' kinda person. What I mean to say is, I guess I have a really hard time when people begin to profit
significantly off of a cuemaker's hard work, time, and materials. I would suspect, that after a point, it would begin to bug some cuemakers too.
I know, I know....it's business....and I am a hopeless idealist. As an example....I will not myself purchase precious gemstones...I'm talking diamonds, tanzanite...you get the picture. Why? Because the people who are doing all the work...the diggers, and cutters...get pratically nothing for their efforts...while the fat cats at DeBeers and others are making stupid money...and create the stranglehold on supply, to make themselves even richer. If I am going to pay $5K for a stone....I would much, much rather hand that $5K to the person who did the work, and needs it most...than to those who are 'creating' the market to begin with.
I hope this is making a bit of sense as to where I am coming from. I had the exact same problem when everyone went crazy over Kerry's cues...and the prices starting getting a little nutty.
I also have to ask you this...I know that you try to keep your pricing on Eric's cues as close to what he would be asking directly....with respect to the fact that you have overhead and other additional expenses...along with a small profit margin. Doesn't it bother you when you see Eric's cues going for crazy numbers that even you would have a hard time asking?
Okay....I have said it before, and I will say it again....I have absolutely no quibble with Eric or his ability to build an outstanding playing cue. I like most of what I see, with regards to his aesthetics...in fact, you have seen me gush over one or two.
And yes, you are correct, I, myself have never played with one of Eric's cues. No one, currently, that lives near me has one for me to try. I would love to be able to do my own comparison, instead of relying on other's comparisons, to formulate my own opinion. Alas, since his list is closed, and I cannot bring myself to pay the some of the current asking prices on the secondary...I likely never will. It's okay....I realize that not everyone can have an ST, or a RH, or a Zylr, or even a Tucker, for that matter. I have two pretty sporty players that I am currently extremely happy with...and have turned down offers on...good offers too. In my mind, it just wouldn't be right for me to try to make money off of the cuemaker who was nice enough to craft me a cue to begin with...sometimes, no small feat.
I hope this clarifies my standpoint on the subject. I would, and have...although not quite as vocally as this thread, spoken out about secondary pricing on other cuemakers' cues. Again, unfortunately, Eric's just happen to be the latest example.
I also apologize to everyone else in this thread, as, I really should have taken this over to the Cue Discussion forum, and not here. I have likely done a great disservice to 'via'...and for that I most humbly apologize. It was not my intent....just got a bit carried away up here on my soapbox.
Lisa