I'll work on the low-end import cues all day long. If the client needs service on their cue and you tell them 'NO, I have my standards', that's likely to be the last time you'll see them. If on the other hand, if you accept the job and perform it to the best of your ability, the client will remember that. When he's ready to upgrade, you'll be on his list of cues to review.
The Future for American Cue Makers ...?
- Thread starter WilleeCue
- Start date
KJ, The problem is that they get the imports for very cheap and expect you to work on the cue for a cheap price also. I just had one guy come to me with an import that had the forearm coming apart because of design and poor glue. I told him that I charge $100.00 to refinish a cue and $35.00 for a linen wrap. That's before I chop the cue apart and try and fix it! Needless to say he said never mind. From what I've seen the people that purchase the cheap cues are always trying to save a buck and will never want to spend the money for one of my cues.
Yeah, I know it's a rude awakening for him (the client). But he also knows that he can go back to Wally World and get a brand new cue for 1/4 of what you quoted him for the repair of his old one. Nobody got hurt; you didn't have to waste your time and he didn't have to waste his money.
Something that comes into play is, will he stay in the game long enough to upgrade to a better cue? There's no guarantee but it doesn't matter. If you were honest with him and told him upfront that it would be cheaper to buy another cue rather than fixing his, he'll appreciate and remember your honest business manner. Chances are, he's going to tell people about you. New business becomes repeat business. Oh boy!!!!
Something that comes into play is, will he stay in the game long enough to upgrade to a better cue? There's no guarantee but it doesn't matter. If you were honest with him and told him upfront that it would be cheaper to buy another cue rather than fixing his, he'll appreciate and remember your honest business manner. Chances are, he's going to tell people about you. New business becomes repeat business. Oh boy!!!!
I get some imports to repair
ANd I have sometimes repaired them for more than the cue could have been replaced for. But when I get done the customer always says he can feel a much better hit now! I warn them that the cue was only as good as what they payed for. I show him some import and even usa production cues and shafts I have cut apart, to show shortcuts or sloppiness in construction. I explain what it takes to make a "good cue". I get an educated customer leaving my shop and one that is impressed with what I do for him, and he often comes back for a shaft or a cue later. Hey I do not fight imports, but I do represent my own work as being on a different (higher) level in both construction and future service. Just my opinion.
Yeah it takes time to do all that, but it is like investing in my, no, "our" future.
ANd I have sometimes repaired them for more than the cue could have been replaced for. But when I get done the customer always says he can feel a much better hit now! I warn them that the cue was only as good as what they payed for. I show him some import and even usa production cues and shafts I have cut apart, to show shortcuts or sloppiness in construction. I explain what it takes to make a "good cue". I get an educated customer leaving my shop and one that is impressed with what I do for him, and he often comes back for a shaft or a cue later. Hey I do not fight imports, but I do represent my own work as being on a different (higher) level in both construction and future service. Just my opinion.
Yeah it takes time to do all that, but it is like investing in my, no, "our" future.
I have no crystal ball to see the future with, but can make an educated guess. I think you will see larger American manufacturers of cues bring the prices down a little in order to keep some kind of competitiveness with overseas cues. They will use the machinery you saw mentioned in some of the posts to make cues faster so they can still make a profit and sell them for a little less. Our dollar is getting weaker overseas so their cues are costing us more, so I think that makes the future look brighter for the larger American cuemakers if they follow the above pattern.
For the smaller guys a handful will continue to carve out a niche for themselves and rake in as many sales as they want and do it full time with ease. The next level will barely make it as full timers just as cuemakers. Then the next level will be the full time cuemaker/repairman. This will be the easiest to make a living at, but still will not be easy for most. Then there will be the hobbiest or part timers who are picking up some extra money on the side building and doing repairs. These will be the most content as they are not under pressure to make their living from it. This will also be the largest group.
The common player wants the most bang for his buck, so those who give a really good cue for a really good price will do the best normally. But remember the collectors remember who did what first and those trend setters will still get higher prices for their work. They will get fewer sales, but much higher prices.
As for refusing to work on cues from overseas? I think that would just create another repairman down the street from you if you took that route. But it would also give the impression their cue was not worth working on. So it is a two edge sword. I say charge a fair price for repair work on them and that is money in your pocket. Repairs are in most cases more profitable than building, so if making money is the goal then do the repairs. I turn down more repair work than I take in as I just don't have the time to do it all. But if I did not have so many irons in the fire I would gladly take 90% of it in.
For the smaller guys a handful will continue to carve out a niche for themselves and rake in as many sales as they want and do it full time with ease. The next level will barely make it as full timers just as cuemakers. Then the next level will be the full time cuemaker/repairman. This will be the easiest to make a living at, but still will not be easy for most. Then there will be the hobbiest or part timers who are picking up some extra money on the side building and doing repairs. These will be the most content as they are not under pressure to make their living from it. This will also be the largest group.
The common player wants the most bang for his buck, so those who give a really good cue for a really good price will do the best normally. But remember the collectors remember who did what first and those trend setters will still get higher prices for their work. They will get fewer sales, but much higher prices.
As for refusing to work on cues from overseas? I think that would just create another repairman down the street from you if you took that route. But it would also give the impression their cue was not worth working on. So it is a two edge sword. I say charge a fair price for repair work on them and that is money in your pocket. Repairs are in most cases more profitable than building, so if making money is the goal then do the repairs. I turn down more repair work than I take in as I just don't have the time to do it all. But if I did not have so many irons in the fire I would gladly take 90% of it in.
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WilleeCue said:
The off the rack (commercial)cues have a huge amount of competition and growing.
I don't see any real threat to the average real custom cuemaker. But then again there are cue buyers that only focus on cheap pricing...then again those aren't real pool cue loving people.
The golden years of cue makers has never stopped and will go on forever.
The real cream of the crop like:
Searing,Showman,Szamboti,Manzino,Ernie Guiterrez,Hercek,Black Boar,South West etc will never struggle from competition....in fact these cuemakers are the best and continue to get better and better, they will flourish and prosper.
These cuemakers are naturally driven to seek higher levels of execution, playablity and design....good is never good enough. And there are a couple of cuemakers of the next generation so to speak that are on their way to be mentioned in this elite group.
So, good for sum and bad for others.....just like anything and everthing in life.