Trunk Dealers At SBX

Kickin' Chicken

Kickin' Chicken

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Do we like them or do we hate them?

Should they be able to bring cues to the expo (or any other similar event) hoping to make sales?

Here's my take on it.

I believe that if you have cultivated a potential customer *PRIOR* to the show and you want to do the deal in person, it is acceptable.

If you are planning to bring cues to the event hoping to find customers who may be interested to buy your cues, and you don't have a booth, that is bad form.

If you have cues you'd like to sell, I think you should work out a commission deal with someone there you trust who has a booth, and go enjoy the rest of the show. :thumbup:

I really don't like seeing guys trying to do deals, whispering and trying to be stealthy in the aisles, when there are guys there who have paid real $$$ for the privilege to buy and sell at these big events.

all imo.

best,
brian kc
 
I agree with you, but the fact that they don't allow guys to split the cost on booths kind of forces this to happen . If a guy has a couple cues he can sell total for 2k but a booth costs a grand, he's not really going to lose half on his sale like that.

If they allowed a number of "trunk" guys to pay a fee to leave cues at a booth with contact information and a minimum price, it would probably help.

Regardless, people will try to sneak around any method of payment in any venue.
 
Absolutely not. The dealers who have booths don't want to pay booth rent but that is what they have to do to be a part of the SBE which has spent years and years establishing itself plus hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting the show to get interested buyers to come. Many dealers lose money when they do the show but that is how one gets to establish oneself and it is the price you have to pay. There should be a show where no one has to pay anybody else anything to sell their stuff. I can see the monied crowds flocking to the Trunk show no one knows about in a place you can't find held outside with no amenities. It is a fact of business that if you are using someone or something to facilitate the sale of your merchandise, they get a commission.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Do we like them or do we hate them?

Should they be able to bring cues to the expo (or any other similar event) hoping to make sales?

Here's my take on it.

I believe that if you have cultivated a potential customer *PRIOR* to the show and you want to do the deal in person, it is acceptable.

If you are planning to bring cues to the event hoping to find customers who may be interested to buy your cues, and you don't have a booth, that is bad form.

If you have cues you'd like to sell, I think you should work out a commission deal with someone there you trust who has a booth, and go enjoy the rest of the show. :thumbup:

I really don't like seeing guys trying to do deals, whispering and trying to be stealthy in the aisles, when there are guys there who have paid real $$$ for the privilege to buy and sell at these big events.

all imo.

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...

I like the idea.
Which dealers would be willing to do this? How much would they charge?
 
jasonlaus said:
I like the idea.
Which dealers would be willing to do this? How much would they charge?
Click to expand...

Here's what I've done in the past.

Decide what your bottom line is and as long as it's realistic (key to success) seeif a dealer wants to buy it direct.

If the dealer doesn't want to buy it and know that you need $xxxx for it, see if they're interested to sell it for you with them keeping whatever margin they get above your number.

Again, the key if to be realistic on price because the guy selling it for you need to make a buck, too.

Your cue will get much better exposure this way compared to the trunk method.:wink:

best,
brian kc
 
This is an interesting question...
1. i don't think it's fair on the vendors who support the trade show in an attempt to promote and sell their products, to have some joker under cutting them from the trunk of their cars.
2. I don't think it's fair that 'Pro's' can't sell their endorsed products at the trade show, especially when they have made prior arrangements to do so and rely on this to finance their tournaments. As long as its done with discretion and tactfulness.

For me, DIFFICULT questions to answer straight forward

I'd like to think their is room for everyone. But may be that's naive? :thumbup:
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Do we like them or do we hate them?

Should they be able to bring cues to the expo (or any other similar event) hoping to make sales?

Here's my take on it.

I believe that if you have cultivated a potential customer *PRIOR* to the show and you want to do the deal in person, it is acceptable.

If you are planning to bring cues to the event hoping to find customers who may be interested to buy your cues, and you don't have a booth, that is bad form.

If you have cues you'd like to sell, I think you should work out a commission deal with someone there you trust who has a booth, and go enjoy the rest of the show. :thumbup:

I really don't like seeing guys trying to do deals, whispering and trying to be stealthy in the aisles, when there are guys there who have paid real $$$ for the privilege to buy and sell at these big events.

all imo.

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...

They do this sort of stuff at tech conventions also, some companies do not setup at the main hall but rent out a hotel room or suite and hold their meetings and sales pitches there.

I know if I had a cue or 2 I wanted to sell I would not feel bad about bringing it with me to have people look at it. We all would have paid at least the entry to the show either case, the issue may be taking a sale away from a dealer that paid for his spot which I'm sure they won't like. But there is no way to stop someone from selling a cue person to person. I mean if I'm playing with a cue and some guy comes over and tells me "hey, nice cue, would you think about selling it", how do you stop that or say that it is not allowed?
 
Those poor elephants just can't get a break. :crying:

First they use their tusks for ferrules and inlays....

Then they use their ears for wraps....

Now they're dealing in trunks?
 
hang-the-9 said:
They do this sort of stuff at tech conventions also, some companies do not setup at the main hall but rent out a hotel room or suite and hold their meetings and sales pitches there.

I know if I had a cue or 2 I wanted to sell I would not feel bad about bringing it with me to have people look at it. We all would have paid at least the entry to the show either case, the issue may be taking a sale away from a dealer that paid for his spot which I'm sure they won't like. But there is no way to stop someone from selling a cue person to person. I mean if I'm playing with a cue and some guy comes over and tells me "hey, nice cue, would you think about selling it", how do you stop that or say that it is not allowed?
Click to expand...

How do you go about selling your cue(s) at Expo when there isn't some guy who walks up to you saying, nice cue, wanna sell it?

because, for me, that is where the problem lies.

if you don't have a customer lined up prior to coming to the event, then you have to be putting the word out what you have for sale and this takes away from the vendors who paid to market their cues to the very same prospective customers.

What would be wrong with consigning the cue(s) with a trusted vendor?

best,
brian kc
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
How do you go about selling your cue(s) at Expo when there isn't some guy who walks up to you saying, nice cue, wanna sell it?

because, for me, that is where the problem lies.

if you don't have a customer lined up prior to coming to the event, then you have to be putting the word out what you have for sale and this takes away from the vendors who paid to market their cues to the very same prospective customers.

What would be wrong with consigning the cue(s) with a trusted vendor?

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...

So is there a rule at the expo that states no cue dealings outside from the vendors? That would be the only way to do that, have someone check your case for a cue that you are selling, and forbidding entry till you hand over the cue to someone.

Aside from that, it's all on the honor system to be respectful to the official dealers.
Like calling a foul on yourself. Some will do it because it's the right thing to do, some won't because they don't "have" to, either because of no rule against it or no-one caught them.

If I had one to sell, I don't know if I would want to sell it myself and spend the time with people looking at it, or just hand it over at the show to someone so I can do whatever without having to deal with people looking at the cue.

I do know a few of the dealers, and for me, if I knew I wanted to sell a cue, I would either list it on AZB or have one of my buddies sell it. I really doubt I'd go to the show with a bunch of cues I wanted to sell and start going around saying "hey buddy, wanna buy a cue?" like a guy in NY selling watches.
 
I think its a bit underhanded to sell out of your trunk. If you owned a bar would it be ok for someone to sell alcohol in your parking lot?
 
bullshot said:
I think its a bit underhanded to sell out of your trunk. If you owned a bar would it be ok for someone to sell alcohol in your parking lot?
Click to expand...

That would be a good analogy if the Expo rules said "no non-dealer cue sales allowed", since all bars I know off do not allow outside food or drinks as a posted rule. And the parking lot is often part of the area of influence of a business I guess you can say. It may be rude, and should cause some guilt even, but if the show is for people to mingle and hang out, with no rules for what can and can't be sold when and where, I could not condemn someone for trying to sell a cue or 2. Now if they drove there with 10 and knew that their only reason for being there is to sell sell sell, then I'd be in line to call them an a-hole LOL :D
 
Official

Kickin' Chicken said:
Do we like them or do we hate them?

Should they be able to bring cues to the expo (or any other similar event) hoping to make sales?

Here's my take on it.

I believe that if you have cultivated a potential customer *PRIOR* to the show and you want to do the deal in person, it is acceptable.

If you are planning to bring cues to the event hoping to find customers who may be interested to buy your cues, and you don't have a booth, that is bad form.

If you have cues you'd like to sell, I think you should work out a commission deal with someone there you trust who has a booth, and go enjoy the rest of the show. :thumbup:

I really don't like seeing guys trying to do deals, whispering and trying to be stealthy in the aisles, when there are guys there who have paid real $$$ for the privilege to buy and sell at these big events.

all imo.

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...

You can be the official trunk inspector,, :D LOL
To bad I sold my old car It had lots of space to put _ _ _ _ies
My new car is still a virgin
 
hang-the-9 said:
So is there a rule at the expo that states no cue dealings outside from the vendors? That would be the only way to do that, have someone check your case for a cue that you are selling, and forbidding entry till you hand over the cue to someone.

Aside from that, it's all on the honor system to be respectful to the official dealers.
Like calling a foul on yourself. Some will do it because it's the right thing to do, some won't because they don't "have" to, either because of no rule against it or no-one caught them.

If I had one to sell, I don't know if I would want to sell it myself and spend the time with people looking at it, or just hand it over at the show to someone so I can do whatever without having to deal with people looking at the cue.

I do know a few of the dealers, and for me, if I knew I wanted to sell a cue, I would either list it on AZB or have one of my buddies sell it. I really doubt I'd go to the show with a bunch of cues I wanted to sell and start going around saying "hey buddy, wanna buy a cue?" like a guy in NY selling watches.
Click to expand...

Bingo, hang,

I have read your posts on az and know how you do with your son (congrats, btw, on his recent strong finishes), and how you have instilled a good moral compass in him. :thumbup:

Same kind of mindset would have to prevail here, I would imagine.

btw, I have seen people get booted at SBX for selling in the aisles.

This makes me think there is a rule about it, albeit a tough one to enforce.

best,
brian kc
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Bingo, hang,

I have read your posts on az and know how you do with your son (congrats, btw, on his recent strong finishes), and how you have instilled a good moral compass in him. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Dang right, if he does not call a foul during a game that he knows he committed, he knows there will be words with him. On the other hand, I also let him know that when he's in a match he needs to watch what happens at the table when the other guy is shooting since he has missed fouls before when he was looking this way and that way but not at the table since you can't trust others to play the same way.

I actually called fouls on him during matches especially during junior league when the player he was playing was not maybe aware of the rules, he's play a shot and kinda look at me like "I am not sure this was good" and I'll call it. Hopefully when he's on his own he will be the type of player that you can walk away to get a drink in the middle of a game with and be sure that if there is a foul, the cueball will be sitting on the rail waiting for you. I hope we ALL are that type of player.
 
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This argument has raged on since the SBE came into being... except when the times were great, no one cared. Just since around 2008 did it really become an issue. But it should have always been an issue.

People have an expectation to deal with the dealers. I used to keep an eye out for the "eavesdrop" buyer. They see a Szam, or Bushka come into the booth and ease on over to your area, and try and get the 411 on your conversation. So if you don't strike a deal, they can swoop in when the guy is on the isle. This happens a lot... Remember the booth spaces are very small.

JV
 
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