dave sutton
Banned
Jerry rauenzahn hands down
Under-priced Cues - Your opinion please
- Thread starter hdgis1
- Start date
recognized the sarcasm
Dave,
I did recognize the sarcasm, although I didn't see the original thread you are talking about. I have noticed some people always think that what they get paid is perfectly reasonable but they think others should work for nothing.
I know you know the score. I was just agreeing with you and pointing out a few things for others. Any custom cue builder that is selling cues cheaply either is willing to work for almost nothing, often nothing when they tally all the expenses, or they aren't keeping up with the real costs of building a cue.
A good friend had a body shop two miles from mine. I had the second highest rates in the area behind only a one man custom shop and I had a six month waiting list. He charged less than half what I did and was begging for work. My shop turned out a little better work than his but at the same time his turned out better work than most. I tried to talk him into raising his prices 50% which would have still left him under most of his competition and well under my pricing. He couldn't see it. He went under because he was actually charging less for his work than it cost to do it when all obvious and hidden but very real costs were included.
I need to talk to you more often, I just raised my shop rate to $60 an hour when I give things more thought! :grin: :grin: :grin:
Hu
Dave,
I did recognize the sarcasm, although I didn't see the original thread you are talking about. I have noticed some people always think that what they get paid is perfectly reasonable but they think others should work for nothing.
I know you know the score. I was just agreeing with you and pointing out a few things for others. Any custom cue builder that is selling cues cheaply either is willing to work for almost nothing, often nothing when they tally all the expenses, or they aren't keeping up with the real costs of building a cue.
A good friend had a body shop two miles from mine. I had the second highest rates in the area behind only a one man custom shop and I had a six month waiting list. He charged less than half what I did and was begging for work. My shop turned out a little better work than his but at the same time his turned out better work than most. I tried to talk him into raising his prices 50% which would have still left him under most of his competition and well under my pricing. He couldn't see it. He went under because he was actually charging less for his work than it cost to do it when all obvious and hidden but very real costs were included.
I need to talk to you more often, I just raised my shop rate to $60 an hour when I give things more thought! :grin: :grin: :grin:
Hu
As i have said before anyone with a serious waiting list is underpricing their cues.. If Southwest had been on average charging $300 more per cue, Ill bet that waiting list would be 15 months or so and not 8 years. That's what supply and demand is all about. I dont understand these guys keeping prices down while there is a list like that.
Ted Harris Cues
Most great cue Makers are eccentric. Most great anything are eccentric.
1: Jerry Franklin of Southwest cues was so against IVORY that he took cues into a whole new direction with WOOD 2 WOOD joints and LBM ferrulles!
2. Tony Scanielli of Black Boar Cues was so against joining the forearm and handle with pins that he developed the sleeved method and gave birth to the coring of cues as we know it now!
The next great cue maker will have to follow his or her heart and step outside the box with cue making. Maybe, solve a mechanical or spiritual issue like the pioneers above!
I like Ted Harris cues! He is/was early on in mobile cue repair traveling with the pros learning their taste in SHAFT TAPERS and BUTT TAPERS.
Plus, I think some not all of his cues use a nice combination of CORING and WOOD 2 WOOD joints & LBM ferrulles techniques from the above pioneers. I am a plain jane type man and I am all about the hit. NO POINTS 4 THE KID!!!!!!
I stumbled upon the TED HARRIS hit by accident ordering a Mike G sledgehammer knock off and he sent me an extra shaft to play with! The rest is history 4 me!!!
He had some personal issues but that being set aside. If you can find one used or get one of his MERRY WIDOW cues I would jump!
Kid
Dynomite
Most great cue Makers are eccentric. Most great anything are eccentric.
1: Jerry Franklin of Southwest cues was so against IVORY that he took cues into a whole new direction with WOOD 2 WOOD joints and LBM ferrulles!
2. Tony Scanielli of Black Boar Cues was so against joining the forearm and handle with pins that he developed the sleeved method and gave birth to the coring of cues as we know it now!
The next great cue maker will have to follow his or her heart and step outside the box with cue making. Maybe, solve a mechanical or spiritual issue like the pioneers above!
I like Ted Harris cues! He is/was early on in mobile cue repair traveling with the pros learning their taste in SHAFT TAPERS and BUTT TAPERS.
Plus, I think some not all of his cues use a nice combination of CORING and WOOD 2 WOOD joints & LBM ferrulles techniques from the above pioneers. I am a plain jane type man and I am all about the hit. NO POINTS 4 THE KID!!!!!!
I stumbled upon the TED HARRIS hit by accident ordering a Mike G sledgehammer knock off and he sent me an extra shaft to play with! The rest is history 4 me!!!
He had some personal issues but that being set aside. If you can find one used or get one of his MERRY WIDOW cues I would jump!
Kid
Dynomite
Bryan Mordt BCM Cues makes a great cue and cant sell his cues for what there worth.The economy sucks right now and there are a lot of decent cue makers out there barely getting by.If it keeps up there are going to be a lot folding shop.
Ted Harris
I second that - also Jensen Cues - geez his cues are reasonable.
I second that - also Jensen Cues - geez his cues are reasonable.
I'll second that. Jeff deserves more credit as a great maker!
Another fav of mine who I feel excels in both playability and workmanship is Paul Dayton. He just keeps getting better and makes almost perfect cues now. Great prices and definitely under the radar...Tom
LP CUSTOM CUES!
I heard a little about Lee at LP Customs on AZ and contacted him to build me a cue. From build info to delivery the process was basically stress free.
The cue I designed was a copy of a Gus I loved, and it hit the mark on delivery!
thanx to Lee at LP Customs.....the cue is just what I was looking for, and at $400 for a custom build........you need to up the $$$...
G!
I heard a little about Lee at LP Customs on AZ and contacted him to build me a cue. From build info to delivery the process was basically stress free.
The cue I designed was a copy of a Gus I loved, and it hit the mark on delivery!
thanx to Lee at LP Customs.....the cue is just what I was looking for, and at $400 for a custom build........you need to up the $$$...
G!
Too many good ones . . .
Rat Cues
Alex Brick
Josey Cues
Doug Patrick
Scott Gracio
Jeeez . . . I know I'm leaving off a number of quality cue builders that give us Joe Schmoes a chance to own a great cue for a low outlay of $ . . . I consider them "under priced" as their talent is incredible . . . my hat is off to all of 'em . . . rally round our own here guys . . . I know that I will support the small AMERICAN cue builder with anything I buy going forward. Their talents and dedication are truly unappreciated . . .
Rat Cues
Alex Brick
Josey Cues
Doug Patrick
Scott Gracio
Jeeez . . . I know I'm leaving off a number of quality cue builders that give us Joe Schmoes a chance to own a great cue for a low outlay of $ . . . I consider them "under priced" as their talent is incredible . . . my hat is off to all of 'em . . . rally round our own here guys . . . I know that I will support the small AMERICAN cue builder with anything I buy going forward. Their talents and dedication are truly unappreciated . . .
I used to hang out in a N.J poolroom that Gus Szamboti would visit because he was good friends with the owner (Tony) who was also a Gus cue collector. This was just before Gus passed in the late '80s. At this time a basic cue was $425.00 and Tony kept telling Gus to double his prices and Gus would not do it. There was a night that Gus delivered a cue for $425.00 and a day or so later the person sold it for $1000.00. At that time there was a 1 year wait for a cue unless Gus liked you then he would bump you up the line. Anyway Gus of course heard about the cue being sold and vowed never to make one for that person again.
That was a classic example of an under priced cue maker.
That was a classic example of an under priced cue maker.
MIC FLY AZ
Registered
Rat cues for sure. Ryan's cues are the nuts. They play great.
I'd have to put a vote in for Ryan as well. His cues are unique and reasonably priced. Never shot with one but something tells me I wouldn't be disappointed.
From experience of having 2 Slys, hes an up and comer. Better buy them now before the price goes up proportionally.
From experience of having 2 Slys, hes an up and comer. Better buy them now before the price goes up proportionally.
jerry-r- cues are way under priced andthey play great super solid hit also
I suspect that Ron Hailey is certainly an under priced Cue Maker in this and any market. In my opinion Ron will be one of the greats some day, currently his work is equal if not better than anyones in the current market. If some one wants future appreciation out of a cue purchase, Ron is your man, and currently the prices he is charging are far below the value recieved.
JIMO
JIMO
Nice story. Short, but very interesting
worth paying attention to
Words to remember. Craig does very nice cue work himself so when he says someone else is a man to watch I'll pay attention!
Hu
Words to remember. Craig does very nice cue work himself so when he says someone else is a man to watch I'll pay attention!
Hu
Happened to me with Southwest.
I was a 19yo kid and waited my time for a SW. Tommy Kennedy put me on the list.
By the time it got here I had quit playing pool. I think my 6 pointer cost me like $850 in 1995. Pin #357
So anyway, I pass it to a buddy for the same $$$, with the caveat that if / when he goes broke and needs to sell it, I get first option in case I want to get back into pool.
He went broke 2 weeks later, sold it to "Fat Tony" in Daytona for $1000 and Tony sold it in Japan for BIG $$$ before he died.
GONE.
