Update on SW wait time

[John Barton]

If they have not actually started the cue i would recommend you get your deposit back and look at some of the other custom cue makers. You could also attend some of the big tournaments if you can and get a good look at some custom cues up close. I think its fairly important to not settle for a cue and really get the one you want but that wait is really long. I ended up buying a Judd at Derby city this year and it was in awesome condition. Its been my best cue investment yet. Good Luck!

Thats another good thing about SW. They don't take a deposit. Why not? Because there is another list about a mile long of people who will buy any South West cue that is not taken.

I ordered mine in 1995 and got a call from Laurie in 2004 that it would be ready sometime in 2004. I picked it up in Vegas in Oct. 2004. Not only that, Laurie tracked me down to tell me. I had moved probably six times since I placed that order. That's customer service!

I believe that most people who are on the list know exactly what they are in for. Those people either already own South West cues or comparable ones. I very much doubt that any first time cue buyers are calling South West to get on the list.

This just happens to be one of those companies that has the right product in the right niche. They don't want to compromise the integrity of the product by doing something that would reduce the wait but may also reduce the product value.

One thing about a long list of orders with no deposits is that IF they started putting out a substandard cue then the list could disappear rather quickly. So they opt for quality over quantity.

Another drawback is that they are getting paid prices that are 8 year's old while fading current expenses. That is to say, their expenses rise every year but their income is well behind the inflation curve.

 

[John Barton]

That used to be the case, Laurie has raised the prices and will not guarantee them any longer. The last time I talked to her she said she raised the prices a couple hundred dollars across the board. If you think about it, people getting cues now are paying 1998 prices while she is paying 2007 material, labor and overhead prices. It is competely understandable and I won't complain

No, what he meant is that once the price is quoted it won't go up. She does charge more now for the same design than she did ten years ago. My cue, when I ordered it was $1100. The same cue now is about $1500.

 

[ChrisOnline]

If you're looking for a cue with an awesome hit(first hand exp. here) check out the Cat in ChrisOnline's avatar
plus you won't have to wait so long that you'll be spending your retirement checks on it
Jake

Right on Jake... Jack madden makes a great cue and anybody that owns one knows what kinda great cue they have....

chris

 

[magnetardo]

No, what he meant is that once the price is quoted it won't go up. She does charge more now for the same design than she did ten years ago. My cue, when I ordered it was $1100. The same cue now is about $1500.

I know what he meant and that information is incorrect. It USED to be that way, Laurie herself told me there was a price increase and it will be a couplr hundred more than she quoted.

 

[bigskyjake]

Right on Jake... Jack madden makes a great cue and anybody that owns one knows what kinda great cue they have....

chris

Damn Straight, I drove over to Jack's shop yesterday, he gave me a tour of the shop and we got a cue for me in the works. We also played a little one hole

 

[01rkclassic]

I know what he meant and that information is incorrect. It USED to be that way, Laurie herself told me there was a price increase and it will be a couplr hundred more than she quoted.

magnetardo is correct,my current order wast to be $1400 but in my last conversation with laurie she told me that the price was going up to about $1700,which i will gladly pay.the price increase will eventually work it's way to the secondary market and make used cues worth even more.

 

[joeb]

south west cues

Can any of you Gentlemen or Ladies play a lick better with a southwest? I would dare say the SW will not improve your game. May have a couple of most cues for sale in a year or two[ Ginas,JW, Sam, etc. Iwill be 64 soon and may turn them. I will have an auction on AZ with pictures and letters. By the way ,I use an old Meucci, kinda fancy, and most others now feel stiff for an old man who will still gamble. The REAL TENNESSEE JOE

 

[TheBook]

That used to be the case, Laurie has raised the prices and will not guarantee them any longer. The last time I talked to her she said she raised the prices a couple hundred dollars across the board. If you think about it, people getting cues now are paying 1998 prices while she is paying 2007 material, labor and overhead prices. It is competely understandable and I won't complain

Thanks for the update. I haven't talked to anyone at Sw since my name was put on the list. As you stated I won't complain. It makes the cue that I am "renting" increase in value and other cuemakers will also be raising their prices so it will still be a wash.

 

[TheBook]

Can any of you Gentlemen or Ladies play a lick better with a southwest? I would dare say the SW will not improve your game. May have a couple of most cues for sale in a year or two[ Ginas,JW, Sam, etc. Iwill be 64 soon and may turn them. I will have an auction on AZ with pictures and letters. By the way ,I use an old Meucci, kinda fancy, and most others now feel stiff for an old man who will still gamble. The REAL TENNESSEE JOE

I just picked up a Bender. It feels great. I took out my first cue that is a Schon (Runde era) with a Predator shaft on in and wanted to compare deflection. Couldn't see much difference. I then broke a rack with my break cue and then picked up my "Bender" and shot the rack out before realizing that I was using the Schon instead of the Bender. Between the two I could notice the difference and I would challenge anyone else.

I have a SW, Gilbert, Layani, Lambros, Gina and a few others. For the most part if it is a solid well made cue there is not much difference. Just my opinion. But I still have my name on the list.

Also a 5010 (60) year old.

 

[philw]

I have a very nice collection of cues. I have a Jerry Franklin SW that I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm simply waiting for this new SW.

TommyT

I also have a Jerry Franklin Southwest with the original receipt that I purchased in 1984 I never wanted another cue after that it is awesome.
I understand they are worth quite a bit these days. I paid $240.00 for it back then. Philw