WANTED: Entry Level Dennis Searing (used or new)

Yup...I agree with all comments made because they are all right. In short, "it takes two."

1) It's obvious that Dennis's cues derive their initial value from the awesome craftsmanship and attention to detail, etc.

2) But once primary market value is established, the value of his cues in secondary market are almost DIRECTLY correlated with their scarcity (It's a basic analysis of supply and demand (shown below). "Market equilibrium" -- where the two lines intersect -- on the secondary market for Searing cues is simply achieved at a higher price -- and lower quantity -- than many other cue makers out there. This contention holds true for ALL goods, not just cues). And, as an added note, the graph below actually shows what a normally competitive firm would do: respond to the increase in demand with an increase in supply. But since Dennis does not do so, the prices are driven even higher (what happens is the dotted line extending up from Q2 would shift back to the Q1 position and would actually just continue to shoot up past D1 till it hit D2, creating an even higher price than the P2 shown)!


Of course the cues have to be of SUPERB quality! That goes without saying...there had to be some sort of catalyst for demand to reach those levels ;)

In conclusion, I have only one thing to say...


KUDOS, MR. SEARING! :D
 
Last edited:
jdelcue@emory.e said:
Yup...I agree with all comments made because they are all right. In short, "it takes two."

1) It's obvious that Dennis's cues derive their initial value from the awesome craftsmanship and attention to detail, etc.

2) But once primary market value is established, the value of his cues in secondary market are almost DIRECTLY correlated with their scarcity (It's a basic analysis of supply and demand (shown below). "Market equilibrium" -- where the two lines intersect -- on the secondary market for Searing cues is simply achieved at a higher price -- and lower quantity -- than many other cue makers out there. This contention holds true for ALL goods, not just cues). And, as an added note, the graph below actually shows what a normally competitive firm would do: respond to the increase in demand with an increase in supply. But since Dennis does not do so, the prices are driven even higher (what happens is the dotted line extending up from Q2 would shift back to the Q1 position and would actually just continue to shoot up past D1 till it hit D2, creating an even higher price than the P2 shown)!


Of course the cues have to be of SUPERB quality! That goes without saying...there had to be some sort of catalyst for demand to reach those levels ;)

In conclusion, I have only one thing to say...


KUDOS, MR. SEARING! :D
Click to expand...

Trying to explain the pricing mechanism in your terms is a self-defeating venture on this forum, my friend. Not that it is wrong, you might, perhaps, be teaching to the wrong crowd...

Plus, the cue market is an anomaly to the aggregate mkt. If you are familiar w/ the American Institutionalist School -- a la Thorstein Veblen -- then you are probably aware of the 'Veblen effect' or 'Veblen goods', which essentially are commodities that increase in demand as their prices increase. It only happens in capitalism, and is completely inherent in our culture... American's like to create envy and discrimate by possessing and exhibiting thier unique 'stuff'... Thus, as the price of Searing's skyrocket, so does demand... In no way, shape, or form does this imply quality craftsmanship. However, this doesn't indicate the contrary, either...

-Shane
 
I hear ya. Lol. Thought I'd give it a shot anyhow...

As for the Veblen effect, guess we could go with that...but regardless of which scenario is indeed occuring in this case -- either way, prices had to increase before demand increased (a la Thorsten Veblen or not); not the other way around. As you stated, "...'Veblen goods', which essentially are commodities that increase in demand as their prices increase..." -- the Veblen effect might strive to explain the soaring demand for Searings ("Thus, as the price of Searing's skyrocket, so does demand") -- but we already know why the demand exist. What we are trying to provide an explanation for is the price. In other words, "If A then B" does not necessarily mean "if B then A."

-> Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Why, the egg, of course... :D


But only one thing is really important. As I said before...

KUDOS, MR. SEARING! Lol :p
 
Thanks for the lesson in formal logic...
I wasn't offering a modus ponens inference... I completely agreed w/ you that supply and demand determine price. I merely wanted to offer a so claimed student of econ. and philosophy another perspective that he/she might appreciate.

But, if you want to get into specifics, then I suggest that you change your supply and demand analysis model. Your model is assuming equilibrium-- that supply equals demand-- which is obviously not the case. Currently, demand is far greater than supply, which means the price level is well below equilibrium. Now, if you remember the intuition behind conservative economics -- that a free, de-regulated market will self-correct -- then it's quite clear that the price increase is just the unfettered mkt. moving towards the bliss point (equilibrium).;)

I think we can now conclude that Searing makes a rather popular stick that's going to fetch top $ for anyone willing to sell.

Now, I thinks it's time to let this thread die... :D







jdelcue@emory.e said:
I hear ya. Lol. Thought I'd give it a shot anyhow...

As for the Veblen effect, guess we could go with that...but regardless of which scenario is indeed occuring in this case -- either way, prices had to increase before demand increased (a la Thorsten Veblen or not); not the other way around. As you stated, "...'Veblen goods', which essentially are commodities that increase in demand as their prices increase..." -- the Veblen effect might strive to explain the soaring demand for Searings ("Thus, as the price of Searing's skyrocket, so does demand") -- but we already know why the demand exist. What we are trying to provide an explanation for is the price. In other words, "If A then B" does not necessarily mean "if B then A."

-> Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Why, the egg, of course... :D


But only one thing is really important. As I said before...

KUDOS, MR. SEARING! Lol :p
Click to expand...
 
my story

the funny thing here is people who have never had a searing are telling people how they are overpriced.

i have PERSONALLY had at least 10 searings in the past 2 years.

i have also owned a cue by every top maker on the planet.

without a doubt, searing makes the lowest deflecting, best hitting, most well executed pool cue on the planet, bar none.

i can SAY this from first hand info.

his cues are almost "freakish" on how they play.

STORY:

dennis and i played a bunch of sets in valley forge last year. when we were done, he showed me his camera and some of the pics of his work in progress. he shows me a pic of an inlay, a mother of pearl notched diamond. (it was also about 1/2 size of an average one). he cut the pocket in the wood with an exacto knike. HE EVEN CUT OUT THE LITTLE NOTCHES (wings) IN THE WOOD SO THERE WAS WOOD IN THE NOTCHED DIAMOND PART OF THE INLAY. he did this because he was so in love with the figure of the wood. he placed it so this one particular line (figure) in the wood entered the notch of the inlay, and came out on the other side of the inlay, in the opposite notch.
dennis looked at me and said," do you know how hard it is to do this, without breaking those little wings inside the inlay?"
i laughed at him. i told him he was crazy. no cuemaker has this much time to pay this much detail to such small things. he can, and he does.
ive seen TOP 10 cuemakers (new cues) with filler next to their inlays. and dennis does this kind of insane work?
i have about 15 more stories like this about him.
add the fact he makes so few, and everyone in the world wants his cues, well, you get a recipe for disaster.


my .02.


chris G
 
Well said Chris. I have refrained from commenting on this thread till now. I could tell you all stories about Dennis and his work that would make your eyes pop out. I have been buying cues for many years and there are not many cue makers that can compete with Dennis on any level. Fact is, even the plain ones are engineered to perfection. Its the little details that set them apart. They are underpriced from Dennis. The market shows that.

Fact is, a Sekonda can show you the time but I would rather own a Patek Philippe.
 
1pRoscoe said:
I emailed him about a year and a half ago and am still patiently waiting a reply.... :)
Click to expand...
I hear this all the time about Searing and really dont understand why everyone thinks its o.k.A few years ago before i became familiar with Tim Scruggs and Mike Cochran i called Searing repeatedly at the recommendation of a friend.Must have called 20 times,left very courteous messasges and once talked to somebody in the shop to tell them what i was calling about and could he call me back so i could get his recommendations,send a deposit,etc.Well he never called and i am so glad.Since then i have gotten to know Mr Scruggs and Mr Cochran and done quite a bit of business with them and wouldnt change to anyone else.But i know for a fact you can call and speak with Joel Hercek,Lori Franklin,Barry Szamboti,as well as Tim and Mike.Why does everyone seem so eager to give Mr Searing a pass for what seems to me to be nothing more than blatant disregard for potential clients and i understand he shows the same disregard for existing clients also.Anyway Thank You Tim and Mike especially and to the others i named for the courtesy and professionalism you practice.M.Sellers
 
Lol. Well, that was fun. Thanks a lot, Shane.
And i thoroughly agree that it is time to let this thread die... :p

By the way, whatcha shootin' with these days?
 
I love debates in economics... I'm currently a senior majoring in math and economics...

Right now, I'm shooting w/ this guy:

http://static.flickr.com/76/171341058_e3053a7c44_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/68/171341055_8754e47fae_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/49/171341060_95998781cd_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/66/171341061_801e9d493e_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/61/171341063_bb33d52234_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/93/248754698_f18d5ade20_b.jpg

Good luck with finding a good cue. There are plenty of them out there.

Take care,
-Shane
jdelcue@emory.e said:
Lol. Well, that was fun. Thanks a lot, Shane.

And i thoroughly agree that it is time to let this thread die... :p

By the way, whatcha shootin' with these days?
Click to expand...
 
bogey54311 said:
the funny thing here is people who have never had a searing are telling people how they are overpriced.

i have PERSONALLY had at least 10 searings in the past 2 years.

i have also owned a cue by every top maker on the planet.

without a doubt, searing makes the lowest deflecting, best hitting, most well executed pool cue on the planet, bar none.

i can SAY this from first hand info.

his cues are almost "freakish" on how they play.

STORY:

dennis and i played a bunch of sets in valley forge last year. when we were done, he showed me his camera and some of the pics of his work in progress. he shows me a pic of an inlay, a mother of pearl notched diamond. (it was also about 1/2 size of an average one). he cut the pocket in the wood with an exacto knike. HE EVEN CUT OUT THE LITTLE NOTCHES (wings) IN THE WOOD SO THERE WAS WOOD IN THE NOTCHED DIAMOND PART OF THE INLAY. he did this because he was so in love with the figure of the wood. he placed it so this one particular line (figure) in the wood entered the notch of the inlay, and came out on the other side of the inlay, in the opposite notch.
dennis looked at me and said," do you know how hard it is to do this, without breaking those little wings inside the inlay?"
i laughed at him. i told him he was crazy. no cuemaker has this much time to pay this much detail to such small things. he can, and he does.
ive seen TOP 10 cuemakers (new cues) with filler next to their inlays. and dennis does this kind of insane work?
i have about 15 more stories like this about him.
add the fact he makes so few, and everyone in the world wants his cues, well, you get a recipe for disaster.


my .02.


chris G
Click to expand...

great post.
 
bogey54311 said:
rep?, do i smell rep points?

you too diamond, cough em up.


have a great holiday all!


chris G
Click to expand...

No problem dude....cough up a powder blue veneered Szam first though:D
 
bogey54311 said:
rep?, do i smell rep points?

you too diamond, cough em up.


have a great holiday all!


chris G
Click to expand...
What's that smell...
REP POINTS!
I have to pass mine around or I would have left you another.

Maybe next time...
Myron
 
bogey54311 said:
the funny thing here is people who have never had a searing are telling people how they are overpriced.
Click to expand...

bogey54311 said:
his cues are almost "freakish" on how they play.
Click to expand...


bogey54311 said:
he shows me a pic of an inlay, a mother of pearl notched diamond. (it was also about 1/2 size of an average one). he cut the pocket in the wood with an exacto knike. HE EVEN CUT OUT THE LITTLE NOTCHES (wings) IN THE WOOD SO THERE WAS WOOD IN THE NOTCHED DIAMOND PART OF THE INLAY. he did this because he was so in love with the figure of the wood. he placed it so this one particular line (figure) in the wood entered the notch of the inlay, and came out on the other side of the inlay, in the opposite notch.
dennis looked at me and said," do you know how hard it is to do this, without breaking those little wings inside the inlay?"
i laughed at him. i told him he was crazy. no cuemaker has this much time to pay this much detail to such small things. he can, and he does.
ive seen TOP 10 cuemakers (new cues) with filler next to their inlays. and dennis does this kind of insane work?
i have about 15 more stories like this about him.
add the fact he makes so few, and everyone in the world wants his cues, well, you get a recipe for disaster.
Click to expand...


Nice post Chris. The problem is the people that notice and appreciate this kind of detail are a very small percentage of the cue buying public. Most of them don't notice the glue lines and fillers used and have no comprehension of how much extra time and effort it takes to make the inlays clean and sharp. Those that get it gladly pay the price for his (and other elite makers) cues. The ones that don't gripe about how much they cost. Fact is if you look at how much Dennis gets per hour for his craftsmansip vs. other skilled trades I think you will find his rates are very reasonable.
 
Murray Tucker said:
Nice post Chris. The problem is the people that notice and appreciate this kind of detail are a very small percentage of the cue buying public. Most of them don't notice the glue lines and fillers used and have no comprehension of how much extra time and effort it takes to make the inlays clean and sharp. Those that get it gladly pay the price for his (and other elite makers) cues. The ones that don't gripe about how much they cost. Fact is if you look at how much Dennis gets per hour for his craftsmansip vs. other skilled trades I think you will find his rates are very reasonable.
Click to expand...

I agree, and in most cases you get what you pay for!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top