What Are Your Feelings On "Trunk Dealers" at Pool Events?

Competition is key

Everybody has opinions on values...only matters what something sells for.
There is nothing wrong with selling cues at an event person to person. You cant police it anyway. If you have something I want at a reasonable price I buy. If you have a storefront or not, doesnt matter to me. In this market if it isnt selling you are overpriced.
 
It costs around 3k to do the SBE legitimately. Yes, there are guys who trade with dealers, they are ok. Its the sob's that are within ear shot of a dealers booth that wait for someone to leave, or try to see what they are offering to dealers, to try and make a deal on the carpet and buy out from under them.

Walk into a mall and try and set up a table in the kiosk section selling jewelry and tell me how much your bail is set at, that's what needs to be done here.

Last year we helped a friend, and what a different perspective. This year we will do the same. A lot less pressure just walking around.

JV
 
Life can be so much easier if people were more considerate.

For about 15 years, I would have a few O'Neil 12-packers in my vehicle.
I also had a few showcases in a few rooms.
If I wanted to sell some cues at somebody's room, I would contact the
owner and offer him 10 % of the net sales....never had a problem.

I went to a couple of the big tournaments with a 6-packer and made a
deal with one of the legal vendors....again 10% of net.

....it isn't all that cut 'n' dried though...I've bought and sold and traded
at tournaments on the spur of the moment also.

I saved my 'skulking ability' for making games.:cool:
 
classiccues said:
It costs around 3k to do the SBE legitimately. Yes, there are guys who trade with dealers, they are ok. Its the sob's that are within ear shot of a dealers booth that wait for someone to leave, or try to see what they are offering to dealers, to try and make a deal on the carpet and buy out from under them.

Walk into a mall and try and set up a table in the kiosk section selling jewelry and tell me how much your bail is set at, that's what needs to be done here.

Last year we helped a friend, and what a different perspective. This year we will do the same. A lot less pressure just walking around.

JV
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JV is right. There is no double edged sword, it's wrong to take business away from those paying to do the right thing. Support the event. If they lose vendors willing to pay for booths the event will soon go away.
 
I was at a tournament recently.I was in talks with Joe Salazar on a $3500 cue and with Ron Grier (I think that's how his name is spelled) about 2 cues for $1200.
I had already told some friends that was there I was going to offer Joe $3300 for the cue and Ron $1000 or we could negotiate further.
I walked over to ask a friend a score of a match and he started asking me about the cues.I tried to explain to him about inlays,points(cnc,spliced) and inlay materials
.He is new to this kind of thing.So I took out a couple of my personal cues and was explaining some things.Before long we had several people around us discussing this and showing their cues.
About that time the tournament director came over and told us to put the cues away and if we were caught selling any cues in there we would be barred.I said we were just explaining about cues and weren`t selling.We were told to put the cues away and proceeded to go announce over the loud speaker that any caught selling cues would be ask to leave because the vendors paid to be there.
I understand that but we weren`t selling.
I don`t know which one said something to the tournament director but it cost both of them a sale.
I had over 12k on me and have a very large collection of cues.Ron and Joe both saw the cash so they knew I wasn`t b.s.ing them.
Sometimes it`s better to keep your mouth shut,it cost both of them a sale and I will never attend another one of the tournament directors events.
 
no they have no right to sell a cue in a pool hall they don't own or a venue they haven't rented. they guy renting the space for the event or the owner of a pool hall has every right to throw you out. You think mcdonalds is going to let you sit in there lobby and sell soda's cheaper to people walking in the door then what they sell them? Of course not.... You goto a professional football or baseball game you will see plenty of people off the property selling hats and shirts cheaper. Try moving that on their property or inside their gates doing that and you will be out on your ass.


CreeDo said:
I sort of take a practical view about it. If it's not illegal, no point getting worked up
about a reality you cannot change. People have a right to find the best possible
location to sell their goods, unless some law requires them to get a license or something.

The theory behind paying for a booth is, you will get 10,000 pool fiends walking by your product.
You are paying to get eyeballs on your cues, and even with the trunk dealers,
you WILL get those eyeballs... because anyone who bothers going to the parking lot of the event,
will also stroll through the venue and look at the vendor offerings.

It's up to you to convert those eyeballs into a sale.
You are already in competition with all the other vendors plus whatever else is out there online.
So your job is still to offer something that the competition can't beat.

The math is simple when deciding "should I raise a stink" or "should I quit buying booth space
because of the trunk vendors"... if you spend more money than you earn,
then you stop buying booth space at that event.
And you let the right people know "I can't afford to do this anymore, and I suspect it's
because of lost sales from the trunk vendors."
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I am looking forward to attending another SBX next month to compete, visit with friends, get a little cue work done, sweat some action, maybe pick up a new cue or two, and, oh yeah, I'll have a few cues I wouldn't mind to sell.

How I should go about selling my few cues is clear to me. If I have a potential customer interested in one who wishes to meet up with me at the event to see the cue and do the deal, I figure that's perfectly fine. It was arranged ahead of time.

I will not, however, bring cues to such an event hoping to find a brand new customer whom I may potentially be taking away from a paid vendor at the show.

I think the standard should be that I will not go to a show like this and *market my cues* unless I have a booth there.

This goes straight to what pt109 said above: "Life can be so much easier if people were more considerate."

I will mention to some friends who will be vendors at the show what I have if they know anyone who may be interested. I will most likely just leave cues with them and work out their jellyroll for if they sell a cue for me.

Anyone with the hubris to stand near a vendor's booth listening to what customers say they want so they can try and intercept them, well, they deserve to get slapped real hard right upside their heads. You know, in a considerate way. ;):eek::wink:

Support the vendors.

best,
bian kc
 
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I agree that is definitely a different situation.a grey area if you will... Someone already agreed to buy the cue and it just so happens that your both going to a pool hall or the super billiards expo is different then you walking around with a case full of cues trying to sell them


Kickin' Chicken said:
I am looking forward to attending another SBX next month to compete, visit with friends, get a little cue work done, sweat some action, maybe pick up a new cue or two, and, oh yeah, I'll have a few cues I wouldn't mind to sell.

How I should go about selling my few cues is clear to me. If I have a potential customer interested in one who wishes to meet up with me at the event to see the cue and do the deal, I figure that's perfectly fine. It was arranged ahead of time.

I will not, however, bring cues to such an event hoping to find a brand new customer whom I may potentially be taking away from a paid vendor at the show.

I think the standard should be that I will not go to a show like this and *market my cues* unless I have a booth there.

This goes straight to what pt109 said above: "Life can be so much easier if people were more considerate."

I will mention to some friends who will be vendors at the show what I have if they know anyone who may be interested. I will most likely just leave cues with them and work out their jellyroll for if they sell a cue for me.

Anyone with the hubris to stand near a vendor's booth listening to what customers say they want so they can try and intercept them, well, they deserve to get slapped real hard right upside their heads. You know, in a considerate way. ;):eek::wink:

Support the vendors.

best,
bian kc
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trob said:
no they have no right to sell a cue in a pool hall they don't own or a venue they
haven't rented. [snip] Try moving that on their property or inside their gates doing that and you will be
out on your ass.
Click to expand...

I think I probably worded something wrong. Wasn't suggesting they should be ok to sell
right inside the venue, next to the paid booths. Of course they're gonna get kicked out if they try that.
I meant in the parking lot. They have a right to try to change location to get more profit.
But obviously not literally in the booth area or whatever.

Then again, I can't sit in McDonald's parking lot and sell fries to people either.

But, maybe that's apples to oranges. That's selling a product that directly competes
with the parking-lot-owner's product. But if it's a hotel parking lot,
the hotel isn't going to be poorer for it. So why should they care and kick anyone off their property?
 
classiccues said:
It costs around 3k to do the SBE legitimately. Yes, there are guys who trade with dealers, they are ok. Its the sob's that are within ear shot of a dealers booth that wait for someone to leave, or try to see what they are offering to dealers, to try and make a deal on the carpet and buy out from under them.

Walk into a mall and try and set up a table in the kiosk section selling jewelry and tell me how much your bail is set at, that's what needs to be done here.

Last year we helped a friend, and what a different perspective. This year we will do the same. A lot less pressure just walking around.

JV
Click to expand...

^^^^ THIS ^^^^



If a person wants to sell cues, buy a booth OR leave your cues (that you intend to sell) outside of the event. It is rude to tote around a 12x24 case selling cues. I have no idea why it is tolerated (seemingly at times). I have seen many, many times people do this.


In the end, I buy from who I trust (from now on).


Great topic Brian.
 
Yeah if we as pool fans or enthusiasts keep coming up ways to get around supporting the promoters (all of whom struggle as it is) we will have no events to attend.

Then we can all finger-point and blame someone else. On the other hand, a guy with 3 cues to sell can't really be expected to pay 3K for a booth. So its not easy.

Kevin
 
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kvinbrwr said:
On the other hand, a guy with 3 cues to sell can't really be expected to pay 3K for a booth. So its not easy.

Kevin
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That's why there is the internet.. its FREE, for the most part. :) Amazing most the same multi-cue sellers can't afford a web site either...

JV
 
I have no problem with it. Those renting out a booth are normally getting prime exposure for their goods in an area where they can set up and display their goods in a high traffic location. Someone carrying around a case full of cues is working at a serious disadvantage as far as advertising their goods goes.

As long as the people selling their goods without a booth are not trying to set up a display on a table in the pool room, that is where you need to draw the line. You want to actually display your goods for sale in the pool area, you gotta pay.
 
classiccues said:
That's why there is the internet.. its FREE, for the most part. :) Amazing most the same multi-cue sellers can't afford a web site either...

JV
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With three cues only for sale and most buyers looking for a player not a safe queen! It is only normal to bring the item to somewhere that a customer or potential buyer could TEST HIT the cue.

The internet does not allow for TEST HITTING. Plus, the internet is full of traffic and their item will be on page 20 in a matter of a few hours.

No one means the vendors harm. Especially the little guys. But, it is not fair to omit working on commission in favor of buying low and selling high. I have seen vendors take pictures mail them around via email. Get a buyer to agree to some inflated price and give the seller crumbs!!!

Say that is not the case please???

The seller/vendor did nothing but play middle man and got double what he paid for the cue and the seller got crumbs! It happens ALOT.

Shopping your cue on your own is the only way to get a fair price. High end buyers are tired of the drama and want the safety afforded by dealing with a reputable dealer. The buyers and sellers lose out via inflated cost to buyers and less money to sellers.

You understand this fully in my opinion. But, want the little guy forced to deal with you at 50 cent on the dollar and not seek out a buyer at a retail price level or slightly below retail that allows them a reasonable profit margin. Not crumbs!

KD
 
Celtic said:
I have no problem with it. Those renting out a booth are normally getting prime exposure for their goods in an area where they can set up and display their goods in a high traffic location. Someone carrying around a case full of cues is working at a serious disadvantage as far as advertising their goods goes.

As long as the people selling their goods without a booth are not trying to set up a display on a table in the pool room, that is where you need to draw the line. You want to actually display your goods for sale in the pool area, you gotta pay.
Click to expand...

The guys who pay for booths have to figure the booth expense into their cue costs. It's part of their overhead and it's real.

The guy who you described as "someone carrying around a case full of cues is working at a serious disadvantage" does not have to shoulder that expense.

If you were a vendor and paid big $$$ for a booth in order to sell your cues, would you like having to compete with guys who are not paying or playing by the rules?

And, btw, anyone who doesn't think this is a violation, just ask Allen if it would be okay for you to try and sell some cues out of your case at SBX. :eek:

best,
brian kc

.
 
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I went to the DCC with 3 cues and about $10k in cash. Spent all the money with the dealers and left with 3 different cues. (also traded the 3 cues with the mentioned dealers) Does that make me a trunk dealer? I don't think the 2 dealers would say so.
 
I have news for you, we are all working on a commission, but that's a life view. As far as acting the middle man, are you kidding me? When I buy from a cuemaker, him and I have an agreed price, he is happy, I am happy and in the end the customer is happy. Lets say I have a consigned piece, why is that piece consigned to me and not dealer X... well because he is banking that my reputation gets him the sale, and HE doesn't want the hassle or drama of selling. Then it becomes MY problem. Who gets the grief on a consigned deal when there is a disagreement? Not the consignee.. there are no crumbs, the owner has a price that is normally pre-agreed upon, the dealer sells based on what he feels is fair.

So let me ask you, how many cues, or cases need to be sold in your opinion to recoup 3.5-4k? Factor in there are 200 other people selling the same stuff you are, needing to make back the same money.. think about why there is a fundamental issue with guys looking to sell on the sly. Of course there are tons of buyers who will help ease their burden, don't worry about that...

There is give and take everywhere.. at a show where there is a table cost, a hotel room cost a meals cost, a transportation cost... 5 nights at 150 ish.. 750.00, the booth 1200, food for the week..5-6 hundred, transportation 1200 ish.. then lose sales to some shlub that is probably sharing a room with 4 other shlubs.. stop it already. Guys paying should not lose a nickel to someone that lurks in the isle.

But it is difficult, because you can't draw the distinction between a guy who is looking to upgrade his cue with a dealer vs one of those guys. Its not an easy task for sure.

JV

Kid Dynomite said:
With three cues only for sale and most buyers looking for a player not a safe queen! It is only normal to bring the item to somewhere that a customer or potential buyer could TEST HIT the cue.

The internet does not allow for TEST HITTING. Plus, the internet is full of traffic and their item will be on page 20 in a matter of a few hours.

No one means the vendors harm. Especially the little guys. But, it is not fair to omit working on commission in favor of buying low and selling high. I have seen vendors take pictures mail them around via email. Get a buyer to agree to some inflated price and give the seller crumbs!!!

Say that is not the case please???

The seller/vendor did nothing but play middle man and got double what he paid for the cue and the seller got crumbs! It happens ALOT.

Shopping your cue on your own is the only way to get a fair price. High end buyers are tired of the drama and want the safety afforded by dealing with a reputable dealer. The buyers and sellers lose out via inflated cost to buyers and less money to sellers.

You understand this fully in my opinion. But, want the little guy forced to deal with you at 50 cent on the dollar and not seek out a buyer at a retail price level or slightly below retail that allows them a reasonable profit margin. Not crumbs!

KD
Click to expand...
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
The guys who pay for booths have to figure the booth expense into their cue costs. It's part of their overhead and it's real.

The guy who you described as "someone carrying around a case full of cues is working at a serious disadvantage" does not have the burden of that expense.

If you were a vendor and paid big $$$ for a booth in order to sell your cues, would you like having to compete with guys who are not paying or playing by the rules?

And, btw, anyone who doesn't think this is a violation, just ask Allen if it would be okay for you to try and sell some cues out of your case at SBX. :eek:

best,
brian kc

.
Click to expand...

You know how many people you meet at the expo? You get to talking and discuss cues? He tries yours and you try his! He says what else you got and a sale comes about.

No one walks with case and sign saying "schon cue for sale" they need to go!

But, mentioning cues to acquaintances and friends at the show is not to be frowned on in my opinion as long as you are discreet and not running around with a sign.

Kd

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It certainly depends on their intentions IMO. If they are looking to trade and have some cash to boot, or are looking to sell so they have money to spend with the vendors, that is one thing. If they are only looking to sell their cues and leave, then that is a problem.

I went to the SBE a couple years ago and did not buy a booth for the first time in several years. I brought six cues to trade and barter. I did a trade and got some significant cash to boot, which I promptly spent with the vendors. I was pulled aside and accused of selling without a booth. Was what I did wrong, or was it OK?

It's a very hard thing to police.
 
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