What makes cues from purchased blanks sell for big $$$$

[Rockin' Robin]

Why do people pay so much for a sneaky pete or conversion? Could it be all the cue touts that post on here everyday? Could it be the newbie who asks what to buy? Could it be the answers that the cue piddlers and so called experts provide on this site? Save your money up, don't buy a real cue, buy a custom cue. That is the usual answer. Amazing all the bad info that is taken for gospel in the cue biz. But, that is how marketing works.
Worse thing is, THE KNOCKERS!!!!!!!!. Quit complaining about what price which cue brings, or who made the parts, its a stick. The market that you geese have made, you have to live with.

 

[manwon]

Why do people pay so much for a sneaky pete or conversion? Could it be all the cue touts that post on here everyday? Could it be the newbie who asks what to buy? Could it be the answers that the cue piddlers and so called experts provide on this site? Save your money up, don't buy a real cue, buy a custom cue. That is the usual answer. Amazing all the bad info that is taken for gospel in the cue biz. But, that is how marketing works.
Worse thing is, THE KNOCKERS!!!!!!!!. Quit complaining about what price which cue brings, or who made the parts, its a stick. The market that you geese have made, you have to live with.

Why do people pay so much for a sneaky pete or conversion? Could it be all the cue touts that post on here everyday? Could it be the newbie who asks what to buy? Could it be the answers that the cue piddlers and so called experts provide on this site? Save your money up, don't buy a real cue, buy a custom cue. That is the usual answer. Amazing all the bad info that is taken for gospel in the cue biz. But, that is how marketing works.

I think you have made some good points, and there certainly is a great deal of bad information given out in this business. But, I guess also by your thoughts it is OK, because a fool and his money is part anyway.:wink: I mean it is just marketing anyway!!

Worse thing is, THE KNOCKERS!!!!!!!!. Quit complaining about what price which cue brings, or who made the parts, its a stick. The market that you geese have made, you have to live with

Personally I love "BIG KNOCKERS"!!!!!!!!:thumbup: It is the dishonest ones that appear to be something they are not that I have a problem with, I mean have you ever had one Pop!!! Dam things will make a mess out of you!!!!:grin: Now, as for Geese, Gooses, or whatever else you referring to, I have personally never been responsible for any of it. The only thing I have to live with is that little voice in my head, and unfortunately I have always had one that lets me know when I am wrong. It is a shame that more of us do not have a brain that is functional in that area, the world would certainly be a better place.

Thanks for your opinion!!

 

[hotrod]

Purchased blanks- Big bucks ??

I see a lot of good answers pertaining to this question. Many buyers dont know construction technology.Many dont know the difference between full splice, half splice, purchased blanks or made in house blanks. They are relying on reputatin of cm and looks of the cue.Personally I want to hit with any cue before making a purchase.This limits what i buy, but what I do buy hits solid. In todays market people buy, buy, buy. Then if they arent sold it is the best hitting stick of a lifetime, they sell, sell,sell. Cant believe all these cues here on AZB hit lights out. If they did they wouldnt be back up for sale. Call it impulse buying, got to try it out buying, whatever youwant to call it. Money is never an object when you know you can just turn it back over. my 2 cents worth

 

[BHW]

It's all about knowing the product, or knowing OF the product. I can walk into any pool room in this area, and show people 3 cues, a standard Meucci, a sneaky pete from a WELL known player, and a basic merry widow style Southwest...and give people their choice. 99% of them will pick the Meucci....I guarantee it.

 

[Koop]

What makes cues from purchased blanks sell for big $$$$

Depends on the maker. If he is well known and sought out it probably doesn't matter if he buys a blank or makes his own. It does to me but my guess is most people wouldn't care.
Me, I like the cuemaker to make his own. I feel like I am buying something that nobody else will have that way. I think it also allows the cuemaker to have more control over what goes out of the shop.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Why do people pay so much for a sneaky pete or conversion? Could it be all the cue touts that post on here everyday? Could it be the newbie who asks what to buy? Could it be the answers that the cue piddlers and so called experts provide on this site? Save your money up, don't buy a real cue, buy a custom cue. That is the usual answer. Amazing all the bad info that is taken for gospel in the cue biz. But, that is how marketing works.
Worse thing is, THE KNOCKERS!!!!!!!!. Quit complaining about what price which cue brings, or who made the parts, its a stick. The market that you geese have made, you have to live with.

You asked: " Why do people pay so much for a sneaky pete or conversion?"

Think you sould ask the Cuemakers what it take to convest a Full Spliced Titlist to a 58" Playing Cue.

I think it is a lot of work when done right...

 

[Retail1LO]

I cant answer why a $60.00 blank from Schmelke would sell for $1000.00 or more. I don't price them like that. I would guess that you would need to ask the maker in question about that. I would assume in my opinion that people are just paying for the "NAME". As we know that there is a lot of us builders that build just as good quality playing cue as them for a better price. I personally can't see charging that kind of price for this. Example. I am having a full splice made out of certain exotic woods and I am only charging $550.00 But, I am also sending them the wood to build it out of.

There are a couple of threads everyone needs to read before going down this road any further.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=104140
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=97733

I'm positive...beyond a shadow of a doubt...that no cuemaker (Eric or any other) puts his price anywhere near the $1000 price tag that this thing just rang in at either, Mr. Patrick. But even if they DID...even your own example says you're charging $550, and you're supplying the wood. How much did the wood cost? What's that make your total? Do you perceive $550 in labor to be a good value for a sneaky? You surely must or a sensible person as I believe you to be, wouldn't move forward with it. Eric's cues sell like hotcakes on the secondary market. It's sold now. Tim Scruggs' sneakies fetch a nice penny too...he's a legend. I don't think anyone's making uneducated decisions. Regardless of flash and substance (or what you may to perceive to be a lack thereof) there are just far too many people that like what Eric makes...for the supply to ever keep up with. I can't even IMAGINE the firestorm that would come up if/when I put the cue in my avatar up for sale.

If you asked a dozen cuemakers to make the EXACT SAME CUE...same specs...same materials...I mean...identical to the point you thought they were mass produced...I assure you that you'd fetch different prices depending on the builder that made it. I don't care if it's a conversion or not. In business...your name is everything. No one says anything about the fact that the difference between a $300 pair of Rock & Republic Jeans and a $30 pair of Levi's is that one says Rock & Republic...the other says Levi. And Levi Strauss has been around INFINITELY longer...maintaining a high standard over a long level of time. I respect the vast majority of the people that make up this forum/community. There's an unbelievable wealth of knowledge here, regarding all things billiards. I simply refuse to believe that the portion of that community that is scooping these cues up for a high $$$ amount are a bunch of uneducated half-wits that don't know what they're puchasing. They know exactly what they're getting...and they keep coming back for more.

I seriously doubt this cue fetches more or less money regardless of whether it's a converted blank or not. In fact...if it WASN'T converted...it would probably go for more. I guarantee you the next time this cue surfaces, it sells for more than it just did.

Sorry for the rant...it's just that this is oft touched upon and always gets me going. *LOL* Carry on gentlemen.

 

[Retail1LO]

IMO it's insane to pay 500 plus for a sneaky. I would be interested in seeing what some of these makers charge for these cues new. I think about half of the people buying these don't really understand what they are buying. The other half are people looking to make a quick buck.

Manwon I do have a few questions. Do you think a PJ is much different? Do you think a PJ from a "hot" cuemaker should bring the prices we are talking about here? Or does it take mitered points and/or inlays to obtain these prices? Little of topic but I am wondering what you think.

You know...making full-spliced cues...regardless of whether they have veneers or inlays...is no small deal. There aren't a whole lot of people out there making them. This has also been discussed before. The equipment needed to make full-spliced blanks is a considerable investing from both a $$$ standpoint, and the raw amount of space they take up. There's more work that goes into simply creating a well constructed full-splice blank than most even know. If it were easy to do...more cue makers would do it. Think about that. And I believe MORE than half of the people buying these, really don't know what they're buying. People aren't paying too much for full-splice cues. They are...in all reality...getting one of the best deals in cuemaking. They're probably not paying enough.

 

[manwon]

You know...making full-spliced cues...regardless of whether they have veneers or inlays...is no small deal. There aren't a whole lot of people out there making them. This has also been discussed before. The equipment needed to make full-spliced blanks is a considerable investing from both a $$$ standpoint, and the raw amount of space they take up. There's more work that goes into simply creating a well constructed full-splice blank than most even know. If it were easy to do...more cue makers would do it. Think about that. And I believe MORE than half of the people buying these, really don't know what they're buying. People aren't paying too much for full-splice cues. They are...in all reality...getting one of the best deals in cuemaking. They're probably not paying enough.

The equipment needed to make full-spliced blanks is a considerable investing from both a $$$ standpoint, and the raw amount of space they take up.

About this you are way wrong, Brunswick made the 26 1/2 and the Titlist Cues with nothing more than a Table Saw, Band saw, and a simple lathe, nothing like is used to day!!!!

To help you out here the hardest part of the process is designing and building your Jigs and the fence for your table saw!!!!!!:wink:

 

[Retail1LO]

The equipment needed to make full-spliced blanks is a considerable investing from both a $$$ standpoint, and the raw amount of space they take up.

About this you are way wrong, Brunswick made the 26 1/2 and the Titlist Cues with nothing more than a Table Saw, Band saw, and a simple lathe, nothing like is used to day!!!!

To help you out here the hardest part of the process is designing and building your Jigs and the fence for your table saw!!!!!!:wink:

Thank you for your response. Was just going off some prior information I'd read in the forum. Obviously it can't all be correct. LOL

What is it then about making the blanks, that more cuemakers don't do their own? The shear aggravation? Or is it simply that it's hard to recover costs? Maybe time consuming, but doesn't come off in the end as something a customer would justify spending a high dollar amount on? I dunno.

 

[poolpro]

Balabushka is considered by many to be the best or at least one of the all time top cuemakers, and he purchased blanks to make cues.



The simple answer as MANY have already stated here and in other threads is SUPPLY and DEMAND. This is what decides market value everytime.

You can argue that you BELIEVE that the market value of a paticular item is too high or too low. It will not change the market value of that item.

Obviously PERCEIVED value is a big factor. What you have to realize is that this is ALMOST ALWAYS a matter of opinion without all of the knowledge and information. I do not believe that ANYBODY is above this influence in at least some ways.

I do not wish to get invovled with specific cuemakers and such as it pertains to this. Here is another example. There are some people who are absolutely sure that their honda bike is as good or better than a Harley Davidson. Still, a HD is worth more. Are you JUST paying for a name? This answer SOLELY depends on who you ask! This is a perception, a matter of opinion.

How about a chevy and a mercedes? The list of comparables is endless!

You also have to separate collectable cues from others. The value in collectable cues has a lot to do with historical significance. Does a cues construction get better if you have the original shipping box and order ticket? No, but the value of that cue just doubled!

I personally feel that there is a lot more to making a quality cue than just what goes into making the blank. I think you can have two cuemakers start with the same blank and the end result will be dramatically different. Just as 2 cuemakers can start with the same hunk of wood and end up with 2 dramatically different products.

I say that yes, you do pay for a name! A name ABSOLUTELY has value. Sometimes that value is deserved, and sometimes it is not. That is where knowledge of construction and experience in the cue market comes in. Be honest, if I see you in a pool hall, and I tell you I am trying to sell 2 cues, one is a mcdermott and the other is a southwest. You will have an opinion and an expectaion before I even pull them out of the case. A name on a cue does represent something. The reputaion of that maker is huge, and adds value. Never mind that the SW was left out in the rain for a month, and sombody spray painted it pink. Right or wrong, you had a preconceived notion based ONLY on the name of the cues in this example.

People need to sop pretending that they are immune to being influenced by a name, and only use hard facts and logic to determine what a cue is worth. Especially in such an artistic craft as cuemaking.

Just my two cents ( actually probably a bucks worth).

Thanks for reading my rant

 

[manwon]

There are a couple of threads everyone needs to read before going down this road any further.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=104140
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=97733

I'm positive...beyond a shadow of a doubt...that no cuemaker (Eric or any other) puts his price this anywhere near the $1000 price tag that this thing just rang in at either, Mr. Patrick. But even if they DID...even your own example says you're paying $550, and you're supplying the wood. How much did the wood cost? Do you perceive what you're getting for the cost of wood and labor to be a good value? You surely must or a sensible person as I believe you to be, wouldn't move forward with it. Eric's cues sell like hotcakes on the secondary market. It's sold now. Tim Scruggs' sneakies fetch a nice penny too. I don't think anyone's making uneducated decisions. Regardless of flash and substance (or what you may to perceive to be a lack thereof) there are just far too many people that like what Eric makes...for the supply to ever keep up with. I can't even IMAGINE the firestorm that would come up if/when I put the cue in my avatar up for sale.

If you asked a dozen cuemakers to make the EXACT SAME CUE...same specs...same materials...I mean...identical to the point you thought they were mass produced...I assure you that you'd fetch different prices depending on the builder that made it. I don't care if it's a conversion or not. In business...your name is everything. No one says anything about the fact that the difference between a $300 pair of Rock & Republic Jeans and a $30 pair of Levi's is that one says Rock & Republic...the other says Levi. And Levi Strauss has been around INFINITELY longer...maintaining a high standard over a long level of time. Eric's name is strong. He's earned it. I respect the vast majority of the people that make up this forum/community. There's an unbelievable wealth of knowledge here, regarding all things billiards. I simply refuse to believe that the portion of that community that is scooping these cues up for a high $$$ amount are a bunch of uneducated half-wits that don't know what they're puchashing. They know exactly what they're getting...and they keep coming back for more.

I seriously doubt this cue fetches more or less money regardless of whether it's a converted blank or not. In fact...if it WASN'T converted...it would probably go for more. I guarantee you the next time this cue surfaces, it sells for more than it just did.

Sorry for the rant...it's just that this is oft touched upon and always gets me going. *LOL* Carry on gentlemen.

I'm positive...beyond a shadow of a doubt...that no cuemaker (Eric or any other) puts his price this anywhere near the $1000 price tag that this thing just rang in at either, Mr. Patrick. But even if they DID...even your own example says you're paying $550, and you're supplying the wood. How much did the wood cost? Do you perceive what you're getting for the cost of wood and labor to be a good value? You surely must or a sensible person as I believe you to be, wouldn't move forward with it. Eric's cues sell like hotcakes on the secondary market. It's sold now. Tim Scruggs' sneakies fetch a nice penny too. I don't think anyone's making uneducated decisions. Regardless of flash and substance (or what you may to perceive to be a lack thereof) there are just far too many people that like what Eric makes...for the supply to ever keep up with. I can't even IMAGINE the firestorm that would come up if/when I put the cue in my avatar up for sale.

I have a pretty good idea exactly what it takes to build a cue materials and Man hour's included. Now I know most people do not understand the difference or what is required in making a cue. If you are buying a cue as a player not for collection purposes a purchased blank doesn't matter to most people. However, when cue start passing that $800 price tag people that are buying a custom cue expect it to be just that Custom and that includes the blank. If you are using blanks that you are not making
chances are very good others are also using those blanks which can result in cues being made that not different at all.

This post originally was not about Eric specifically, it was about buying cues that have been made from purchased blanks with big price tags. I used that cue for an example because it was handy and for no other reason.

I simply refuse to believe that the portion of that community that is scooping these cues up for a high $$$ amount are a bunch of uneducated half-wits that don't know what they're puchashing. They know exactly what they're getting...and they keep coming back for more.

No one called any one a half-wit but many apparently have plenty of money burn. Because for price of these simple cues you can buy true custom cues that are collectible and completely built by a cue maker except for the tip, screw, and bumpers. Another fact that proves what I am saying is the large number of these cue keep changing hands over and over again. People buy impulsively all the time, whether it is cues or something else. Some people buy things to keep up with others and others buy because they are consumed by the hyped claims others make. I personally do not care how anyone spend their money, because like others have already said the BUYER MUST BEWARE this is just business like any other. If you are not properly educated and you listen to what others say is the best thing going, and you buy a cue for that reason you are already on the way to being dissatisfied with your purchase. Because no can tell anyone else what is good or bad, it is all personal opinion and taste.

Take care

 

[manwon]

Thank you for your response. Was just going off some prior information I'd read in the forum. Obviously it can't all be correct. LOL

What is it then about making the blanks, that more cuemakers don't do their own? The shear aggravation? Or is it simply that it's hard to recover costs? Maybe time consuming, but doesn't come off in the end as something a customer would justify spending a high dollar amount on? I dunno.

Most cue makers have moved on from the old traditional techniques to the short spliced or V-spliced forearm because they are easier to make and less materials are used. However, a V-Grooved or V-spliced forearm is not a true splice even though it copies the look almost exactly, and in most cases can not be identified without removing a cues wrap. These forearms are actually inlay-ed not spliced and due to this cues built from them will have a different feel due to normal vibration that a full spliced blank. In addition according to Burton Spain inlay-ed forearm construction is not as strong as full spliced construction and cues built used inlay-ed construction are more likely to develop a buzz.

Outside of setting up equipment and keeping it dedicated to that use, such as table saws, a band saw, and a sander I do not understand why more cue makers do not use this form of construction more often. In my opinion, the main reason is that there are not that many cue makers who still know how to set the equipment up and use it proficiently. I also think as time marches on the techniques used will some day in the not to distant future past into history, for me personally that will be a sad day!!!!!!!!

Take care!!

 

[patrickcues]

Cues

There are a couple of threads everyone needs to read before going down this road any further.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=104140
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=97733

I'm positive...beyond a shadow of a doubt...that no cuemaker (Eric or any other) puts his price anywhere near the $1000 price tag that this thing just rang in at either, Mr. Patrick. But even if they DID...even your own example says you're charging $550, and you're supplying the wood. How much did the wood cost? What's that make your total? Do you perceive $550 in labor to be a good value for a sneaky? You surely must or a sensible person as I believe you to be, wouldn't move forward with it. Eric's cues sell like hotcakes on the secondary market. It's sold now. Tim Scruggs' sneakies fetch a nice penny too...he's a legend. I don't think anyone's making uneducated decisions. Regardless of flash and substance (or what you may to perceive to be a lack thereof) there are just far too many people that like what Eric makes...for the supply to ever keep up with. I can't even IMAGINE the firestorm that would come up if/when I put the cue in my avatar up for sale.

If you asked a dozen cuemakers to make the EXACT SAME CUE...same specs...same materials...I mean...identical to the point you thought they were mass produced...I assure you that you'd fetch different prices depending on the builder that made it. I don't care if it's a conversion or not. In business...your name is everything. No one says anything about the fact that the difference between a $300 pair of Rock & Republic Jeans and a $30 pair of Levi's is that one says Rock & Republic...the other says Levi. And Levi Strauss has been around INFINITELY longer...maintaining a high standard over a long level of time. I respect the vast majority of the people that make up this forum/community. There's an unbelievable wealth of knowledge here, regarding all things billiards. I simply refuse to believe that the portion of that community that is scooping these cues up for a high $$$ amount are a bunch of uneducated half-wits that don't know what they're puchasing. They know exactly what they're getting...and they keep coming back for more.

I seriously doubt this cue fetches more or less money regardless of whether it's a converted blank or not. In fact...if it WASN'T converted...it would probably go for more. I guarantee you the next time this cue surfaces, it sells for more than it just did.

Sorry for the rant...it's just that this is oft touched upon and always gets me going. *LOL* Carry on gentlemen.

I will first say that when I made my post on here about this. It wasn't about anyone cue builders prices or product. I am only referring to my own. As far as the cost of the cue that I am building for $550.00 You have enough experience to know what it is going to cost me to build. But in all fairness I will say that the customer I am building the cue for is not getting just a sneaky pete. He is getting a exceptional piece of Curly maple and exceptional piece of Cocobola.

When you figure in the price of the exceptional woods being used, shaft ferule and Moori tip and joint pin and bumpers and finish work. Now subtract that from the $550.00 there is not much of a profit as you would think. I read here somewhere I think on this thread, most of us cue builders don't do it for the money because there is not a lot to be made. Speaking only for me, I do it because you couldn't buy a decent cue for a decent price when I started playing. Now you can!

 

[manwon]

Balabushka is considered by many to be the best or at least one of the all time top cuemakers, and he purchased blanks to make cues.



The simple answer as MANY have already stated here and in other threads is SUPPLY and DEMAND. This is what decides market value everytime.

You can argue that you BELIEVE that the market value of a paticular item is too high or too low. It will not change the market value of that item.

Obviously PERCEIVED value is a big factor. What you have to realize is that this is ALMOST ALWAYS a matter of opinion without all of the knowledge and information. I do not believe that ANYBODY is above this influence in at least some ways.

I do not wish to get invovled with specific cuemakers and such as it pertains to this. Here is another example. There are some people who are absolutely sure that their honda bike is as good or better than a Harley Davidson. Still, a HD is worth more. Are you JUST paying for a name? This answer SOLELY depends on who you ask! This is a perception, a matter of opinion.

How about a chevy and a mercedes? The list of comparables is endless!

You also have to separate collectable cues from others. The value in collectable cues has a lot to do with historical significance. Does a cues construction get better if you have the original shipping box and order ticket? No, but the value of that cue just doubled!

I personally feel that there is a lot more to making a quality cue than just what goes into making the blank. I think you can have two cuemakers start with the same blank and the end result will be dramatically different. Just as 2 cuemakers can start with the same hunk of wood and end up with 2 dramatically different products.

I say that yes, you do pay for a name! A name ABSOLUTELY has value. Sometimes that value is deserved, and sometimes it is not. That is where knowledge of construction and experience in the cue market comes in. Be honest, if I see you in a pool hall, and I tell you I am trying to sell 2 cues, one is a mcdermott and the other is a southwest. You will have an opinion and an expectaion before I even pull them out of the case. A name on a cue does represent something. The reputaion of that maker is huge, and adds value. Never mind that the SW was left out in the rain for a month, and sombody spray painted it pink. Right or wrong, you had a preconceived notion based ONLY on the name of the cues in this example.

People need to sop pretending that they are immune to being influenced by a name, and only use hard facts and logic to determine what a cue is worth. Especially in such an artistic craft as cuemaking.

Just my two cents ( actually probably a bucks worth).

Thanks for reading my rant

Obviously PERCEIVED value is a big factor. What you have to realize is that this is ALMOST ALWAYS a matter of opinion without all of the knowledge and information. I do not believe that ANYBODY is above this influence in at least some ways

I totally agree with everything written in the above paragraph, except what is in Red. Many are above this influence and they are generally collectors who do the proper research so they don't come up short. But in reality anyone can do this, especially with the INTERNET today, and through education much can be changed.

I personally feel that there is a lot more to making a quality cue than just what goes into making the blank. I think you can have two cuemakers start with the same blank and the end result will be dramatically different. Just as 2 cuemakers can start with the same hunk of wood and end up with 2 dramatically different products.

I don't really agree with you here for the following reasons. In most cases a cue price is based more on the labor involved in making it than the materials that are used. If you are buying pre-made parts and assembling a product logically the man hours / labor are drastically reduced which in turn should also the reduce the items cost by a large amount.

I say that yes, you do pay for a name! A name ABSOLUTELY has value. Sometimes that value is deserved, and sometimes it is not. That is where knowledge of construction and experience in the cue market comes in. Be honest, if I see you in a pool hall, and I tell you I am trying to sell 2 cues, one is a mcdermott and the other is a southwest. You will have an opinion and an expectation before I even pull them out of the case. A name on a cue does represent something. The reputation of that maker is huge, and adds value. Never mind that the SW was left out in the rain for a month, and sombody spray painted it pink. Right or wrong, you had a

While names certainly have value, I am under the opinion that they should not. I really do not care if you play with a Kmart special or a Balabushka what is good for you may not be good for me. This is the biggest factor most people do not understand, and this is what I equate to a lack of education on the part of a buyers more than anything else.

Thanks very much for your thoughts on this subject!!

 

[ridewiththewind]

As a full splice fanatic...when I see a FS that a maker has posted an example of, I will contact them inquiring as to pricing, and then I will always ask if the blank in made 'in-house', or is it a pre-made blank.

I ask, because I want to know going in what to expect. As far as playability goes, I believe that is up to the 'tweaks' a maker makes to the cue, and not necessarily determined by which type of blank was used. However, the type of blank used can be a determining factor for me with regards to pricing. Obviously, if the maker has crafted the blank 'in-house', I am going to be willing to pay out more dollars to help offset the additional time/labor and materials waste involved in crafting such a blank....providing the quality is there.

While I do believe that cue makers and secondary sellers should be more forthcoming, I also believe that when it comes to this type of cue, the prospective buyer needs to learn to ask the right questions. The responsibility lies on both sides of the fence.

With regards to the actual question at hand...I believe the pricing, at least on the secondary, has to do with the cue maker's name, hype, and demand. Once you get a buying frenzy happening with certain maker's cues, people do not care how it was made or what is was made of, they just have to get one in their hot little hands...and are willing to pay top dollar to do so. It doesn't have to make sense, it just is what it is.

Lisa

 

[manwon]

As a full splice fanatic...when I see a FS that a maker has posted an example of, I will contact them inquiring as to pricing, and then I will always ask if the blank in made 'in-house', or is it a pre-made blank.

I ask, because I want to know going in what to expect. As far as playability goes, I believe that is up to the 'tweaks' a maker makes to the cue, and not necessarily determined by which type of blank was used. However, the type of blank used can be a determining factor for me with regards to pricing. Obviously, if the maker has crafted the blank 'in-house', I am going to be willing to pay out more dollars to help offset the additional time/labor and materials waste involved in crafting such a blank....providing the quality is there.

While I do believe that cue makers and secondary sellers should be more forthcoming, I also believe that when it comes to this type of cue, the prospective buyer needs to learn to ask the right questions. The responsibility lies on both sides of the fence.

With regards to the actual question at hand...I believe the pricing, at least on the secondary, has to do with the cue maker's name, hype, and demand. Once you get a buying frenzy happening with certain maker's cues, people do not care how it was made or what is was made of, they just have to get one in their hot little hands...and are willing to pay top dollar to do so. It doesn't have to make sense, it just is what it is.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa, you have completely expressed my thoughts on this subject, better than I could have myself.

Take care!!:smile:

 

[ridewiththewind]

Thanks Lisa, you have completely expressed my thoughts on this subject, better than I could have myself.

Take care!!:smile:

Glad I could be of service! :joyful:

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

The equipment needed to make full-spliced blanks is a considerable investing from both a $$$ standpoint, and the raw amount of space they take up.

Plus you skill.

 

[classiccues]

I have been thinking lately about all the cues I have been seeing that are selling for $700 + that are made from purchased blanks. To be clear, what I am talking about specifically are simple Sneaky Pete / non-veneer pointed cues. Cues that fall into this category have basic points like house cues, possibly rings in the collars at the joint, with a butt cap and rings possible at that location. In most cases these cues come with a single shaft, but even if they have two, I just can't justify why these cues cost what they do. When for the same money cues built with blanks made by a good cue maker can be purchased for a similar price and in some cases cheaper.

Could the problem be that people buy impulsively without truly understanding what they have purchased. Or are certainly cue makers being tight lipped and intentionally putting the perception out there that they are making these cues themselves and not using purchased blanks. Now what would be a good way for buyers to access cues they are buying so they really get what they think they are getting without being deceived.

Everyones ideas and comments are welcome and certainly could be helpful to all forum members.

Thanks in advance

Hey people can spend their money how they like... BUT once they find the hype machine has moved on they then realize a few more hundred could have put them into a nice 4 point cue with inlays, that actually has resale value.. that is when reality bites them in the a$$...

JV