The old adage of 'something is only worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it' can certainly be attributed to cue values. But that is only part of it, because what then is it that makes that particular cue more desired than the others? I call it the 'Buzz Factor'. Or, if you like, the 'Cue de Juor'.
I used to manage a kite shop...the real nice high-end stuff...sport kites where the most popular. Now, a kite is much like a cue in that the basic principles of function are pretty simple. You have your plain kites, and then you have some pretty fancy, very highend kites. They all fly. It was very interesting to see how the 'Buzz' would take hold of a particular kite model, and it was the one to have, and then supply would drop as demand outgrew it, and the prices would sky-rocket. Don't laugh guys, I have seen several 10K kites out there!
Next season would roll around, and well there was a newer, better kite model out there, and then the chase was on again, and no one would dare be caught on the field with the old model, and you would take a loss on selling it for sure.
Of course, you did have a few classics, where the maker had passed, or where no longer in business, and these kites will command a premium. I know, I have and have had a few.
In cues, right now, the 'Buzz' is on several cuemakers right now: Dennis Searing, Andy Gilbert, Skip Weston, James White, Kerry Zeiler, Joel Hercek, B Szamboti, etc.
In the past, the 'Buzz' cuemaker was the likes of Mottey, Schick, Chudy, PFD, Kikel, Coker, etc.
WE, as the consumer, are responsible for the pricing and/or values that cues currently command. And if a particular cuemaker can demand higher prices than others, WE, as the consumer, are responsible for that too. The dealers/brokers are not solely responsible for higher prices, as they are in business to help consumers facillitate procuring a particular makers cue. If the cue does not sell at the price the consumer is willing to pay, then the price will eventually have to come down or the cue will not sell. The dealer/broker is the one taking the initial financial risk on any particular cue. Should that cue be made by a cuemaker who is currently on the 'Buzz Factor' list, he is going to be able to command whatever price that consumer is willing to pay to have it. Many of these dealers/brokers have had their names on some of the cuemakers' waiting lists for some time, having foresight as to what will be popular and what will not. Sometimes it pays off for them, sometimes it doesn't.
In the last 20 yrs we have seen average salaries skyrocket, and as a result, we have become an 'instant gratification' society. It is because of that 'need to have it now' that prices are what they are for any particular cuemaker. I am not discounting the artificial driving up of prices that takes place when you have certain collectors hoarding certain makers' cues...but, they are consumers as well. Which brings me back to my initial point.....WE, as the consumer are responsible for the prices/values of cues today.
Lisa
