You have chosen a very competitive way to go. In my original post I explained a good cuemakers merry widow basically doubled over the course of a year or two. Some makers are still selling for 500to600. Most are from 1000 on up. The buyer decides what too much is. No buyer cares the cost of a lathe or the price of wood. Automakers are finding out what price gouging can do to sales right now. I had my eye on a cheaper mcworter cue. After winning cuemaker of year, Brian at jjcues decided to up the price by 200. I doubt I'll ever buy another cue from Brian. Nobody needs these cues. It's just a want, not a must have. Nothing personal against you cuemakers. Just the free market.
Your thoughts on outrageous cue prices
- Thread starter Ascue
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Custom cues are folk art.
Art is totally subjective.
Pros can play with the cheapest production cues and win big time.
It's a free market.
If you think a cue is too expensive don't buy it.
1. They should because the cost of building a cue has risen as well. The INTELLIGENT buyers understand this.
2. $200? is 200 dollars going to change your life style? If it is, then yes, do not buy said cue. I certainly don't want you going hungry and getting so light headed that you can't think of anymore reasons NOT to buy a cue.
3. You are 100% correct...Nobody needs ANYTHING but food and water to survive.
Listen, I believe you've made your point to the point that there is no more metal left on your axe to grind off. Lets find another subject to go after and see what rabbit hole that one takes you down.
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
Can't tell if you actually think this or just trolling. Either way good points and discussion from it.
You cannot dictate what a person's time is worth. That person only will decide what they will accept for their time. Did you ever think that some may have kept their prices at $500-600 for as long as they could to be competitive, but the current increases forced them to bring it up to current levels. Maybe their skills have also improved, raising the value. Maybe they would just like to make some more money to pay their bills. Don't like it, then just don't buy it. Don't crap on what someone else is trying to accomplish. It's not like we are all rolling in piles of money looking to screw over anyone we can.
Getting cuemaker of the year raises his value. If you don't believe that then next time you feel you are better at your job than another, do not go to your boss gouging him for a raise. The free market is based on many factors, not just a buyer's opinion. Once again, if you want to pay minimum wage prices you will usually get a minimum quality cue.
All you have to do is think of it in reverse. How much $$ does x cuemaker need to earn a year to make a living? Personally, I wouldn’t do it for less than $120k How many cues can I make a year to earn that? Now add in overhead and I’d say I need to sell at least $200k to get there. That number may be low. So 50 cues at 4K each? Sounds easy right? There’s plenty of reasons I don’t do it for a living.
single cuemakers without help dont make 100 grand a year. most work out of their shop or garage and live off the money for new cues coming in. thats why people get stuck as they get behind and everyone gets screwed.
just deal with ones that have great reps for getting work on time and dont let anyone get to far into you that it doesnt pay to finish.
just deal with ones that have great reps for getting work on time and dont let anyone get to far into you that it doesnt pay to finish.
A deposit or payment at certain points of completion should cover costs of materials and a bit more. Those half complete or less cues that are paid in full or close to it are hard to work on when there are bills to pay and others that are good for cash. That is why cue builders often have spec cues to sell while older orders are partially complete.
The same applies to all other artists/craftsmen. Read about the greats like Leonardo and Michaelangelo. Both had issues with completing projects. I knew maybe the best knife maker in the world as his standard was perfection, not just on the outside but on the inside where people would never see. He had some projects around the shop that he had agreed to make then decided he didn't want to. Meantime he turned out new customs and customized Buck folders to make a quick dollar.
Another story, two friends of mine made a trade. Another master knife maker & gunsmith and a world class bullet maker. The bullet maker had traded a thousand handmade bullets for a nice folder and delivered promptly. Six months later the knife maker is still dragging his feet. We were all at a big invitational shoot when the bullet maker asked me how long it took to make a knife. The knife maker was with a handful of friends when I went over and asked about Don's knife. The knife maker hemmed and hawed a bit and said he hadn't even shot any of the bullets yet. Mistake! I had two barrels in my safe that I had paid for a year before and not used yet. I told him I didn't know I didn't have to pay for the barrels until I used them. Don got the knife within thirty days!
The knife builder & gunsmith was great when he was hungry. When he got too successful he over promised and under delivered. Consider that the cue smiths that haven't made a name for themselves yet could probably make more money flipping burgers at mickey d's and you can understand why deliveries are slow. They are busy repairing cues and building a few spec cues to tote to the local hall to pay bills.
Cue prices are outrageous. Most custom cues should be selling for double or triple what they are. None should have been under eight hundred dollars a decade ago. I don't know what they should be selling for now. A cue builder's living expenses have soared just like everyone elses. Which is another reason it is hard to get some to complete cues. The same cue ordered three months ago may be double the price or more of the same cue ordered two years ago. That shouldn't be a valid reason to delay the older order but smiths are human just like everyone else. It is a lot more tempting to work for fifty an hour than fifteen.
Hu
I see martin sells your cues. I consider him an excellent seller. His prices aren't out of line as far as I've studied it. I bought a barnhart from him recently. It's the sellers like man of faith, integrity, to name 2 that I feel have just jacked prices and I really can't figure out why people will pay literally thousands for a merry widow. Love my barnhart for less than alot of schons are going for now. Schons have a cult like following. Meucci is even worse but ill take a reasonably priced ready made cue from a custom maker like yourself every time.1. They should because the cost of building a cue has risen as well. The INTELLIGENT buyers understand this.
2. $200? is 200 dollars going to change your life style? If it is, then yes, do not buy said cue. I certainly don't want you going hungry and getting so light headed that you can't think of anymore reasons NOT to buy a cue.
3. You are 100% correct...Nobody needs ANYTHING but food and water to survive.
Listen, I believe you've made your point to the point that there is no more metal left on your axe to grind off. Lets find another subject to go after and see what rabbit hole that one takes you down.
You do not need a pricy Cue to enjoy Pool, no more then you need a 20k bicycle to enjoy riding.
You're saying other cues hit the cueball in a different direction than what is aimed?
Confused
I'm sorry, but it's not gouging.
Gouging only applies to life necessities... like clean water, toilet paper, batteries, and similar items people tend to stock up on when they're about to face a hurricane or some similar natural emergency.
Everybody can get by without owning an extra pool cue or two.
I am not so sure your last statement is true...
I can't think of anything I needed in the way of competition equipment. There have been a few things including cues that I had the hot running wants for!
Hu
I've spoken with you before and yes you are very confused
Possibly because you don't make any sense
Your cue is point and shoot? That would suggest other cues do not shoot the ball in the direction you aimed.
Seems you are the one who is confused
Yes, I call them my M&M's ... Martin and Matt. Both have been more than loyal for around 15 yrs now. Hard to get two resellers on the same page let alone 2 that are about 6800 miles apart from each other.
