Or even if they don’t assume you’re rich, they STILL think it’s a waste for a yoyo. Well what are YOUR hobbies and interests? Oh, you’re a runner? So $130 for new shoes every three months? You’re a guitarist? $500 for a decent budget-friendly guitar, and over a thousand (and into several thousand) for elite models? Plus thousand-dollar amps? And you don’t even play in a band?
(not that I have anything against runners… my wife’s a triathlete… just saying it’s a lot of money to spend when you’re serious about it. Nor do I have anything against guitarists; I’m one myself!)
It’s all about perspective. And by my reckoning, yoyo is one of the least expensive hobbies I’ve ever had.
At my school people will always push me so I mess up or grab the yoyo and pull it as hard as they can and tell me that it’s a trick yoyo anyone can use it
It is pretty cheap when you compare it to other hobbies. I used to do r/c trucks, and $500 for a good model isn’t cheap. Along with something breaking every other time I ran it, it was EXPENSIVE.
Just the other day at work, I was throwing my DMII (responsive bearing) and a friendly co-worker asks politely to try it (I switch over to my Protostar). She asks as the slides it over her index finger if it is a Duncan. I said no. Her response: “They aren’t that expensive, why would you use an imitation.”
This only goes to show how the market has saturated and how much of a brand name Duncan is.
When I started, I knew of Duncan and I knew of Yomega. That’s it. I went specifically to the Duncan web site to “get some education”, and since Toys R Us only carries Duncan, Yomega and sometimes some generic brand I still can’t find the name of, well, how am I supposed to know there’s other stuff out there.
Duncan’s been doing this longer than anyone. What is it, since the 1920’s? That’s a LONG time. As we can see, in the hearts and minds of MILLIONS: Duncan=yoyo. Or yoyo=Duncan. Wasn’t some of Duncan’s marketing “If it’s not a Duncan then it’s not a Yoyo”?
I’ve run into similar things. When people ask “Is that a Duncan?”, I usually have to say no because I’m often not throwing Duncan. I explain that “no, this is (insert brand)” an further explain that there are many brands of yoyo and many hundreds of yoyo models to choose from. Some people lose interest right about there because it’s no longer simple anymore. If someone is interested beyond this, you can often have a conversation about the stuff. The only negative tends to be that depending what I’m throwing(it can be anything I have), it’s a bit frustrating when they want what I have, and they can’t just go and pick one up. I can offer alternatives that are available at TRU, which I find is my first option. I also present option 2 which is an actual physical store that has two locations in Roseville, and a store in old Sacramento that has a not bad selection of YYJ, YYF and even Madhouse in a cabinet in the back. After that, I find myself having to refer them to online retailers. Of course, this is where having an easy to remember URL is important. “YoYo Expert” Yeah, that’s easy. Many others are good too.
I went to a nearby RC and hobby shop with theroybit to show him around. His girlfriend was kinda shocked by the price of this yoyo hobby. Well, a quick run around this store, with photos to support it, and he was able to quickly prove how expensive trains are, or slot cars, and RC gear was just off the scale. Going to a nearby store that specializes in the train stuff only, and well, it just showed more proof of not only the cost of trains, but with three extensive set-ups in the shop, it shows not only costs, but “real estate” required to really enjoy this hobby.
I don’t know anything about guns, but you’re already going to start expensive for something that is reliable, easy to maintain and for lack of a better term, safe. Bullets cost, and you only get one use out of each bullet, so you have ongoing costs. Plus, you need to apply fora license and/or permit(s), which depending on where you live, probably involves a background check and simple investigation. Many of us would also benefit from taking a class to get proper training. I know if I went to buy a gun(which I wouldn’t), I would definitely take the time AND then gladly pay the extra expense to fully understand how to use the weapon properly. I’d look at it as a wise investment in my time and knowledge. However, I don’t like guns and I don’t want a gun. However, I do support the 2nd Amendment.
YoYo, like anything else, can run out of control too. But yeah, when you start comparing it to other “serious hobbies”, it seems way more affordable.
A handful(figuratively speaking) and you’ve exceeded my yoyo investment. Slot cars? Takes up a lot of space and a few sets, plus add-ons and accessories and you’ve got a big investment fast. Trains: 5-6 high end cars and you’ve blow away my investment in yoyos.(yeah, I’ve seen individual cars selling for over $1200 each and up!), plus space, track and more… ouch! Guns: between the various choices, anywhere from 2-3 guns to perhaps one very specialized rifle and you’ve more than exceeded my yoyo investment. Don’t even get me started on “collector weapons”… I know that gets absolutely crazy!
Number 3 is exactly what happened today! My friends were telling me to yoyo so I started throwing but then a fat kid who was sitting down just started saying stuff like ‘it’s not that good’ after a couple of tricks and a grind. He was just trying to be cool and trying to say that he wasn’t stupid and he started trying to show off (but failed.) After that I just did a relatively fast skin the gerbil and he stopped saying random stuff but I could immediately see that he was really impressed. Does this happen to anyone else at school?
Here when I Yoyo at lunch guys and girls look over unimpressed but I know there impressed one of my teachers is impressed! (then again they didn’t have the technology Yoyo wise back then either) and how do i know this they attempt to play with my Yoyo and try to impress there friends but always fail!
