Author Topic: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too? (Read 10157 times)

BallDriller · « **on:** November 13, 2006, 01:31:01 PM »

Are these balls discontinued already? Did I miss something. I can't buy them this cheap.

http://www.bowling.com/search.asp?SearchString=columbia+action&page=1&source=ActionTeaser

Big Jake · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2006, 10:54:51 PM »

as good as that site is I would call first 'cause I tried them just a couple of weeks ago and ordered a 16lb. Action Max with a 2-3" pin or even 3-4"pin and all they had was one with a 1" pin...so I got an Infinite One (glad I did too)

But they are very good to work with I just thought I would make our peeps aware

--------------------
Big Jake

formally: saint-jake

charlest · « **Reply #2 on:** November 14, 2006, 06:17:22 AM »

Could they just not be moving for them and they're trying to close them out?

I'd be kind of surprised as I thought the Packed and the Max were supposed to be very good balls.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BallDriller · « **Reply #3 on:** November 14, 2006, 09:11:07 AM »

Not moving? The Action Attacks just came out a few weeks ago. I don't understand how the public can be offered a better deal than us proshops. Nothing against the consumer but how can I stay in business if this continues?

charlest · « **Reply #4 on:** November 14, 2006, 10:49:37 AM »

quote:
Not moving? The Action Attacks just came out a few weeks ago. I don't understand how the public can be offered a better deal than us proshops. Nothing against the consumer but how can I stay in business if this continues?

Yep. I think you're getting screwed by Columbia and/or the distributors.

At this rate, they'll be giving us the balls for free but they'll be no one capable of drilling them.

Kind of reminds me of how Home Depot drove all the smaller, locally owned hardware stores out of business. Service at Home Depot and Lowe's is practically non-existent.

I also remember when Home Depot aggressively sought out professionals as salesman to help customers. No longert. Now that they've cornered the market, we get crap, bupkis, squat! Look like Pro shops are next on the chopping block.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Dabalos · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2006, 10:05:02 PM »

good point jls. bottom line the guy in the proshop needs to make money just like how i have to work every day to make a paycheck so does your local proshop

cmoore3wins · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2006, 12:23:27 PM »

Supply and demand....

Supply - HIGH
Demand - LOW

Very few Columbia 300 guys anymore in my area. Lots of Ebonite, many Storm and some MoRich!
--------------------
MoRich makes me mo rich, cuz I sell the 300 & 800 rings on eBay....
While you're leaving corners, I am laughing inwardly....
My core has a hole in it, but your score sheet does....
I flip out ten pins, you flip them off....
Mos cores = Mo scores....

cficare068 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2006, 03:42:28 AM »

Well here in Boise, the general manager of the Boise State University Game Center can get any Action (including the Attack) for $85 a piece as long as he buys a case of 4. I know that his distributor is CBS. I don't know if that is a special promotion that he is getting since he is buying them through the University or what. I would assume so since you have to be a full time student to get the at that price. But I know that there are deals out there to get them from distributors for cheap right now.
--------------------
Proud member of the Track Legion

Join the Revolution. Check em out at http://www.trackbowling.com

CoachJim · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2006, 04:02:41 AM »

I believe it is like Big Jake said, the balls are selling for so cheap because they have pin positions that are less desirable, like pin in and pin over 5" or balls with tons of top weight. Where your proshop can get the same ball with a 2 to 4 inch pin and low enough top weight that you can drill it however you want.

Moon57 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2006, 06:53:06 AM »

Hi. Thought I'd jump in here with a consumers perspective. I've recently gotten psyched up about bowling again ( been bowling for almost 40 years ) and went to my proshop ( same one for 30 years ) to get a new ball. My first choice was an Action series ball but he didn't have any in stock. Suggested an Apogee, which I purchased with finger grips and a thumb slug. The bill with tax came to $237. I thought it was a little high but I know retail has alot of overhead. Well I started to do alot of looking around on the internet at different bowling sites and saw what the balls were going for. I wasn't mad, the proshop guy is one of the nicest persons you could ask for, it just seems like I used to get more for less years ago. I want to try out different brands of balls but I sure can't do it at 237 a pop. So I looked around on EBay and was amazed at the low prices for new and used balls. I asked the high average guys on my league, who seem to have a varitey of equipment, where they were getting the balls drilled. Got the name of a guy who mainly just drills balls but will order a ball for about 20% over net price. The price for drilling is $50 with fingertip grips. My point to all this is if I get exactly the same service at both places ( that's an unknown for right now ) why should I pay $60 to $80 more at the storefront? Maybe bowling should take a tip from golf and only allow equipment to be discounted a certain amount. You can't get the latest golf clubs 40% off on the internet. I guess only time will tell how all this will shake out.

Dick

CoachJim · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2006, 09:02:16 AM »

quote:
Hi. Thought I'd jump in here with a consumers perspective. I've recently gotten psyched up about bowling again ( been bowling for almost 40 years ) and went to my proshop ( same one for 30 years ) to get a new ball. My first choice was an Action series ball but he didn't have any in stock. Suggested an Apogee, which I purchased with finger grips and a thumb slug. The bill with tax came to $237. I thought it was a little high but I know retail has alot of overhead. Well I started to do alot of looking around on the internet at different bowling sites and saw what the balls were going for. I wasn't mad, the proshop guy is one of the nicest persons you could ask for, it just seems like I used to get more for less years ago. I want to try out different brands of balls but I sure can't do it at 237 a pop. So I looked around on EBay and was amazed at the low prices for new and used balls. I asked the high average guys on my league, who seem to have a varitey of equipment, where they were getting the balls drilled. Got the name of a guy who mainly just drills balls but will order a ball for about 20% over net price. The price for drilling is $50 with fingertip grips. My point to all this is if I get exactly the same service at both places ( that's an unknown for right now ) why should I pay $60 to $80 more at the storefront? Maybe bowling should take a tip from golf and only allow equipment to be discounted a certain amount. You can't get the latest golf clubs 40% off on the internet. I guess only time will tell how all this will shake out.

Dick

If you like the service you get at the proshop, then talk to him about your plans for drilling more equipment and he will most likely give you a discount. If you have been off for a while and the proshop guy doesn't know you as a regular customer, then he is going to charge you full price, but if you are a regular loyal customer of his, then he will most likely give you a good discount, at least mine does.

Like I said you take a risk buying equipment from the internet, sometimes you get some good stuff and can specify what you want (pin placement, top weight etc) like at BuddiesProshop.com, and other places you get the ball for cheap, but it has a ton of topweight and has a pin that is either within one inch of the cg or close to 6" from the cg.

newguy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2006, 05:26:03 PM »

We sell to major distributors, they in turn sell to internet sites. we do not sell to internet sites. the distributors put together pallet prices etc. We have not figured out how to control this channel. Each distriutor has a site he uses as an outlet, I saw an ebonite deal on a site that had 2 new high end balls for $229, not sure how they do it.

BallDriller · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2006, 05:34:42 PM »

Newguy,

To your knowledge columbia does not sell to internet retailers directly. I believe you are misinformed. Your Action Attack is on the net for as little as $115. How do you explain that. I know, I know........buy 4 get 1, trade show specials....yada, yada....don't bore us.

frankrizzo · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2006, 07:06:20 PM »

quote:
Newguy,

To your knowledge columbia does not sell to internet retailers directly. I believe you are misinformed. Your Action Attack is on the net for as little as $115. How do you explain that. I know, I know........buy 4 get 1, trade show specials....yada, yada....don't bore us.

I have an uncle that has a friend that his sisters best friends little sisters aunt cleans floor and one of these so called internet dealers and she says that they don't get the balls from the manufacturors but from someone else? I would have to think that newguy knows a thing or two about what is going on here? Unless I'm so sort of idiot?

BallDriller · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2006, 07:55:04 PM »

All I know is that when the public can buy can balls cheaper than the proshops we have a problem. For some reason nobody seems to get IT.

Author Topic: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too? (Read 10157 times)

BallDriller

I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

Big Jake

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

charlest

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

BallDriller

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

charlest

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

Dabalos

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

cmoore3wins

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

cficare068

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

CoachJim

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

Moon57

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

CoachJim

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

newguy

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

BallDriller

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

frankrizzo

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?

BallDriller

Re: I guess Columbia has now given in to the Internet too?