Author Topic: No love for DV8 anymore? (Read 23159 times)

lilpossum1 · « **on:** May 27, 2015, 10:40:18 AM »

When DV8 first started, it seemed to be one of the next big companies. It had quite a showing in my area. Now nobody seems to be throwing it anymore. I haven't seen any of their newer stuff thrown, with newer being the last two or three sets of releases. A friend just visited one of the best pro shops in the area and said that there was only one DV8 ball in stock, and the driller doesn't carry anything else by them. What happened to them? They seemed to have a cult following for a while.

northface28 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:49:57 AM »

I think Motiv passed them by as the "new" company.

billdozer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:11:12 AM »

Yep, what north face said.

lilpossum1 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:53:31 AM »

So everyone wanted to try DV8 because it was the new kid on the block, but now everyone wants to try Motiv?

billdozer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:55:35 AM »

Idk, I think people just don't think its cool lol

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2015, 12:21:03 PM »

Quote from: lilpossum1 on May 27, 2015, 11:53:31 AM

So everyone wanted to try DV8 because it was the new kid on the block, but now everyone wants to try Motiv?

I think that Motiv will last longer at being popular than DV8 did. Their balls seem to be of excellent quality, covers seem to soak up less oil, covers accept changes really well when it comes to changing the cover and over all, the quality and performance of Motiv balls seem to be second to none.

Cornerpin · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2015, 12:37:18 PM »

I look at it as if a new ball from a company or an entire new line, like DV8, comes out and is the hot new thing but then fades somewhat quickly, it is usually because the ball(s) are just not as good as others. Customer demand tells all.

Gene J Kanak · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2015, 12:49:49 PM »

I agree with the notion that Motive may have taken over as the "new" and cool thing, but I disagree that DV8 has gone down or is lacking in quality gear. The DV8 balls that I've used have been fantastic, and I've seen many other bowlers have tons of success with them as well. If their popularity has gone down, it has more to do with exposure than it does quality. In most areas, bowlers go with what the pro shops in that area carry.

When my area had a Brunswick staffer in a shop, you saw tons of Brunswick balls on the rack. When there was an Ebonite guy, most of what we saw was Ebonite and so on and so forth. That's one of the reasons why shop staff connections are so important for manufacturers. Most bowlers go with what the local guy/gal recommends. As such, I don't think that DV8 or any other label has necessarily gone down in quality/productivity. It's just a matter of getting the balls into the right hands so that they get pushed/promoted as much (or more) than the other stuff out there.

spencerwatts · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2015, 01:27:25 PM »

Gene is right.
I've noticed it might depend on the pro shop guy's relationship with a ball company or ball companies. If the pro shop guy happens to be a staffer, you're likely to see more of that brand in bowler's hands.

Cornerpin · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2015, 01:34:40 PM »

Quote from: spencerwatts on May 27, 2015, 01:27:25 PM

Gene is right.
I've noticed it might depend on the pro shop guy's relationship with a ball company or ball companies. If the pro shop guy happens to be a staffer, you're likely to see more of that brand in bowler's hands.

Maybe and maybe not, in my house the pro shop guy is Brunswick but there is much more Storm/Roto being thrown. Not saying Brunswick/DV8 don't make good stuff, just that it seems experienced bowlers will use what works not what the pro shop might be pushing.

northface28 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2015, 01:39:57 PM »

Quote from: Cornerpin on May 27, 2015, 01:34:40 PM

Quote from: spencerwatts on May 27, 2015, 01:27:25 PM
Gene is right.
I've noticed it might depend on the pro shop guy's relationship with a ball company or ball companies. If the pro shop guy happens to be a staffer, you're likely to see more of that brand in bowler's hands.

Maybe and maybe not, in my house the pro shop guy is Brunswick but there is much more Storm/Roto being thrown. Not saying Brunswick/DV8 don't make good stuff, just that it seems experienced bowlers will use what works not what the pro shop might be pushing.

Storm has gotten so popular it damn near sells itself.

spmcgivern · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2015, 01:52:30 PM »

A lot of the bowlers I know are parent company loyal. They either like Storm, Ebonite, Brunswick, or independents. Storm has themselves and Roto Grip. Brunswick has themselves, DV8 and Radical. And Ebonite has themselves, Track, Hammer and Columbia.

And if you look at the parent companies, you will see popularity rotate from one brand to another. For a while, Roto Grip was being talked about more than Storm. Right now, I would say Radical is stealing some of what DV8 had established and for Ebonite, it is a toss-up here between Track and Columbia as far as fresh talk.

Brunswick may or may not care where they get their sales from but as a brand, DV8 is probably more niche brand in my eyes.

Perfect Approach Pro Shop · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:00:57 PM »

IMO I think it is lack of marketing and being connected to Brunswick. With Brunswicks recent situation I think people were hesitant due to not knowing future of the company. When Brunswick moved to Mexico, I stopped stocking, but still sold when a customer wanted one. I brought DV8 in and they were a hit then fizzled out. I then brought Radical in and had no success with them as far as selling where I use the Radical Score and really like it.
As far as staffers, that is a joke. Ball companies want them in popular area that hopefully promote large sales. Here in Wyoming, I think there is one Roto Grip staffer and that is it. As a pro shop owner, I have tried getting ball companies in to demo balls and they have no desire to visit Wyoming because of our small population. When a staffer uses and reviews a ball, how often do you see honest feedback. Seems it is always fluff and this ball is absolutely fabulous and every bowler will love it and should have 3 in their bag.
Didn't EBI just clean house? Maybe now that Brunswick has been purchased, bowling will see some changes to return them to a top company again. During the Rhino, Zone and Inferno years, Brunswick was the only brand in my bag.

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:30:40 PM »

Quote from: Perfect Approach Pro Shop on May 27, 2015, 02:00:57 PM

IMO I think it is lack of marketing and being connected to Brunswick. With Brunswicks recent situation I think people were hesitant due to not knowing future of the company. When Brunswick moved to Mexico, I stopped stocking, but still sold when a customer wanted one. I brought DV8 in and they were a hit then fizzled out. I then brought Radical in and had no success with them as far as selling where I use the Radical Score and really like it.
As far as staffers, that is a joke. Ball companies want them in popular area that hopefully promote large sales. Here in Wyoming, I think there is one Roto Grip staffer and that is it. As a pro shop owner, I have tried getting ball companies in to demo balls and they have no desire to visit Wyoming because of our small population. When a staffer uses and reviews a ball, how often do you see honest feedback. Seems it is always fluff and this ball is absolutely fabulous and every bowler will love it and should have 3 in their bag.
Didn't EBI just clean house? Maybe now that Brunswick has been purchased, bowling will see some changes to return them to a top company again. During the Rhino, Zone and Inferno years, Brunswick was the only brand in my bag.

One local pro shop here in OKC told me some time back that even though Brunswick isn't all that popular here anymore, it is the more popular overseas. True or not, I don't have a clue, just repeating what I was told.

Andyman3333 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2015, 04:40:17 PM »

In our area, not a single shop carries Motiv. They all carry multiple balls in the Brunswick, DV8 and Radical lines. I think it just depends on the operator and whether they might be on staff or have a preference.

Author Topic: No love for DV8 anymore? (Read 23159 times)

lilpossum1

No love for DV8 anymore?

northface28

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

billdozer

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

lilpossum1

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

billdozer

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

Brickguy221

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

Cornerpin

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

Gene J Kanak

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

spencerwatts

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

Cornerpin

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

northface28

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

spmcgivern

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

Perfect Approach Pro Shop

Re: No love for DV8 anymore?

Brickguy221

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Andyman3333

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