Where they ever "in"?  :-)

I had thrown some of their early stuff...green alien, a few of the PBA balls, black label.  I thought they performed OK...  but nothing above and beyond others. 

 

I didn't know that they used to use old Brunswick stuff. That's actually quite interesting. I think what the problem with them is their prior price points and them not having a following such as Lane #1 had with their equipment. I've seen people throwing Elite balls only few and far between, but the people who I've seen with them have never complained and said nothing but good things about them. I think that the "general" bowling community just doesn't know enough about them and if they do the price might turn them away.

Elite is the biggest marketing ploy and cash grab on the market by a long shot.  They are recycling old technology and hyping it way beyond what it's worth.  It's not new, it's not better, and it's certainly not worth what they're charging for it, but people want to be suckers I guess.  If Elite really was what they say they were, they would be a mainstream brand by now, but they're not, and they're purposely staying small to avoid being exposed.  Maybe it pisses me off than anybody else, but I'm sick of having to explain hype away or pull the curtain back to all these amped up customers that come in trying to talk it up and asking why I don't carry it.  I really can't believe people can't see through marketing, I just can't. 

Touche.  I'd also rather do honest business than make a buck off a sucker.  I'd rather tell them the real reason it costs $300 than to tell them it's just because it's better than anything else out there.  I'm not saying that higher prices and honesty can't co-exist, I just don't want to feed the hype machine and have people go out to ultimately be disappointed and feel like I scammed them. 

Your last statement is exactly what I'm saying, they're all just bowling balls.  If the production costs are higher, that's what I tell them.  If they still want the ball, that's great, I'll sell it to them, I just want them to know the whole story.  I don't discuss specifics or divulge our actual cost or distributor pricing, but I think it would be insulting someone's intelligence to act like we don't charge more for something that costs us more. 

Quote from: itsallaboutme on October 20, 2014, 12:49:27 PM

If you knew how much money was made selling Aliens at $300 you wouldn't question it.

I don't understand why someone that runs a pro shop would feel negatively to higher priced products.  Makes no sense.  Think like a businessman and not like a consumer.

In the end they are all just bowling balls.