I started to see a bit of a trend change very recently.  People don't want to wait the 4-5 days on the internet and they're starting to figure the deal out.  Trying to do a warranty claim through an internet site is a NIGHTMARE.  What if the size of shoes you order doesn't fit?  There's two or three weeks to send back and wait for a new pair.  First there was the internet craze of "it's cheaper," they didn't care how long they had to wait, if they could order it online and save 10 bucks, they'd do it.  Now I'm starting to see people that don't mind spending the extra 10 or 20 as long as they can have it now, hassle free.  Plus there are so many options on the market now that people want to make sure of what they're getting.  You also have to keep your cool.  If someone spends 30 minutes talking to you about a ball, then buys it online and brings it in, you're still gonna get 70 for the drilling and ZERO liability.  I know too many shop guys who get too hot under the collar when they feel like they've been screwed or betrayed.  Keep that customer service at 100% at all times, and you'll always win them over.  Somewhere, someplace, sometime, they'll get a raw deal, and if you've always treated them right, there you go. 

I honestly used to love internet blanks. Bring me a resin ball, give me $60 (This was 2002, mind you), let you deal with the warranty issues, and keep me from having more unused stock. Only issue would be when someone would come in with a 1 inch pin and 5 oz of top and be like "I want the ball to do xyz" and have me be like "Nope". "Can you give me one that will work?" Out of my stock? Nope! You can return the online ball and I can give you what you want, though!

When I moved to this area over a decade ago, I've seen about 9 or 10 pso's all together, currently. Only 2 of them really did a fantastic job in both workmanship and customer service. The balls purchased in the first few years were all done from different PSO's around town and all had issues with either pitch and/or span.  I didn't use some of this new balls, due to the fact that they caused pain or callous. I was able to fix some of these issues myself but was very disappointed. And, some just had poor customer service and/or cocky attitude. (maybe my standards are a bit high as my old job was training folks in the hospitality industry on customer service.)

And the ones that are in-house pro shops, none never asked or seen me bowl prior to working on my ball. And didn't double check my physical span.

Prior to getting my balls drilled here, I had no issues with my older balls which I let them copy from (w/ same V2). I have a simple grip...but can't duplicate. Also, one of the shops had my ball to be deoiled, and I came back with a cracked V2. I wasn't having any luck and was about to give up - traveling back to Seattle on vacation was my option to getting balls drilled by somoff himself or from his boys.

Then I met a PSO who is on this thread who fixed my issues. I had one more ball that fitted me right (slash) and he copied it, and also double checked my span and pitches. I was bowling without pain again, and my callous was slowing disappearing. He and his fellow driller Keith did great works, it's too bad the left town. Around this time I started using buddiesproshop. 

Even when I used buddies, I still sought other PSO locally and one guy drilled two DV8 balls with one being too long. So I was apprehensive to try another and stuck to buddies. Most recently had a ball plugged and redrilled, ring finger 1/8 long.....

I could of returned to these guys and tell them they got it wrong, but I decided to move on. Yet, there were two other guys from the same shop that did all my equipment accurately. And the guys up north too. AND when a shop across the country who never saw me or know me personally like Buddies, whom never got one ball wrong!! That's over a dozen or so balls!

I will try this new proshop and see if they can get it right. I don't care how much, though he teased me with a discount lol, I'll see if he can do the job right. If so, He has my business.

Which shops are still open in Sacramento?

There are few I know of, but it seems there are more garage shops lately. Well, that's what I heard.

I have not had services done at these places I know of.....Fireside, strikes, and whatever Mardi Gras has now. And, many bowlers I know at two houses go out of town for services after having similar experiences with local PSO's. They go to Stockton to the Bay areas. A group of bowlers actually had a truck driver/bowler who made runs for these guys to a proshop down in Fresno? But that truck driver is no longer with use. Oh, and they go to these garage shops.

My new teammate has tennis elbow and last week I checked his span. I told him his span was 1/8 too long. I asked who drilled it and the same shop had did the same thing to 3 other bowlers I know of. Anyway, I told my teammate to check with the new shop after leagues to remeasure his span. He came back and told me I was right.
 
Hopefully, They can get rid of the kung fu grip that may be causing my teammate's elbow pain.....

Is Netherton still at Strikes in Elk Grove and PJ Haggerty in Roseville? 

I don't know for sure. I don't bowl at strikes, but I heard few months ago KN was selling his shop at EG. When I go to strikes for whatever reason, I don't see anyone behind the counter....

Huh, bradl had nothing but praise for Caleb the last time Sacramento was brought up. 

Become a regular and you can just call and have the ball waiting for you.

I have never had a PSO ask me for money up front for a ball he has to order.  My current PSO would probably let me run a tab if I needed to do so...

And I will call you out...the shops you allegedly walk into are NOT bare on the walls look at a catalog operation...they may NOT have exactly what you want but again, they have inventory

My pro shop doesn't carry 900 Global, so I just send him a message on Facebook and say "Order this!" His walls are a smattering of most companies, but none of what I use. I'm actually the person he calls when he has a question about the stuff.

I'm lucky.