Author Topic: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped (Read 4936 times)

trash heap · « **on:** December 22, 2010, 04:52:37 AM »

With all the recent arguments about prices going up on Ebonite, but I am thinking back to 15 years ago. I recall high end ball prices at the pro shop around $200. I think I paid $190 for my Cuda/C back then.

Maybe my memory is bad, but it seems that bowling ball prices have stayed the same or actually dropped a little now compared to 15 years ago.

txbowler · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:04:31 PM »

15 years ago, all the pro shops in an area could charge MSRP and most bowlers didn''t have any other options. Now they do. They can order online.

This has hurt the pro shop owners and helped the bowlers.

In today''s world, I do not believe any pro shops are charging retail pricing on high end balls.

15 years ago, you could.

As a consequence, pro shop owners have had to find ways to replace this income by charging by services that used to be free, or increased prices for services or in some cases go out of business.

I believe MSRP on today''s high end equipment is $249 or higher

Edited on 12/22/2010 3:05 PM

Edited on 12/22/2010 3:09 PM

Dave-bestbowlingproshops · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:07:19 PM »

If I recall right people were paying $220ish in my area for high end balls and it was the norm. Like Tx said they didn't really have any other options.
--------------------
www.bestbowlingproshops.com
Track Staff
Turbo Staff

ToiletLogCore · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:10:54 PM »

quote:
With all the recent arguments about prices going up on Ebonite, but I am thinking back to 15 years ago. I recall high end ball prices at the pro shop around $200. I think I paid $190 for my Cuda/C back then.

Maybe my memory is bad, but it seems that bowling ball prices have stayed the same or actually dropped a little now compared to 15 years ago.

Come on now, lets be serious here. We all know that nothing in the bowling world is EVER allowed to go up in price. Bowling balls, shoes, USBC dues.....

....except maybe beer prices at the lanes, I think that's acceptable.
--------------------
You've just been handed a little TLC

KoukiGS · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:29:26 PM »

awaits jls response

T C 300 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:43:08 PM »

quote:

Like Tx said they didn't really have any other options.

wrong... theres always "other" options... why not buy used "lightly used" equipment and a ball spinner to u keep the performance..??

Dave-bestbowlingproshops · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:46:33 PM »

You misunderstood. There's always a cheaper ball...used...lower performance. The point here is buying the exact same ball new for cheaper online back then wasn't an option.

quote:
quote:

Like Tx said they didn't really have any other options.

wrong... theres always "other" options... why not buy used "lightly used" equipment and a ball spinner to u keep the performance..??

--------------------
www.bestbowlingproshops.com
Track Staff
Turbo Staff

robuster · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2010, 03:40:05 PM »

1994 The first Hammer Ball I purchased was 185.75. My wife face turned beet red. I still have it or she does, some were.To this day it remains the most expensive ball I have ever purchased and I have forty or fifty on racks in my den. 25 to 30 undrilled. Bought them when they were REAL deals still to be had. I buy mostly discontinued high end balls. With new releases every month, shops are looking to unload them cheap.I will never use most of these balls but I enjoy having them.I give them to family and friends as presents,every now and then to a youth bowler who shows promise.The net has made ball collecting easy and affordable.I have not found one reason to pay 220ish for any ball to use to bowl with. This is my thoughts,I am sure other people have theirs.
--------------------
Live free or die trying.

spiders2283 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2010, 07:58:11 PM »

It's funny after I got back into bowling I was really surprised to see that the prices stayed the same for the most part. SST 4s were still in the $120 range, I think I remember paying $150 for 5s in 1998. Balls are still in the same price category, I remember the first ball I ever purchased was an Ebonite Red Wolf pearl for around $150-$175, I used to take lessons from the guy who ran the pro shop so it might have been cheaper. However, I don't see a lot of people using new balls as much as I used to. I remember a couple of people I used to bowl with bought new equipment every week.

Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2010, 08:40:53 PM »

I can remember paying $210 for a Primal Rage. That's why I bought one ball every 4 years lol
--------------------
Ahhh Disco Biscuits!

tywithay · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2010, 08:44:53 PM »

quote:
quote:
With all the recent arguments about prices going up on Ebonite, but I am thinking back to 15 years ago. I recall high end ball prices at the pro shop around $200. I think I paid $190 for my Cuda/C back then.

Maybe my memory is bad, but it seems that bowling ball prices have stayed the same or actually dropped a little now compared to 15 years ago.

Come on now, lets be serious here. We all know that nothing in the bowling world is EVER allowed to go up in price. Bowling balls, shoes, USBC dues.....

....except maybe beer prices at the lanes, I think that's acceptable.
--------------------
You've just been handed a little TLC

USBC dues have only gone up once or twice, and not by much, in the past 15 years. If your dues are getting higher, I'd suggest you talk with your local association, as I assume their pockets have gotten deeper.

As far as bowling balls, I remember at one time seeing the brand new Quantum Helix in the shop for like $299. My local pro shops all charge msrp for the most part, and people still buy them by the bunches. I know a brand new Invasion, Mission, etc. will run you around $220 drilled with grips and a slug in my area.

Lane1Redneck · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2010, 08:48:28 PM »

I remember when I first got into the sport, thats only like 7 yrs now I think.. In PA here all high end ball at the house I bowled where 180 - 220's depending on what brand..

But I read here on the forums and I believe too, the ones that have 30+ whatever just laying around are doing the most complaining my .02
--------------------
Jeff

Russell · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2010, 08:58:13 PM »

The COST for the balls is going up...but as another poster said the internet is keeping the shops from making a normal retail markup. This is why shops don't carry near the inventory, and why labor costs have gone up dramatically.

Any shop that still drills all blanks for $30 is either not doing a good job or will be out of business. You can't make a living giving it away anymore.
--------------------
Little known fact: In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

Mike Austin · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2010, 09:10:09 PM »

quote:
1994 The first Hammer Ball I purchased was 185.75. My wife face turned beet red. I still have it or she does, some were.To this day it remains the most expensive ball I have ever purchased and I have forty or fifty on racks in my den. 25 to 30 undrilled. Bought them when they were REAL deals still to be had. I buy mostly discontinued high end balls. With new releases every month, shops are looking to unload them cheap.I will never use most of these balls but I enjoy having them.I give them to family and friends as presents,every now and then to a youth bowler who shows promise.The net has made ball collecting easy and affordable.I have not found one reason to pay 220ish for any ball to use to bowl with. This is my thoughts,I am sure other people have theirs.
--------------------
Live free or die trying.

You have a 15lb V2 Sweet in that menagerie of balls? I have a customer looking for one, NIB or used RH drill. Merry Christmas!!!

--------------------
Mike Austin's Bowling Dynamix Pro Shop
Houston, TX

I'm back doing what I love and couldn't be happier!!!

Mike Austin · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2010, 09:12:41 PM »

quote:
The COST for the balls is going up...but as another poster said the internet is keeping the shops from making a normal retail markup. This is why shops don't carry near the inventory, and why labor costs have gone up dramatically.

Any shop that still drills all blanks for $30 is either not doing a good job or will be out of business. You can't make a living giving it away anymore.
--------------------
Little known fact: In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

+1
--------------------
Mike Austin's Bowling Dynamix Pro Shop
Houston, TX

I'm back doing what I love and couldn't be happier!!!

Author Topic: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped (Read 4936 times)

trash heap

Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

txbowler

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Dave-bestbowlingproshops

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

ToiletLogCore

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

KoukiGS

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

T C 300

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Dave-bestbowlingproshops

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

robuster

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

spiders2283

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

tywithay

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Lane1Redneck

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Russell

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Mike Austin

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped

Mike Austin

Re: Bowling Ball price actually have dropped