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Author Topic: Bowling Ball prices  (Read 6389 times)

JOE FALCO

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Bowling Ball prices
« on: December 08, 2003, 08:12:43 PM »
I've noted NUMEROUS times that LANE 1 balls were TOO EXPENSIVE and have got a LOT OF FLACK from users. Many have said that the amount they pay for LANE 1 balls is equal to the cost of other MANUFACTURERS .. that blows my mind. I went to one ON LINE shop and wrote down prices .. to me the variance (25%) is TOO BIG for bowlers and I can't understand how anyone can say the price is equal to other brands. Can it be that these bowlers are being RAPED by the shops they are DEALING with? here is my findings:

Lane 1
Golden Nugget $185
BCB $185

Ebonite
Obtyx Illusion $146
Addiction $140
TPC Shooter $144

Storm
Fear Factor $144

Hammer
Big Blue $144
Vicious Strike $140

MoRich
Mayhem $145
OnSlaught $144

Brunswick
Blazing Inferno $140
Fuze Inferno $140

Track
Phenom Unleashed $140
Super freak $144

How can anyone claim that they pay as much for other balls as they do for Lane 1? I guess you can't believe ALL YOU READ!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
      J O E - F A L C O
ON EDIT CORRECTED SPELLING OF ADDICTION!
Edited on 12/9/2003 12:16 PM

Edited on 12/9/2003 5:02 PM
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Jeffrevs

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2003, 11:17:53 AM »
Joe, I think the argument you see is that it's not THAT much more.......

don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing OR on a soap box for Lane1 equipment...I'm just stating info that I've seen/read.

The real verdict will be out later tonight..........stay tuned
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JEFF
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2003, 11:22:12 AM »
My point is that they are paying EQUAL amounts for OTHER distributors balls .. do you think this is CORRECT when the base price is 25% less?
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BadShot

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2003, 11:30:49 AM »
here's my view . . . there's no denying what you just posted, however . . .

i'm not a pro, but i listen around, ya' know???

the pro shop operators can buy into deals with ball companies to get new balls for free when they're introduced, but i think that most companies sell their premium balls to the pro shops for around $120-130.  lane #1 pricing starts out at around $159-179 wholesale for their balls, and once you reach a certain volume, you get a discount of up to 20%.  thats around $36 for a $179 ball, bringing the cost down to around $143.

so, after a certain level, the pro shop costs is within around $15-20.  it may be that the online shops and even the pro shops are charging a premium in some instances because people "expect" to pay more.

i've heard that it's expensive to create the diamond core in the lane #1 balls compared to other cores. who knows.  also, it may be more expensive for brunswick to run their balls because the volumes are lower compared to columbia making balls for track.

there's no denying that lane #1 is a more expensive ball . . . but i think in some cases it may be the pro shop operator's decision as to the margin and not lane #1's.

i've paid about the same for all types of balls, but i'm in a lucky situation because my pro shop sells alot of lane #1.

but joe, i enjoyed your post!!  it's nice to have some intelligent discussion on occasion.  what do you think?
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Brickguy221

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2003, 11:34:15 AM »
AHHHHHH.  Joe, pleaseeeee, not another post about Lane 1 to get the Bashers and Supporters "turned on" again. Everyone including my self is sick of it, tired of it, and etc.

BTW, both Lane 1 balls you quoted are priced at:
Buddies $170 + shipping
Doug Sterner $169 + shipping

And if a person wants to save every $ they can, then order direct from Lane 1 and get either ball for $179 "SHIPPED"

I don't believe the ball prices you gave include shipping on any of them, do they? The shipping costs can add or subtract anywhere from $3 to $8 from the total cost of the ball shipped, depending who you are ordering from.
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Berreez

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2003, 11:56:01 AM »
Joe: Why all the fuss over the Lane#1 group (or any other) paying for what THEY want? Are you paying the extra 25%? If not, why would you care? I know I don't. If someone wants to pay for something they think will help their game, then by all means LET THEM. This debate is getting old. Can't we all just get (bowl) along?
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2003, 03:50:06 PM »
I MUST BE A TERRIBLE WRITER .. YOU GUYS ARE CONVINCING ME .. my point is not the cost of lane 1 balls MY POINT IS that bowlers are paying as much for other balls that they pay for lane 1 .. and my question is .. HOW CAN THIS BE? You guys are too easy to jump and not so quick to READ!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
      J O E - F A L C O
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SrKegler

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2003, 05:34:24 PM »
LOL, guys reread Joe's post.  He's stating the prices of lane 1 isn't that far off from other top of the line balls.  This is the same thing us Lane 1 fanatics have been arguing for months, just didn't have the figures to back it up.  I think some dufus paid over $350 for his Lane 1 and then complained about the price.

If I read your post wrong, sorry Joe.
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laner7pin

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2003, 05:39:04 PM »
Our shop charges $50 to drill any ball except plastic. That includes drilling, grips and thumb slug (if you want them). Right now a Raging Inferno is going for $239 total. Add in tax (6.5%) and you get a rough total of $255. If I go to one of these sites and buy a Lane #1 ball for $179 shipped, then pay the $50 to drill it......thats $179/ball $50 + tax on drilling for $53.25. 179 and 53.25 is $232.25, which unless I am adding wrong is about 20-25 dollars LESS than a Raging. Granted with a ball from the shop, you have choices as far as pin/top, but when you order from the net, unless you are able to specify a certain pin/top and they have it, you could get a 1" pin, or 4oz or top. Scotty (shop owner) could make it work just as good, just might have a little different drilling. So overall, buying a Lane #1 ball from the bet and paying for it to get drilled from a shop is actually cheaper then buying a new ball from a shop. Granted the shop is not making the full sale, just money for drilling, but as long as the customer is happy, thats whats right (or something like that). I dont think there should be any Lane #1 bashing, I have an Emerald and love it on dry lanes (right handed drilling with left handed grips). I dont think Lane #1 is overpriced at all.

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sdbowler

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2003, 06:01:03 PM »
The question was brought up of where are they getting the prices from or buying their equipment. Lots of times of you are a good customer places will give a little bit of a discount. Overall is Lane 1 a little more expensive yes they are. Can you pick up a Lane 1 ball cheaper then any other top of the line ball yeah if you find the right spot. It was also brought up that the bowler can purchase items off of the net and bring into get it drilled and save money. This is a very good point that Lane 1 is a little more expensive but not as much as some people think. It is all up to the person if they want to pay a little extra for that ball or settle for something a little cheaper.
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Brickguy221

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2003, 08:46:32 PM »
Brian, the Buzzsaw users don't care nor are they interested in what the Pro's use. Nor do they care whether the Pro's use a high priced ball or a low priced ball. The Buzzsaw users use Buzzsaws regardless of price because that's what works best for them. I simply cannot understand why people keep going on and on about the price of Buzzsaws. If some people don't want to pay that much, then don't. That group of people needs to quit worrying what others pay for the Saws. The Buzzsaws work best for me so that's what I am going to use, regardless of price. Ditto for the other Buzzsaw users.

Geezzz, I never saw people before, like some of the people on this site that worry about the price of something they aren't going to buy in the first place. The bottom line is that if anyone really-really wants to buy a Buzzsaw, they will buy it regardless of price.
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Brickguy221

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2003, 10:53:51 AM »
xman, right on....I'm with you all the way. I too keep telling them what you just said, but apparently most of them are deaf. Maybe instead of those people spending money on more balls, they should buy a Hearing Aid like mine and be able to hear how old and worn out this price crap is becoming.
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In the old days, they used axes to chop up wood...Nowadays, they use "BUZZSAWS".
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2003, 11:15:35 AM »
Now I know why you guys do what you do .. I understand how a point gets lost .. but you guys NEVER UNDERSTOOD what I said .. PEOPLE OUT THEIR SAY THEY ARE PAYING AS MUCH FOR OTHER BALLS AS THEY DO FOR LANE 1 .. I SAY THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE AND I SHOWED THE PRICES ..

THE POINT WAS THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR OTHER BALLS .. AND I SHOWED THE PRICES FOR ALL BALLS .. WE KNOW LANE 1 IS EXPENSIVE .. NOW I AM TRYING TO GET BOWLERS TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT BE SPENDING TOO MUCH ON OTHER MANUFACTURERS!

WHERE DID I GO WRONG?
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Steven

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2003, 11:33:38 AM »
quote:
WHERE DID I GO WRONG?


Joe, you're probably not reading this because I asked you to put me on your ignore list (and I think you complied), but if not, here it goes.

What's wrong (besides the way you worded your post) is your base premise. In general, you cannot get the Lane#1 balls you referenced for the same price as other manufacturer's high-end equipment. An honest proshop operator will charge more for a Lane#1 ball than the others because it costs him more to buy it. If you see a an X-Factor Deuce priced the same as BCB in a shop, that owner is trying to extort more profit on the Storm ball than he is getting on the Lane#1. Period.

Of course, we live in a free enterprise system, so the shop can charge whatever it thinks it can get. Buyers beware.
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9andaWiggle

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Re: Bowling Ball prices
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2003, 11:59:58 AM »
I don't know why you guys are always arguing about the price of bowling balls.  You can find plenty of great Black Beauty's at any bowling center.  These balls last forever, do not suffer "tech death", react the same on nearly every condition, and the harder you throw them the harder they hit!  These are great balls with years of experience, and the best part is that most can be had for free if you're sneaky enough. LOL.
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