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Author Topic: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices  (Read 10753 times)

JOE FALCO

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bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« on: August 25, 2013, 07:20:35 PM »
Anyone like to guess on what the Bowlmor/Amf plan will have on the price of bowling balls? If the new strategy works I don't see many league bowlers .. if that is correct won't that hurt bowling ball sales? I can't see bowlers as we did before .. the industry was colasping  .. if this all works it will be the final nail in the coffin!

Am I reading into it or am I out in left field?
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Brickguy221

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2013, 08:32:41 PM »
To me, that sounds like a possibility that could happen Joe.
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J_Mac

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2013, 09:53:56 PM »
Aren't some of the larger areas of sanctioned bowlers outside of the AMF corporate umbrella anyhow?  The Detroit Metro association is huge and only has one AMF center...

The effect might not run as deeply as you think.

charlest

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2013, 10:01:28 PM »
Anyone like to guess on what the Bowlmor/Amf plan will have on the price of bowling balls? If the new strategy works I don't see many league bowlers .. if that is correct won't that hurt bowling ball sales? I can't see bowlers as we did before .. the industry was colasping  .. if this all works it will be the final nail in the coffin!

Am I reading into it or am I out in left field?

Joe,

I suspect the contract between 900Global to design, market and sell AMF300 bowling balls is fixed, if that's what you mean. I would think that Bowlmor can't change it until the current contract expires, whenever that is.
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Gravity-Reign

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2013, 10:16:23 PM »
If less people bowl in leagues due to AMF's new changes then yes, I can see it hurting ball sales.

As I mentioned before, I know a few teams not returning this season.

Idk how it works in bigger cities with more bowling centers, but here you can count non AMF centers on one hand, and 3 of them don't have reliable pro shops.

JOE FALCO

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2013, 11:27:15 AM »
Anyone like to guess on what the Bowlmor/Amf plan will have on the price of bowling balls? If the new strategy works I don't see many league bowlers .. if that is correct won't that hurt bowling ball sales? I can't see bowlers as we did before .. the industry was colasping  .. if this all works it will be the final nail in the coffin!

Am I reading into it or am I out in left field?

Joe,

I suspect the contract between 900Global to design, market and sell AMF300 bowling balls is fixed, if that's what you mean. I would think that Bowlmor can't change it until the current contract expires, whenever that is.

Guess I wasn't too clear .. what I was trying to say is the fact that Bowlmor is shying away from leagues .. do you think this will slow down the bowling ball sales .. hurt Pro shops and perhaps bring the price of balls down? Less league bowlers can't HELP ball sales! Hope that's a little clearer!
RIP Thongprincess/Sawbones!

spmcgivern

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2013, 11:44:04 AM »
You say less league bowlers, but I would assume the number won't be reduced to much.  Big picture, AMF/BolwMor centers may have fewer league bowlers so I would agree those pro shops associated with them may have difficulty in selling equipment.  But the league bowlers will move to other centers and either still use "there guy" irregardless where they are or use the new guy at the new center.  Either way, there will still be sales.

A bigger concern I can see are the new hours for AMF/BowlMor centers.  If you have a higher volume shop, how do you accommodate all your customers if you lose your daytime hours?  Our AMF/BowlMor center isn't opening till 4 pm.

bradl

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2013, 01:53:59 PM »

A bigger concern I can see are the new hours for AMF/BowlMor centers.  If you have a higher volume shop, how do you accommodate all your customers if you lose your daytime hours?  Our AMF/BowlMor center isn't opening till 4 pm.

Not only that, but you'll effectively kill every senior/daytime league, and there are a lot of seniors who not only bowl for the competition, but for the exercise and the chance to socialize. At that time in your life, socialization becomes that much more important because you start to realize that all of the friends you've had may have passed on, and you want to spend as much time with the ones you have left as possible. This business strategy kills that..

But Bowlmor may seem to only care about money, and in the end, that will kill their business.

BL.

bigbandito

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2013, 02:06:19 PM »
ROSEBOWL LANES, ROSEVILLE, MI. JUST RAISED PRICES  $3.75 OFF PRIME TIME, $5.00 PRIME TIME PER LINE,  MANAGERS MAKING AND SHIFT MANAGERS MAKING ALL THE $$$$$$. WAY TO GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9orbetter

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2013, 02:08:47 PM »

A bigger concern I can see are the new hours for AMF/BowlMor centers.  If you have a higher volume shop, how do you accommodate all your customers if you lose your daytime hours?  Our AMF/BowlMor center isn't opening till 4 pm.

Not only that, but you'll effectively kill every senior/daytime league, and there are a lot of seniors who not only bowl for the competition, but for the exercise and the chance to socialize. At that time in your life, socialization becomes that much more important because you start to realize that all of the friends you've had may have passed on, and you want to spend as much time with the ones you have left as possible. This business strategy kills that..

But Bowlmor may seem to only care about money, and in the end, that will kill their business.

BL.


The end is near for Bowlmor/AMF in its infancy here in Eastern Long Island. The very idea of eliminating youth and senior leagues just diminishes the social/athletic structure of this sport. As stated in another forum, they don't have a clue. 34th Ave in Woodside, NY and the many centers in Nassau/Suffolk county have been blindsided by the lack of real bowling knowledge by the Bowlmor company. Our sport will survive, but we've taking a standing 8 count this 2013-14 season
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milorafferty

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2013, 03:01:57 PM »
If the demand is there for the leagues, someone will step in and fill it. Even if it means new centers. There are plenty of people willing to take a chance to make a dollar.
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bradl

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2013, 03:58:52 PM »
If the demand is there for the leagues, someone will step in and fill it. Even if it means new centers. There are plenty of people willing to take a chance to make a dollar.

This leads me to the next question.. for a center to want to break away from AMF/Bowlmor, someone would essentially have to buy the center, right? They just couldn't leave the firm, right?

BL.

milorafferty

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2013, 04:11:53 PM »
That's a good question actually. No idea.

In our area, AMF closed a few houses that were actually viable. I know the person who was the manager of Woodhaven Lanes in Woodland, Ca. She said the place actually made a profit. Her and her husband now own a center in Nevada.

AMF also closed the center on Florin Rd in Sacramento(AMF-Alpine) which was said to be profitable. Someone here said it had to do with the asbestos in the building as I remember it.

I could see them not selling the Alpine house, since it would compete with Land Park, but Woodhaven isn't near any other alleys.

If the demand is there for the leagues, someone will step in and fill it. Even if it means new centers. There are plenty of people willing to take a chance to make a dollar.

This leads me to the next question.. for a center to want to break away from AMF/Bowlmor, someone would essentially have to buy the center, right? They just couldn't leave the firm, right?

BL.

« Last Edit: August 28, 2013, 04:13:37 PM by milorafferty »
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bradl

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2013, 04:58:45 PM »
That's a good question actually. No idea.

In our area, AMF closed a few houses that were actually viable. I know the person who was the manager of Woodhaven Lanes in Woodland, Ca. She said the place actually made a profit. Her and her husband now own a center in Nevada.

AMF also closed the center on Florin Rd in Sacramento(AMF-Alpine) which was said to be profitable. Someone here said it had to do with the asbestos in the building as I remember it.

I could see them not selling the Alpine house, since it would compete with Land Park, but Woodhaven isn't near any other alleys.

Know both Woodhaven and Alpine Valley very well, as I'm in the Sacramento area as well. Alpine Valley couldn't be helped, and yes, it was very profitable. Saved a drive for a lot of people, plus Wayne Webb ran the pro shop there. Same pretty much was for Woodhaven (don't know who ran it, though). I don't believe either was the cause of Bowlmor.

Same went for Crestview Lanes. That place only exists as the lanes at Fireside. Hulsenberg and Cook bought the actual lanes from there when it closed. So there went 3 AMF houses. So that leaves 3 left in the area, and to be honest, I don't know if Land Park is going to survive. Mardi Gras will because of it being midtown.. Rocklin, I don't know..

Another question.. How much does Bowlmor and their strategy impact Qubica/AMF? Does that mean that they'll take a dive as well?

BL.

spmcgivern

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Re: bowlmor/amf Bowling ball prices
« Reply #14 on: August 29, 2013, 07:57:32 AM »
I can't imagine a way for an existing AMF center to "break away" from the BowlMor umbrella.  These centers are owned by BowlMor/AMF now.  They aren't franchises owned by franchisees.

I personally think having over 270 centers will be too much.  Some centers just will not support themselves.  I get the impression BowlMor will want each center to be successful on its own and not have to rob Peter to pay Paul.  What is the magic number of centers, who knows.  But there really isn't any reason to sell an existing center to a potential competitor.  The salvage value may not be much, but in today's market, neither are bowling centers.