Author Topic: How much will YOU pay? (Read 6254 times)

Juggernaut · « **on:** January 21, 2011, 02:44:07 PM »

In the other thread, I asked the question "Why do bowling balls cost what they do?" After reading the responses, they seem to lead one to the conclusion that pricing is somewhat arbitrarily arrived at, loosely based on targetted performance level, and reliant on whatever cost the market will bear.

So, the next question I have is this: How much would YOU be willing to pay for the absolute best, no questions asked, guaranteed to work for you, ball on the market?

Myself, I would'nt mind having to pay around $200/$250 for something like that, perhaps a bit more if it was GUARANTEED to work. One problem though, is that there are SO many different ones that do different things, it is virtually impossible to make that guarantee.

So, what is YOUR upper limit?

Edited by Juggernaut on 1/21/2011 at 11:48 PM

Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2011, 10:55:32 PM »

Bowling where I bowl, not too much. Not enough money to be made. If I was back in Detroit, I'd pay a ton, because there is TONS of money to be made.

Ahhh Disco Biscuits!

BKloss · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2011, 10:56:27 PM »

This is like saying where is the end of the rainbow? or how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. Impossible too many elements to play along with for it to be a guarantee. But I guess I will play along....

Whatever I can make in return to come ahead. If I were to bowl in leagues with no brackets, no jackpots, and very little point money, would there be a point besides hanging out with the guys? Which if that is the case, give me a Target Zone and a few buckets.

Granted if there were 50 brackets a night and i was GUARANTEED to do well and well enough to make money then whatever it costs to come out ahead in the end.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brunswick Advisory Staff

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Juggernaut · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:25:12 PM »

BKloss wrote on 1/21/2011 11:56 PM:
This is like saying where is the end of the rainbow? or how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. Impossible too many elements to play along with for it to be a guarantee. But I guess I will play along....

Whatever I can make in return to come ahead. If I were to bowl in leagues with no brackets, no jackpots, and very little point money, would there be a point besides hanging out with the guys? Which if that is the case, give me a Target Zone and a few buckets.

Granted if there were 50 brackets a night and i was GUARANTEED to do well and well enough to make money then whatever it costs to come out ahead in the end.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brunswick Advisory Staff

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Yeah, I guess that's true. In my own head, I was just thinking about bowling well, not how much money you could make. If you could make your money back, ANY amount would be worth it. I, myself, don't get into brackets or high pots, so that thought wasn't even part of my thought process.

So, lets remove that from the equation. Bowling good and having fun should be the main point, not money you COULD win.

If you were strictly bowling for enjoyment, and were never going to win a single cent with the ball, how much would you be willing to pay for the best ball on the market?

Good transactions list in my profile

Edited by Juggernaut on 1/22/2011 at 0:28 AM

completebowler · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2011, 06:37:55 AM »

In the late 90's I paid $275 dollars for a Quantum Jade. It was the Cadillac of balls, revolutionary technology (or so we thought), and I had to have it on the release date instead of waiting for a few days for my regular guy to get it.

It ended up being a phenomenal ball. Plenty of scores with it and raked tons of cash. Being in the Detroit area, as SBB mentioned at the top, means there is ample opportunity to pay off every piece of equipment, even the occasional dud. Between my brother and I we own over 400 bowling balls*. I guarantee everyone of them have been paid for with jackpot winnings.

And I am sorry but you cannot take jackpot money out of the equation. That is one of the biggest drivers of HP ball sales in the industry.

*we own that many due to the fact that we believe it is R and D on the pro shop end. When you walk into my shop I can pretty well guarantee I have used the ball you are considering (or a variation) and can then give you an honest assessment. Also, we are terrible about re-selling them. Just never get around to it. Probably have 50 urethanes collected through the years.

ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
WALLED LAKE MI

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2011, 06:56:09 AM »

It is obvious .. the point being made is HOW MUCH INCOME CAN COME FROM THE BOWLING BALL! I understand that .. what I don't understand is HOW MANY BALLS ARE SOLD TO PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE THIS? If I were standing in your shop and counted the NIB balls sold .. how many would be sold to people who are looking to MAKE MONEY on the ball? I've heard the argument time and time again but is that who you are selling too? Or is it the recreational bowler who just wants to improve their scores? If it is the recreational bowler .. how much will they pay for a bowling ball?

scotts33 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2011, 07:05:52 AM »

I always wonder about the high performance cost of bowling ball threads. Even at EBI and Storm floor prices a great entry level mid performance ball can be had drilled in the $150 to $175 range. Maybe this even too steep for the budget minded bowler?

If you can't afford it don't buy high performance when great scores can be had with mid performance or entry level balls. Many folks complain about no oil or are rev dominant and can't get high performance coverstocks down the lane. Not reason to worry about it if that's the case other than discussion. Just my take.

Scott

Pinbuster · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2011, 07:20:35 AM »

IF a new technology would come out that increased scoring like resin balls did I think you would be surprised at how much bowlers would be willing to pay.

I was amazed in the 1990's how easily quantum balls were to sell when they were priced $50 to $100 dollars more than other companies top end balls.

I think with a proven new technology bowlers would shell out $400+ for a ball if they knew they would score 20 pins a game higher on average.

gparks · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2011, 07:28:11 AM »

scotts33 wrote on 1/22/2011 8:05 AM:
I always wonder about the high performance cost of bowling ball threads. Even at EBI and Storm floor prices a great entry level mid performance ball can be had drilled in the $150 to $175 range. Maybe this even too steep for the budget minded bowler?

If you can't afford it don't buy high performance when great scores can be had with mid performance or entry level balls. Many folks complain about no oil or are rev dominant and can't get high performance coverstocks down the lane. Not reason to worry about it if that's the case other than discussion. Just my take.

Scott

well said and i do have a few rocks i've paid a little over 200 for but mainly im in the 140-170 range.maybe down the road when i step up my game a bit,and start rolling more tourneys (and make some dough) it wont matter. but one of my favorite balls i picked up used for 50 bucks lol (roto cell pearl).

DON DRAPER · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2011, 08:05:31 AM »

I'm not seeing this increase in cost for a bowling ball. The first $200 bowling ball was the Quantum Forest Green which came out in January of 1994. That was 17 years ago. I've never paid $200 for a bowling ball. Part of that is being at the right place at the right time. Part of that is having a working relationship with my pro shop. $200 is probably the most I would pay.

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2011, 08:32:14 AM »

Read your comment MCP!

completebowler · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2011, 08:48:21 AM »

JOE FALCO wrote on 1/22/2011 7:56 AM:
It is obvious .. the point being made is HOW MUCH INCOME CAN COME FROM THE BOWLING BALL! I understand that .. what I don't understand is HOW MANY BALLS ARE SOLD TO PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE THIS? If I were standing in your shop and counted the NIB balls sold .. how many would be sold to people who are looking to MAKE MONEY on the ball? I've heard the argument time and time again but is that who you are selling too? Or is it the recreational bowler who just wants to improve their scores? If it is the recreational bowler .. how much will they pay for a bowling ball?

I am not saying that EVERYONE that comes in is buying a HP ball so they can win more money. I don't believe anyone has.

What was said is that jackpots/money leagues are the driver of HP bowling ball sales. When a recreational bowler walks into my shop we aren't even discussing the HP balls. I am showing them how far along the entry level balls like the Freeze/Tropicals?Slingshots have come.

I opened my shop for my own convienience and because I love the game and sharing my knowledge. I didn't open it with the hopes of getting rich. And I definitely didn't open it so I can rip people off.

I know quite a few of the pro shop operators around Metro Detroit on a personal level. Most of them provide a solid service at very competitive prices. You guys complaining about the internet deals with Storm/EBI have no clue about the details of the industry.

ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
WALLED LAKE MI

Juggernaut · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2011, 08:51:03 AM »

Lots of good stuff here guys, thanks for taking interest!

Seems everybody is drifting towards the "higher price=higher performance" idea, but that isn't necessarily true. Remember the V2 sanded? It was originally a "mid level" ball that nearly took over the tours back then, and LOTS of bowlers had them in the bag. Seemed to out perform the "higher performance" pieces out back then.

I also want/need to qualify something. I said earlier that abut $200/$250 would be in my price range, but I was not taking into account the very fact that I myself put in. If there did exist the "PERFECT" ball, and it was guaranteed to work and outperform all other balls on the market, and nothing else would compare, I would probably give more, possibly even the $400 that was mentioned, but I would need to be ABSOLUTELY SURE about it before I did. To me, that price would be totally ludicrous, and I would only own 1 ball, but honestly I would probably end up with one somehow.

I used to get in pot games and brackets, even winning some decent change, but found that I often had my mind on the money instead of on my game, so got away from the money side of bowling. I honestly focus just on trying to bowl as well as I can and take my satisfaction from a good performance and the thrill of victory. I also hate the agony of defeat, bad enough I would get tired of it and probably spend quite a bit to make it stop.

Good transactions list in my profile

jls · « **Reply #13 on:** January 22, 2011, 08:58:21 AM »

MCP, Joe has ever right to complain about now paying $10-$20 more for a highend ball...For years consumers have seen these low ball prices online... And they came to accept them as normal...It is impossible to convince them that these prices were way below what the should have been... And in many cases below pro shop cost...

All because 6 or 7 GREEDY DIST. use online dealers to move product at loss leader prices...

Now that the GOOD people at Ebonite have steeped up to the plate to PROTECT their brand as well as HELP the entire bowling industry, people like Joe feel they are getting screwed...

People talk about how there are way too many balls on the market... And that may be true... But I feel there are way too many Dist. in this business... I hope some of them disappear...

Now Storm has stepped up to the plate... Both of these companies did not want to become known as the NORTHWESTERN GOLF CO. of the bowling industry...

Now 2 of the big three have stepped up to the plate...

We shall see how long before Brunswick Wakes up...

Cause I see FEWER AND FEWER OF THEIR MODELS BEING STOCKED IN PRO SHOPS...

Wake up Brunswick

The MCP wrote on 1/22/2011 9:15 AM:Like everything else in life, people have their price. People like Falco will whine over a $15 price increase on a performance ball, others will gladly pay $30-$50 more. Depends on the person.

I am the Master Control Program, I am in control.

jls

ginro · « **Reply #14 on:** January 22, 2011, 02:24:28 PM »

130-145 + drilling= High Performance

95-125+drilling= Mid- High

75-94+ drilling= Mid

anything below for a entry performance or spare ball

Author Topic: How much will YOU pay? (Read 6254 times)

Juggernaut

How much will YOU pay?

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: How much will YOU pay?

BKloss

Re: How much will YOU pay?

Juggernaut

Re: How much will YOU pay?

completebowler

Re: How much will YOU pay?

JOE FALCO

Re: How much will YOU pay?

scotts33

Re: How much will YOU pay?

Pinbuster

Re: How much will YOU pay?

gparks

Re: How much will YOU pay?

DON DRAPER

Re: How much will YOU pay?

JOE FALCO

Re: How much will YOU pay?

completebowler

Re: How much will YOU pay?

Juggernaut

Re: How much will YOU pay?

jls

Re: How much will YOU pay?

ginro

Re: How much will YOU pay?