Author Topic: Used ball values (Read 1762 times)

qstick777 · « **on:** May 14, 2008, 02:10:50 AM »

Just throwing this out here for some general discussion.

Do you think there is a standard rate for determining the value for a used ball?

Given the same condition, do you think it one of these is more valuable than others?
a) single-drilled;
b) single-drill, thumb plugged;
c) single-drill, fingers plugged.
d) single-drill, fully plugged.

Does additional plug work affect the value? (You know, we all see the postings of "single-drill, fingers plugged to change span, approx 95% drilled back into.")

For plug work, does color matching have any affect?

Do number of games matter?

X-holes?

Grips, slugs, switch-grips, etc?

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batbowler · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2008, 10:29:06 AM »

Well if I look at a used ball, I always consider the span first and if it has grips or not or thumb slug/insert. If the span is close with no grips you have a little room to correct the span and the same without a slug and making a change by adding a slug! I don't use grips so if a ball has grips then I know that I have to plug fingers, but that doesn't matter if the span needs changed anyway. I look at the condition of the ball and pin placement. If the pin is close to where I would place it or want to try a pin in that location. If I can get a ball in good condition a lot cheaper than a new one then I'll buy/bid on it. Last, if it's a rare/discontinued ball and there's not a lot for sale then I think the value is higher or more people will try to buy/bid on it. Just my $.02, Bruce
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Gene J Kanak · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2008, 10:31:09 AM »

I don't think there's a standard rate because there are so many variables involved. For instance, I would be asking more for a single drill, mint condition Black Widow then I would for a Power Groove in the same condition. That's because one ball obviously cost a great deal more than the other to start with. Still, there are some generalities that can be made.

Here's how I look at it both buying and selling:

Top dollar ($65-100 shipped) single drill, cover in mint condition, low games
Standard ($40-60 shipped) Thumb or fingers plugged 1X, cover in good shape, medium # of games
Flyer ($10-35 shipped) Drilled multiple times and/or poor coverstock condition, hundreds of games

Additional plugging almost always will cause people to want a cheaper price, and it makes sense because of the possibility of tracking over plug or simply having the core dynamics altered by the multiple drillings.

As for the color match thing, that will depend upon the bowler. I prefer my stuff to be matched, but I won't necessarily shy away from a ball that is plugged differently. Others may view this differently.

I don't personally care much about standard grips and slugs. The Switch grip is a bit different because it requires a very large hole, so some people don't like having to plug that up.

Well, that's my .02

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Strapper_Squared · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2008, 10:36:15 AM »

Absolutely... A single drill has more value than something that's been plugged. Of the single drills, w/out grips/slugs have more value (if they are close to your span) than ones w/ grips and slugs. The reason being is that you can adjust pitches/spans slightly by the installation of grips/slugs and avoid requiring to plug. Of the plugged balls, less plug = greater value. To me, anything that has been plugged more than once is worth essentially nothing. I think color matching is a personal preference. I like it better than way (although a fellow shop guy will only clear plug all of his equipment). As long as the # of games are reasonable (say 50 or less), there is little concern for me as I typically resurface/rejuvenate every used ball I purchase as a standard procedure during the refitting process. If you have to fully plug a ball, I think x-holes hurt the value (additional plug work), but if you are keeping the current layout, then there is no difference. Switch grips hurt the value for me in all cases..simply because I don't use them, therefore they require a HUGE plug (1 1/2" bit?).

IMO,
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Juggernaut · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2008, 10:44:45 AM »

quote:
Just throwing this out here for some general discussion.

Do you think there is a standard rate for determining the value for a used ball?

Not a real "standard", more of a generality I think.

quote:
Given the same condition, do you think it one of these is more valuable than others?
a) single-drilled
b) single-drill, thumb plugged
c) single-drill, fingers plugged.
d) single-drill, fully plugged.

It depends on what the balls use will be. If is matching my specs, the single drill is more valuable. If not, can it be adjusted with a simple, single plug and re-drill? If so, it can still be used in PBA regionals.

If the ball is intended for league use, I tend to like stuff that doesn't look like a speckled pup running down the lane, so plugs that match are a plus.

If they are to be used as experimental things, plugs mean very little to me, regardless of color.

quote:
Does additional plug work affect the value? (You know, we all see the postings of "single-drill, fingers plugged to change span, approx 95% drilled back into.")

Yes, if I intend it for personal use. Second drill is as far as I will go, and then only if one of the two original spans is close enough to my specs and where I would drill it.
Bought a color matched, single drill, fully plugged hammer PAIN from azguy for $50+shipping, but the color match was great and the original span was exactly where I was going to put it. After I drilled it, you can only see about 1/2 of the thumb plug.

quote:
For plug work, does color matching have any affect?

See above comments

quote:
Do number of games matter?

Yes, but not as much to me as physical appearance. If the ball looks good, most likely it was owned by someone who maintained it. Good maintenance is vital to ball life and it can extend a balls useful life greatly.

quote:
X-holes?

Depends on where they are/were, are they plugged, and whether they are where I would need them to be for my purpose.

quote:
Grips, slugs, switch-grips, etc?

These matter to me because I do use them. If the ball is good, but the specs are off from mine just slightly, often I can use the ball by simply adding grips or slugs to a ball that did not have them previously. Small, minor gripp adjustments can be allowed for by the opening up of the holes to a larger size to allow for the grips and slugs. I have even used 1 3/8 slugs to move a thumbhole almost 3/4 inch from its original, non-slugged placement.

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azguy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2008, 11:20:38 AM »

Me personally:

#1. Pin length, #2. number of times already plugged, #3. work that has to be done to get it to my specs, #4. plug work/color match and cover condition.

Some consideration, cost of shipping.

Bottom line, I think with most folks, how bad do you want the ball.

For a ball that's been plugged ( fingers and thumb) once...drop in price.

Ball with more than 2 plugs ..not much value to me.

My personal reason NOT to look at a ball being sold on here....no price. If you ( seller) wants to take offers without stating a price, go to e bay auction. If you want to sell a ball here, state what you want for the ball.

Next reason not to look at a ball here, sellers state "offer to include shipping"...shipping from where ? No mention of where they are, nothing.

So to answer your basic question....a 'scale', that varies from individual to individual, what's most important to them, IMO.

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qstick777 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2008, 02:29:40 PM »

I guess it's okay to reply to my own post - just to add to the discussion.

Back before I started to plug and drill my own stuff, this is how I looked at it:

Cost of ball new (if available).
Drilling costs - my local shops charge $60 for a new drill, $40 for complete plug and re-drill, and $20 for finger or thumb plug and re-drill. Add in an additional $15 for grips and slug.

At one point I didn't really care about layouts. I would just have the thumb plugged and re-drilled. I just wanted to try different balls and see if I could find something that I seemed to match up with (as if layout isn't a major factor there...doh!).

Let's just say that I've gone through a lot of balls - to the point that my local shops were giving me a hard time for drilling so many balls! No problem there, bought my own drilling equipment and have more money to spend on balls!

As far as a "standard rate," I guess I was thinking along the lines of say you immediately take off 50% because it is drilled. So, you could get a Twisted Fury for $150 from an on-line shop. Drilling/plugging should around the same, so that doesn't factor into the equation (unless you can get it from your local shop cheaper than on-line and paying drilling costs). Anyways, so a used TF would start at say $75. Some plug work, subtract out $x. Span is close, add $x. Layout is suitable, add $x. Ball is super popular, add $x. Stuff like that.

As far as shipping, I figure it's fair to add $5 to actual shipping costs to cover materials and paypal fees.

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dicnic · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2008, 03:18:44 PM »

For me, first thing is cover condition. Second is the drilling. If I can use the basic drilling and just move the thumb to create my span, great. Of course, only one drill is acceptable.

If it is an unusual ball or one I really, really want, I would even take a left-hand one drill ball if it was cheap enough.

Shipping costs really kill used balls sale, but there is nothing we can do about that.
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qstick777 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2008, 12:16:36 PM »

bump
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Author Topic: Used ball values (Read 1762 times)

qstick777

Used ball values

batbowler

Re: Used ball values

Gene J Kanak

Re: Used ball values

Strapper_Squared

Re: Used ball values

Juggernaut

Re: Used ball values

azguy

Re: Used ball values

qstick777

Re: Used ball values

dicnic

Re: Used ball values

qstick777

Re: Used ball values