This is spilling over from the Misc non bowling section but should a proshop allow bargaining on the price of a ball?

We do not. The price is what it is. For league bowlers we do give a 10% discount off of our prices. People talk among themselves, if you give one guy a better deal than another someone will find out and be pissed off that he didn’t get that price.

We offer service. Others in town are have cheaper prices but he drills the most balls. He is the best fitter I have ever seen of bowlers. If we can get them to let us measure them (even if they don’t want a ball right then) 90% of the time they will come back as they realize that he measured them the correct way. We have a large line of balls in stock, several types of inserts including the 7/8” drill inserts, plugging a ball will take 2 days or less, he can measure and drill a blank ball generally in less than 30 minutes (some customers ask more questions than others).

There are bowlers who are looking solely for the cheapest price on the ball regardless of how it is fitted or drilled. We don’t want that business, we want the customer who cares how the equipment is fitted and drilled. There will always be someone willing to undercut you. They will go out of business while yours goes on. I’ve seen it happen a dozen times here.

Discounting just to get a sale leads to having to discount everything and eventually you don’t make any money on any sale. That’s fine if you run the proshop as a sideline to the bowling center but if your proshop guy is trying to make a living at it he’ll go broke.

To a point, maybe.  For first time customers? Certainly not!  For repeat customers, sure!  However, as a repeat customer myself, the only time I asked for a discount was on a multiple item purchase in excess of $300 (even then I only asked for 10%).  Most of the time it is now offered when I ask the price.  I think this is a nice gesture that shows they appreciate my repeat purchases. Take care of your customers, treat them right, and they'll do business with you before going anywhere else!

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Why, WHY won't the last one just fall??  It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!

I ask my driller for a price and pay it because I know that the ball will be perfect for me. Not one that I bowl for a week then stick in my attic because it doesnt feel quite right.
He usually gives me something when I go down also like free grips for my main ball or a bag to keep the one in that Ive just purchased or the like.
So I guess what Im trying to say is he treats me right and he knows I'll go back. Preety much what you guys are trying to say.
He also seems very happy to see me when I visit, maybe because I dont pester him for discount, I dont know.
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Happy go lucky bowler from the UK.
   Did someone say tough luck