Author Topic: Proshop guys some food for thought! (Read 3052 times)

Next Level PS · « **on:** July 14, 2004, 09:30:16 AM »

All names will be held from this account. A big time proshop guy from NY had approached a ball executive/designer and questioned him on the fact that it's not fair that internet sites buy balls cheaper than the proshops and plus get the 4 for 1 deals. In which they sale them to the public for what we pay for them. The executive proceded to say "we need to get our stuff back out there again so we can get where we were".
What do you shop and non shop think of this?
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www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

"I'm Rick James B!&$h!!!

DP3 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2004, 12:46:05 AM »

^^Thats the funniest thing I've heard all day...next to "My Drinking Team has a Bowling problem"
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-DJ Marshall
You're not Bowling if you're not using "B"runswick
Scratchbowling.com

Next Level PS · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:00:24 AM »

DP3, I don't get it why is this so funny.
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www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

"I'm Rick James B!&$h!!!

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:05:55 AM »

It rips me up. Distributors get the extra cash, instead of the pro shops. When a ball is selling from the distributors for $135 and the manufacturer is charging the distributor $85 they are making $50 just for storing the ball until the pro shop orders it.

Bottom line that is the problem, but there is not much that can be done about it. If the ball companies want to get their stuff back out there like they used to be a good way to do it would direct sales. As a pro shop owner if I could be a highend ball for even $110 that would drop a huge savings to the customers and if equipment were less expensive more would sell.

I have stated this on another post: When a customer brings me a ball (more often than not it was purchased online) and wants it drilled I have to make sure that they know any warranty issues are not covered through me, and that they miss out on extra services like resurfaces, cleaning etc.. for the first year. I let them know this before I even touch the ball.
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:09:27 AM »

The pro shop operator is by far the most abused person in our industry. The $100 idea isn't so far fetched, although I don't think a union is necessarily the answer. I know shops in some areas that just have verbal agreements, and it works out all right. I think $100 may also be a bit steep. You have to remember that if this trend continues, a pro shop will be able to simply drill and not even carry anything in stock!

Perhaps split up the fees to $60 to drill the blank and $10-$20 to help the person pick out a ball to order.

It's pretty sad that we even talk like this. I suppose the $100 would make the point to not order stuff online!

Whatta mess.
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:17:52 AM »

quote:
It rips me up. Distributors get the extra cash, instead of the pro shops. When a ball is selling from the distributors for $135 and the manufacturer is charging the distributor $85 they are making $50 just for storing the ball until the pro shop orders it.

Why don't the proshops buy their balls off the internet just like people do and quit going thru and paying the distributors? The distributors are the ones getting rich while the proshops suffer. Is there some type rules that say the proshops can't buy off the internet?

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Retired and bowling on Fixed Income

Next Level PS · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:26:46 AM »

For one distributor do not make alot on balls. the make their money in quantiy sold. a FACT when if you buy 500 xxx-factors you get them for $96 if you buy 1-200 you get them something like $112 and then the sell them to the shop for $125. you do the markup.

"Ebocrap" that says it all!!!
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www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

"I'm Rick James B!&$h!!!

Next Level PS · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:30:12 AM »

King is right the internets charges $10 per ball the distributors charge anything under 3 balls. other wise the shipping is free.
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www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

"I'm Rick James B!&$h!!!

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:37:02 AM »

Brickguy,

Pro shops can buy online...with the shipping cost there is virtually no savings------AND you also lose that great working relationship with the distributor that king of the mill was talking about. I have developed a good relationship with the distributor that I go through because they are a short drive away. Face to face helps alot.

king, I know exactly what you are talking about. Stock that does not sell is the biggest draw back in the pro shop business. Distributors have gotten very good about taking that stuff back in the last few years.
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2004, 01:59:08 AM »

I figured there was a reason for it, as there is a reason for everything. I just didn't know what it was. Can the proshops buy direct from the manufacturer and save money? Everyone including proshops buy direct from Lane 1. No distributor involved. If there is, I am unaware of it. Lane 1 does charge the customer more than they sell to some of the proshops as I have gotten one price from Lane 1 and went to an online shop and bought the ball cheaper. Listen everyone, I am stopping right here as I don't want to get a Lane 1 pricing flap going here as we already have too much of that. I was simply using them as an example.

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Retired and bowling on Fixed Income

Edited on 7/15/2004 1:55 AM

tenpinspro · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2004, 07:02:47 AM »

I like the union idea or some type of unification. However, there'll be that one or two shops that won't want to participate just so they can cut throat you, it's been happening around my area for years. There has to be some kind of benefit or big incentive for all shops to unite or it'll just remain as is, a battle royal(last man standing).

As KOTM states,

quote:
i can get just about anything i want direct (depending on the local distributors relationship with the manufacture), as long as i put up enough cash for a 256 ball or larger order. plus i may not get distributor pricing

This is another point that pricing remains at the level it does. Some manufacturers force volume and weight packages on the distributors in order for them to receive the better discounts. After a few years of getting stuck with 12-13lb high end balls, some distributors realized the risk was not worth the rewards. Therefore, they no longer bought into the volume packages causing a higher pricing from the manufacturer which in turn becomes a higher pricing to the shop equating to higher retail costs or lowered profit margins.

Some "Give-a-Way" programs from manufacturers just simply show how weak they are in the market and that their current marketing strategy or quality has not been up to par. If your product was good and people were lined up out the door trying to buy it, would you still have to "give" anything away? I don't think so. There are others who just jumped on the bandwagon because x,y,z companies already have been doing it so you'll look bad if you don't.

The internet has done a tremendous amount of damage to pro shops without a doubt. I openly recognize and respect anyone who wants to stay in the business because it would have to be for the love of it.
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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Grip Staff

HamPster · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2004, 07:18:38 AM »

I didn't know the internet sites got balls cheaper . . Always wondered how they made any money on stuff.
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No, really, I like you. Now, by all means, feel free to go fornicate yourself with a sharp object.

charlest · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2004, 07:42:10 AM »

quote:
I didn't know the internet sites got balls cheaper . . Always wondered how they made any money on stuff.
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No, really, I like you. Now, by all means, feel free to go fornicate yourself with a sharp object.

Hamster,

Please re-read the entire thread. If I interpet all I read correctly, internet sites do NOT get special discounts solely because they are an internet site. They get discounts because they are also distributors who buy directly from the manufacturers OR because they buy in such large volumes that even distributors give them large discounts. It's volume buying that get them the low price.

I think if some distributors did not auction discontinued balls at dirt cheap prices on Ebay, with the purpose of getting some or all of their original purchase price back, we may never have learned how cheaply distributors can buy these balls from the mnaufacturers.

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"We get old too fast, and too late, smart."

HamPster · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2004, 08:01:09 AM »

Lol, I really never read the thread . . just the initial post and first few replies. Thanks for the clarification though.
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No, really, I like you. Now, by all means, feel free to go fornicate yourself with a sharp object.

tenpinspro · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2004, 08:12:08 AM »

quote:
I didn't know the internet sites got balls cheaper . . Always wondered how they made any money on stuff.

Hey Hamster,

Charlest hit it on the nose, they don't really get it "that" much cheaper. Majority are looking for simple volume. Someone posted a while back on price comparisons of internet sites and that did show who was getting what price from distributors. If a site was selling at $10-$20 higher, he/she was just getting avg cost but some sites(won't mention who) are either in bed with the distributor somehow or is the actual distributor using a business front name to not piss offf his regular shop customers.

Rick

Author Topic: Proshop guys some food for thought! (Read 3052 times)

Next Level PS

Proshop guys some food for thought!

DP3

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

Next Level PS

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

MichiganBowling

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

Brickguy221

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

Next Level PS

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

Next Level PS

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

C-G ProShop-Carl

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Brickguy221

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

tenpinspro

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HamPster

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

charlest

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

HamPster

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!

tenpinspro

Re: Proshop guys some food for thought!