Author Topic: Question about ball prices! (Read 4835 times)

JOE FALCO · « **on:** January 16, 2012, 08:03:06 AM »

I know that there will be some of you that will come back with "everything is higher now" but I have to ask this .. do you really think that prices are jumping so fast that the new TABOO is worth $165 un-drilled? My thoughts are if this becomes a big seller that the companies will take it to mean that bowlers will pay what ever we ask! How much is TOO MUCH?

trash heap · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2012, 12:01:45 PM »

I paid $210 for a Cuda/C 16 years ago. That included drilling and grips. $165 doesn't seem too much higher in today's market. It's no different than any other product out there like computers and TVs. You want top of line, well then you are going to pay. The question is ... do you really need top of the line?

ToiletLogCore · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2012, 01:36:34 PM »

Joe, look at the price of a high end ball back in 2000, 1995, 1990 even. Look at the price of just about anything else in those years.

Apparently to all you cheapskates on here, bowling is the only industry that shouldn't be adjusted for inflation. Honestly, look at any other sport. The BEST drivers were $200 10-15 years ago. They are now $400-500. A great putter was $60, now $180 easily.

Yet the top of the line bowling balls $210 back that $210-220 now. But that's outrageous.

You paid $0.89 a gallon 15 years ago for gas, you pay $3.50ish now.

Yup you are correct Joe, bowling ball prices are insanely high, even though they haven't moved in 15 years. Hmm I wonder why the bowling industry is struggling.

You've just been handed a little TLC

slowmo44 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2012, 02:18:32 PM »

I have actually seen the prices go down in the Metro Detroit area since the Ebo started the Manufacturer's Minimum pricing for online retailers. I am not sure if this policy is the reason for the price drops, but consider that, a year or so ago, balls were always 200-210 at the pro shop. People getting better prices were mainly the Pro Shop's regular customers. Now, I can tell you three shops off the top of my head selling Rotogrip Defiants (just released last week) for 185.00 (or less) out the door, including grips and thumb slug. It doesn't take long for you to realize you might as well go to the Pro Shop, rather than pay 154.99 on line, plus shipping, and then pay someone to drill it.

Everybody has to make a living...

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2012, 04:17:48 PM »

Yes i spoke up when the bowling balls went from $135 to $150 now they are jumping again and I spoke out .. I guess most of you are accepting that ball manufacturers are justified in these prices I'm sure that they love the responses written on here .. yes it's OK keep kicking me I know you deserve the increases .. sounds like when Unions first came in .. let's help the worker .. OPPS there is no more company for the worker to earn those big bucks .. opps there's no more bowling to make big bucks .. if you guys think it's justified it's OK with me .. I'll just do what I've done for the last year and watch what develops .. Thanks for all the comments ..

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2012, 04:34:02 PM »

Dont buy it. Online I remember when new high performance balls were released and were $119, then $125 then $129 ect ect they keep going up.

If you don't want to spend that price for it wait a few months. It will drop. That is my theory.

"1 of 1."

completebowler · « **Reply #21 on:** January 17, 2012, 06:38:12 PM »

So you post a topic asking for opinions then question the motivation of someone who is highly informed in the industry? Yet most of the other posters are telling you the same thing. It really is stupid Joe. Every 6 onths you're on here with the same b.s.

What you do here is the same as bitching about the price of the newest Cadillac. You want that car because it's nice. But you could get something cheaper that will do the job. You could get the same model Cadillac in a month or two for a much cheaper price. But you bitch and complain because you want what you want at your price.

Sorry Joe...the world don't work that way.

And the worst thing about your tired old argument is the fact that bowling ball prices (which are an absolute luxury) have gone up at a much, much, slower pace then almost everything else in life that you spend money on. You know, like necessities?

JOE FALCO wrote on 1/17/2012 10:47 AM:
So from the Seller of bowling balls we hear that the prices are right .. that's similar to asking a staff member what he thinks of one of his company balls .. it's all getting crazy and bowling ball prices will continue to sky rocket as a result .. so be it .. I bought one ball in 2011 .. and it looks like I MIGHT do that again in 2012 .. I bought 10 in 2010 .. how many others did the same?

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

All Star Bowling & Trophy

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #22 on:** January 17, 2012, 07:17:30 PM »

I did thank everyone for their comments .. I also commented that you were in the business of selling bowling balls and thought you might be biased .. however if that comment was out of line I APOLOGIZE to you. I was attempting to get opinions from league bowlers .. and the few that responded do feel that prices are in line with the economy .. good luck to all ..THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR COMMENTS!

completebowler wrote on 1/17/2012 7:38 PM:

So you post a topic asking for opinions then question the motivation of someone who is highly informed in the industry? Yet most of the other posters are telling you the same thing. It really is stupid Joe. Every 6 onths you're on here with the same b.s.

completebowler · « **Reply #23 on:** January 17, 2012, 07:52:58 PM »

Kid, some of the reason for that was because the online dealers were selling at a lower profit margin back then in order to carve out a share of the market. Now, as more and more people traffic their sites they don't have to sell at quite so deep a discount. And EBI and Storm have helped back up the brick and mortar shops with their policies.

kidlost2000 wrote on 1/17/2012 5:34 PM:
Dont buy it. Online I remember when new high performance balls were released and were $119, then $125 then $129 ect ect they keep going up.

If you don't want to spend that price for it wait a few months. It will drop. That is my theory.

"1 of 1."

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

All Star Bowling & Trophy

Djarum · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2012, 09:28:10 AM »

I don't buy balls online, so I don't know what they were going for just a few years ago. The high end storm line my shop is selling is 239/249 drilled. I got an Attitude shift a few years ago and it was 229 drilled. So prices seem right to me. In all honesty, with petroleum prices, I'm really not suprised that equipment isn't close to 300 dollars yet, drilled.

So, is there any tread left on the tires? Or at this point would it be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway? - Stewie Griffin

Jorge300 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:16:07 AM »

Joe,

I don't know you, and haven't really responded to you in the past. But I have a few comments:

First, why do you bring this topic up again and again and again? Every few months you trot this out looking for responses, then when you get them, and they aren't what you are looking for, you sulk away and never respond anymore. I'm not sure how old you are, but it is time to grow up a little.

Second, why do you refuse to acknowledge the legitimate question that has been asked of you many times in the past and in this thread? All things in life have increased in price over the last xx years. Do you go to websites for automobiles and ask the same questions as you do here? What about gasoline prices? Golf equipment? Milk? etc. Inflation is a real thing, prices rise over time. Everytime someone points out that bowling ball prices have either stayed static or have risen at a much much slower pace then everything else, you ignore it.

Third, do you think that the answers will change the next time you bring this up? Everytime you try to recruit people to say the "Prices are too high" you get the same feedback. They are in line with the prices people are expecting based on inflation and the natural rise in prices. Then off you go to your seclusion until you bring it up again. I think it was Einstein who said the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

And lastly, you even mentioned it yourself. People don't get full market value for balls when they try to sell them, even with very few games on it. Even though you missed the mark on how much they can sell them for. So why not wait for one of the people you are complaining about to buy the ball, find out they don't like it and sell it for "1/4" of the price, then you can get it really really cheap?

JMHO

Jorge300

Edited by Jorge300 on 1/18/2012 at 11:17 AM

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:30:27 AM »

Jorge .. YOU are right the increase in bowling ball prices are completely acceptable .. he fact that you can't pay less then the manufacturers state is completely acceptable .. you are right .. I hope the world reads this .. Joe Falco is completely wrong and Jorge is completely correct .. stupid Joe keeps bringing this subject up whenever the price increases .. he's too stupid to realize that it's acceptable when gas prices are also sky rocketing .. can't Joe see the relationship of gas to bowling balls .. how stupid can a guy be .. Thanks Jorge you are completely right and I agree with every thing you say ..is that acceptable???

ToiletLogCore · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:39:33 AM »

"Second, why do you refuse to acknowledge the legitimate question that has been asked of you many times in the past and in this thread? All things in life have increased in price over the last xx years. Do you go to websites for automobiles and ask the same questions as you do here? What about gasoline prices? Golf equipment? Milk? etc. Inflation is a real thing, prices rise over time. Everytime someone points out that bowling ball prices have either stayed static or have risen at a much much slower pace then everything else, you ignore it. "

Joe, why is it, that when even called out regarding this simple question that everyone has asked you over and over, you still go on to ignore it?

Answer this one question for everyone and maybe everyone will get off your back.

You've just been handed a little TLC

Jorge300 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:40:19 PM »

Joe,

What is your problem man? Are you 12? Is it acceptable that prices increase, it is inevitable. Have you ever heard of inflation? You should consider yourself lucky that you live in the US and not somewhere else. The US Inflation rate is like 2-3%, in other countries it is like 15-20%. What would you do if the price of milk went up 20% every year, the price of clothes, the price of bowling balls? I think your head would explode.

Why won't you address the question at the heart of this debate? That bowling ball prices have not gone up as much or as quickly as other items. Why, cause then you wouldn't have anything to complain about. You remind me of my father before he passed away, he was never happy unless he was complaining about something.

JOE FALCO wrote on 1/18/2012 12:30 PM:
Jorge .. YOU are right the increase in bowling ball prices are completely acceptable .. he fact that you can't pay less then the manufacturers state is completely acceptable .. you are right .. I hope the world reads this .. Joe Falco is completely wrong and Jorge is completely correct .. stupid Joe keeps bringing this subject up whenever the price increases .. he's too stupid to realize that it's acceptable when gas prices are also sky rocketing .. can't Joe see the relationship of gas to bowling balls .. how stupid can a guy be .. Thanks Jorge you are completely right and I agree with every thing you say ..is that acceptable???

Jorge300

Sunshine n Lollipops · « **Reply #29 on:** January 18, 2012, 01:08:10 PM »

Joe is an elderly gentleman who is retired. His bowling is done is Senior leagues. He has mentioned this many times in previous posts.

Don't believe in the Uzi, it just went off in my hand. I, I believe in love.

Juggernaut · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2012, 02:01:09 PM »

Joe Falco,

Please Joe, just stop.

Nothing you could ever say, or do, would/could remove all, or any, of the biases and opinions you will run into on this site. For you to continue down this destructive path, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE A POINT OR NOT, only serves to punish you more for having had an opinion.

The manufacturers have served technology upon an unwitting, and willing, public. They have supplied the unpracticed and lesser talented bowlers the technological means to "keep up" with the more skilled and talented bowlers, but have then quietly continued to raise prices because, after all, research and development costs money, money happily supplied by the willing, weak, and unskilled. There are FAR more of them than not.

In a society where majority rules, it is sad when the majority is either duped into believing falsehoods, or unskilled and lacadaisical enough to be complacently compliant with whatever the manufacturers line up to feed them next, and willing to pay whatever price is asked, all just to be able to "level a playing field" that should never have been levelled in the first place.

Bowling balls ARE too high, but that is because bowling balls are FAR TOO TECHNICALLY ADVANCED, and they got that way because FAR too many people would rather rely on technology to help make up a difference in scoring levels that their true abilities never would have let them reach.

I have found that the people who buy, use, love, and justify these things are usually in the majority.

Yea, I wish EVERYBODY had to use a yellow-dot, or maybe even a Manhattan Rubber. If we did, balls sure wouldn't cost $250, and scores WOULD be based on who could repeat a very small skillset the best.

That won't EVER happen, because "THEY" won't let it.

So, just stop it Joe.

Just stop.