I've been in the shop business on and off for about 17 years now.  I would like to see your opinions on brand loyalty.  Understood if a certain cores remain the same in a ball but now have a new cover (or vise versa) but why do you guys stick to the same company when surfaces and cores are completely different from their last release?  What makes you loyal or want to buy from that same company?  Just trying to see what drives brand loyalty.  Thanks for your input.
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff  
Vise Inserts Staff
www.Trackbowling.com
www.startabowlingrevolution.com

See profile for Track Ball videos

*El Presidente of the Track Revolution

Yeah Andy, kind of my point.  I get customers who are blindly loyal to one brand but with the cost of equipment these days (I understand that), they can't afford to try other companies that "may" match up or "may" be better for them regardless of the info I try to pass on.  Just seeing human nature at work I guess....
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff  
Vise Inserts Staff
www.Trackbowling.com
www.startabowlingrevolution.com

See profile for Track Ball videos

*El Presidente of the Track Revolution

right now i have 2 brands in my arsenal, lane 1 and ebonite, im starting to turn into a buzzhead and im starting to become loyal to lane 1
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Ebonite
Prime Time

Lane #1
Uranium Pearl
Tsunami


VIVA LA METAL MILITIA!


\m/

new member of the FOS and damn proud, LANE 1 OWNS

Edited on 12/27/2005 6:12 PM

I guess I kind of am, but it's by accident.  I tend to buy whatever works, and then if I like it, I stay with that company until I have a need for something not offered by that company, or something REALLY catches my eye from another company.  For instance, for about 2 years I drilled nothing but storm, but that's because whenever I needed a new ball the Storm one seemed the way to go.  Well, currently my two favs are a Thing Returns and the New Heat (I was on a Track kick when the Triton line was the bomb) so I'm trying to figure out if I can fit another Track ball in there someplace.
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The clock on the wall says 3 O'Clock...last call...for Alcohol!
"I love a martini -- but two at the most. Three I’m under the table; Four, I’m under the host."  Dorothy Parker

I have no brand loyalty.  I currently use AMF, Track, and Lane#1 balls.  I would have no problem throwing Storm, Brunswick, Dynothane or any other company's balls if I needed to expand my arsenal.  


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You will not see me on the PBA Tour, but I love the game!!!

I am brand loyal to several companies mainly due to my
past scoring record(I buy products I have scored well with).
 I do not buy from several companies due to reoccurring
durability issues I have had with their equipment.
 
 The advantage I discovered from this is that I know each
product line much better(i.e. cover stocks,cores, etc.)
and make much better equipment choices now.

In 45 years of bowling, I've just about used them all. Never was brand loyal or equipment loyal until I started using the saws. A couple of things COULD happen to make me try another company, but until one of those things happens, I will remain a true sawhead! In my opinion right now, the staff, customer service & product quality is untouchable. Just my opinion!
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Wayne
FOS MEMBER
HARDCORE DIAMOND CUTTER

Tis the season "MERRY CHRISTMAS"

I am brand loyal these days or for the majority. I used to have a mix of about any brand from Brunswick to Lane1 to Storm and everything in between. I went to Storm several years ago exclusively due to a business relationship for a tournament I direct and looking for consistency. I got the business end, but the bowling consistency was not there. The problem with Storm for me personally appears to have to do with ball speed and matching covers/RG to give me the read on the lanes I need. In January of this year I went back to an old favorite, Columbia300 and have no regrets so far. I worked out a business deal for the tournament similar to my old agreement and have set up an entire arsenal of all C'300 balls. The change to something or someone different came from recommendations from several tour or former tour players and having watched me bowl in competitions and my ball reaction. I need a ball that reads the midlane better and was not getting it with my old stuff. Well this has been my most profitable year on the lanes, largely due to rolling the right 9 strikes at the Nationals. I have been plus in all but 2 tourneys this year, the first I had only 3 C balls in the bag and the last a regional that I made really bad reads on the lanes. I now pay a lot more attention to ball RG and how they will affect which lane conditions I need to use them on. With the Columbia balls I have equipment with RG's varying from 2.6 down to 2.438. Combine those with my two favorite drills 1:30 and 10:30 variations, I no longer use 12:00 due to over/under reactions and I see more consistent and readable ball reactions. Now to be honest, on certain dry conditions I still have a couple Storms I may use but these are getting less and less use with the two high RG Columbia's in the bag. I have found it easier for me to look at a ball line, what they market the ball for and even go to the company for support when using all one maker. As long as Columbia continues to perform on the lanes and support me off the lanes, I will stay with them. I hope for a long time, I now have 12 new balls in the arsenal and have made a bit of investment for the future. Hope this answers your question from one bowlers perspective and what might work for someone else too.

Edited on 12/27/2005 10:59 PM