Author Topic: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday... (Read 12659 times)

DCNetBoy · « **on:** June 04, 2009, 10:13:05 AM »

I had an unfortunate experience in a well known pro shop in my area yesterday.

Let me tell you all about. Then, I would like to get some feedback on what others think.

I brought a ball into the shop to be drilled. After patiently waiting to meet with the most experienced driller in the shop, I greet him, shake his hand and then give him the ball. He takes the ball and then proceeds to walk back to the drilling area. (Keep in mind that I had brought in a ball a few weeks before and had it drilled with no issues.)

As he is walking to the drill, he states that he might have to charge me $10 more than what he charged me for drilling the first ball. When he gets to the drill, he immediately puts the ball on a Determinator. After about 20 seconds or so, I hear him say... "I hope you didn't pay a lot for this ball..."

At that moment, I knew there was going to be a problem. So I gave him a look as if I didn't hear him. He then repeated what he said.

He then goes on to try to say that my brand new Virtual Gravity is not spinning properly and that he can not find the true mass bias area on the ball. (We all know that Storm and every other company marks the mass bias on their asymmetrical balls before they leave the factory.)

So I say, "Oh really? How often does something like this occur?" He does not reply. He then proceeds to pull out one of his VG's that he had in stock and puts that on the machine. Of course, you all know that his ball spun properly.

When he spun my ball again, I noticed how loudly it was spinning because it was "wobbling"! When he spun his, it was quiet. LOL!

Now, before each spin on the machine, he clicks a switch in the back of the machine/table. Can you guess what that switch might have done?!

He goes on to try explain how many Ebonite and RotoGrip balls had the same issue. He then tries to explain how the ball was spinning properly on one axis, but not the other. (Duh! It can't it's wobbling all over the place!) He then says that he might have trouble drilling my ball, but starts to look for another one of his VG's after I told him that my ball was a 14lb ball.

While he is looking for another ball, I pick up my ball and proceed to tell him that "I will ship that ball back" and that he should not worry about drilling my ball. He appeared a little shocked that I didn't want to get anything drilled. From that point on, everything was just as uncomfortable as I have ever felt in a pro shop. I knew he was lying. I didn't want to challenge him on it because his boss, the owner of the shop, was nearby dealing with a supply distributor. It would have looked bad if I called him out on an outright lie right in front of his boss. So, I just walked.

As I am trying to leave, he asked me if I bought the ball from the internet. LOL! I said... "Oh, absolutely!" He asked how much I paid for it and I told him that, too. LOL!

When the owner saw me pick up my ball and put it back in my bag, I felt like everybody was looking at me like I was the bad guy.

Classic! LOL!

I he only knew that I was going to buy two new balls from him. LOL! The Energy and the Fast have not hit the street yet! LOL! Oh well...

The bottom line is this... Why are pro shop owners getting upset with customers who bring in balls to get them drilled? THEY MAKE MONEY EITHER WAY!! They get paid if you buy from them or just get a ball drilled from them!

Saving money is not a crime. Yet, there is no excuse for the act lying to a customer. I understand the point of supporting your local pro shop. However, how do they expect someone to patronize their business when they blatantly try to mislead them.

And no, there is nothing wrong with my ball. LOL!

Any thoughts?...

Peace!

Smash49 · « **Reply #91 on:** June 08, 2009, 03:35:52 PM »

Laufaye,

Same subject every month.

Smash49
--------------------
Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
Striking Cat Bowling Pro Shop, Duncan Oklahoma! IBPSIA Certified Technician
www.strikingcatbowling.com

ToiletLogCore · « **Reply #92 on:** June 08, 2009, 03:38:15 PM »

quote:
Yes, the problem would be solved, just not the way you envision it. The online shops would steal all of your drilling as well as your ball sales. You don't think that the online shops would be happy to drill up the ball?

My pro shop charges me $45 to drill a ball. Let's say I buy a Rogue Cell from Buddies. $129.99 - $5 coupon = $125. I supply my own grip slugs ($10). So my total from my shop is $180.

Let's say I buy the ball from Buddies and let Buddies drill it. Buddies charges $50--WITH grips and slug. So, I could get the ball shipped to my house ready to go for $175. I like my pro shop guy so $5 is no big deal. However if he increased his price by $55, guess who would be drilling my equipment? That's right...Buddies.

Not only is Buddies an internet seller but they are also a successful brick and mortar shop located in Fairfield, Connecticut. They should be the business model for the future success of pro shops. Go ahead and charge $100 to drill or refuse to drill. Your closing will just be sooner rather than later.

Pro shops need to adapt to the internet era or they will be replaced by a more efficient model.

yeah, inherit a bunch of money, buy a shitload of shit, sell balls online for $6.25 profit per ball and not care about how much net you make because you're filthy fucking paid in the first place. yeah that's the model for just about every successful mega shop in the country because there's absolutely no profit margin in this game
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You've just been handed a little TLC

sevenpin63 · « **Reply #93 on:** June 08, 2009, 04:02:41 PM »

Don't get me wrong I have bought some of my balls off the internet but that was when they were so cheap I could not help myself $135.00 including drilling for a $220.00 ball. I got my proshop guy to drill it up. But 90% of the time I buy my stuff from my pro shop guy, because I like the way he drills my stuff up. I have also said before on this sight that my average has gone from the 190's to the 210's ever since he started drilling my balls. He is the only guy who has ever took the time to watch me throw a ball, so I try to give him as much of my business as possible. For example I just bought a pair of SS8 Dexter shoes for $160.00 out the door, now I know I could have got them online for $130.00 but he came down $40.00 to sell them to me from his shop. Now I did not even say anything about the internet price for the shoes, I told him I had $150.00 to spend on a pair of shoes and he offered them for $160.00 so I bought them. So I try to give my guy most of my business but when I see a deal thats to good to pass up, well I just cant help myself.
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DON'T TEMPT THE BOWLING GODS

Edited on 6/8/2009 4:04 PM

Atochabsh · « **Reply #94 on:** June 08, 2009, 04:23:35 PM »

I've seen examples of internet seller's ball drilling. Its not pretty. I don't see how an online shop is going to drill your ball and hand fit the thumb and line up the grips properly without your hand. You could send them a ball and hope they can match it. But that's not all that easy either. You still have to hand fit the thumb at least.

Erin

sevenpin63 · « **Reply #95 on:** June 08, 2009, 04:31:06 PM »

quote:
I've seen examples of internet seller's ball drilling. Its not pretty. I don't see how an online shop is going to drill your ball and hand fit the thumb and line up the grips properly without your hand. You could send them a ball and hope they can match it. But that's not all that easy either. You still have to hand fit the thumb at least.

Erin

I agree I would never have an online dealer drill my ball, I would be afraid they would not get it right. Thats a gamble I would not take.
--------------------
DON'T TEMPT THE BOWLING GODS

Mark T. Trgovac · « **Reply #96 on:** June 08, 2009, 05:49:26 PM »

With all this talk about $50 to drill a ball. Not every shop in every market area can charge that higher amount. Some are in just such a bad area that they can only get a guy with that internet ball to come in and pay $35, and this includes the grips and slug the guy needs. Some shops get cut off by another shop in there area, who will go and charge you a lower amount and alot of people dont care how good of a job you do they are just out to save a few bucks.

The way I look at it, if you bring me a ball you got online. I will drill it for you and take care of you. However unless you are going to save enough money to where you are still ahead in the case that the ball has something happen to it. Where it needs returned and you have to pay for the return shipping, and then still have saved enough to be able to walk away with a few bucks after you get the replacement drilled. Then by all means go for it get it from the net. However if this problem did happen I doubt you would have saved anything by getting it from the net. Because then you have two drilling fees on your hands.

In my area for something High Performance like a VG, or Twisted Fury, or a Rising SE, or Power Swing. Is a ball you walk in and will see it listed on the wall at $189.95. All you would pay ontop of that is tax. So you walk out paying $202. This includes grips, and slug. Yet if you drive just 45 mins north of where I am located that same ball you will be paying $225 or more before tax, grip and slug.

The prices you have should mirror your work. However it is also at the mercy of your local economic statues.
--------------------
Mark "scoot" Trgovac
C-G Pro Shop
Youngstown, Ohio
Track Live Chat Tech Support
Track HITMAN.

Tag Team Coaching Success Story.

http://www.c-gproshop.com/

DCNetBoy · « **Reply #97 on:** June 08, 2009, 05:51:27 PM »

I don't know what is spinning the most... Is it some of the heads of some of these folks that are responding to these posts or that DeTerminator machine from that pro shop?

Maybe some of you guys missed this...

"To the pro shop owners, do what you do to keep your business going. But keep in mind that saving money is not a crime. The next time someone brings a ball to you to be drilled, accept their money just as if they bought that ball from your shop. The last time I checked, the color of money is still GREEN! Whether you want to save it or earn it is up to you. Your customer support should be the same for all of your customers. Treat them with respect and professionalism and they will gladly go out their way to spend at your shop."

To the folks that think I made this story up, then ask yourself this... "Why would an owner of a pro shop take the time to address this situation when no business names, no individuals, nor any locations were ever mentioned? None.

The owner of the shop, SPCD, did not have to address this situation at all. He did not choose to do so while he was standing there in his shop and he certainly did not have to come to this forum to address this issue. To the folks that think that I should have said something to him in private, then I could say the same about him. I did know that heard much of the conversation. I saw that he was doing business with a distributor. What he was doing did not bother me at all. If anyone there thought that there was major cause for concern, then maybe the drill sheet from the last purchase that might have been on file could have been used for someone to try to contact me. It goes both ways.

Maybe it was not a big deal to him until he read this post. LOL! Who knows? But like he so graciously articulated in his response, this is in fact a delicate issue. For those of us who deal with customer support on a regular basis, it is definitely a delicate issue. When it comes to customer support, for some of us, there is a fine line between perception and reality. In hindsight, the whole situation could have been different if you look at things from another perspective. For me, on that day, I looked at the whole situation from a customer's perspective. When I go back to that shop, maybe my perspective will be different.

It has been interesting to read some of the comments. From a customer standpoint, many of us believe that if we bring a ball to a pro shop, the place of purchase, or the price paid for a particular ball should not be a concern. For the most part, we just want to get the equipment drilled. When it comes to purchasing a ball over the internet, most buyers expect the same quality of product that is supposed to be technically no different than what a pro shop purchases for their shop. As we all know, and have seen through this incident, that is not always the case.

I personally agree with SPCD about where the mistake was made. I understood every word that came out of the driller's mouth. However, because of my standpoint as a customer and believing in what I purchased, I perceived something different. We all know that sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it or present it.

The next time I go to his shop, I don't expect anything less than the customer support that garnered his shop an award.

By the way, my Virtual Gravity rolls great! Enough said. Go bowl!

Peace!

Hey SleepOnIce - Here is another fact that I left out...

Number 18. - The distributor had on a blue STORM jersey!

ROTFLOL!

300 dan · « **Reply #98 on:** June 08, 2009, 07:16:12 PM »

Yes this kind of post rears it's ugly head time and time again. I will give my 2 cents for whom ever wants to read it. If you find a shop/ driller who does a good job and treats you fair is it really worth buying off the internet. I have lived and bowled in many states from the East coast to the Midwest, find the reputable shops 99% of the time they will cut a break. I'm not saying internet prices, I purchase quite a bit of stuff I have always been treated very fair on the prices. You may have to make a few purchases but once they see you are coming back again and aging, and letting others know that [such n such pro shop] does good work. More business for shop makes shop owner happy and will make you a happy customer. Sorry so long of a rant.

nextbowler · « **Reply #99 on:** June 08, 2009, 07:36:48 PM »

As to the ability of drillers-unknown if they were internet drillers or
regular pro shops, the shift bowling at nationals before me, there were
42 balls that were illegal for some reason or another. The balls were
mostly fixable. But were these balls drilled by incompetents or someone
who intentionally wanted to cheat? Some of these people need to be gone.
I realize that this is somewhat off track.

BowlingWolf · « **Reply #100 on:** June 09, 2009, 01:13:15 AM »

quote:
my driller will charge me within ten bucks of what I can get a ball online for. why go internet for that chump change when I can help a friend and the local economy?
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We got a kinder, gentler machine-gun hand

+1
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We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.

SKIDSNAP · « **Reply #101 on:** June 09, 2009, 05:50:39 AM »

I don't know what is spinning the most... Is it some of the heads of some of these folks that are responding to these posts or that DeTerminator machine from that pro shop?
Maybe some of you guys missed this...
"To the pro shop owners, do what you do to keep your business going. But keep in mind that saving money is not a crime. The next time someone brings a ball to you to be drilled, accept their money just as if they bought that ball from your shop. The last time I checked, the color of money is still GREEN! Whether you want to save it or earn it is up to you. Your customer support should be the same for all of your customers. Treat them with respect and professionalism and they will gladly go out their way to spend at your shop."
To the folks that think I made this story up, then ask yourself this... "Why would an owner of a pro shop take the time to address this situation when no business names, no individuals, nor any locations were ever mentioned? None.
The owner of the shop, SPCD, did not have to address this situation at all. He did not choose to do so while he was standing there in his shop and he certainly did not have to come to this forum to address this issue. To the folks that think that I should have said something to him in private, then I could say the same about him. I did know that heard much of the conversation. I saw that he was doing business with a distributor. What he was doing did not bother me at all. If anyone there thought that there was major cause for concern, then maybe the drill sheet from the last purchase that might have been on file could have been used for someone to try to contact me. It goes both ways.
Maybe it was not a big deal to him until he read this post. LOL! Who knows? But like he so graciously articulated in his response, this is in fact a delicate issue. For those of us who deal with customer support on a regular basis, it is definitely a delicate issue. When it comes to customer support, for some of us, there is a fine line between perception and reality. In hindsight, the whole situation could have been different if you look at things from another perspective. For me, on that day, I looked at the whole situation from a customer's perspective. When I go back to that shop, maybe my perspective will be different.
It has been interesting to read some of the comments. From a customer standpoint, many of us believe that if we bring a ball to a pro shop, the place of purchase, or the price paid for a particular ball should not be a concern. For the most part, we just want to get the equipment drilled. When it comes to purchasing a ball over the internet, most buyers expect the same quality of product that is supposed to be technically no different than what a pro shop purchases for their shop. As we all know, and have seen through this incident, that is not always the case.
I personally agree with SPCD about where the mistake was made. I understood every word that came out of the driller's mouth. However, because of my standpoint as a customer and believing in what I purchased, I perceived something different. We all know that sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it or present it.
The next time I go to his shop, I don't expect anything less than the customer support that garnered his shop an award.
By the way, my Virtual Gravity rolls great! Enough said. Go bowl!

Peace!

Hey SleepOnIce - Here is another fact that I left out...
Number 18. - The distributor had on a blue STORM jersey!
ROTFLOL!

Why would you go back to the shop that you have spent so much of your time telling us how they lied to you and treated you so poorly?

rackattack · « **Reply #102 on:** June 09, 2009, 09:15:20 AM »

Quote

Why would you go back to the shop that you have spent so much of your time telling us how they lied to you and treated you so poorly?

I would guess it was the owner's personal response to this post.
--------------------

It's all about the X

renaissanceman517kak · « **Reply #103 on:** June 09, 2009, 09:46:47 AM »

Is it me, or does it seem incredibly arrogant to say that the owner shouldn't have bothered to respond to this thread? Seems to me like the OP only wanted to tell his side and get sympathy...

dogman666 · « **Reply #104 on:** June 09, 2009, 09:50:17 AM »

I used to live less than a mile from said pro shop. It is located in Alexandria VA which is a suburb of DC. I have always had excellent service and also brought in internet balls. The reason for say a 50-60 drill charge in this area vs a 35-40 charge in others is simply rent. The overhead from the rent makes it impossible to stay in business charging anything less. Although I live 15 miles away I still go to this shop. Now mind you I don't do all that much ball drilling (1-2 a year) but I come to this shop because of the service. Never had a problem with snide comments etc. Also, I was complaining about wrist pain and he changed the pitch for me and viola no wrist pain. That takes care of a doctor visit right there. I also buy whatever tape, rosin etc. I need from them.

SKIDSNAP · « **Reply #105 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:13:14 AM »

Is it me, or does it seem incredibly arrogant to say that the owner shouldn't have bothered to respond to this thread? Seems to me like the OP only wanted to tell his side and get sympathy...

Arrogant or ignorant either or....

Author Topic: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday... (Read 12659 times)

DCNetBoy

Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

Smash49

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

ToiletLogCore

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

sevenpin63

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

Atochabsh

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

sevenpin63

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

Mark T. Trgovac

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

DCNetBoy

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

300 dan

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

nextbowler

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

BowlingWolf

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

SKIDSNAP

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

rackattack

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

renaissanceman517kak

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

dogman666

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...

SKIDSNAP

Re: Untruthful pro shop. They lied to me yesterday...