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Author Topic: Pro Shop Business - "al a carte" or one price...(long post)  (Read 7150 times)

devildog819

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If you have been around the pro shop scene, "al a carte" pricing was created in the late 1990's to give the customer a list of the services they would receive.  From the pro shop's view, it was an opportunity to make a larger profit by charging for each service you rendered.  

With today's economy and every customer wanting more for less, maybe we should revisit the one price method, as done in the past. If done right, this would make you more competitive with the internet while still having the flexibility to charge for the services you provide.  Is there anything wrong if you charge $179.00 for a premium ball(Virtual Gravity, Seige, Cell, etc.) including drilling and inserts...thumb slugs extra?  Your profit would still be more than $50 per ball.  Let me know what you think....
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jls

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Re: Pro Shop Business - "al a carte" or one price...(long post)
« Reply #46 on: September 01, 2009, 03:34:06 PM »
quote:
bowltsproshop,I understand what you are saying and I agree to a point.Let me take a Bounty for example. At my pro shop the price is 230.00 that includes the drilling,not finger tips or slug(if you want one).I buy from R.D.pro shop from Neb.same ball is 100.00 including shipping,I provide the tips at 2.50 and pay 50.00 to have the ball drilled.I saved a little more then 75.00 buying on line.Thats a lot of money to put back in my pocket.Now you take that same ball from my local pro shop it's resale value is not going to one dime more then then the one I purchased on line.So the person who bought this ball can not make up the difference on the back end either.As a matter of fact the money I saved means I can get out of my ball at a cheaper price thus devaluing his product even more.The 75.00 I saved means I can get in a newer ball sooner.This seems to be the problem at all brick and mortar shops in my area.From what I can tell that 65.00 to 80.00 on a new ball is what is seperating the net sites and the local shops.To me if it was just the drilling cost then it would be just a 40.00 to 50.00 difference and that's not the case in my area.I can see that in the near future pro sops stop selling products and only selling the services.It will lower the overhead and tame down emotions all a round.At that time you will see the bowling industry running to you guys with open arms begging to have their product put on display.I have as yet to understand why your(PRO SHOP OWNERS) not charging them to display their product in your shop.They need you much more then you need them!!
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OH BOY here we go again...

Robuster,
First, you quoted a price on the bounty that is the price on a current model...Now $230 is a little high...But that would be the price closer to a current model.....NOT A CLOSEOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second, Your pro shop in Neb.  where you can get the Bounty for $100.....
plus $50 for drilling...  still a good deal...  

Third, you left out that, the Bounty is on closeout.....

Fourth,  at the closeout price, my shop would sell that Bounty for $125 drilled....

Fifth,  doing the math, you ended up paying $25 more..



just in case you wanted to know

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jls



Edited on 9/1/2009 4:50 PM

Edited on 9/1/2009 4:52 PM

robuster

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Re: Pro Shop Business - "al a carte" or one price...(long post)
« Reply #47 on: September 01, 2009, 03:57:29 PM »
jls I have 152.50 in a ball that sells or sold for 230.00,so that is a saving of more then 75.oo.Any one can buy from them, they would love to sell to you.My price is no different then yours would be.If you are serious about the 125.00 drilled I have a friend or two who would like to have one. If you have some more deals I would be interested in them as well.I did not mean to step on anyone's toes I am trying to understand how the shops operate.(profit margin)I think everyone should be paid for the service they render.But the industry is changing and us bowlers and the local owners have to find a way to service one another.If I have offended any one then I am sorry, that was not my intent at all.
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jls

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Re: Pro Shop Business - "al a carte" or one price...(long post)
« Reply #48 on: September 01, 2009, 04:40:51 PM »
quote:
jls I have 152.50 in a ball that sells or sold for 230.00,so that is a saving of more then 75.oo.Any one can buy from them, they would love to sell to you.My price is no different then yours would be.If you are serious about the 125.00 drilled I have a friend or two who would like to have one. If you have some more deals I would be interested in them as well.I did not mean to step on anyone's toes I am trying to understand how the shops operate.(profit margin)I think everyone should be paid for the service they render.But the industry is changing and us bowlers and the local owners have to find a way to service one another.If I have offended any one then I am sorry, that was not my intent at all.
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Live free or die trying.


Robuster,  no offense taken... Just simply pointing out that The Bounty is on closeout... So you did get a good deal....Now if that was the price on the Bounty Hunter or the Jigsaw or the Full Swing,  it would have been a great deal...

And yes $125 drilled is the price...As long as their supply last...

BTW,  I would bring the Bounty up to a 4000 pad....  

good luck with your ball
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jls

jls

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Re: Pro Shop Business - "al a carte" or one price...(long post)
« Reply #49 on: September 01, 2009, 05:25:47 PM »
One last comment...

The internet is not the big problem for pro shops that so many of you think...

The bad ECONOMY is a problem....  For ALL types of business...  Really, it was in all the papers....Try reading one....

Most pro shops have adjusted their pricing...And most high end balls are priced
very close to what they sell for online, plus the drilling charge...

Some of you people seem to think that most pro shops have their heads up their butts....

Last saturday we sold 14 new balls, and drilled 3 outside balls.  { internet balls }

I think most of you judge all pro shops by comparing us to the converted broom closet pro shops that have sprung up in bowling centers...

You know the ones open from 5-8 weekdays and have no inventory.... They order everything....out of a book....

Well we don't operate like that... We STOCK merchandise.....
92% of all balls we sell, are in stock.... That means we only special order 8% of our ball sales....

Now we have been in business for a little over 3 weeks now.... So please, stop pretending to be retail know it alls... Concentrate on your jobs...  You know the ones you will be losing to some girl in Korea or China shortly....Who can type as fast or faster then you can,  and she doesn't surf the net all day at work on her company's time.....  

However if you really think you "know it all"  then by all means, take a  loan out on that shack you live in,  open up a pro shop...  There are boo koo stores available in most towns, all over the place....

Put you money where you mouth is, since most of you seem to think, you know it all.......

Now we know, that's not going to happen....

Talk is cheap...


now

are we clear

ps,  and I don't want to hear from any loser a comment like,  I won't shop there....Like I care...   Please give it a rest...

And WORRY about your job.... Cause you will be losing it shortly.....

Real pro shops,  will be just fine...


still clear




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jls

Doug Sterner

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Re: Pro Shop Business - "al a carte" or one price...(long post)
« Reply #50 on: September 01, 2009, 11:07:14 PM »
Man, I need to move where you guys are shopping....I have the Bounty Hunter listed at $197 drilled with inserts and I have not even had a single person ask about the ball.....

I need to move to a different part of the country where I can make some money...sheesh.
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
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