I just bought the Intense at my local pro shop. I paid $180 total - that is with grips and a thumb slug and tax all included. So $160 sounds a bit high to me for that piece, $180   no way,sorry.

Sells online for $89. Cost plus shipping, plus tax, plus mark up,  plus drilling,  plus any accessories.

You know you are not getting the ball from a shop at their cost.  Subtract what you know the cost of drilling is,  accessories, and tax then you will have an idea on the mark up you were charged.

This is acceptable if he does a good job. I work in IT, and I get billed out at $150 an hour, and I get $20 of that. Our customers know they're getting quality service, and that I'm not making $150 an hour and that there is a markup. Our doors have to stay open and make sense for the owner to stay open. No one bitches about the markup on soft drinks at fast food restaurants, which a $2.50 glass of coke costs them 5 cents. Why not ask them to give it to you for 10 cents? That's enough markup!

Had to weigh in here.  This is why no one talks cost, because people get upset.  The cost to a fast food restaurant to sell you a $2 Coke is about 15-20 CENTS.  Also in the restaurant industry, if your food cost is over 30% of what you sell the food for, you're not going to be in business long.  Most pro shops sell for cheap because it's a hobby for the majority of them.  They get free rent, or don't keep stuff in stock, or don't run like an actual business.  Those that run like an actual business need to operate on margins that can sustain an actual business. 

I asked a customer one time who asked me for a discount, "so what if you walk into work tomorrow and your boss asks you to work for 10% less today?"  Naturally the answer was what you would expect.  Look at ball retail prices.  The Sure Lock retails for $254.95 BEFORE drilling.  That's what the industry considers a fair markup just for stocking and selling the product before any additional work or services.  You know what the markup is just for stuff you go into a grocery store for just to grab off the shelf and walk out with?  All they have to do is put it on the shelf and ring it up for you.  The pro shop is a trade industry like being a mechanic or a heating and air tech. 

The only reason stuff in bowling is so cheap is because everyone uses price to get sales instead of quality and service.  I don't understand how people can do actual math and still think they got screwed over on something.  I'm stunned so many pro shops stay in business the way it is.  $124 out the door for a Hustle?  That's not your day job then unless you do Walmart level volume.  Once you figure in all the various associated costs with just doing business, and then I don't know, maybe some kind of a salary for being there and knowing all that pro shop ops have to know, you arrive the vast majority of the time at prices that still don't reflect what they should be.  I'm not saying I'd ever pay $350 for a bowling ball, but people drop that kind of money on a driver and don't blink, but the second a bowling ball approaches $200, people get crazy. 

Everyone wants to go to their job and get paid way more than they probably deserve, but want to throw a few quarters at their pro shop guy and walk out still acting like they got screwed . . maybe he should pay you for the opportunity and privilege to serve you?  I KNOW that's not what anybody meant, but that's how it comes across . . just FYI.

Had to weigh in here.  This is why no one talks cost, because people get upset.  The cost to a fast food restaurant to sell you a $2 Coke is about 15-20 CENTS.  Also in the restaurant industry, if your food cost is over 30% of what you sell the food for, you're not going to be in business long.  Most pro shops sell for cheap because it's a hobby for the majority of them.  They get free rent, or don't keep stuff in stock, or don't run like an actual business.  Those that run like an actual business need to operate on margins that can sustain an actual business. 

I asked a customer one time who asked me for a discount, "so what if you walk into work tomorrow and your boss asks you to work for 10% less today?"  Naturally the answer was what you would expect.  Look at ball retail prices.  The Sure Lock retails for $254.95 BEFORE drilling.  That's what the industry considers a fair markup just for stocking and selling the product before any additional work or services.  You know what the markup is just for stuff you go into a grocery store for just to grab off the shelf and walk out with?  All they have to do is put it on the shelf and ring it up for you.  The pro shop is a trade industry like being a mechanic or a heating and air tech. 

The only reason stuff in bowling is so cheap is because everyone uses price to get sales instead of quality and service.  I don't understand how people can do actual math and still think they got screwed over on something.  I'm stunned so many pro shops stay in business the way it is.  $124 out the door for a Hustle?  That's not your day job then unless you do Walmart level volume.  Once you figure in all the various associated costs with just doing business, and then I don't know, maybe some kind of a salary for being there and knowing all that pro shop ops have to know, you arrive the vast majority of the time at prices that still don't reflect what they should be.  I'm not saying I'd ever pay $350 for a bowling ball, but people drop that kind of money on a driver and don't blink, but the second a bowling ball approaches $200, people get crazy. 

Everyone wants to go to their job and get paid way more than they probably deserve, but want to throw a few quarters at their pro shop guy and walk out still acting like they got screwed . . maybe he should pay you for the opportunity and privilege to serve you?  I KNOW that's not what anybody meant, but that's how it comes across . . just FYI.