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Author Topic: Bowlers Dream pro shop  (Read 4440 times)

channel surfer

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Bowlers Dream pro shop
« on: November 04, 2003, 08:47:17 PM »
As some of you may know, I have a partnership with this site. I am want to know your opinions, comments, and suggestions that you have on this site.

www.bowlersdream.com
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My Bowling Clinic Site: http://channelsurfers.vze.com

ASK A PRO:http://channelsurfers.vze.com/atp.shtml

www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.
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sdbowler

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2003, 12:58:02 PM »
Good site, good prices. Looking at the bags did not see any totes on there. So many people forget about the 2 ball totes. Seeing many totes with the shoe pocket. Don't forget about the people who would want just the tote to fit just 2 balls. Everything else looks good. Good job.
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time to leave South Dakota
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livespive

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2003, 01:01:03 PM »
Not a bad site.

Prices look to be in order.
Selection is decent (you need some visionary stuff )

You might just get an order from me if you still have the golf
ball bowling balls??????!?!?!??!?!?

AS far as being established, it just comes down to loyalty, and comfort,
even if you would have gotten into the game 5 years ago, there are people you just won't get because they are going to be loyal, or they are looking for a level of comfort, and are taking advice from a friend.

New shoppers, deal seekers, and just plain seekers (like me) are all out there,
and if you have something that the next man doesn't have, ie the golf ball, then you will make the sell.

Eric
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Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
 Visionary Test Staff Member
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charlest

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2003, 02:34:54 PM »
Nice website, decent prices. Thank you & good luck.
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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Brickguy221

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2003, 04:28:48 PM »
If the ball prices include shipping, those are good prices. If they don't inclued shipping, then the prices are higher than some pro shops and about in line with the other shops.
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In the old days, they used axes to chop up wood...Nowadays, they use "BUZZSAWS".
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seadrive

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2003, 09:09:52 AM »
Prices do not include shipping; seems to be $19.63 to ship a ball to NY.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2003, 09:28:56 AM »
I thought the site was pretty good! Had no problem moving around and the PRICES were average (not on the low side). I haven't seen any ball that has raised my interest (not due to your site .. just nothing interesting out there!). I have marked your site as a FAVORITE and will go again when something comes up! Lots of luck ..
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      J O E - F A L C O
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Steven

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2003, 10:55:37 AM »
BowlersDream: You wrote the following:

quote:
All I ask is that you stop by, check out my prices, and let me know what you think.


You asked, I complied, and here are my thoughts:

The only way I would consider using an online proshop vs. my 'brick and mortar' place is if the prices are significantly (and I mean significantly) lower. Otherwise, I'm giving up the intangibles of good will and the other invisible benefits of being a loyal local customer. So I calculated what a Lane#1 Cherry Bomb would cost from you instead of executing the total transaction from my local guy.

Bowlers Dream

Cherry Bomb --- 179.95
Shipping --------  15.00
Drilling ----------  55.00   (Local - This includes drill, slug, inserts)
Total ---------- 249.95

Local Shop

Cherry Bomb --- 229.95 (Total price includes drill, slug, inserts)
Shipping (N/A)---  00.00
Drilling (N/A)-----  00.00    
Total ---------- 229.95

Wow, unless I'm missing something, I'm paying $20 more in total if I buy the ball from you instead of from my local guy. Additionally, I have to deal with the haste of mailing the ball back and forth if there are any defect issues.

Again, if I'm missing something, please let me know. Otherwise, this transaction seems more of a "bowlers nightmare" rather than a "bowlers dream".
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"Advertisers -- you too can have access to this prime demographic"

Edited on 11/8/2003 12:10 PM
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seadrive

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2003, 11:39:04 AM »
Steven, you neglected to include sales tax in the cost of your pro shop purchase.

$229.95 for a Cherry Bomb, including slug and inserts, seems low.  Aren't you from CA?  If so, I'm surprised to hear that you can buy Lane #1 gear out-the-door for that price.

Around here, a TOTL Columbia or Track ball will cost you $229 + tax + inserts/slug.  So it's: $229 + 18 s/i = $247 * 1.0875 = $268.61.

Bowlers Dream sells the new Track Phenom Unleashed for $139.95.  My cost after drilling and inserts/slug ($50) would be $139.95 + 19.63 shipping + $50.00 - 3.00 (channel surfer discount!) = $206.58.

So... I'd have to decide if the goodwill at the local shop is worth more than $62.03.  For many of the more, ummmmm... frugal people on this site, the answer is a resounding "NO!"

Like you, I buy new balls exclusively through the local shop, even though they're expensive.  But I tend to buy mid-priced stuff, so the difference in price between the local shop and the online stores is not as great as it would be on the higher-priced balls.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
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Steven

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2003, 12:02:32 PM »
seadrive: You're right; I didn't include the sales tax computation in my example. I intentionally omitted tax because I'd pay the same tax amount either way and I wanted to keep the example as simple as possible. I do live in California, and BowlersDream is also in California, so I'm hit with the same tax amount in either scenario. The bottom line is that I would still spend $20 more going with BowlersDream.

I specifically brought up the Cherry Bomb because I just yesterday asked for a price quote from my local guy. The dollar amount may sound low, but in general his new ball prices are very reasonable. I can't spend more than $210.00 out the door for any non-Lane#1 ball (tax included). The most lucrative part of his business is after sales services (plugs, redrills, resurfacing, polishing, etc.). So he doesn't go overboard on the price of new equipment.  

In fairness, I didn't validate the price of every ball BowlersDream offers, so maybe there are some gems out there. And I probably would have passed on commenting at all if he didn't state the following:

 
quote:
Some of them may have much larger bank accounts to be able to afford $5,000-$10,000 TV commercials but I would rather just pass that money to my customers in lower prices.  


This is a rather blanket statement and suggests that I should see significant savings across the board. However, at least with the Cherry Bomb, that isn't the case.
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"Advertisers -- you too can have access to this prime demographic"
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seadrive

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2003, 12:59:44 PM »
Oh, sorry.  For some reason, I thought Bowlers Dream was out of Nevada.

Never mind!

Those prices are very reasonable.  Our local pro shop is a very small operation, so I think he needs to keep prices high to make it worth his while to even run the shop.  Here's what the bill looked like for my Core Power LRG, a ball you can get from Bowlers Dream for $122.95:


Ball       $169.00
Slug          8.00
Inserts (2)  10.00
           -------
Subtotal   $187.00
Tax          15.90
           -------
Total      $202.90
           =======


If you can get a Phenom for under $210, all-inclusive, I envy you!

As you can see, though, when you add $20 shipping and $50 for drilling, slug and inserts, my cost for the LRG from Bowlers Dream would be $190.  I'm not going to pull my support from my local guy to save 13 bucks.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
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Steven

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2003, 02:24:56 PM »
seadrive: Yea, for a $13 savings I agree that it's not worth it. If most folks sat down and really did the math, they would come to the same conclusion.

Just out of curiosity, do most of the proshops in your area charge about the same for balls w/drilling? I've seen a swing of up to $30 in my own general area, and I'm wondering if it's the same with you.
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Steven

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2003, 04:07:22 PM »
Leftside -- Interesting comment:

 
quote:
Unfortunately, that statement is partially wrong. Steven, ball prices at proshops are not consistent across the United States. Some smaller towns charge even more for equipment than just about anybody else.


First, if it's partially wrong, then it must also be partially right You're absolutely correct that smaller towns sometimes take advantage. I sometimes do tournaments in these backwoods houses, and I'm amazed at the levels of extortion they get away with.

But I would hope that you would agree that most folks live in or around large metropolitan areas. And in these larger areas, there is generally choice. Choice in turn promotes competition and more competitive prices. Within a 40 mile radius of my home, I have about 7 competent proshops from which to choose. Of these 7 shops, 3 provide a combined level of pricing/service that is very good.

I believe this same general scenario is true in most larger areas. The problem is that most bowlers are not only cheap, but lazy and unwilling to do the research necessary to find a great local shop. I'm not disputing your premise that there are areas where all local shops are terrible, but I believe that's more the exception than the rule.
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"Advertisers -- you too can have access to this prime demographic"
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Brickguy221

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Re: Bowlers Dream pro shop
« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2004, 11:53:24 AM »
Message sent.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away"
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