Post by: channel surfer on November 04, 2003, 08:47:17 PM
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.
Post by: sdbowler on November 06, 2003, 12:58:02 PM
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time to leave South Dakota
Post by: livespive on November 06, 2003, 01:01:03 PM
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
Post by: charlest on November 06, 2003, 02:34:54 PM
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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."
Post by: Brickguy221 on November 07, 2003, 04:28:48 PM
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In the old days, they used axes to chop up wood...Nowadays, they use "BUZZSAWS".
Post by: seadrive on November 08, 2003, 09:09:52 AM
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
Post by: JOE FALCO on November 08, 2003, 09:28:56 AM
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: Steven on November 08, 2003, 10:55:37 AM
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
Post by: seadrive on November 08, 2003, 11:39:04 AM
$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
Post by: Steven on November 08, 2003, 12:02:32 PM
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"
Post by: seadrive on November 08, 2003, 12:59:44 PM
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
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Subtotal $187.00
Tax 15.90
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Total $202.90
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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
Post by: Steven on November 08, 2003, 02:24:56 PM
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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"Advertisers -- you too can have access to this prime demographic"
Post by: Steven on November 08, 2003, 04:07:22 PM
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"
Post by: Brickguy221 on January 16, 2004, 11:53:24 AM