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Author Topic: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?  (Read 1971 times)

AllAirForceTwice

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Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« on: April 07, 2005, 04:11:55 PM »
My driller claims that companies that produce a new model bi-monthly is making it near impossible for his small business to survive... Is this really the case. I was just curious.
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livespive

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2005, 02:08:55 PM »
Not to mention that if you are a shop selling balls
xyz for 200 a pop and the online shop sells them for 120
how many time do you think the guy that buys a ball every month is
going to keep coming to you.  The savings from the first two
balls pays for his third ball.
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J_Mac

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2005, 03:05:02 PM »
The most I save by buying online is maybe $20.  I'd rather spend a little more and have a driller interested in making sure I like the ball and have him willing to take the time play with the surface a little and watch me bowl.

For instance...  I bought a Super Sonic after attending a Hammer demo day at one of the local centers.  Of all the balls that I tried none of them were really what I was looking for, so he gave me the discount on the Supersonic that should have only applied to Hammer equipment that day.  Price out the door was around $120.

Online these are about $82 shipped from Buddies.  Tack on my drillers $50-$55 drilling fee which includes inserts and a slug and the cost would have been as much as $137.  Where am I saving money?

True this isn't an everyday occurrence for me, but he made me a great deal.  He runs a large shop that has great turn around, so he has an edge over smaller shops.  His prices are very fair when compared to online prices.
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American beer is like making love in a canoe. It's f*cking close to water. - Monty Python

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TWells1960

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2005, 03:23:10 PM »
The smart proshops don't stock up...they order it next day UPS.  That's the way the pro shop I go to works...
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Tweener92

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2005, 03:41:31 PM »
quote:
The smart proshops don't stock up...they order it next day UPS.  That's the way the pro shop I go to works...


BINGO!
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- never be afraid to tear your game down and start over from scratch.
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J_Mac

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2005, 03:46:26 PM »
quote:
The smart proshops don't stock up...they order it next day UPS.  That's the way the pro shop I go to works...


These so called "smart" proshops lose a bunch of spur of the moment sales by not having what some joe bowler wants in stock.  Some customers are that picky.
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American beer is like making love in a canoe. It's f*cking close to water. - Monty Python

Why is American beer served cold? So you can tell it from urine. - David Moulton
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BrunsNick

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2005, 03:55:09 PM »
You have to stock about 1/3rd of your yearly sales in order to survive. Not just talking bowling balls, but shoes, bags, and incidentals. We keep only selected weights in stock. Groove line 12, 14, 15, 16. Plastic ALL. Midline and up 14, 15, 16.

Anything else we can get in a day or 2 max because of our local distributor making deliveries 2x a week.
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. Les Badderâ„¢
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¡Viva la nación de Brunswick!

Edited on 4/11/2005 3:50 PM
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Nick Smith
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TWells1960

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2005, 08:49:00 AM »
Well, if the shops go out of business, save up your money so that you can send your ball back into the online shop to get it re-surfaced, re-drilled, etc.
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Goof1073

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2005, 12:27:46 PM »
What he means is that a Pro-Shop provides services beyond the intial drilling of a NIB ball.  What if you bought a used ball on Ebay and need to get it refit?  What about a resurface job?  Without a local shop these services would get to be expensive if you had to ship a ball around to get work done on it.
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-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA
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Leftyhi-trak

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2005, 12:49:56 PM »
I agree with TWells on stocking. The most successful shop guy I know keeps 10 balls on the shelf,weight range is 2-14's 5 - 15lbs 3-16s. He orders 95% of sotck and hopes to get the random buyer with one of the stock balls. He does spend a lot of time asking you questions and watches you throw. He then asks what your expectation is? He charges $10 more for internet balls being drilled but still get the same service. He sells himself which is what makes him popular and makes him money. Bigger shops in big houses that cater to alot of open bowling need to carry a bit more stock but for the most part is lower-end stuff anyways. Manufacturers I believe missed this exact point when they started with multi-release dates. I know i would appreciate one release of x-amount of balls per year. Oh well the game has changed and so hasn't the business aspect so you either find a way to overcome or be road pizza for the masses.
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Goof1073

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2005, 01:23:46 PM »
quote:
I think shops should stop worrying about the selling of New balls and open smaller shops with drilling, resurfacing, etc. services for the Bowlers.
 But think of the legistics of that...how would a shop ever cover their overhead for the space, materials, up-keep, etc.?
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-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA
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Brickguy221

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Re: Are Ball Manufacturers Killing Proshops?
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2005, 04:06:53 PM »
My driller charges $40 to drill a ball. A premium ball from my Driller costs $169. That is a total price of $209. I can order the same premium ball on line for $135 + $15 shipping. Add the $40 drilling to that and that is a total cost of $190 or only $19 difference. For no more difference than that, I will buy from my Driller as it is worth more than this $19 to have an excellent relationship with my Driller plus all the little freebes I get from time to time.


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Owner of a 129 game and a 486 series bowled with a Brunswick Impulse Zone.
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