$12 for a thumb plug and $10 dollars for inserts (:  On top of the ball that pro shop owners want to make more (how much more I don't know) for making a 1 minute telephone call or ordering a ball on line themselves.

Between the cost to bowl league, practice for those that do, gas to get to and from the lanes, any refreshments (of course optional) the initial price of a bowling ball plus bowling ball upkeep, bowling will become a white collar sport.

(I know I said between )




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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

Edited on 5/20/2008 4:02 PM

I would.  Well, that's because Chris drills my stuff.  lol

I dont see where you are getting that math.  If i buy a ball online for $125 take it to my driller he charges $50 to drill with grips and thumb slug.  That comes to $175 total.  If I buy the ball from him retail the ball cost $175 plus $15 for grips and slug plus tax bringing the total to $201.40  my savings is $25.40.  Most places will include free shipping now and the other thing is I would have to wait an extra week while my pro shop orders my pin and Top weight I want.

So to answer the original post I would stop buying as many balls if online shops went away.

I don't think I would buy as many balls.  The balls I've bought on line have been deals where the price came down in a "striking" value or just weren't selling as much anymore.  It's almost too easy to buy on line.  It takes will power to not click on that "add to shopping cart" link, LOL.  I would still buy a ball here or there from a brick & mortar, but I wouldn't have as much of a newer arsenal.  I would probably become a  once a year or every 2 year buyer.
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"The last time I saw a face like that, it had a hook in it's mouth." Rodney Dangerfield

I think if you were to find the pro shop that goes the extra mile on every purchase and takes care of their customers, you all might think differently of your "brick and mortar" pro shops.
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Greg Townsend
Best Bowling Pro Shop, Inc.
Lindenwood University Bowling

well.. as a former pro shop employee, i would have to say that the internet has an unfair advantage in sales.  when you take into consideration that to go into a proshop and purchase a ball ($135.00 - ebonite nvs, add drilling $35.00 incl grips and slugs, and tax, it comes to about $190 and change), but when you purchase online ($90 questimate, $40 drilling, grips and slugs) thats about $130.00.  thats a savings of about $60.00. thats hard to compete with.  also i find that there are some proshops shops that don't take the time to go the extra mile.  I.e. ball plug work with an emphasis on color match.  unless the ball is black or a dark color, i don't see many proshops color match the plug work.  is it because its too difficult or are they just lazy.  because i worked a proshop that took pride in color matching the plug work, i got spoiled with the HIGH QUALITYof workmanship.  does anyone know of any proshops that color match.  the only one i can think of was advantage proshop, showplace lanes euless texas.  

not to get off the subject here, but the one advantage to getting a ball at a pro shop is you get a little more personal attention, and some immediate feedback, plus if the proshop is in a bowling alley, they can see you throw, how you throw and offer suggestions, whereas you don't get that off the internet.  so there are pro and cons to both, and both will survive if they can work together.

af