Please allow me to retort:  (Pulf Fiction quote)

I will drill any ball that is brought into my shop for $30 plus grips ($6.00) + thumb slug ($10.00).  Let me use a mid-price ball for example.

---Strike Zone

1. From Buddies $123.32 shipped + $30 drilling + $6.00 grips + $10.00 slug
   Total = $169.32  (Profit = $46)

2. From my shop $155.00 + grips (included) + $7.00 slug + Tax $9.72
   Total = $171.72  (Profit = $56)
   League bowlers get 10% off --->  Total $154.55

I work in a small towm where people do not want to spend a lot of money on bowling balls (for the majority).  Also, most people use the same ball for several years.  

Bottom line:  
     If I want to sell balls, I must be competitive.  I need to keep my prices competitive with internet prices so I can make about the same amount of money on each ball.  I make a little more on in stock balls because I usually have to sell some of them at or below cost to get rid of them when I can't seem to sell them.  Also I usually talk to my customers and they believe in me getting them the ball with the best specs for their personal style.  Most of them don't know what specs they should reques when ordering balls off of the internet.  Also, most of the bowlers that come to me don't really know what they are looking for, so they tend to buy from me.  If not, then I can still make some money off of drilling another ball.  Bowlers that purchase several balls off of the internet also receive additional discounts such as $20 basic drilling.  The internet is here to stay, so we (pro shops) need to make as much money as we can (drilling more balls for less money).

Jason

Jason
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I've found that the RESET button is the easiest way to knock down ten pins.