2023 Nationals Thread - All Other Things

[n00dlejester]

Hello fellow bowling sadists! This year's tournament is already underway, with a 3200+ out the gate.

I'm going to make two threads (for the 9 of us still on these boards) to keep a sort of timeline for the tournament. This thread will be for all things non-bowling related – travel tips, local food or drink suggestions, local businesses to visit, casino reports, gambling woes, etc. etc.

Safe travels and good luck to everybody making the schlep out to Reno!

[NOTE: the other thread is all things bowling related https://www.ballreviews.com/usbc-tournament/2023-nationals-thread-all-things-bowling/ ]

[n00dlejester]

The cost to rent a locker went up to $10.  As far as I know that is a change from last year.

Boooooooooo!!

Thanks for the heads up.

[3835]

How much fits in a locker? Never rented one but considering it as we bowl at 930 pm and I don't feel like dragging my crap back to the hotel at midnight

[themagician]

How much fits in a locker? Never rented one but considering it as we bowl at 930 pm and I don't feel like dragging my crap back to the hotel at midnight

$10 lockers easily fit 6 - 3 ball totes and a couple shoe bags or backpack. We make it happen every year. The smaller lockers will hold 4 - 3 ball totes and not much else.

Just play adult Tetris and it’s easy to get value out. Also lockers don’t have to be paid for til you want to lock them so feel free to grab an open one and see how much stuff you can put in it before you buy a token.

[milorafferty]

How much fits in a locker? Never rented one but considering it as we bowl at 930 pm and I don't feel like dragging my crap back to the hotel at midnight

I always rent a locker at the Open. Even in Reno where the parking is at the venue and not on the far side of it.

$10 is still a fair deal for not having to drag your stuff in and out. Although, it's $10 EACH time you open the door, not for the entire tournament.

[mrwizerd]

How much fits in a locker? Never rented one but considering it as we bowl at 930 pm and I don't feel like dragging my crap back to the hotel at midnight

I was able to fit 2 3-ball tournament totes (standing up) and a 3 ball wheeled bag, with some elbow grease, in 1 locker.

[3835]

Thanks for the replies - appreciate everyone!

[stormtracker300]

Does anyone know if the AYCE sushi bar is still open inside the bbq restaurant by circus circus?

[milorafferty]

 I don't remember a sushi bar in a BBQ restaurant, but there was one inside a Mexican restaurant. It is no longer there. It was replaced by a Food Court.

El Dorado has Sushi Sake though. And there is an Ichiban there as well.

[DrBob806]

Has anybody used BBExpress this year? I haven't used it in awhile, I know the cost went up quite a bit. I'd ship 4 balls from Ohio, just wondering about a ballpark estimate on cost. Thanks

[3835]

Its stupid expensive. I am thinking about shipping a ball or 2 (from Ohio as well) so I just went to BBE to see how much 1 ball was. With the "handling fee" the cost for 1 ball was over $60!!!

Below is a copy and paste from the site showing me the total:



Package Information

Pkg No   Wt   Insured Value
1      16   0.0000
Billing Information

Payment of Transportaion:      All Currencies in USD
Transportation Total:      **36.29
Handling:      ****25.00
Total:      **61.29
The displayed rate is for reference purposes and does not include applicable taxes.

*For delivery and guarantee information, see the UPS Service Guide. To speak to a customer service representative, call 1-800-PICK-UPS for domestic services and 1-800-782-7892 for international services.

**Rate includes a fuel surcharge.

***Surcharge for forwarding Duties and Taxes to UPS Account.

****Handling fee is $25.00 per package

[DrBob806]

Its stupid expensive. I am thinking about shipping a ball or 2 (from Ohio as well) so I just went to BBE to see how much 1 ball was. With the "handling fee" the cost for 1 ball was over $60!!!

Below is a copy and paste from the site showing me the total:



Package Information

Pkg No   Wt   Insured Value
1      16   0.0000
Billing Information

Payment of Transportaion:      All Currencies in USD
Transportation Total:      **36.29
Handling:      ****25.00
Total:      **61.29
The displayed rate is for reference purposes and does not include applicable taxes.

*For delivery and guarantee information, see the UPS Service Guide. To speak to a customer service representative, call 1-800-PICK-UPS for domestic services and 1-800-782-7892 for international services.

**Rate includes a fuel surcharge.

***Surcharge for forwarding Duties and Taxes to UPS Account.

****Handling fee is $25.00 per package

Thanks....yikes it used to be a bargain. The $25 handling fee is dumb, a money grab by USBC.

I had heard a 4 ball box was around $160 but it looks a lot higher than that!

[3835]

Nope $160 is spot on. The $25 fee isn't as tough to swallow if you send more than 1 ball. I put in a 4 ball box (60 pounds) and here is what the result was:

Package Information

Pkg No Wt   Insured Value
1      60   0.0000
Billing Information

Payment of Transportaion:      All Currencies in USD
Transportation Total:      **137.49
Handling:      ****25.00
Total:      **162.49
The displayed rate is for reference purposes and does not include applicable taxes.

*For delivery and guarantee information, see the UPS Service Guide. To speak to a customer service representative, call 1-800-PICK-UPS for domestic services and 1-800-782-7892 for international services.

**Rate includes a fuel surcharge.

***Surcharge for forwarding Duties and Taxes to UPS Account.

****Handling fee is $25.00 per package

Responsibility for Loss or Damage

[milorafferty]

Last time I used it was Syracuse and it was $100+ for 4 balls, so $160 now seems to be in line.

Sending 60 lbs. at that price is not a bad deal in my opinion.

[themagician]

To anyone shipping with BBE, the big price scaling comes from boxes over 50lbs, if you stick with 3 balls in an old 3 ball bag box, or 3 balls, and one empty box in a 4 ball box, and keep the weight under $50 you’ll see the prices become way more reasonable, ~100-120 one way from the Midwest to Reno.

[milorafferty]

Last I heard, BBE won't let you ship a bag with the balls. Has that changed?