Ball Damage - Need help!

[The German Shepherd]

While bowling in my Wednesday AM league, my Defiant took some damage across the track area - several scrapes/gouges that were NOT minor. The guy at the counter told me to leave the ball and the owner of the bowling house would look at it and let me know what they would be willing to do. I haver not had this kind of thing happen often and I am wondering what you think. I don't think the damage is bad enough to replace the ball, and I dont think I want them to fill it in either as I dont want a polyester fill in my Defiant.

What would you insist on in a case like this????

Jay

[bowl1820]

There are basically three option's without replacing it and depending on just how bad it really is.

1- A full resurfacing, sanding the ball till they are gone. This would depend on just how deep any scrapes/gouges are.The con is it can remove a lot of ball depending on depth of scrapes/gouges, Not the best option for deep scrapes/gouges. Really should be done on a Haus or cook sphere machine.

2- Fill and resurfacing, where you fill the deepest gouges and sand the rest. Best option I would say. don't worry about the fill material its urethane not polyester .

3-Do a minor resurfacing and just leave them and live with them.

[Siddy]

if gouges are bad enough to affect how the ball rolls. I would ask for a new ball.

You also need to check of they have a policy about ball damage. Like they could say they are not responsible for any damage or harm done to you or your equipment.

[vgw]

Yeah, if it's bad like you say, I would push for a new ball replacement. They might offer you something in exchange which you could consider. Maybe some freebies and have them redrill the layout so the damaged area is no longer on your track, but that calls for a different layout obviously.

[The German Shepherd]

There are basically three option's without replacing it and depending on just how bad it really is.

1- A full resurfacing, sanding the ball till they are gone. This would depend on just how deep any scrapes/gouges are.The con is it can remove a lot of ball depending on depth of scrapes/gouges, Not the best option for deep scrapes/gouges. Really should be done on a Haus or cook sphere machine.

2- Fill and resurfacing, where you fill the deepest gouges and sand the rest. Best option I would say. don't worry about the fill material its urethane not polyester .

3-Do a minor resurfacing and just leave them and live with them.

I just spoke to the pro shop guy and he suggested that he fill the gouges and then put it on the Haus machine. Only my first two flares rings touch in the damaged area and by the time the ball hits the end of the pattern the other 12 or 13 rings are well clear.

Jay

[75lockwood]

situations like this are tough, many bowling alleys have signs that say they are not responsible for damaged equipment, that being said, if the owner is smart at all they would rather pay to have a ball fixed than say no, loose your business, and risk a bad reputation. i would see what the owner says, most should want to do what they can to make customers happy, but you can once in awhile run into that one jerk (i recall a story of striker throwing a ball at a manager (don't do that))

[billf]

A sign saying they are not responsible doesn't mean squat, legally or ethically. Until they are willing to let you inspect their equipment, they are responsible.

[MisterSinister]

I would be pissed if the damage was on the track area, and they didn't replace the ball. I understand it's cheaper, and easier to fix it, and chances are the ball will perform the same way it did before, but you shouldn't have to even worry about that. If they damaged it, replace it. If the scratch isn't in a bad spot, then fine, go ahead and fix it. Anything that could effect the performance should just flat out be replaced.

[billf]

I don't know what the mark up is on bowling balls but it's not like the cost of a ball for them is the same as for us.

[75lockwood]

I don't know what the mark up is on bowling balls but it's not like the cost of a ball for them is the same as for us.

This is true, hopefully when you speak with the owner he will be really nice about it (as he should be) then all of this worrying will be no big deal.

When do you see him?

[The German Shepherd]

Well, I picked the ball up last night (that's rght - they repaired it "same day" so I would not miss any league time with it) and I am happy with the repair. You can see where the ball was patched, but it should be fine as you can barely feel anything as you run your fingers over the area. The substance the pro shop guy (a good fellow named Jim from Blue Valley Lanes in Wind Gap, PA) used is supposed to be very durable. As a matter of fact, Jim said that this stuff was far superior to the old ball patching compounds. I watched him fill the marks on the cover then spray something over the damaged area...must have been a urethane of sorts. Anyhow, I am pleased with the repair. WHen he was done, he put the ball in the Haus machine and now the ball looks like new (with the exception of that repair...)

Jay

[75lockwood]

Thats good to hear, have you thrown the ball yet? and change in reaction?

[The German Shepherd]

I will be taking it out to give it a try tomorrow. I hope to throw a line with that and give the Lucid a test drive...

Jay

[The German Shepherd]

Thats good to hear, have you thrown the ball yet? and change in reaction?

They did do a total resurface on the ball and brought it back to the 3000 abralon as it was OOB, so overall I am optimistic.

Jay

[75lockwood]

They did do a total resurface on the ball and brought it back to the 3000 abralon as it was OOB, so overall I am optimistic.

Jay

Ya, sounds like you may luck out and end up with the ball being better than before the damage lol

[bowl1820]

As a matter of fact, Jim said that this stuff was far superior to the old ball patching compounds. I watched him fill the marks on the cover then spray something over the damaged area...must have been a urethane of sorts.

The spray was probably "quick set", I have a bottle of it. I use when patching.

[Davec13]

I have picked up chips and dings in all my balls. luckily none have been in the track, so I have never bothered to complain about it. The only real issue I have ever had to address the pro shop about was my thumb hole cracking out. The ball was filled and redrilled and the fill started to crack away inside the thumb hole. He took it without question drilled everything out refilled it and then drilled it again. He even baked it and resurfaced it free of charge.

It's nice to see you were taken care of though.

[billf]

Jay, I am glad to hear that they took care of the problem to your satisfaction.

[MisterSinister]

I'm glad it worked out for you, now go drop some bombs with it!

[75lockwood]

I'm glad it worked out for you, now go drop some bombs with it!

Bombs? i would settle with dropping 120(300) pins per game! lol

[The German Shepherd]

Took it out today for a test drive and threw a 243 with it - after which I quickly set it back in the bag and breathed a sigh of relief...

Jay

[billf]

Great news Jay! Now you can blame not getting the other 57 pins on the damage

[The German Shepherd]

Great news Jay! Now you can blame not getting the other 57 pins on the damage

Well, if Jack Nicklaus can blame a bad shot on "seed heads" then I suppose I could use that excuse...;)

Jay

[75lockwood]

i'm glad it worked out for you, great game!

[Scojoy]

Sounds like a good deal then, if I waste owner I would have also said " if it doesn't roll how it did before, bring it back and replace it" . These days you have to take care of your customers way above board!

[GeoLes]

I would not be suprised if they offerd to repair the ball at no charge rather than replace it. Net effect is the same either way.

[Stormed1]

Just as an FYI online pricing is about 10% over what a high volume pro shop pays for a ball. A smaller shop with lower volume will pay closer to the online price