Do you tip the ball driller?

[ArtVandelay]

Here's a question (and anyone on here who works for a pro shop will probably have an answer I can already guess... hahaha):

I just bought a new ball and haven't had a chance to get it drilled yet. It's been 6+ years since I last had a ball drilled.

Do you tip your pro shop professional for ball drilling? What's an appropriate tip, if any? I feel like this is something that would probably deserve a tip, especially if they take the time to really talk to you and work with you on drilling the ball properly for your purpose.

Discuss!

[Kudu22]

Good question. I never had. I only tip where the person makes their living off tips. To me if you give me good service I come back but if you give me outstanding service I brag about you and buy things I don't always need.

[billf]

This is a very good topic.
for me, it depends. If the driller owns the business then he will make money off of treating me right with referrals. However, if they are just an employee of the alley or the pro shop, then I don't mind leaving a $10 bill behind. I never charge a tip as some places take the fee that the credit card companies charge them from the tip. If I wanted to leave a $8.00 tip instead of $10 tip then that's what I would have written in! I learned that scam from a waitress I dated years ago.

[75lockwood]

when i got the marauder drilled i tried to tip the guy because he was so helpful and nice, but he wouldn't accept it, really great guy.

[ArtVandelay]

I almost feel like it's necessary to tip, ESPECIALLY if the driller makes an effort to assist you. He/she's providing a service that will last you years (likely... Unless you just tear through balls), and if he/she shows interest in making sure you are satisfied with the results then I think that should be rewarded.

6 years ago, quite frankly I didn't even think about it. Perhaps I've matured since then and now worry about things like that...?

But there's a great point:

...If the driller owns the business then he will make money off of treating me right with referrals. However, if they are just an employee of the alley or the pro shop, then I don't mind leaving a $10 bill behind...

If it's the shop owner (and do you just assume?) is a tip an insult (although... is a tip EVER an insult???)? If it's an employee, what amount of a tip is appropriate? A percentage? How much is too much? How much is not enough?

[billf]

I talk to the driller's too much so I usually learn if they own the place or what. Percentage wise, I've always used the restaurant method 15% if above average or 20% if outstanding based on the price of the drilling. I wouldn't include the ball but that's just me. I'm sure whatever you were comfortable with would be appreciated.

[scottymoney]

When I got mine drilled from what I had done and what the signboard said I should have paid $79 - ball drilling, fingertips, and ball cleaner.
He told me it would be $50, so I gave him $60 and told him to keep the change. In the end he got a tip, and he got future business!

[SouthpawTRK]

I've only purchased one ball so far, but yes I did tip the person that drilled the ball. He was extremely helpful, informative and did a great job. He earned a customer for life and will be getting my business for years to come.

[Zothen]

I've never tipped the pro shop guy for drilling my ball.

Zothen

[LonelyBowler]

Absolutely not! Way too many people in this country expect a tip just for doing their job. Just because it's a service job doesn't mean they require a tip. You're already PAYING for their service.

[ArtVandelay]

hahahaha. I do think that applies to a lot of things. I once picked up a pizza (carry out) on my way home from work and I swear they gave me the eye of disapproval when i didn't leave a tip for CARRY OUT!!! Yes, I do believe you should ALWAYS tip the delivery driver because they're delivering it to you, putting miles on their car, and performing a service you're too lazy to do yourself. And even if it's not a fast delivery, in a lot of cases I don't think it's necessarily their fault!

But ball drilling... I dunno. BUT, you might consider trying tipping next time, LonelyBowler. It might make you not so lonely! hahahaha. jk. Thanks for the input.

[Rdmonster]

If the pro shop guy goes out of his way I would consider it.

The guy I went to wasn't interested in watching me bowl, wasnt really interested in discussing things like finding my PAP, didnt know about making my thumbhole oval....gonna go to a different guy next time.

Oh Yeah... it wasnt cheap at about 85 bucks

[billf]

Waiters, waitresses and valets are expected to be tipped with the amount dependent upon the quality of service. Who else "expects" it? I tip anybody that I feel provided me a service above what is normally expected. The driller could just drill you a ball but when they take the time to watch you and match the layout to the conditions you plan to use it on, ensure the fit is perfect, give you the grip color of your choosing, let you roll a couple of frames to be sure it's fine then yes, they've EARNED a tip. You're paying the company for the service, the employee is just getting their normal wage.

[ArtVandelay]

Waiters, waitresses and valets are expected to be tipped with the amount dependent upon the quality of service. Who else "expects" it? I tip anybody that I feel provided me a service above what is normally expected. The driller could just drill you a ball but when they take the time to watch you and match the layout to the conditions you plan to use it on, ensure the fit is perfect, give you the grip color of your choosing, let you roll a couple of frames to be sure it's fine then yes, they've EARNED a tip. You're paying the company for the service, the employee is just getting their normal wage.

Well said. I'm also interested to see how it will work. Last time I had a ball drilled they just kind of drilled it. There wasn't much to it. That's probably why I didn't even think to tip. But if someone were to have put that kind of effort into it, ESPECIALLY if they did something crazy like ask the house to turn on a lane just for a few frames so they could see me roll... Well, you just saved money there in paying for a game. Why not let them benefit from the money they just saved you?

[noeymc]

i dont tip mine but i know him personally he owns the lanes and pro shop and his family works it he normally doesn't even charge me cuz i spend so much time up there and money at the bar =D lol but i normally give him 10 - 20 bucks when he drills my balls even when he tell's me dont worry about it i still give it to him cuz he will go out his way to make sure you like your ball and how its drilled

[AZBowla's Girl]

I think that it all depends on the person and if he or she has gone above and beyond. I like to tip people when the go out of their way to offer their services to others. This is when I feel the person deserves to have a little extra.

[Kudu22]

I have bought 7 balls in the past 8 months (not all for me) from them so they know me well enough to ask if my wife knows I am in the shop. They do a outstanding job and treat me extremely well every time. I have never left a tip but they have become friends in a short amount of time. I bought a JB Taboo for a friend and went there to get it. I could have saved a good amount of money going online but I had them order it. Now if I brought in a ball bought from some where else I think I would tip.

[GoodGorilla]

I didn't know you were suppose to tip the driller. Really?

[scottymoney]

I would put it in the category of "at your discretion". If you think he did a good job/exceeded expectations, tip the guy! If he wasn't so cordial then don't. He shouldn't expect a tip, but you should also be open to giving one.

[swingset]

No, I would never consider tipping someone drilling my ball. They are professionals that charge their shop time and materials...there's no room for a tip in there. If he carried my ball to and from the car, maybe, that's a gratuity-based service but not for doing the contracted labor I requested, and then charging me his going rate for it. Where would the tip come in?

[SSG]

I have never tipped my ball driller. He is a really great guy tho. Doesn't mind me bringing in balls i have boughten online, and usualy gives me a discount when i do bring a ball in. I also recomend him to alot of people and bring him alot of buisness

[ArtVandelay]

Sooo many opinions! That's why I asked.

Back in the day, I once did car stereo installations. Living in Texas, the summers were the biggest beating you could imagine. The garages would sometimes get upwards of 110 degrees. I remember doing a couple pretty involved installations, with thousands of dollars worth of equipment. I always put the care into it that I would expect someone to put into my car. There IS a charge from the installation shop (and most places) but only a percentage is given to the installers.

It shocked me how many people tipped. I'm glad they did because the cut I was getting from the shop was next to nothing when you consider some of the installations could take multiple days in 100+ degree heat. That part time summer job made me think about things like this more...

[MICHAEL]

Let me be very clear on this subject!! If any driller, drills a bowling ball for me that I have a 300, or 800 series,,,, he will be rich beyond his imagination!! I have been very close, but no cigar!!! Lol…

[billf]

Let me be very clear on this subject!! If any driller, drills a bowling ball for me that I have a 300, or 800 series,,,, he will be rich beyond his imagination!! I have been very close, but no cigar!!! Lol…

I'm sure you mean rich in his imagination. You, Mike, are the founder of imaginary bowling dollars here.

[MICHAEL]

I'm sure you mean rich in his imagination. You, Mike, are the founder of imaginary bowling dollars here.

You KNOW we well William!!!! lol,,,, you know me well!!! lol

Imagination,,, isn’t that all life really is,,,, something that takes place in our mind! Who knows what reality really is? It could be stranger then our minds could ever conceive, or even imagine....lol

[ArtVandelay]

I'm sure you mean rich in his imagination. You, Mike, are the founder of imaginary bowling dollars here.

Well played... hahahaha.

But if that's NOT the case, I would love to be the ball driller. I don't know much about it, but if you let me and my leaf blower stand at the end of the lane where the pins are, you might get that 300 game you're looking for! Perhaps even a 900 series?