What questions do you need to ask at a pro shop?

[Aslan]

When you walk into a brand new pro shop that you have never been to before, what questions should you ask the staff/owner?

It depends. If it's MikeW's pro shop I ask him if he's ever going to clean up the place. Other than that...I might ask something like, "Excuse me, where's the restroom?"

[epiepenburg]

A fellow bowler paid 260$ plus for a DV8 Thug Unruly which retailed online at the time for 140. That's a 120$ mark up! Needless to say I will be steering everyone away from that pro-shop.

Thats a little pricey. I'm picking up a new Thug Corrupt tomorrow for $220 out the door. Yes I know I can get it for cheaper online, however then I have to take it to my pro shop where I will then be charged to drill and slug the ball. His price includes all that.

You can't expect a pro shop to sell for what they go for online. Pro shops will go out of business otherwise. I had a good conversation with my PSO about this very topic. He said he just can't afford to match their prices. I never have asked him to match online prices. He can get the equipment faster than I can, so there's perks to going through him. My PSO provides awesome customer service, and therefore I'm more than willing to spend the money with him and support a local business before I will buy online.

[Mike White]

It depends. If it's MikeW's pro shop I ask him if he's ever going to clean up the place. Other than that...I might ask something like, "Excuse me, where's the restroom?"

The place is perfectly clean....

The trick to get it that way, was to sell it, so the new guy cleaned it.

[John Anderson]

3 microfibers for $6 is expensive if it's your basic version. Costco/Sams/Walmart have them for around $0.30/each.

But if you want better ones order from theragcompany.com

http://theragcompany.com/16-x16-Eagl...?categoryId=-1

These are designed for auto detailing so they are extremely soft. Fibers are cut so there are no loops

The big difference between these and cheap basic ones is they don't "catch" or "grab". When I wipe my ball I can easily just spin it with the microfiber towel in my hand where as the cheap ones tend to grab the ball.

That's all

Thanks for the advice. I know the price goes down to about a dollar a towel if you buy 50 of them, but I have no need for 50. Just to clarify, the towels were $5.99 for a 3-pack. They are really soft and grab my fingertips pretty well when I pick them up, so I can't complain what so ever. The nearest walmart to me is 20 miles or so, which means the gas would cost almost as much as the towels. I sincerely do appreciate the advice.

It depends. If it's MikeW's pro shop I ask him if he's ever going to clean up the place. Other than that...I might ask something like, "Excuse me, where's the restroom?"

Well, I know the answer to that question. It's that empty bottle in your bag. Man up and hold it.

If it were Mike's shop, I'd bring in a car full of people who want to know why the Storm Crux's don't come in a 6lb version just for entertainment purposes.

[Tony]

For me it comes down to customer service, I was bowling in one center and asked the PSO if he had any DV8 spare balls in black / 14lb, he looked and said no but I should be getting a shipment next week check back then..... Later that week I was driving past another PS and stopped in and asked about the same ball, he said he didn't have one but he immediately picked up the phone and called one of his other shops and found one, then said if you would like it I can have it here tomorrow. Guess who got the sale? The ball sells on-line for 49.00 and he sells it for 84 inc drilling (not inc slug and grips 21.00). If I bring a ball in he charges 45 for basic drilling, so I actually pay a little less overall to buy the ball from him, depending on the ball of course. The high end balls that sell for a larger discount online might be cheaper to purchase on-line.

[Amyers]

As far as pricing goes I don't quibble over a few dollars. If I'm buying something currently in production I usually don't bother asking the price I know he'll take care of me on it. He has never charged me more than $60 over the online price including grips and slugs. If I'm buying a closeout I'll talk to him about price first If he can match it including $50-$60 for drilling I'll buy it from him if not I'll buy it and have him drill it. On one of my balls I bought for my daughter he was able to beat the closeout price on a bag I wanted for the other daughter they were selling it for less than half of his cost. I try to take care of him and trust him to take care of me to a point but I make it a point to know what stuff is selling for to make sure I'm not one of those guys who pays full price for a closeout ball.

[John Anderson]

I will add a comment I made in another post. When you are measured, be sure you have your support on. This assumes you use one. With the support set to your most usual setting can change the layout up to a 1/4" in my case.

I completely missed your post before somehow. Thanks for the advice. I don't use a support/brace, but it's good to know that it makes a difference.

[Aslan]

The place is perfectly clean....

The trick to get it that way, was to sell it, so the new guy cleaned it.

WHAT!!??

I never got the memo.

[John Anderson]

Okay, what trade show is today guys? Owner left a note saying shop closed due to trade show. Kind of mad I drove to the shop two days in a row and it's not open either day. Oh well. I shall try again tomorrow.

[Amyers]

Okay, what trade show is today guys? Owner left a note saying shop closed due to trade show. Kind of mad I drove to the shop two days in a row and it's not open either day. Oh well. I shall try again tomorrow.

How many times does john go before actually getting a ball?