Ball Manufactures Should Have A Trade In Program

[RoccoRock]

Just something I was thinking of. Let's say a bowler buys a bunch of equipment. He has a bag, and 2 or 3 balls from a company, let's just call them Company A for arguments sake. Then the bowler throws a ball from a different manufacturer, let's call them Company B, and they really likes that ball. They want to switch, get new B balls, and bag, but doesn't have the cash. Wouldn't it be nice if that bowler could send his 3 Company A balls, and bags into Company B, and for a small fee, Company B sends that bowler all new stuff, drilled similar if the bowler wants. The company can take those used balls and bags and donate them to high school programs and stuff, or recycle them, and the bowler would be happy, and now representing the new brand. It would be nice.

[billf]

Or a loyalty program where company A gives you a credit towards new equipment when traded in on the same. Say $30 towards a new bag in exchange for your old bag (only if their brand), $50 towards a performance level ball, $20 towards an entry level ball, $30 towards a mid-performance ball.

[SmilingBowler]

This is a noble idea. I often wonder where do all the old bowling balls end up?

The only answers I see are garages, basements and closets.
Pretty much, wherever they can go to get lost in the past.

Of course, some balls can be used for single pin spares if it has lost its "bite" and the owner doesn't want to let it go to waste. But that doesn't necessarily become the cause for every "lost ball" collecting dust somewhere. I would take one step further as I am "green-minded" and wonder if old balls can be recycled.

Can the cover be melted off, the core be re-used or recycled and maybe, just maybe, we can all make this planet better by donating our old bowling balls to a a great cause to support youth bowling. If the balls are too heavy for the youth, that's not really a solution. Perhaps they still hold value and can cut down costs for new materials. I'd love to test out a bowling ball with the green triangle arrows on it knowing it was completely constructed from recycled bowling balls.

[ecub]

I donate all my old bowling balls to my pro shop, who in turn, donates them to a local high school bowling program, for teens who cannot afford to buy their own bowling balls.

[scottymoney]

One of my old balls ended up in the hands of my teammate. He is very new to bowling and was throwing a straight ball. I gave him my old Track Crash and it fit him pretty well. A week later he got the thumb plugged and re-drilled and it is fitting him much better. My plan is to donate mine when I am done with them, being able to trade them in would be nice but I would rather someone get use out of them that I may know.

And I know my wife appreciates them not being in the house!

[swingset]

You're asking a lot of company "B". What do they get out of this deal? It sounds like they're giving you 3 new balls and a bag at what would probably amount to their cost, plus the labor of drilling 3 balls, and getting 3 used balls from some other manufacturer in trade. Then they have to handle, ship or do something with the 3 used balls from some other manufacturer - which also costs them.

It sounds nice from your end, but it sounds like company "B" is going to go broke if that's how they sell stuff in a competitive market.

[americantrotter]

I have "recycled" my old equipment to other bowlers. Youth bowlers and my wife are the two main beneficiaries.

But a program that offers loyalty discounts would be nice. (They might already do this, I imagine it might be a side benefit to registering equipment) But as above, these companies have to make money and giving us huge benefits for other companies stuff just doesn't make sense.

[RoccoRock]

I wouldn't expect company B to do it for free. There would be a cost to the bowler, depending on how much they would send in. Labor isn't a huge deal, how long does it take to drill a ball, 5 minutes? What company B would get is a loyal customer. I know if a company would do that for me, I would be a customer for life. Anyway, it's just an I wish scenario, I know it's not realistic.

[75lockwood]

I wouldn't expect company B to do it for free. There would be a cost to the bowler, depending on how much they would send in. Labor isn't a huge deal, how long does it take to drill a ball, 5 minutes? What company B would get is a loyal customer. I know if a company would do that for me, I would be a customer for life. Anyway, it's just an I wish scenario, I know it's not realistic.

interesting idea, however it seems to easy to abuse, say two company do this, every time you get a new ball you trade in company a's ball to company b and vise versa, neither company has a truely loyal customer, the person get's free drilling and a discounted ball, and proshop's loose out on business.

i like the idea of a loyalty program, even if i wouldn't take part given the fact i want to try all company's.

[Zothen]

I usually give my old balls the pro shop to sell and then i'll buy a new ball with the money I get.

Zothen