Bowling ball pricing?

[billf]

I like supporting my local businesses for the most part - providing they have good customer service, quality products, and comparable prices.

Yesterday I picked up my RG Defiant Soul and an Ebonite Maxim. The Soul was $161.95 and bowlingballs.com had it listed at $154.95 so internet would have saved me $7. The Maxim was $49.95 and bowlingballs.com has it listed at $59.95 so it would have cost another $10. Shopping local saved me $3.

The drilling on each was the same at $40; finger grips at $10/ball (comparable) and then the expensive part - IC thumbs. Got two sets of three for a total cost of $150.

All in all, I think this is comparable in the industry. I like that I learn something new at the local shop, can ask questions, test, and try. I plan on supporting the best local ProShop in the valley as much as I can. Some of the smaller items I might purchase online, but I don't think the ProShops care about that, they just carry it to be a "complete" shop.

Believe it or not, as with most businesses, the biggest profit margins are with the smaller items. Let's use the Vise grip tape as an example. A roll cost the pro shop $12. It retails at $21.95. A DV8 Brutal Nightmare costs the pro shop $125 + shipping. Most retail this ball at $154.95 + grips, inserts and drilling. So as you can see, after they pay shipping, they don't make squat on the ball itself. That's why I don't understand the shops that get upset when somebody brings in a ball to get drilled.

I used the real prices here just to show a reality. Please people, don't inundate me with questions about the cost of items the pro shop pays. Wholesale is their business.

[josheaton16]

My pro shop is usually about the same as ordering online. Fingertip drilling (grips and thumb slug included) is only $45. Most new high performance balls are about $200-$210 with drilling included, so its pretty much the same as buying online.

[classygranny]

Believe it or not, as with most businesses, the biggest profit margins are with the smaller items. Let's use the Vise grip tape as an example. A roll cost the pro shop $12. It retails at $21.95. A DV8 Brutal Nightmare costs the pro shop $125 + shipping. Most retail this ball at $154.95 + grips, inserts and drilling. So as you can see, after they pay shipping, they don't make squat on the ball itself. That's why I don't understand the shops that get upset when somebody brings in a ball to get drilled.

I used the real prices here just to show a reality. Please people, don't inundate me with questions about the cost of items the pro shop pays. Wholesale is their business.

I guess I wasn't thinking of the markup being that great. But you still have the labor involved of ordering, receiving, stocking, and cashiering. Just seems like the ProShop I go to is so busy that stopping to take care of the little stuff would not be cost effective. Since he is the best in the valley, his business is just constant. In fact, I was there Friday - opens at noon, I arrived at about 1:15 and he got to me at about 2:30 and I was out of there around 4:30. He does concentrate on doing things in order, but will stop and check people out, or get a ball for someone that is just stopping in the pickup - both happened when he was working on mine. I don't mind waiting for the best, but it would drive some people nuts. At $40 a ball for drilling, and that's actually all profit, seems like you would want to do as much of that as you could to make more profit. My guy claims he does it because he likes the people, not the work - but I have a hard time believing that.

[billf]

Drilling isn't all profit. Electricity to run the equipment, the drill press, bits, labor...all that has a cost. Just the pro-sect to mark the layout cost $80+. Nevermind the class that with food, lodging and class time is well in excess of $1,000. How many all profit jobs at $40 will it take to pay off that $11,000 drill press? How many bits will need to be replaced at an average cost of $100 each?

My boss always compares the price of new equipment to see how many jobs we have to charge for and work for free before the cost is covered. Tons of people want their check engine lights checked for free. The scan tool was $1,400. Without even paying me, using the average cost of $62/hr, at one a day we have to use it 93 days before it's paid for. 174 days if I do them all. He included the electricity needed to keep the power pack charged. This doesn't include the hours of training and certification we do each month. And this is something at least half the people think we should do for free, "because it doesn't cost you anything".

I'm not trying to berate anybody just point out what so many don't see. I was told many times how lucky I was to start the coaching business, "as it doesn't cost you anything". Really? Then why did I lose $6,000 last year? Because computers, programs and all that goes into any of it, isn't free just not seen by those outside the box. The Ebonite Bowler's Map computer program is awesome. It should be for $2,000.

[CeKnauss]

I purchase from a variety of pro shops and online. Sometimes, you can find certain equipment online that you can't find elsewhere. Sometimes, pro shops have some older stock they want to get rid of and will offer discounts to rotate their stock.

Every shop has their policy. I've even seen some that refuse to drill balls purchased from outside their shop.

I tend to lean more toward the shops that seem to care most about my satisfaction in their service. Price is always an issue, as I am poor right out of college, but at the same time, there are deals to be had and good people who will help out. If price is an issue, buy used balls through the message boards, on ebay, or whatever. Plugging and redrilling won't give you that much of a different reaction.

There are always alternatives. Just be open minded and show them some respect. Some people may seem like jerks and some people are just trying to make a living.

[Jaescrub]

I'm with Bill there is a cost to everything. But like I said its ok to buy online and its ok to use the pro shop using both when the time and expense is right is the key I want both to stay in business.
I get all my tape,powder cleaning supplies and what not from the pro shop I know it cost me more but it's also easy and fast as most buys and not planed out but a now need. Balls and bags would depend on cost vs. savings some balls I got good prices online and drilled at my pro shop and it saved me more money then in house. But the same has been the opposite. My pro shop guy is great I just wish he owned the shop.

[billf]

The point is for us all the buy where we get the best price AND best service. If one shop is cheaper but won't watch you bowl, ask questions about what you want the ball to do, etc. then it really doesn't matter how cheap they are. The real, real cheap places are that way usually because they aren't that good. The really, really expensive places usually aren't as good as they think they are either. There are exceptions in both directions so be cautious, do the research and make an informed decision.

I go with people a few times a month to either one of the two shops I use to frequent. Both shops know me well and wouldn't dream of treating a bowler I'm with poorly. Lately all I've had to do it send them with a business card with the ball and layout the bowler needs. If the older shop isn't familiar with the layout he will call me so I can lay it out when the ball comes in or run up and do it real quick if it's in stock. At first he was leary to do this but realized the customers would appreciate the honesty and getting it right instead of feeling that they wasted their hard earned money.

[Jaescrub]

My pro shop guy is like that he watched my wife Bowl to see what drilling to use on her Lucid after giving her an hr + free coaching "he would not take my money" he gave her some drills to work on at home and at practice and told her to come back in two weeks to see where she was with the work and when she gets to a point he feels with the ball she has now then he will address what she wants the ball to do and the drilling needed. And we did not buy any of her balls from him. But he is now the only person she trusts and she tells every one about him.

[classygranny]

Sorry, I should have watched my terminology closer. I meant to indicate the $40 drilling charge was all "gross profit" as opposed to having to pay any "cost of goods". All profit on the labor and markup would then go towards "business/equipment" costs with the remainder being the businesses "net profit" and hopefully not a "net loss". All businesses operate like this, I was just thinking that the labor was easier profit as it doesn't have the ordering, stocking etc involved. I understand what you are indicating.

I think the bottom line (no pun intended) is that we all want the best service/product for the minimal amount of expenditure. Whether we get that online or local, depends on what the individual really "feels" is the best service/product at the least amount of money - one is not right, one is not wrong. This is just good ol' competitive business! Let's be glad we have it!

[billf]

Sorry, I should have watched my terminology closer. I meant to indicate the $40 drilling charge was all "gross profit" as opposed to having to pay any "cost of goods". All profit on the labor and markup would then go towards "business/equipment" costs with the remainder being the businesses "net profit" and hopefully not a "net loss". All businesses operate like this, I was just thinking that the labor was easier profit as it doesn't have the ordering, stocking etc involved. I understand what you are indicating.

I think the bottom line (no pun intended) is that we all want the best service/product for the minimal amount of expenditure. Whether we get that online or local, depends on what the individual really "feels" is the best service/product at the least amount of money - one is not right, one is not wrong. This is just good ol' competitive business! Let's be glad we have it!

I agree. Maybe my accounting and business management backgrounds had me reading too literal and for that I apologize.
Yes, I'm one of the few auto technicians with a bachelor's in business management and accounting. It's too bad a suit and tie didn't appeal to me when I was younger.

My pro shop guy is like that he watched my wife Bowl to see what drilling to use on her Lucid after giving her an hr + free coaching "he would not take my money" he gave her some drills to work on at home and at practice and told her to come back in two weeks to see where she was with the work and when she gets to a point he feels with the ball she has now then he will address what she wants the ball to do and the drilling needed. And we did not buy any of her balls from him. But he is now the only person she trusts and she tells every one about him.

A shop worth keeping. He sees the bigger picture: happy customers KEEP bowlling, get others bowling and that entire pool creates the possibility for a larger client base.