AMF Bowlless not a good combination IMHA!!

[MICHAEL]

You know last year we were given 2, or was it 3 free games PER League you bowled on! We all had a One Day a week 2 free hours of practice bowling at a specific time and day! At ours it was Friday from 12 to 2 pm! It was never crowed, and they had a small old timers league at the same time.

Now we have higher prices on food, beer, drinks ect... and only 2 games a week practice!

Now I know its all about making money, but many of use miss the practice games! There is no incentive to bowl more leagues, you only get 2 per week!

I think I just might have to check out some other independent bowling alleys in the area! Why bowl more then one at AMF now that they have taken away all the goodies, and increasing the prices on food, and drinks!

I can understand the hours, ( I guess??) opeing at 4pm many days now, but taking the practice time, away, and not giving free games for EACH LEAGUE is going to have Iceman looking at other lanes....

could it have been management, and salaries that was/is the problem, not the incentives!

[JaMau24]

It was because AMF has already filed for bankruptcy twice. The reason why they did away with our 2 free hours we enjoyed so much, was because the people that were coming in and bowling for two free hours weren't buying anything. They would just come in, bowl for free, not buy any snack bar food, and use up lanes that could otherwise be given to the public who would at least spend the money on the games being bowled. It sucks for us, but I understand why they are making the changes. They don't want a third bankruptcy.

[MICHAEL]

I am not sure that was the main reason for their poor financial problems! I think when you look deeper, you will find that it has to do with a HOST of other things, and had little to do with the incentives. Greedy management has a way of sucking the life out of many businesses! Do some changes need to be made, SURE! As much as I hate the new hours, I do understand, and there are always other lanes one can go to when you local AmF is closed till 4pm most days!

I still say that incentives are a way of keeping a customers!! We should still get the 2 free games a week per league, not just two no matter how many leagues your on!

I think AMF's problems will not be solved by the current business model, it has more to do with the lack of growth in the sport of bowling! That's where the focus should be! Ways to get people back to the lanes! NOT by taking away incentives.

USBC needs to change it's stand on a lot of things,,,, bowling is boring to the young now,,, lets get some characters in the sport,,, Lets change the dress codes,,,, to where they all don't look like the Beaver's Dad, in leave it to Beaver!! LOL

If the youth of today don't find bowling relevant, then its domed to die.... and that's something I would hate to see!

Bowling needs to GET WITH IT, and Redefine itself, or be doomed to the same fate of the Diana shores!! LOL.....I know the correct spelling... lol but.... Iceman

[dnhoffman]

I've heard nothing but bad things on this forum and others about how this company treats league bowlers. It's unfortunate.

[austin]

Speaking of getting youngsters involved. Quite a few up and coming juniors here in Australia have taken to wearing http://au.loudmouthgolf.com/ pants and skirts from these guys. just one thing that's a bit more youth styled keeping some of the youth interested and not seeing it as a "Beavers Dad" sport.

[MICHAEL]

The company that bought part of AMF,, Bowlmor,,, (not sure if that spelling is correct?) Does not treat the bowlers, and league bowlers poorly!

We just lost a bunch of perk's that we once had under AMF, before the merger. We still have the great managers at our vivion AMF, here in Kansas city! And they do oil the lanes, before EVERY league each night/day!

I just think the 2 free games a week, no matter how many leagues your on is wrong! Last year I was on 4 leagues, so I got 2 for each league,,, total of 8 games! Now its a max of 2 a week! I hardly ever use them,,, lol,,, but its a matter of incentive to bowl more at a AMF, vs other bowling lanes I could use!

They also had a 2 hour, one day a week practice time that all league bowlers could use each week! There were never that many people taking advantage of that perk, because it was Friday 12pm to 2pm!

Food and beer have gone up, but that's the model that worked in New York where the stock brokers, and bankers like food, and drinks ect ect while they bowl!

Here in the Midwest we take our bowling very serious, but do have fun! Lobster, and T-Bone stakes. caviar, just aren't part of our equation!

Another grip I have is the hours of operation!! Many days now they don't open till 4pm!! What even happen to the OPEN 24 hours, lanes available??

[dnhoffman]

Move to STL Iceman, we'll take care of you!

[Aslan]

I'm critical too…but I gotta admit…the bowling alley food there is gosh darn ridiculously good…and they don't appear to be struggling for business since I've been turned away for practice bowling 3 times in 2 months because the leagues are filling the place up. It'd be nice if they'd fix their broken lanes and get an oil machine that doesn't make each lane just a puddle…but I guess it's less disastrous than I initially thought.

[MICHAEL]

I'm critical too…but I gotta admit…the bowling alley food there is gosh darn ridiculously good…and they don't appear to be struggling for business since I've been turned away for practice bowling 3 times in 2 months because the leagues are filling the place up. It'd be nice if they'd fix their broken lanes and get an oil machine that doesn't make each lane just a puddle…but I guess it's less disastrous than I initially thought.

They send me Q and A's a few times a year, and I take the time to fill them out honestly! I know this because the Managers get copies of what I send the home office!

They do listen, so if I were you Aslan, (but I am glad I am not), lol,,, I would send your thoughts in an email to AMF!
If it works like it does for me, you will get a response from your bowling establishment in regards to your concerns!!

Good luck!!

There in California have the cut back on lane hours like they did here in Kansas City! Many days at our establishment they don't open till 4pm!!

Our oil machine is old, but they change the wicks the 15th of every month, and do oil before each and every league!

[MICHAEL]

Move to STL Iceman, we'll take care of you!

St Louis is a great town! I bowled there in that AMF district playoffs! I think it was the Pete Weber lanes. If I make it up that way some time, I might give you a call, and we can throw a few,,, for money!!! LOL like $100,000 winner take all one game!!

I can't get The Dude to take me up on the offer!! Thanks for the invite!!