Just quit bowling.

I'm seriously considering it for several reasons.

I remember right after Parker Bohn III shot 300 with that Attitude 3, I saved up all of my money from my first job, 2 1/2 paychecks as a bus boy in high school in 1998 to buy that ball retail. I went to the pro shop that Friday after school and picked it up for $211.90 with tax, drilled. That was 1998, 20 years ago. $211.90 in 1998 is equal to $322.50 in 2018 with inflation.

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=211.90&year1=199809&year2=201802

Bowling balls and services are technically cheaper than ever. If you can't afford to cough up $80-100 to keep good ball drillers in business, then it's probably not the right time to be purchasing a bowling ball. Save your money. Bowling ball prices are the only thing in this world who's price hasn't changed in 20 years. If bowling followed the same inflation rates, the sport would be dead due to $500/high end ball costs. (Cause bowlers are very cheap, some with reason)

I'm not saying that my way is right, but as a former PSO, I can't understand a driller refusing to drill a ball period. Just quote a higher price. Then again, maybe he sensed you were going to be a PITA in the way you approached him and refusing your business completely was the right move as nothing is worse than making crumbs as a PSO and dealing with condescending customers who are impossible to satisfy. It's a business I'll never get into again.

I only buy balls 1 time a year, maybe two. Most of the time I'll bring my PSO 3 blanks from online, and purchase 2 or 3 more from him at the same time. That way they know that I am trusting them with everything I am going to throw for the next year and I am trying to load their pocket on the front end by moving some of their stock in addition to drilling my eBay specials. I've never had a PSO complain (to my face) or refuse a blank. Rather than being a ball of the month whore and dropping $2-300/month, I just come in at one time, plop down the ~$1000 one time and all is well. A $1000 day from one customer is something they're going to appreciate a lot, regardless of where you got the ball from. In a nutshell, for every blank I bring in, I make sure to buy one of their dead stocked balls as well. You gotta keep the good guys in business. It's getting harder and harder to find good PSOs.

As mentioned there are it seems an infinite amount of bad ball drillers out there and very few that know what they are doing. In most cases the bowlers are paying the same price for drilling at both.

Bad business is also rampant across all industries including bowling. As a business you can refuse service to anyone but it comes at a cost. If someone brings in a ball from somewhere else, or another decade, your opportunity to make money is the same. Quote whatever price you feel worthwhile for drilling the ball and the accessories. If they do it great, if not, then you are out zero inventory or anything else. Out right refusing business is the least smart option. If it makes you feel nice and fuzzy inside maybe that is worthwhile to you but not the smartest business decision.

Yes drilling for a no thumb bowler is easy. Especially if not using grips etc. At the end of the day the shop will spend about 10-15 minutes of work on the ball and you are out the door. Doesn't mean the price will be cheaper necessarily. They aren't making profit on the ball, or accessories, just the drilling and their time. So expect to pay probably $45 to $60 to have the ball drilled.


Now in purchasing online you would be smart to get your finger sizes and use someone like bowlingball.com or buddiesproshop.com that also offer drilling.

Since when has a pro shop become a traders village/pawn shop? Quoted prices are just that quoted prices. You know the price going in and when you say Ill pay you 30 to drill my ball then get upset when he says no and refuses to drill it. I dont understand why people think pro shop owners/proffesionals will do things for basically nothing and be able to stay in business.

Well if you order your equipment on line, have you tried Buddies, they are very reasonable only charge $30 drilling including slug and finger inserts with free shipping.