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Author Topic: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM  (Read 3134 times)

jensm

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AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« on: November 27, 2003, 06:26:07 PM »
See story in BJI: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/intelligencer/display_article?id=68

Anyone here have some advice for the new owners?


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jensm
Regards,

jensm

 

michelle

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Re: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2003, 02:11:31 PM »
quote:
See story in BJI:
Anyone here have some advice for the new owners?



psychiatric examinations?  padded rooms?  

I guess I am just wary of a non-bowling consortium being involved with the purchase, since it was a similar situation that contributed to the poor track record we have seen out of AMF in the past several years.  I can only hope that they intend to take steps to get rid of the fast-food mentality that was allowed to take over Richmond and that they will be willing to listen to the bowling community on what needs to be done in different areas to bring the company back to a first-rate operation.

jensm

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Re: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2003, 11:43:01 PM »
quote:
listen to the bowling community on what needs to be done in different areas to bring the company back to a first-rate operation



Agreed. The new owners should have been able to identify a few things when they did their due diligence. From what I have read on this board, AMF needs to improve the way they recriut managers of their bowling centers. Other suggestions, anyone?


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jensm
Regards,

jensm

The great one

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Re: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2003, 04:11:41 AM »
I work for an amf house, they need to do a number of things, the managers is a big one, they also need to lower their open play, alcohol and food prices, give league bowlers more benifits, upgrade their equiment ie lanes, score machines, pin setters. I understand some of these are house problems, but amf dishes out the money to allow the centers to do this, i will say this much, the 3 amf houses in the city all match carpet, houseballs, and masking units, but that's it, all 3 have differnt pin setters, lanes, ball returns, and score machines. All have gotten rid of discounts at the snack bar and bar for league bowlers, and the only break they get for open bowling is half off the open rate. There are other privatly owned centers in the city that make quite abit more money by both league, and open bowlers because they have done these things that amf has not.

LadyW

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Re: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2003, 12:19:52 PM »
I bowled in two different AMF owned houses and management appears to be one of the major problems.

In one house there were very few problems.  The manager and staff was customer oriented.

In the other house the manager and entire staff had an attitude problem.  They had their own little clique and didn't give a damn.  Service was terrible and there were constant breakdowns and bowling ball damage.

I think the new owners should send a survey to all the league secretaries asking them to rate their house, report problems their having and make suggestions for improvement.

If the new owners are really looking to make a profit, maybe they'll listen.


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LadyWannabe

jensm

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Re: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2003, 02:22:44 PM »
LadyWannabe,

A survey to league secretaries! Good idea. The new owners could learn a lot about their diehardest customers that way. And I expect the league secretaries would appreciate the chance to have a say.

It seems that acquisitions of (other) underperforming companies in the bowling industry could be in the cards. Would that be a good idea?



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Regards,

jensm
Regards,

jensm

Doggie the Dog

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Re: AMF TO BE ACQUIRED BY CHICAGO FIRM
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2003, 05:08:40 PM »
I'm sure that the new owners did their homework regarding AMF and identified what needs to be done regarding making the company what it once was. Hiring bowling-oriented people at corporate would be a start. Also ensuring that the district and center managers are trained properly, and in turn the employees are trained in customer service, giving the customer a good enough experience that the next time they bowl, it will be at AMF's centers. How to do this? Making the customers open to suggestions (i.e.; suggestion box) is a start. The next step is to put money into the centers (some AMF have already received improvements) to make the houses attractive and make the equipment be in tip-top condition. Then, LOWER THE RIP-OFF PRICES ON OPEN PLAY AND SNACK BAR!! (This last one keeps me away from AMF, not to mention the poor condition of most centers and indifferent employees).
When the new owners take over, we will all be waiting with bated breath for the above to occur.

What other bowling companies are underperforming??  I really don't think one of them is Big B, is it??
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