I also heard that the new policy is no open lanes between leagues and open bowling.  They put open bowlers right next to leagues now. "

Yeah, because their pinsetters NEVER have break downs!  I manage a 32 lane center, and wouldn't even think of not having a buffer pair for my leagues.  Occasionally something breaks that isn't a 5 minute fix.

I think this thread could quickly get out of hand.  I am sure there are people here with a vendetta against AMF or just are afraid of change, but just because someone comes on here and states that this is the new BowlMor/AMF policy, that doesn't mean that it is, or even that the local manger will follow it.

Sometimes policies are just guidelines, and the local mangers have the prerogative to adjust the policy for the best interest of the business.  Just because a front counter person can put open bowlers next to league bowlers, doesn't mean he has to or will.

I know that a friend of mine went over to our AMF and they had half the house using the cosmic bowl and the other half normally lit, to give the people a choice.  Behind some of this rumor mongering is the fact that most centers still want to, and need to make money.  I'm sure rational mangers realize that pissing customers off, isn't going to lead to either of those outcomes.  Now perhaps some of these policies will be put into place and people will bowl elsewhere, (There are bad managers out there, I am sure) but I would think a successful business will see the impact of their decisions and adjust accordingly.

I think this thread could quickly get out of hand.  I am sure there are people here with a vendetta against AMF or just are afraid of change, but just because someone comes on here and states that this is the new BowlMor/AMF policy, that doesn't mean that it is, or even that the local manger will follow it.

Sometimes policies are just guidelines, and the local mangers have the prerogative to adjust the policy for the best interest of the business.  Just because a front counter person can put open bowlers next to league bowlers, doesn't mean he has to or will.

I know that a friend of mine went over to our AMF and they had half the house using the cosmic bowl and the other half normally lit, to give the people a choice.  Behind some of this rumor mongering is the fact that most centers still want to, and need to make money.  I'm sure rational mangers realize that pissing customers off, isn't going to lead to either of those outcomes.  Now perhaps some of these policies will be put into place and people will bowl elsewhere, (There are bad managers out there, I am sure) but I would think a successful business will see the impact of their decisions and adjust accordingly.

I wonder whether Bowlmor taking over what has apparently been a failing LARGE sized business, like AMF, would consider their new corporate policies to be optional on the part of the each center manager. While there are good managers and bad managers, not all AMF center managers are bowlers who would understand how each new policy might affect the running of the center they are in charge of. Even if some of the policies turn out to be "directives", I'm not sure all of them would know how to interpret them. Our manager happens to be a pool player who, from his attitude and his use of the facilities so far, seems not to know what each of the holes in a ball is for.  I hope for AMF/Bowlmor's sake and the sake of us league bowlers, he is in the minority.

I wonder whether Bowlmor taking over what has apparently been a failing LARGE sized business, like AMF, would consider their new corporate policies to be optional on the part of the each center manager. While there are good managers and bad managers, not all AMF center managers are bowlers who would understand how each new policy might affect the running of the center they are in charge of. Even if some of the policies turn out to be "directives", I'm not sure all of them would know how to interpret them. Our manager happens to be a pool player who, from his attitude and his use of the facilities so far, seems not to know what each of the holes in a ball is for.  I hope for AMF/Bowlmor's sake and the sake of us league bowlers, he is in the minority.

I totally understand that.  We have had some managers before, who appear to know very little about bowling.  And even the ones that do bowl, aren't as well informed as they pretend to be. 

Center manager probably doesn't pay that great either, so it probably doesn't attract the best of the best of the best ... with honors ... sir.

I guess the fact that our center recognized that not everyone is there for Cosmic Bowling, and offered another option, gives me hope that they can function without blindly following orders. 

Also our AMF is supposed to be getting a new oiling machine, which doesn't really sound like they are giving up on league bowling, since I believe the shot matters a lot more to league bowlers than it does to "Cosmic" Bowlers.

Quote from: charlest on August 15, 2013, 03:47:00 PM

I wonder whether Bowlmor taking over what has apparently been a failing LARGE sized business, like AMF, would consider their new corporate policies to be optional on the part of the each center manager. While there are good managers and bad managers, not all AMF center managers are bowlers who would understand how each new policy might affect the running of the center they are in charge of. Even if some of the policies turn out to be "directives", I'm not sure all of them would know how to interpret them. Our manager happens to be a pool player who, from his attitude and his use of the facilities so far, seems not to know what each of the holes in a ball is for.  I hope for AMF/Bowlmor's sake and the sake of us league bowlers, he is in the minority.

I totally understand that.  We have had some managers before, who appear to know very little about bowling.  And even the ones that do bowl, aren't as well informed as they pretend to be. 

Center manager probably doesn't pay that great either, so it probably doesn't attract the best of the best of the best ... with honors ... sir.

I guess the fact that our center recognized that not everyone is there for Cosmic Bowling, and offered another option, gives me hope that they can function without blindly following orders. 

Also our AMF is supposed to be getting a new oiling machine, which doesn't really sound like they are giving up on league bowling, since I believe the shot matters a lot more to league bowlers than it does to "Cosmic" Bowlers.

One of the other positive signs (which I didn't post here) was a reponse I got from one of my league secretaries:
"Big Changes at Strike N Spare. Bowlmore Corp. bought AMF and will be making improvements to the center. They have stated that they plan to increase league bowling."

I'm hoping that at this center (with the pool player manager) this becomes the truth, besides the other possible bad signs (cosmic bowling all the time, outside of leagues, etc.)

One can only hope.

(The nearest Brunswick center is 45 minutes in the other direction. It is a muchmore active center, in all aspects.)

.

ONe of our AMF centers had a total staff replacement.  Yep, everyone fired.  And open at 4pm most days.  That's great for the pro shop isn't it? 

Other center, very busy center, pitcher of beer went up from $9 to $14.  And lineage has gone up.  The AMF centers were already the highest priced centers in our association. 

Nothing will change until the 60,000 to 80,000 manager salaries  with bonuses go away, and the staff and the counter people get a pay increase . Maybe then  all employees will care about a job and able to live a good life .

I bowl in several AMFs in the CT/NY area.
House #1: 60 lane center, supposed to be removing 8 lanes to make a bigger bar area.

House #2: 60 Lane Center, they are renovating the 30lanes downstairs, not clear yet if they will be removing all of them or only some of them.

As far as I know lineage is going up at all houses, and lights will be out all the time. Sounds like I will be taking my business elsewhere.