Author Topic: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop (Read 5750 times)

Zanatos1914 · « **on:** March 23, 2008, 10:57:37 PM »

Whats the advantage of buying balls online vs @ a proshop...

Also heard so guys taking about some balls pin being out of place... something about it being to close to the mass bias... Does this type of stuff really happen...
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golfnutFL · « **Reply #31 on:** March 24, 2008, 01:12:20 PM »

Nope, $130.....if you have their discount code, which I do. Plus the grips are $1.50 apiece purchased by 10, and the thumb slugs are $4 also purchased x 10. So really, the ball is $182 drilled, I overstated by a dollar.

But really, my point was to defend Buddies. I have had such GREAT experiences dealing with them. Sorry if BowlerKidR sees on-line shops differently, but knocking Buddies won't work for me. Not after all the great service they've provided me with.

quote:
quote:

Also, your pricing is whacked out. I can buy a BW from Buddies for $130, buy the grips/slug from Buddies for $8 and get it drilled locally for $45. That equals $183. The local pro shops here charge $229+grips/slugs+tax= $264. That's $81 in my pocket.

Sorry, that's $135 for the BW Solid. $2.50 per insert = $5.00. $5.00 for a slug. So, $145 shipped for the ball and inserts/slug. Add the $45 drilling and it's $190! That's another $7!

Still, prices vary depending on location. Here I can get a BW Solid for $189 + $15 for inserts/slugs and about $10 in tax. $214 total. Only a $24-25 difference for me, but that's just for this ball at my local shops.

Either way, the shop won't have the ball in stock and will have to order it. I'll have to drive another 30-60 minutes to the shop and use another 1-4 gallons of gas (depending on which shop I go to).

BTW - I agree with all the other statements about Buddies - they just do it right!

Edit: I forgot that my local shops charge $60 for a blank drill, so I only save $9 by buying on-line.

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Edited on 3/24/2008 10:27 AM

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Atochabsh · « **Reply #32 on:** March 24, 2008, 01:17:24 PM »

If you are going to buy anything online that you do not understand or know about, you are taking a risk.

I don't know much about RC models or making such. So I wouldn't think about buying stuff like that online.

If your knowledge about bowling balls, CGs, pin placement etc...is not good, don't risk the money buying online. Because if you get a defective ball, you'll have to take it up with the people you bought it from, not the driller. If you buy a ball totally unsuited for your game, lane condition and skill that's your problem; deal with the people you bought the ball from.

And as far as weird pins and cgs. Yeah there's a very good chance that you will get a strange ball. Not so strange as to be a blem, but bad enough that its a challenge for the driller to lay it out so that you get the expected ball reaction. We get a lot of strange pin to cg to mass bias balls from the internet.

Erin

qstick777 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 24, 2008, 01:25:14 PM »

quote:
Nope, $130.....if you have their discount code, which I do. Plus the grips are $1.50 apiece purchased by 10, and the thumb slugs are $4 also purchased x 10. So really, the ball is $182 drilled, I overstated by a dollar.

But really, my point was to defend Buddies. I have had such GREAT experiences dealing with them. Sorry if BowlerKidR sees on-line shops differently, but knocking Buddies won't work for me. Not after all the great service they've provided me with.

Just splitting hairs.

I thought the same thing when I read the reply using Buddies as an example. They have always been right on the money and will call if there is any chance of their being a problem.

I've never had any problems with online stores. Most (if not all) will get as close as possible to your requested specs, but I know that Buddies will go the "extra mile" to call if they aren't able to meet it exactly (say you request 3-4" pin and they can only get a 2-3" pin that is almostly exactly 3", they will call to make sure it is okay).
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cenastyle · « **Reply #34 on:** March 24, 2008, 03:43:01 PM »

My local shops (5 or 6 of them) charge $60 to drill a ball, regardless of where it was purchased. Add $12 for inserts, $12 for a slug. Now, the problem is that they charge SO much more for the actual ball than I could buy online. Example, I purchased by Bite at my local shop. $189.99 + $72.00 for drilling and inserts (I don't use thumb slugs). I could have purchased the same ball on bowlingball.com for $123.99 (with FREE shipping) and paid my shop $72.00 to drill it and put the inserts in. That would have saved me $66.00! That is a big difference! Next example, I just purchased a Cell from bowlingball.com (and, yes, they gave me my pin choice) for $123.99 (with FREE shipping and a FREE towel!). Had it punched at the same shop for the same $72.00 that it would have cost even if I would have bought it there. The Cell at my local shop is $199.99. This time, I saved $76.00! That would have been $142.00 in savings had I purchased both balls online and had my shop drill them up! That's another ball's worth of savings!

Smash49 · « **Reply #35 on:** March 24, 2008, 11:01:19 PM »

We usually take 3 internet dealers average their prices tack on our drill charge and that is the price. If the internet price is above my cost we make a little money. Not much but some on the ball. If the ball is a couple bucks below my cost we usually will still sell the ball. Why? Because we have sold the ball and the internet guys have not and we have serviced our customer. If the ball is a lot under our cost I will tell the customer buy on the net and bring it in, the drill charge is the same either way. Then I pick up the phone and ask my distributors what it going on. I would much rather have people buying from us than someone else and MAYBE bringing it in if I can help it.

Smash49
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Mike Austin · « **Reply #36 on:** March 24, 2008, 11:10:02 PM »

quote:
Their reward, instead of me having them drill up 1 or 2 balls, I've bought at least 6 from them. They made more money from me being agressive with their prices than if they chased me out the door by gouging.

They made more money gross. They also did approx 3 times as much work for that money. Shops have to weigh their options, charge more, drill less total balls but make the same money. But still, you got a good deal, and if the shop is happy then it is a win/win.

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JOE FALCO · « **Reply #37 on:** March 25, 2008, 08:44:27 AM »

SMASH49 .. Don't know how long you've been in business .. but with an attitude like that I hope you NEVER GO OUT OF BUSINESS! I think guys like you will keep bowling going .. wish ther were MORE OF YOU!
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J O E - F A L C O

gojr1815 · « **Reply #38 on:** March 25, 2008, 09:04:06 AM »

Using the cell as an example. The shop I use is 200 plus 10 plus 8. Then you add on tax. If you bring one in and he does not know you he will charge 70 to drill. 15 thumb slug. 12 fingers. Then there is tax. So on that ball for a customer he does not know it is pretty even.
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jls · « **Reply #39 on:** March 25, 2008, 09:54:56 AM »

quote:
My local shops (5 or 6 of them) charge $60 to drill a ball, regardless of where it was purchased. Add $12 for inserts, $12 for a slug. Now, the problem is that they charge SO much more for the actual ball than I could buy online. Example, I purchased by Bite at my local shop. $189.99 + $72.00 for drilling and inserts (I don't use thumb slugs). I could have purchased the same ball on bowlingball.com for $123.99 (with FREE shipping) and paid my shop $72.00 to drill it and put the inserts in. That would have saved me $66.00! That is a big difference! Next example, I just purchased a Cell from bowlingball.com (and, yes, they gave me my pin choice) for $123.99 (with FREE shipping and a FREE towel!). Had it punched at the same shop for the same $72.00 that it would have cost even if I would have bought it there. The Cell at my local shop is $199.99. This time, I saved $76.00! That would have been $142.00 in savings had I purchased both balls online and had my shop drill them up! That's another ball's worth of savings!

$189 plus a drilling charge of $60? That's rather high. Most shops I know of are selling that ball drilled for about $189.
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jls, proud watcher of womens golf

cenastyle · « **Reply #40 on:** March 25, 2008, 01:30:02 PM »

quote:
quote:
My local shops (5 or 6 of them) charge $60 to drill a ball, regardless of where it was purchased. Add $12 for inserts, $12 for a slug. Now, the problem is that they charge SO much more for the actual ball than I could buy online. Example, I purchased by Bite at my local shop. $189.99 + $72.00 for drilling and inserts (I don't use thumb slugs). I could have purchased the same ball on bowlingball.com for $123.99 (with FREE shipping) and paid my shop $72.00 to drill it and put the inserts in. That would have saved me $66.00! That is a big difference! Next example, I just purchased a Cell from bowlingball.com (and, yes, they gave me my pin choice) for $123.99 (with FREE shipping and a FREE towel!). Had it punched at the same shop for the same $72.00 that it would have cost even if I would have bought it there. The Cell at my local shop is $199.99. This time, I saved $76.00! That would have been $142.00 in savings had I purchased both balls online and had my shop drill them up! That's another ball's worth of savings!

$189 plus a drilling charge of $60? That's rather high. Most shops I know of are selling that ball drilled for about $189.
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jls, proud watcher of womens golf

I wish that were the case! Here in Indy, the 5 major shops are owned by the same company (as are the 5 major alleys). You pay $180-$200 for a high-performance ball (they actually have $249.99 on the Twisted Fury!) AND get the $60 drill charge on top of that!

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #41 on:** March 25, 2008, 03:25:22 PM »

BOYCOTT! Don't buy any bowling ball ..don't get any drilling done .. don't bowl for one year. Talk to your league and try to get them to do the same .. strength in numbers. If you give into it .. all is LOST!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O

jls · « **Reply #42 on:** March 25, 2008, 03:56:44 PM »

quote:
quote:
quote:
My local shops (5 or 6 of them) charge $60 to drill a ball, regardless of where it was purchased. Add $12 for inserts, $12 for a slug. Now, the problem is that they charge SO much more for the actual ball than I could buy online. Example, I purchased by Bite at my local shop. $189.99 + $72.00 for drilling and inserts (I don't use thumb slugs). I could have purchased the same ball on bowlingball.com for $123.99 (with FREE shipping) and paid my shop $72.00 to drill it and put the inserts in. That would have saved me $66.00! That is a big difference! Next example, I just purchased a Cell from bowlingball.com (and, yes, they gave me my pin choice) for $123.99 (with FREE shipping and a FREE towel!). Had it punched at the same shop for the same $72.00 that it would have cost even if I would have bought it there. The Cell at my local shop is $199.99. This time, I saved $76.00! That would have been $142.00 in savings had I purchased both balls online and had my shop drill them up! That's another ball's worth of savings!

$189 plus a drilling charge of $60? That's rather high. Most shops I know of are selling that ball drilled for about $189.
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jls, proud watcher of womens golf

I wish that were the case! Here in Indy, the 5 major shops are owned by the same company (as are the 5 major alleys). You pay $180-$200 for a high-performance ball (they actually have $249.99 on the Twisted Fury!) AND get the $60 drill charge on top of that!

Sir
I am pretty sure I know the owner of those shops. Last time he was in my shop, he told me about some of his prices. Did not seem that high.
I really find it hard to believe that any shop in todays market, can be selling the Twisted Fury for $249. plus drilling. The $249 price alone is way out of line.

But if that is what they are charging, I can see why anyone would buy online.
However, here in the big city with the tall buildings, prices are not that ridiculious. Please don't judge all pro shops the same. Our prices are about
$50-$60 higher then one can usually buy online. And our prices do include drilling!!!
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jls, proud watcher of womens golf

jd1319 · « **Reply #43 on:** March 25, 2008, 04:56:07 PM »

quote:
quote:
Their reward, instead of me having them drill up 1 or 2 balls, I've bought at least 6 from them. They made more money from me being agressive with their prices than if they chased me out the door by gouging.

They made more money gross. They also did approx 3 times as much work for that money. Shops have to weigh their options, charge more, drill less total balls but make the same money. But still, you got a good deal, and if the shop is happy then it is a win/win.

So, you would rather work less and make $60 each for 1 or 2 drillings than work harder and make $70-80 each on 6 or 7 drillings? $120 or so vs. $400-500. Not to mention, if a proshop knows a bolwer well, it becomes much easier, and much faster to drill, so it doesn't take as much work. Heck, the guy I use has my measurements memorized. For some strange reason, proshops see balls brought in as them losing a sale, when in reality, the internet has brought about an age where bowlers have arsenals, so the proshops get repeat customers they wouldn't otherwise have. Seriously, bowling use to be 1 bowler, 1 ball. Maybe 10 years later, they might get a new ball.

Locke · « **Reply #44 on:** March 25, 2008, 07:28:34 PM »

I gave up on trying to read all of these responses. My pro actually had to close down because everyone was buying online. He still drills balls for me so I have to get my balls online but if he was still open I would buy balls through him just because I would want to support his shop. That being said. I have never been let down on a pin placement from an online shop. I personally like being able to make the choices on my measurements because I have spent enough time bowling in my life that I am able to design my own layouts and just run them by my pro before buying. This is just a nice way for me to be able to tweak my game without having to spend half an hour explaining it to my pro.

Author Topic: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop (Read 5750 times)

Zanatos1914

Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

golfnutFL

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

Atochabsh

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

qstick777

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

cenastyle

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

Smash49

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

Mike Austin

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

JOE FALCO

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

gojr1815

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

jls

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

cenastyle

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

JOE FALCO

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

jls

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

jd1319

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop

Locke

Re: Buying Balls Online vs ProShop