I deliberately price myself out of the market on drilling most balls not purchased at my shop.  At $75 for a top end ball, I don't expect to drill any, but I do refer these people to good drillers in other towns nearby.  I prefer not to get into a situation where I can't completely guarantee the ball I drill.  When I sell a ball to a new customer, I expect to spend about one and a half hours to get the ball completely prepared, including watching the bowler for a game or so, determining PAP, analyzing the hand and fitting the grip, discussing the desired ball reaction and laying the ball out to match, drilling, gluing grips and insert, and beveling.  Then I watch another game, ask if there is anything hurting or grabbing and make necessary adjustments.  I ask if the customer would like any help with his game and provide that at no additional cost.  I'm not the low cost driller in my area, but I stay busy and get a lot of repeat business.  Bottom line is everyone does it a little differently and it is a part of their business to set their pricing at a level such that they can make a legitimate profit without having to rush into a poor fit or layout so they can get to the next ball.  Oh, by the way, I drill internet balls for our YABA bowlers for $20, they are my future.  --  JohnP

Here's my 2 cents worth.  I own a 12 lane center.  I have a center 25 miles North of me that only does VERY basic drills.  I also have a center 35 miles East of me that can drill balls.  Also only VERY basic drills.  There is also another center 15 miles East that does NOTHING with balls.  All 3 competing centers are owned by older guys who do not understand that ball reaction can be manipulated by where the CG or pin is placed (the guy to the North is even my DAD!!!).  If someone buys a blaa elsewhere, I make no profit on it.  If they want me to drill it, I tell them when they leave that once it is out the door, it is their baby.  I also am too cheap for what I can do for them.  I charge $25 for drilling, $10 for a slug, and $10 for grips.  Buy it from me and drilling is free.  Grips and a slug are $5 each.  I also throw in a free game of bowling.  I base my price on the fact that on most balls I sell (mid priced reactives and mostly plastic) that about $25 is the profit margin.  Buy it from someone else, no big deal because I am going to make my profit one way or another.  The center that is the closest to me tells those who buy a ball from him that I am the best around.  Kudos to him!!  I drill his stuff for free for his referals.  I used to work for my dad and still have customers in my shop because I did good work for them.
Think about it folks.  If you buy a ball off of the internet and save 50 bucks, you have to pay a MINIMUM of $15 for shipping.  Then, you pay me $25 to drill it.  $10 if you want grips and a slug.  You save a whole $5 and you may have bought the wrong ball because I did not help you pick the right one for you or your game!.  If you have warranty issues, you have to fight with the place you bought it from.  Buy it from me and I would take care of it for you.  It is a chance you take.
Some people have the notion that if it was bought on the net, it must be cheaper.  WRONG!!!!  I had a customer bring in a white dot.  New.  They paid $55 for it.  $13 for shipping.  $25 drilling.  They did not come in to ask who much I could sell it for.  Total for them was $38 more than I could have sold it to them for.  They could have almost bought another ball!!!!
Also, don't forget the pro shop guy who knows you and your game and can make suggestions about which ball is right or wrong for you.  He could save you a bunch of money!!!  And I do belive you get what you pay for.  I have seen some bad drillings from expensive shops because they just want you to be gone.  They don't care about your hand or wrist hurting later or the next day or even the next week.  I do belive that $75 is too much, but if he is that good.....

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TOON
The one, the original, TOON!

Edited on 2/5/2004 1:11 AM

guess I am lucky. I have a senior PBA member who runs a proshop in our area.
Got aa Duece for 200 after drill, tax, grips, and a slug. Getting a razorwire soon, told me 125 before slug and tax. drill nd grips free. Then again I am a repeat costumer.
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Big Tom N.
 

When i bring other stuff in to my driller that i didn't by from him i pay 45 dollars that includes slugs and grips. If you buy a ball from him the drilling fee is waved and you only pay for grips and slugs. To pay extra for drilling after you buy a ball from him is out of line and to charge 75 buck to drill that is crazy also.
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!

Sheppy

It's more than just the effort though.  Drilling equipment doesn't just fall out of the sky.  We charge $25 for drilling a plastic ball though (outside drill), because most of the time it's a conventional drill for a little kid.  And it would make it HELL to tell one person "Well, I'll do this ball for $30 because it's easy, but this one will cost you $50"  They'd look at you like you were out of your mind.  

You've gotta pay tax on the drilling one way or another.  It all goes into one lump sum for a total that must be taxed.  Like WTBD said, we don't gouge our customers.  We're doing the best we can to remain open for all these bowlers that want something for nothing.  Two things that go into drilling are labor, and costs.  Drilling a ball isn't a cake walk.  I'm not gonna lie and say it's hard, but you sure as hell have to know what you're doing and pay attention.  The more I think about it, the more I think that $35 bucks is even a little cheap.  

The time it takes to drill a ball is dependant on the assumption that there is NO ONE else in the shop wanting ANYTHING.  30 minutes can turn into an hour and a half if you have people out there wanting things, especially if you get one of those people that ask you about every single frickin ball on the wall.  And if you tell them you're busy, they just walk out the door.  It's a lose/lose situation, and you guys don't seem to be getting the picture.  It's not Walmart where you can walk in, grab something, take it to one of the million checkers working and walk right out.  

Finally, we don't get supplier prices.  High performance stuff is $130, period.  Infernos, X-Factors, Throttles, etc.  They're $230 out the door if you get absolutely everything.  Gouging would be $300.  We charge a fair price and what we deem necessary to keep the shop open so people can keep whining at us.
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