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Author Topic: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases  (Read 11105 times)

tenpinspro

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How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« on: July 26, 2007, 10:43:59 AM »
Hey guys,

Just want some feedback on how much monetarily it takes you to save to buy on-line vs buying at your local pro shop.  Thanks for your feedback...
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Edited on 7/26/2007 9:18 PM
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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #16 on: July 26, 2007, 10:36:52 PM »
Quote
Here is an example:

High End Balls

Pro-Shop

Black Widow Pearl:

179.00 Blank Ball
 40.00 Drill free
 21.95 Slugs and Grips
______________________
240.95 drilled.

Online
Black Widow Pearl:
123.95 Blank Ball
 60.00 Drill Fee
 21.95 Slugs and Grips
______________________
205.90 drilled.

You saved 35.05
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Our shop price:

Black Widow Pearl  180.00
slug & inserts      18.00
drilling is included in the ball price
Total             $198.00 + tax

(Just an example of why you may not need to buy online)




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notclay

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Edited on 7/26/2007 10:37 PM

bowler851

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #17 on: July 26, 2007, 10:50:08 PM »
$180 for Black widow pearl, $18 for inserts what do you make off that transaction I would guss you have around $110 in the ball and less than $5 in the inserts(what a mark up for thumb slug and grips). $83 for half hours work not a bad payday.

someguyintucson

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #18 on: July 26, 2007, 10:57:42 PM »
The prices at my local shop are coming down so it's a little harder to justify buying online and having it drilled in the shop. The are selling most of the top line balls for around $200 drilled + grips/slug + tax. I get charged $50 for drilling, including grips and slug, so I would have to be able to buy a ball online for less than $135 to really save money against buying in the shop.

williewc

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #19 on: July 26, 2007, 11:01:07 PM »
well one of the proshops around here has the Arsenal Artillery for $219, that includes drilling, but not the grips and slugs, i can get the ball online for around $100, and pay the same guy $50 for drilling, grips, and slugs, so i would be saving around $80, thats enough for me to get it online

if i was only saving $20 or less then i wouldnt worry about it, i would pay teh extra money to be able to get it right then

the proshop in my regular house had the Machine for $229, drilling and grips and slugs included, i could order it online for $129, and pay $65 for drilling and grips/slugs, still saving around $40, thats enough for me to shop online
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shelley

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #20 on: July 26, 2007, 11:26:45 PM »
quote:
You lost $35.91 I've learned my lesson. . The Pro-Shop is the way to go.


Yeah, it's been pretty well known for a long time that you don't usually save much, if anything, until you get to the mid-line balls.  I'd save on a mid-line ball here, they want about $180 before inserts and tax on BVP-priced stuff.  Another $30 for inserts.  Plus tax.  No discount for league bowlers, either.

High-end stuff is $230 from any company.  Brunswick, Storm, Ebonite, Lanemasters, Lane 1, anyone.  Plus $30 for inserts.  Minus 15% for league bowlers.  Basically you get the inserts for free.

Thanks, but no thanks.  I'd save $50+ buying online for a high end ball, probably $30 on a mid-line ball.

If I could get strikestriketapped's Secret Agent for $190 locally, I'd never look at another online shop again.  The shop I go to that's two hours away is more like $180-200 drilled, grips, tax for a high end ball.  With gas, I break even versus coming locally.  But I don't support the guy who charges $30 for $3 worth of inserts.

SH

drillbit

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #21 on: July 27, 2007, 12:06:02 AM »
I usually don't buy online, unless the deal is so outrageously good I can't pass it up, or if it's a ball I can't get thru our distributors, like discontinued stuff or overseas releases. An example, I just got a Ravage VI off of Ebay for >$80 shipped. This was a ball I can't get anywhere else(at least not at that good a price) and I always wanted to try a Ravage. I don't begrudge anyone who can get a really good deal online.

drillbit

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #22 on: July 27, 2007, 08:33:05 AM »
quote:
$180 for Black widow pearl, $18 for inserts what do you make off that transaction I would guss you have around $110 in the ball and less than $5 in the inserts(what a mark up for thumb slug and grips). $83 for half hours work not a bad payday.


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Well maybe you should go into the pro shop business...  Priced a good drill press lately?  How about a spinner, Revivor, drill bits, ball inventory, shoe inventory, supplies, wrist gadgets, etc.  We have over $1500 of finger inserts in stock at any given time, not to mention the thumb slugs. We just bought another "round piece of plastic" that we use to measure hands for $300!  Don't forget shipping costs on all the above.  Running a shop isn't only the cost of a ball and drilling it...  

We do drill lots of balls purchased online, and don't mind it at all.  Those balls are ones that we don't have to inventory and have shipped.  I just wanted to debate that your figure of $83 for a half hours work is not all profit, since it does have to go towards buying the next inventory and staying in business.  

The online distributors buy in huge quantities so their cost for the ball is much less than ours, too.  Did you think that they don't have a mark-up?   Believe me, they do, and that's why they're in business.  A good shop does not have to apologize for making a profit and staying in business.





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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Lillen

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #23 on: July 27, 2007, 08:46:44 AM »
Here in Stockholm (Sweden) where I live, drilling & grips & slug is included in the price for the ball..

But then a High End ball costs about $420 here..  

And if you buy a ball from an on-line proshop somewhere else in the world the drilling & grips & slug is $100

Edited on 7/27/2007 8:50 AM

Joeyd

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #24 on: July 27, 2007, 08:54:18 AM »
quote:

I've learned my lesson. . The Pro-Shop is the way to go.



Will there be a time where a post of yours does NOT make it seem as though you think you know everything?

Guys, you obviously can't use one pro shop as an example here. Also, as far as repeat customer discounts go, who's to say that they don't happen online also? Or maybe you bring a few customers over to this online pro shop, and they give you a discount for that.. You could throw in a bunch of different variables here..

Oh, and please please PLEASE tell me where you're paying $60.00 to drill a ball online and then paying $22. for slug and grips ON TOP of that. I'll use Kenny's example and compare his shop to Buddies..

Black Widow Pearl
$129.50 - ball
$50.00 - drilling
$0.00 - shipping
$179.50 - total (You save $61.45)

Raw Hammer Anger
$101.50 - ball
$50.00 - drilling
$0.00 - shipping
$151.50 - total (You save $39.45)

Tropical Storm
$75.00 - ball
$50.00 - drilling
$0.00 - shipping
$125.00 - total (You lose $3.50)

It's pretty much common knowledge (as it was said earlier) that the discounts don't happen until you get to the mid-line bowling balls. However, if I'm saving $60. a pop on high-end stuff, then after 3 I've saved enough to buy another one.
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Edited on 7/27/2007 8:55 AM
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pnj1967

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #25 on: July 27, 2007, 08:57:00 AM »
For $20.00 or less probably a Local Pro Shop. If I could find one reasonably close.
 I did get a Total NV locally from the Pro Shop, who had  completed the "Ebonite Advanced Ball drilling Certification"  according to the Certificate.  

I hated the ball when I got the thing. Come to find out the guy DOES not use  a persons PAP, and places the pin where he thinks it should be, never knew this till after getting the ball. The fit was Ok.

 I thought by going to him things would be OK (Ebonite). Yes I did supply him with my Axis, PAP , Ball speed, Spans and Pitches, etc.

 I have had better luck with getting from on line so far. drillwizard allstarjoe,Doug Sterner  and Rick.
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Edited on 7/27/2007 8:58 AM







Dan Belcher

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #26 on: July 27, 2007, 09:01:33 AM »
I paid about $20 more each on my Special Agent, Spit Fire, and Total NV by buying them in the pro shop than buying them online probably.  However, it's been worth it since I'm constantly fiddling with something.  I've had to get grips replaced (one had been turned ever so slightly while the glue was setting and therefore wore down one spot really bad and started to hurt my finger!), thumbholes constantly tweaked, ball surface changed every week (PBA Experience league = high maintenance on ball surface!), and so forth.  And my pro shop guy has done all of that maintenance for free.  It's been worth the extra $20 per ball just for the convenience factor of all the maintenance stuff I have had done!

williewc

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #27 on: July 27, 2007, 09:04:54 AM »
also online proshops usually have the exact specs..or pretty close...that you want, proshops you have to take what they have in the shop at the time or wait for them to order it, and then your back to the only reason i buy at proshops, you dont have to wait on the ball
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DanH78

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #28 on: July 27, 2007, 09:23:10 AM »
My pro shop charges $50 to drill a ball, so in order for me to order online, I'd have to be able to save 30-40 on top of the $50 it would cost me to drill a ball.  I've bought a couple balls online, and often it's a hassle.  When the ball shows up with the wrong specs, I have to get a shipping label, send it back, etc.  My pro shop guy uses a local distributor, so he drives there and picks everything up, so I always get exactly what I want.
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Robadat

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #29 on: July 27, 2007, 09:46:58 AM »
In answer to the OP.

For me, I would buy online over the pro shop if I can save over $40 on the complete purchase /w drilling & slugs.  My pro shop has reasonable prices and I have made most purchases from him.

For most hi end balls, he will charge around $10 to $20 above what the best deal I can usually find online when all costs are factored in.  Total nv in his shop is $205 out the door w/grips and slug and tax included.  Tnv online $140 f/s plus $55 drilling w/ grips and slugs total $195.  Since my pro shop will do free surface adjustments on any balls he sells, that extra $10 is a great investment IMHO and I won't hesitate to give him the sale for that ball.

His mid and lower priced lines also are similarly priced ($155 for the Whirlwind) in comparison to online deals so I will use his shop for those purchases also.  My only complaint is that he does not carry a huge inventory, so many balls have to be ordered and he will have it in two days, but I can call ahead and he will have it when I show up, so it's really not a big deal.  He knows my specs and style so he will get a blank with good specs that are favorable to drilling for my needs.
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Atochabsh

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Re: How much do need to save to justify on-line purchases
« Reply #30 on: July 27, 2007, 09:51:57 AM »
quote:
and as far as the local pro shop $45 for half hours work


That's an awfully quick drill.  By the time we measure up someone, discuss drill patterns, map the ball, weigh the ball, drill the holes, reweigh the ball, get your hand back to the shop to fit and align the grips and fine tune the thumb hole, we have well over an hour into our customer.  Of course our bridges don't crack from dull bits getting too hot from trying to drill too fast.  

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