Author Topic: Pro Shop Prices (Read 6095 times)

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **on:** October 25, 2003, 10:56:42 AM »

OK, after reading a couple of threads about prices to drill balls not bought at the pro shop, I am interested in seeing what you guys think of my prices. Remember-----I am a newly opened shop, trying to get some interest in me. Notice I said in me....not my shop. I think Pro Shop owners/operators are selling themselves, sales men per say.

A couple more things to add before I get into the prices, I am the newest shop around me, and I feel I know as much if not more about layouts than any of the other guys. Here is the perfect example-------I had a guy bring in 2 bowling balls for me to look at and then drill him another ball. He had a purple Monster, and Matrix Conquest. He told me that he told the guy that drilled these balls that he wanted them to hook. SO----the other pro shop drilled them the standard....pin next to the ring finger and the CG stacked below. WELL, that guys axis point was 3 inch over and 2 1/2 inches up(a spinner).........ALMOST exactly where the pin was located. SO on his new ball (a Throttle), I moved the pin to 3 3/8 from his PAP.....the guy shot his first 700 series ever the next week. I do not think alot of people take enough time for bowlers.

OK....on to prices, and please, let me know what you think.

--To drill a blank ball----me providing grips and slug>$25
--Top end balls (I have not dealt with Lane 1 yet) $180 drilled with grips and slug
--resurface (still using a spinner, want a Haus eventually) $15
--Polish, sand, clean with GOOD cleaners(for stuff not bought from me)>$5
--Mid price stuff $120-$150 drilled with grips and slug

That is most of the stuff....there a little things here and there, but just wanted to see what you guys thought about the prices on the things listed.

Thanks

HamPster · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2003, 01:28:17 AM »

Yeah, hopefully you can afford to stay open. If we had the customer base, we could knock the prices down, but still, there are places that charge 230 for a high performance ball BEFORE drilling and everything else. If people actually pay that kind of money, more power to you, making profit motivates and drives you to do better work. When you're stressed, strained, and working so hard for so little, it really takes a lot out of you.
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I'm BETTER than you because . .

1) I've met the DNL leprechaun
2) I get paid to watch tv.
3) My dad's friend's brother knows Chris Barnes' stepdad.
4) Kristi's my buuuuuddy
5) I get to witness a man with the speed and revs of Robert Smith combined with the accuracy of the guards in the lobby scene of the Matrix average 240
6) I can throw a better fit over nothing than you can.

channel surfer · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2003, 05:45:06 AM »

Heres what our pro shop charges. (Its the best shop in the state on my opinion)

http://www.strikersproshop.com/services.html

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My Bowling Clinic Site: http://channelsurfers.vze.com

ASK A PRO:http://channelsurfers.vze.com/atp.shtml

www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.

Edited on 10/26/2003 7:12 AM

charlest · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2003, 06:13:48 AM »

Excaliber,

Low prices will or certainly should bring in customers, but those are very low, indeed. One major problem could be a lot of cutomers complaining, after you are established, that you're prices have gone way up, when you need to raise them to "make a living". I've seen a lot of people react very badly when a place raises their prices. Many will go elsewhere solely because of that.

I think if you kept the price for premium balls to just under the $200 "magic marker", say, $195, that would make many people happy and give you a little more breathing room. Same for drilling a blank - I think $35, especially when you include inserts, is great; you could make $30 without inserts. Resurfacing - maybe $25, at least. (Full re-surfacing is messy and can be time-consuming.)

As always, best of luck.

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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

Edited on 10/26/2003 7:22 AM

louie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2003, 06:18:21 AM »

Excellent prices!
If you were in eastern Pa I'd give you a shot>
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?

louie

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2003, 06:34:01 AM »

Most business based solely on price don't make it.

Or as another fellow said"I sell below wholesale and make it up on volume!"

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS another one of my favorites"Cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap!"

PPS IF you are good charge for it!

jkiser01 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2003, 06:50:14 AM »

It sounds like you are taking care of your customers and not taking them to the cleaners. Some of the prices in that thread yesterday where riduculous. I also find it amusing that they justify the higher prices because they have years of knowledge in drilling and laying out bowling balls. Come on people, its not that difficult to follow a drilling sheet. That is still no reason to steal peoples money by overcharging them and having a bad attitude if they bring a ball in from the outside. There is one guy in my area (Dallas) that I wouldn't let drill my ball if he was the last shop here in town. He has a TERRIBLE atttitude and thinks he is doing me a favor drilling my stuff..

Good luck EXCALIBUR. Your prices look very reasonable.

jkiser01

seadrive · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2003, 08:21:41 AM »

Much depends on where you are located. Here on Long Island, your prices would be considered ridiculously low. The cost of living here is very high; you would never survive charging those prices.

OTOH, if you're in Spodunk (where is Spodunk, btw?), and your overhead is low, you may be able to get away with charging so little for your work.

Personally, I would charge a bit more, and push the quality of my work. If the main reason people come to your shop is that your prices are lower than the other guy's, then guess what? All the other guy has to do is drop his prices below yours. Now you're in a pricing war, and everybody loses.

Let me ask you (and other guys who think to open a pro shop) something; do you have a business plan? A budget? Do you know all the fixed and variable costs of operating your shop? Do you know approx. how many balls you have to sell and service each month to cover your overhead and provide you a reasonable profit?

Just wondering...
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2003, 08:33:15 AM »

Know how great you are, project how great you are, and charge for it!

If you won't believe it no one else will either!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS the worst thing that will be said about you if you don't last is.
"He had very cheap prices!, Too bad he didn't make it"
The best thing to be said about you,
"He charges a little more but he's just damn good!, and worth it".
"And you know he's been around a long time!"

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2003, 08:54:48 AM »

Having a GOOD BUSINESS PLAN and HAVING A GOOD LOCATION and MAKING A GREAT PROFIT is all great IF YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS! Sometimes you have to start OFF with SALES to GET KNOWN/SHOW YOUR WORK .. I think you are kicking your business off RIGHT! If you can't get started with what you are offering .. the NEXT STEPS may be easier to figure out!

THAT'S RIGHT I DON'T OWN A PRO SHOP!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2003, 09:46:47 AM »

The area that I live in (eastern ohio) is really down. The most well known guy around here gets $200-$210 tops for highend equipment. One of the biggest problems that I currently have is that within a 1 mile radius there are 3 other pro shops.

I know my work is good. I firmly believe that I can make a ball match any bowler, and the lane conditions he bowls on.

I can get away with not charging too much, because I have very little overhead and I am the only person doing work in the shop. Ofcourse you realize this makes my days very long. I am willing to deal with that until I get going and find someone to work a little with me.

I am at a point where the pro shop is running itself, but I am taking virtually nothing for my work. That is my plan, just to let it grow.

I am keeping things real simple.......if I plug a ball, the money I make goes into a file that is set aside for plug, coloring, dams etc... The same with grips, slugs, and any other work I do.

Thank you for reading this. Any input is good.

charlee323 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2003, 10:14:15 AM »

Excaliber, I have had boardman drill me a couple of balls; they charge $30 and I know there is another one up there that charges $28; I like your prices, should help your business.

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2003, 10:24:40 AM »

The prices a Pro Shop can sucessfuly use is just like the price in buying and selling a house and that is: LOCATION, LOCATION and LOCATION

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In the old days, they used axes to chop up wood...Nowadays, they use "BUZZSAWS".

mumzie · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2003, 10:47:41 AM »

Around here (portland, or area) - here's what I've paid recently -
$10 for a set of finger inserts
$12 for a thumb slug
This in addition to $30 to plug a ball, and $22 to drill it.
$72 to plug and redrill... Ouch.
And to add insult to literal injury - the ball was drilled 1/8" long in the middle finger. When I took it back, explaining that I had EXTREME pain in the middle joint of the finger, I was told that it couldn't be the ball, because I'd thrown it before without pain.
The same ball - which I bought used at a great price - is now sitting in another shop in town, because the first shop doesn't stock finger slugs so the ball could be changed quickly.

I'm furious. I've stuck by this guy for a couple of years now. I've put up with the mood swings, minor temper tantrums, and snide comments - because I've always liked the way he drills the equipment. I buy most of my equipment either on line or on this site, or used from other people I know. He has gotten every bit of pro shop work - to the tune of around $100 or more a month. He may have permanently lost me over the $12 thumb slug AND refusing to fix the finger hole. Sad.

Added on edit - forgot to mention - most of the labor prices are NOT posted in this shop. I guess I had it coming.

Edited on 10/26/2003 11:57 AM

HamPster · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2003, 11:28:46 AM »

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