Author Topic: Proshop ideas (Read 8590 times)

completebowler · « **on:** January 19, 2010, 10:18:30 PM »

Gonna be opening a proshop in the next few weeks and am looking for any tips/ideas/comments from other operators especially, but also thoughts from consumers on what they have experienced and what new ideas you would like to see.

Thanks in advance for any help.

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Edited on 1/20/2010 8:42 AM

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #31 on:** January 21, 2010, 12:43:13 PM »

A good addendum to pinbusters suggestion here is to have a "scrub ball" or 2 laying around. If I have a customer who is unsure of how the ball is going to feel or think they want to make a change but don't want to pull the trigger on the job, I will punch up the bowler's grip in the scrub ball and ask them how it feels. I do my best to drill it so that no other holes will be near the track and I'll even let them throw it down a lane a few times if needed...

Also if you offer some type of interchangeable thumb set up I highly suggest doing a try it before you buy it type deal. Used balls make great trial balls for this. Lay the ball out with a pattern that will work for "most" bowlers and use a span that is around 4-1/4" or so (a fairly average span for many men), then have different thumb slugs that can be interchanged. Charge the bowler $15 to try the ball for a game or so...this covers your time and materials (glue and finger grips) and helps the bowler get a feel for the ball. If they like the ball I take the $15 off the price of the new ball they buy and I reuse the finger inserts in their new ball.

I'll keep posting ideas for you....there's a lot that I do now that is second nature because I have done it for so long but it's stuff that not everybody does...
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling
For Real Time Interactive Bowling Conversation:
BowlingChat.net

elgavachon · « **Reply #32 on:** January 21, 2010, 12:52:50 PM »

if when drilling a hole, you are missing your mark by just a little bit, don't assume the customer won't feel the difference. stop and realign the ball.

crankyanker · « **Reply #33 on:** January 21, 2010, 01:03:18 PM »

It sounds a bit hokey, but it works :
when our center's larger leagues are bowling, our pro shop owner runs a raffle for "any ball in the shop". He goes around from lane to lane with a "Super Bowl" grid of 100 boxes. For $3 per entry he gets a good return, and the winner goes home thrilled

justdale · « **Reply #34 on:** January 21, 2010, 01:15:09 PM »

Here's one that is obvious, but somehow still needs to be said.

If you promise a customer that a ball will be ready on a certain day, make sure that it gets done.
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Dale Williams
Columbia 300 Utah Amateur Staff

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #35 on:** January 21, 2010, 09:33:45 PM »

As an add on to Dales reply.....if the ball isnt going to be done for whatever reason, contact the customer and tell them before the day arrives. Most customers will be more receptive to a problem when told in advance as compared to them coming in and it not being done.
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling
For Real Time Interactive Bowling Conversation:
BowlingChat.net

completebowler · « **Reply #36 on:** January 21, 2010, 11:52:38 PM »

quote:
Complete,
I didn't know the Langan's owned four other houses. I didn't even know Norwest Lanes was still in biz. I bowled there in grade school and worked in the Little Caesers Pizza Parlor right next door during high school. Small world.

Yep...actually think they have six altogether with a couple up north a bit. Avon Lanes out in Rochester is one of them. I will let you know when we are running you can come check it out.
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completebowler · « **Reply #37 on:** January 22, 2010, 12:02:17 AM »

Keep em coming guys.....I'm sure this is a good general thread for the rest of the operators to read.

Thanks again Doug....already planned on a try it before you buy it program. Thoughts about renting stuff out too. We'll see.

Btw, you probably know this but just in case....try using smaller holes for fingers and going one grip size up for try-out balls. No glue needed.

Ebonite does this at their seminars and it doesn't feel too bad. Had actually thought about doing it with all my stuff to avoid cover cracks from glue fatigue.
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completebowler · « **Reply #38 on:** January 22, 2010, 12:02:17 AM »

Keep em coming guys.....I'm sure this is a good general thread for the rest of the operators to read.

Thanks again Doug....already planned on a try it before you buy it program. Thoughts about renting stuff out too. We'll see.

Btw, you probably know this but just in case....try using smaller holes for fingers and going one grip size up for try-out balls. No glue needed.

Ebonite does this at their seminars and it doesn't feel too bad. Had actually thought about doing it with all my stuff to avoid cover cracks from glue fatigue.
--------------------

JohnP · « **Reply #39 on:** January 22, 2010, 07:19:25 PM »

IMO the absolute best way to fit a customer is with a Jayhawk-style fitting ball, see link below. It's not cheap, but you will do a better job. -- JohnP

http://jayhawkbowling.com/Products/Measuring_Equip.html

JustinWi · « **Reply #40 on:** January 22, 2010, 08:39:28 PM »

Central vac system.

JohnP · « **Reply #41 on:** January 23, 2010, 07:01:56 PM »

A couple more tips.

Never refuse to drill a ball the way the customer wants it. If you measure him at a 4" span and he says it doesn't feel right, he wants 4 3/4", explain the drawbacks and dangers of a span that long, but if he still wants it that way, drill it for him. If you talk him into using the 4" span and he doesn't shoot 750 out of the box, he'll tell people you messed his ball up and that he's never going to let you do any work for him again.

A customer comes in and buys a ball. You take him out to the lane, watch him bowl and measure his PAP. Then you go back to the shop and he says he wants the #3 drill pattern, and you agree that it fits his game well. You carefully lay it out and drill it per the specs. You take it out to him, he takes one look and says that it doesn't look anything like the picture on the drill sheet, and he doesn't want it. It's impossible to explain that the picture is based on a 5 1/2" X 1/2" PAP and his is 4" X 1 1/2". This actually happened to me and his complaints to other bowlers hurt my business. Now after I lay a ball out I draw the holes on the surface of the ball with a layout pencil and show it to the customer to get his approval before I drill it. -- JohnP

Jeffrevs · « **Reply #42 on:** February 11, 2010, 12:26:15 PM »

Have Sarah Palin do a book signing in your house! That's a great idea!

I had to...I just had to!!!

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Jeff
The Revless Wonder, ...AND.... King Douchebag!

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #43 on:** February 11, 2010, 09:30:04 PM »

quote:
Have Sarah Palin do a book signing in your house! That's a great idea!

I had to...I just had to!!!

lmao.....
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick

Author Topic: Proshop ideas (Read 8590 times)

completebowler

Proshop ideas

Doug Sterner

Re: Proshop ideas

elgavachon

Re: Proshop ideas

crankyanker

Re: Proshop ideas

justdale

Re: Proshop ideas

Doug Sterner

Re: Proshop ideas

completebowler

Re: Proshop ideas

completebowler

Re: Proshop ideas

completebowler

Re: Proshop ideas

JohnP

Re: Proshop ideas

JustinWi

Re: Proshop ideas

JohnP

Re: Proshop ideas

Jeffrevs

Re: Proshop ideas

Brickguy221

Re: Proshop ideas