Author Topic: Question about ball prices! (Read 4493 times)

JOE FALCO · « **on:** January 16, 2012, 08:03:06 AM »

I know that there will be some of you that will come back with "everything is higher now" but I have to ask this .. do you really think that prices are jumping so fast that the new TABOO is worth $165 un-drilled? My thoughts are if this becomes a big seller that the companies will take it to mean that bowlers will pay what ever we ask! How much is TOO MUCH?

WaltMisser · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2012, 06:06:58 PM »

Personally, I just can not fathom paying high prices for equipment that does not last. The public in general typically falls victim to marketing strategies. Ball manufacturers can & will set prices, but only if the public allows it. Likewise, it is not uncommon for the public to want something for nothing. A "win - win" relationship always works best for all.

badbeard · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2012, 08:01:14 PM »

most of the new higher prices are because some of the internet sellers started selling lost leaders. selling at prices lower than your local pro shop can buy. Thus pro shops can't sell balls at a loss and stay in buisness. so they closed their doors fewer sellers higher prices. So now the ball companies are trying to establish a bottom price for all retailers internet and brick and motor pro shops.

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2012, 09:16:55 PM »

I understand about the fix started by Ebonite to help the B&M guys .. but are the new balls worth the price set by the companies? Do you think this is a feeler by the companies to see how much they can ask? Remember the prices started by Lane 1 .. are they headed for that range?

Track_Fanatic · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2012, 09:35:25 PM »

The cost of material to make a bowling ball is not cheap. Plus, the Big B Quantum's started this mess and then the small E(not Ebo) came along and did the same thing. At least the Big B has equipment that is comparative pricing to other Major manufacturers. I don't consider the other letter a major manufacturer. I remember when they came out. Didn't they sell you a ball but then get a competitors ball along with it so you can compare?

Djarum · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2012, 07:44:19 AM »

I think we forget that this is a hobby, and like many hobbies, it is for people who have expendable income. I'm bowling with 5+ year old equipment and still maintain a 200 average. The last ball I purchased sat in a closet because it hooked to much unless on sport shots, and finally cracked all the way around. I could buy 10 balls today and probably only one ball would actually fit my needs. I think there are too many balls for drillers to keep up with and some of them, even the good ones, can't get the right ball in the bowlers hands.

So, is there any tread left on the tires? Or at this point would it be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway? - Stewie Griffin

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2012, 08:37:08 AM »

Yes I agree this is a SPORT .. but aren't manufacturers putting prices on these balls as if they are selling to PRO'S? Are there that many League bowlers that have $200 expandable income to buy more then one ball a year? Once you drill holes in the ball you cant re-sell an error ball for a 1/4 of the original cost .. talk about killing bowling .. where's all this headed for?

Cobalt Bomb · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2012, 08:53:33 AM »

Until people stop buying the new balls, prices will keep going up. Bowling balls are no different than anything else. Looking at this another way though, the price of a White Dot out the door has actually gone down over the years; I distintly remember paying 90+ for a drilled White dot in the late 70's. Is that any different than today's top balls (adjusted for inflation)?

Edited by Cobalt Bomb on 1/17/2012 at 9:55 AM

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2012, 08:56:27 AM »

Manufacturers and pro shops get the money, after all. Personally, I consider bowling balls being way overpriced - but we have prices being about 1.5 times higher than in the USA - a high end piece comes in at about EUR 200,- (sometimes even more), plus drilling (say EUR 50,- for a full job with inserts, no measures), which adds up to $300+ for just a plastic orb. Does that sound... sane?

Anyway, that's what the market obviously yields, even though I personally try to shoot down cheaper NIB pieces on occasions, saving up to 75% of the money... Nevertheless, I cannot hurt bowlers enough since you frequently see the "ball of the month" in league or tournaments.

My ball driller once mentioned with an ironic undertone that "whoever plays bowling cannot be poor", and unfortunately I admit he's correct (concerning equipment, but also lane fees). So, "How much is too much?". There's surely still some space left for margins, and it surely has not hurt enough yet.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

completebowler · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:11:10 AM »

So don't buy the top end newest release. It really isn't hard to grasp Joe. The newest, biggest, baddest release balls are out there for a niche market. That market is aimed at high end competitive bowlers that will pay for their equipment by winning tournaments, sweepers, and jackpots. Also, your 1/4 resale number is inaccurate. Most top end balls that are not beat to shit will bring $100-$125 in resale value. Thats almost half.

But my point is this. I have NIB top end stuff from 1-2 years ago sitting on the shelf at my shop for $175 drilled. Grips/slugs included. Good stuff that strikes for days. Also, I have balls like the Freeze, Nomads, Eruption/Outburst, etc., etc. that are parts balls from earlier HP stuff and are plenty good for the "average" bowler you are referring to.

So, at the end of the day it is the consumer that drives the market Joe. I once spent $275 on the Jade Quantum back in the late '90's. I had to have THAT ball. That was almost 15 years ago. I don't see balls retailing at $275 anymore. Do you? So how is the market out of control as you would like to repeatedly imply in many of your posts here?

ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
IBPSIA MEMBER
WALLED LAKE MI

All Star Bowling & Trophy

Djarum · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:14:31 AM »

Again, it's not any different than any other hobby or recreational sport. Getting into golf can cost some coin too. Anyone into RC cars? Get's expensive fast.

The casual league bowler IMHO doesn't need a ball every year. I think most league bowlers who bowl one or two leagues a year really only needs two MAYBE three balls plus a spare ball. Those three balls don't all have to be replaced every year, either. I also think that much of the mid-priced equipment today performs much better than the mid-priced equipment before, or at least closer to what the high end stuff does.

Many people have dropped bowling because they don't have the extra income to do it. I'm not seeing a huge difference in ball prices than I was from 5 years ago. Lineage on the other hand has seemed, locally at least, to gone up significantly over the last 5 years.

I purchased my first high end ball in 1999. It was a track TKO. It cost 180 drilled back then. Accounting for inflation, thats about 220-230 today. Thats about what the proshop around here is selling the high end stuff for.

completebowler · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:29:14 AM »

Very accurate assesment DJ. Lineage, and the other costs in a bowling center have exploded. Beers are $3-3.50 at most centers around here. Lineage is $2.50-$4.

So if I go and bowl 3 games of practice and have 2 beers at the same time I probably just spent around $15 on the low end.

Now some will say, "well I go when the center is slow and bowl for the special rates". Ok, cool. Then buy your bowling balls on special....pretty simple. Don't go bowling at the peak times. And don't buy the newest ball out the day it is released.

Djarum wrote on 1/17/2012 10:14 AM:
Again, it's not any different than any other hobby or recreational sport. Getting into golf can cost some coin too. Anyone into RC cars? Get's expensive fast.

The casual league bowler IMHO doesn't need a ball every year. I think most league bowlers who bowl one or two leagues a year really only needs two MAYBE three balls plus a spare ball. Those three balls don't all have to be replaced every year, either. I also think that much of the mid-priced equipment today performs much better than the mid-priced equipment before, or at least closer to what the high end stuff does.

Many people have dropped bowling because they don't have the extra income to do it. I'm not seeing a huge difference in ball prices than I was from 5 years ago. Lineage on the other hand has seemed, locally at least, to gone up significantly over the last 5 years.

I purchased my first high end ball in 1999. It was a track TKO. It cost 180 drilled back then. Accounting for inflation, thats about 220-230 today. Thats about what the proshop around here is selling the high end stuff for.

ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
IBPSIA MEMBER
WALLED LAKE MI

All Star Bowling & Trophy

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:47:25 AM »

So from the Seller of bowling balls we hear that the prices are right .. that's similar to asking a staff member what he thinks of one of his company balls .. it's all getting crazy and bowling ball prices will continue to sky rocket as a result .. so be it .. I bought one ball in 2011 .. and it looks like I MIGHT do that again in 2012 .. I bought 10 in 2010 .. how many others did the same?

Sunshine n Lollipops · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:57:47 AM »

Holy crap! This again? Really, Joe? Don't buy the ball if you think it is too much money. It can't get any simpler than that. Every manufacturer has a mid-priced range of balls that are more than enough to handle most conditions and suit most bowlers. How much is too much? When people don't buy them.

Golf clubs cost the same as they did a few years ago? Gasoline? Cars? Food? Clothes? Why do you insist on opening up this ridiculous argument every year? The market sets the price. A ball doesn't move, the seller will lower the price. The manufacturer will offer rebates. Guys will pay the price for the new mega uber ball if they think it can help them win money. Often the ball pays for itself many times over in a short period of time. I don't get the feeling you are in that class of bowler hence these balls are not made or priced for you.

Don't believe in the Uzi, it just went off in my hand. I, I believe in love.

TWOHAND834 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:20:16 AM »

Personally, unless you are a BIG tournament bowler (bowling 2-3 tournaments a month) where you may see heavier volumes, why even buy the higher end stuff? In most cases, balls like the Benchmark, Arson, Victory Roads, 500-700 series balls, are plenty for house shots. Most centers will not lay down 75 units in the heads (as they have done at Nationals) nor will they go 45 feet with the pattern to accomodate the higher end stuff. We have hit that point where where we are getting into to much hook for the volume of oil we are seeing from most centers.

I bowled a tournament 2 weeks ago and we bowled on the 50mL Kegel Middle of Road Pattern. I watch guys bringing in 6 balls, 4 of which are high end, one a step below and a spare ball. They barely shoot even and even under for the tournament and then the guys that finished on top, myself included, were throwing stuff that matched up way better on the pattern. 10 game marathon, I shot 741 for the first 3 and 730 for the last 3 and I used an Ebonite Tornado for about 8.5 out of those 10 games. The winner started with the B/S Taboo in the beginning and then stepped WAY DOWN to a Backlash for the last game or two. Meanwhile, we are watching everyone else around us struggle because they cant figure out why the Nexuses, Nanos, 900 series balls are hooking out the building.

Everything in this world is customer driven. If we continue to pay top dollar for stuff, the manufacturers will continue to drive prices up. Once that stops, then the manufacturers will have to adjust. It is like gas prices. Gas prices will continue to go up if we keep paying. Once we start carpooling and the demand goes down, then so do the prices.

Peace doesnt always have to be silent.

Author Topic: Question about ball prices! (Read 4493 times)

JOE FALCO

Question about ball prices!

WaltMisser

Re: Question about ball prices!

badbeard

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JOE FALCO

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Track_Fanatic

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Djarum

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JOE FALCO

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Cobalt Bomb

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dizzyfugu

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completebowler

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Djarum

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completebowler

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JOE FALCO

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Sunshine n Lollipops

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TWOHAND834

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