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Author Topic: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........  (Read 14037 times)

DP3

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Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« on: December 26, 2007, 01:18:19 PM »
Ok, say Wal-Mart decided to add a bowling section to it's sports department.  Say they carried around 5-8 of every company's hottest balls with 2 or 3 plastic/entry level balls and sold them at Internet pricing with drilling included.  How many of you would leave your current driller and get your balls drilled there if they had a "Certified" driller, but still paid him a typical $1.50 above minimum wage, hourly wage?  To stir the pot even more, what if no plugging/redrilling services were offered and a no-return on drilled balls policy in effect?  Would you still buy your balls for $50-70 cheaper at Wal-Mart and take the 50/50 risk of a good job/poor job being done?
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-DJ Marshall
...The Twelve In a Row Pro Shop.  Hyattsville, MD
Coach: University of Maryland Baltimore County Mens Bowling



Edited on 12/26/2007 10:18 PM

 

chaos10187

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2007, 09:24:12 PM »
No, nothing can replace the service of a pro shop. Walmart does not have bowling lanes to test things on, and I highly doubt them to be certified, regardless of what piece of paper says so.
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Brian
Northside Pro Shop Staff

agroves

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2007, 09:27:34 PM »
Would you have surgery done if walmart offered it?

I thought so.

Andrew
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FUFU

PurplePeopleEater

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2007, 09:31:21 PM »
not me---I am very happy with my driller and his knowledge and his prices are more than fair. I have had several drillers over the years and many were not very good and would not spend the time with you on matching you up with equipment and the proper ball layout for my PAP.

Edited on 12/26/2007 10:32 PM

DON DRAPER

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2007, 09:43:18 PM »
not me----my pro shop operator is ibpsia certified and has forgotten more about ball drilling than anybody wal-mart would have.

RSalas

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2007, 09:46:37 PM »
If this were four years ago, before I bought my press and before we got a decent ball driller in town, I probably would have gone the Wal-Mart route.  But now, assuming I didn't have my press...no way.  The guy downtown offers much better service than in the hypothetical Wal-Mart scenario.
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...formerly "The Curse of Dusty," and "Poöter Boöf" before that...
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86camaroman

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2007, 10:55:20 PM »
I would go to walmart. if there was a qualifed driller like you said. Because he would get your specs down and get to know you and do a good job for you like anybody else. Also with walmart return policys I am sure they would be better on returning stuff then any pro hsop.

rhbowling07

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2007, 11:07:51 PM »
i would buy my stuff there i would just get a drill sheet from whichever company i buy and get them to drill it like that. can always use money...

fins4ever88

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2007, 11:11:38 PM »
If he's a certified driller and proves to have knowledge of bowling, why not try one? If you like what the guy talks about and what he does when he drills for you, then I say go for it. Sure, you might not get the same warranty and such as a normal pro shop might give you, but aren't new balls on warranty with the ball company anyway? If something goes bad with the ball, take it up with the company. Now you'll have the downtime between when the company can deal with you, but in my experience, I've never had that problem, so I'd give them a try.

And if he screws up, well you saved the money. Go get it plugged/redrilled at your normal guy and never go there again.
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---Ryan

ThongPrincess

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2007, 01:18:04 AM »
No way.  

I bought my first ball at Treasury (it was the discount store of JC Penney) and had them drill it.  They were supposedly trained to do the measuring and drilling.  Since that adventure almost 30 years ago, I will never have anyone but my pro shop guy drill my equipment.  

I love my pro shop guys and they do an excellent job with reasonable pricing.
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USBC Bronze Coach

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"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean
Quaker 10/93 - 4/07

I am a proud member of BallReviews.com and  Bowling Boards.com forums

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cmchau

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2007, 01:37:08 AM »
If this was to happen, I highly doubt they would have high performance balls. Some spare and maybe some entry level equipment with low end rollers. Same with all the   sport equipment, mostly the cheaper stuff.
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We hit high, still strike, you know this...BOWLLLLIIINNNGGG!!!!

Brandon Riley

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2007, 02:02:41 AM »
#1 to me is making sure that my equipment fits just right.
the thing about bowling is that feel is so important.
And you can only be throwing one ball at a time.
Quality over quantity
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Brandon Riley
Brandon Riley
Brunswick Regional Staff

legend4life95

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2007, 05:31:53 AM »
Nope. I drill my own b/c I like to experiment and my local proshop trys to get rich quick.
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9andaWiggle

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2007, 06:44:48 AM »
quote:
If this was to happen, I highly doubt they would have high performance balls. Some spare and maybe some entry level equipment with low end rollers. Same with all the   sport equipment, mostly the cheaper stuff.
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We hit high, still strike, you know this...BOWLLLLIIINNNGGG!!!!


What are you saying?  I thought Andre Agassi got all his tennis rackets at Wal Mart!  Doesn't Tiger Woods get his stuff from Wally World too?  I bet Rex Grossman gets his jock strap and cup there!  Plus, you know Bill Dance buys all his fishing tackle at Wal Mart!  I also heard that SHE ( : DROOL : ) buys all her bras and panties at Wal Mart!

Low end stuff.  HA!




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9~

The Shepherd has Spoken!


Edited on 12/27/2007 7:45 AM
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep...

I wonder where they went? ;)

justdale

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Re: Say Wal-Mart sold bowling balls........
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2007, 06:55:42 AM »
Yea it sounds like something that could be a possibility; But, what about the camaraderie between you and your local pro shop, all the joke telling and the personal service. Not to mention the fact that after you buy this piece of equipment, you can't try it out right away ( if you wanted to) without spending more gas to get to the local bowling center.

No Thanks, part of going to a Pro-shop is the time spent there just hanging out
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Dale Williams
Columbia 300 Utah Amateur Staff