Author Topic: Scam or good deal???????? (Read 2295 times)

boytoy · « **on:** August 12, 2003, 06:58:54 AM »

Today my proshop guy offered me this deal. He said he is offering it to about 50 members of the center. $100 to be a member of his proshop, for 1 year. For this you get the following:

All balls drilled free.
All balls will only cost what he actually pays for them including shipping.

For $150 he will include ones spouse.

All thumbs slugs free...all finger grips free.....for 1 year no matter how many balls you buy.
Typically a year I buy 2-3 balls. SO at $45 a ball to drill I think it would pay for itself. I think. What do you guys think?

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Boytoy

Bowl Cool Wear Shades

SDJrCranKer · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2003, 10:00:43 PM »

You should go for it and buy every single ball that comes out in that one year, and test them all out.
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BERMAN " THE PISSED OFF LOFTER " SAE-AEE

EBONITE IS BEAST!!!!!!
REPIN' THAT 619 LIFE!!!! EAST!!!!!

mumzie · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2003, 11:12:30 PM »

As long as he's going to be around for the whole year, that doesn't sound like a bad deal.
But - if he's trying to get everyone to pay up front to help salvage a failing business, and he goes under, you're out the $100.
I'm not familiar with the circumstances, but I've seen this kind of thing happen fairly often.

lane1lefty · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2003, 11:16:37 PM »

If you like higher end stuff or the smaller companies it's a great deal. I mean, if we had that here i'd own every buzzsaw made.

Strider · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2003, 11:19:09 PM »

Like Mumzie said, as long as you're sure the guy's sticking around it's a great deal. If my proshop offered, I'd jump on it.
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Penn State Proud

Bjaardker · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2003, 11:47:39 PM »

It also depends on how big a pro shop he is.

I know that there are a few proshops here in Milwaukee where I can get bowling balls on the internet for the same price that they pay for cost.

I would ask him to show you what he's paying for "cost" on a few of the balls he carries. If he's really interested in selling this service, then he shouldn't have a problem with it.

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2003, 01:15:30 PM »

The only thing I think is kinda out there is offering the thumb slugs and inserts for free. In my mind, it would make sense to offer all balls at cost with free drilling since these would not incur any out of pocket expense (if the equip. is paid off). Sounds like he figures he can make more $ with the fee than he'd make by competing with internet pricing.

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9-

Why, WHY won't the last one just fall?? It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!

Badger856 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2003, 01:38:05 PM »

I have seen this and if it is done on the up and up it is done for guys like you that buy 2 or 3 or even more balls a year. The cost to him really is time only (grips and slugs are not much), what the concept is "marketing". He wants guys like you to get balls out there so people see what is being thrown and want one of those. He makes the profit up on other sales you guys are bring in. Plus he get 50 times the $100, not a bad cost of doing buisness, $5,000 bucks and you guys doing the advertising for him. It can work out where all parties get something. But you do need to watch for the ills that others have expressed. Good luck

boytoy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2003, 08:54:49 PM »

This guy that offered it to me "did" own the proshop in the house I bowl. He had some marital problems and now someone else owns the shop. He hasn't had a shop in about a year. For the last year he ran what shop work he did out of his house. He just opened a shop and is trying to get bowlers to come back. I know the guy fairly well, and I don't think he would screw me. Slugs cost about $2.30 each and tips cost about $.30 each. So at worst he isn't losing when he is offering to put them into a drilled ball. This guy has in the past drilled my ball like no other proshop guy has. The alley I bowl at still considers him to be the better proshop guy around and alot of people still allow him to drill up their equipment over the current proshop guy. 1 hand wants to do this because I do buy about 3 of the higher end balls a year. The other hand says well he may have more troubles and take my $100.
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Boytoy

Bowl Cool Wear Shades

Bjaardker · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2003, 10:57:16 PM »

quote:
This guy that offered it to me "did" own the proshop in the house I bowl. He had some marital problems and now someone else owns the shop. He hasn't had a shop in about a year. For the last year he ran what shop work he did out of his house. He just opened a shop and is trying to get bowlers to come back. I know the guy fairly well, and I don't think he would screw me. Slugs cost about $2.30 each and tips cost about $.30 each. So at worst he isn't losing when he is offering to put them into a drilled ball. This guy has in the past drilled my ball like no other proshop guy has. The alley I bowl at still considers him to be the better proshop guy around and alot of people still allow him to drill up their equipment over the current proshop guy. 1 hand wants to do this because I do buy about 3 of the higher end balls a year. The other hand says well he may have more troubles and take my $100.

I'm betting that if he's just starting his "cost" on balls is going to be pretty expensive. Don't expect to see much of a savings there.