JessN16 wrote on 1/18/2011 11:55 PM:

If you're looking for a way to "beat the system," here it is...

 

1) Don't buy new releases until they're on closeout.

2) Repeat step #1.

 

Really. This is one reason why I started drilling my own stuff -- a decision made primarily because my local pro shop, at the time, saw  fit to only be open 3-4 hours a day, at times rarely coinciding with the posted hours on the door, and oftentimes doing work that was not all that professional. It has improved recently, but the horses are out of the barn for me.

 

Since opening my backyard shop, I have gotten great results out of buying stuff 6 months after it came out, usually at a discount, and it performs just as well as the latest and greatest. I realize not everyone has the space to put a shop in their home, but if saving money is that important, learn to work the system.

 

Otherwise, the pro shops will charge what they need to charge, and the ball companies will do what they have to do to protect their greatest asset -- i.e., the final delivery mechanism, meaning the pro shop. We're losing too many pro shops in the small and midsize markets as it is.

 

Jess

 

 

This is what I did and looks like you and others have done also.   The companies now set the limit, and now the e-tailers and shops have raised prices up to 30 bucks.  May not be alot to some, but it is to me, along with the principle of what they're doing.  If the price of their purchase from the dist. hasn't gone up, than why have prices gone up? 

 

I've gone out and learned the system, layouts, drillings, hole placements, etc. etc. etc., yadda, yadda, yadda.  I'll take my drillings over a shop that can't match the span on a ball any day!  And yes, I've fixed many friends balls because of that reason and because they couldn't match the friggan pitches.  But they were talked into the newest and greatest ball that came out that would do wonders for their game.  Only to tear up their thumb because of not matching pitches and span being an 1/8 to 3/16 off.  Now granted not all shops are like this, but a great number are.  And its either deal with them or learn the system, like JessN16 and I, among others who have. 

 

Of course Joe, you can still buy Brunswick at super low prices...Stock up...And make sure you get a towel and polish and cleaner and taco's....<<< That's right, I said taco's..

JOE FALCO wrote on 1/18/2011 7:29 PM:

We can look at this in different lights .. truth of the matter is .. The on-line dealers were offering discounts to bowlers .. since Ebonite says YOU CAN'T OFFER THESE DISCOUNTS  .. we the BOWLER is losing out. I believe this is also hurting the on-line dealers since they no-longer can offer the BOWLER a better price. Now the BOWLER NOT HAVING AN OPTION has to pay a HIGHER PRICE then they were though the on-line dealer before Ebonite made this change. It's being called PROTECTING THEIR PRODUCT .. but who are they protecting against .. BUYERS? Now STORM is jumping on the bandwagon .. why? It's been said .. IT'S ONLY $10 .. now the $10 (as it's being referred too) is only an increase to the BOWLER! I guess it's better in the B/M shops pocket then it is in the bowlers pocket! (to explain: the bowler now has to dish out extra money to either the B/M shops or dish out more money to the on-line shop .. naturally the B/M shop is not making more on the ball due to the Ebonite change .. just the bowler is paying more .. convoluted .. but that's the way it goes! NET/NET the bowler is paying more .. now it seems STORM will follow suite ..why not all the ball companies .. the only one losing out is the BOWLER)

 

Maybe the companies have the right idea .. get these prices higher before the USBC kills the game entirely!

airrip wrote on 1/19/2011 10:02 AM:

Once again JLS speaks for the masses. I, the consumer buying at the pro shop level have not seen a price increase even though my pro shop is raising his storm ball prices buy an average of 15 bucks, and he already did the same for Ebonite.  I guess that's not higher it's lower, stupid me. For the record, my pro shop should be higher then the on line retailer because he gives me incredible service, advise on equipment and surface changes etc.  But the fact is he is raising his price because now he can. The online shops are going up to his price so now he can go up a few bucks and still be competitive.  Online shops were $139 and he was 159. Now they are $159 so he can go up to 174 and not be out of line. If the on line shop was still $139 my pro shop couldn't justify being at the $174 level.  All that being said, the prices can and in some cases are going up for the consumer.   Whether or not these are justified is another debate, but so same the consumer is not going to potentially see an increase is in m opinion foolish.

Oh wait all that is wrong, because JLS said "if a consumer bought from a pro shop for the last 12 years, he is not seeing any increase in prices at the pro shop level.". And believe him when he tells us, because he knows. With the hundred of balls in inventory, sells more polish in a day then most do in a month, and all his employees, he knows and speaks for all.  If you don't  believe me just ask him.

Oh and one more thing JLS,  I was almost proud of you, because you almost made it through an entire post without some snide, backhanded, racist comment.

Proud keyboard ponder.

Cobb wrote on 1/19/2011 11:42 AM:

Now is it just me or am I the only one here that thinks it's hilarious that jls is calling people children when he himself is the one acting like one?

BKloss wrote on 1/19/2011 11:56 AM:

It is simple in his mind, if you are not on HIS side of something YOU are WRONG.

 

Cobb wrote on 1/19/2011 11:42 AM:

Now is it just me or am I the only one here that thinks it's hilarious that jls is calling people children when he himself is the one acting like one?

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Brunswick Advisory Staff

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.