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Author Topic: To the pro shop guys  (Read 1987 times)

10pin2002

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To the pro shop guys
« on: December 03, 2003, 07:29:45 AM »
I have a question:  How do you guys/girls feel about drilling balls that people bought elsewhere (internet, warehouse, etc.)?

Reason I ask is because not too long ago I bought a Piranha Retro, new, undrilled, first quality from a discount internet e-bayer because with shipping and eventual drilling it would still cost me less than just the ball without the drilling at my local pro shop.  And I felt weird going and getting it drilled, like I was putting the guy out.  I've bought about a ball a year from my local place and they're good and know their stuff, so I almost felt underhanded having him drill this ball I got for cheap elsewhere.

He didn't seem to have a problem drilling it for the normal rate (maybe due to the fact I also had some ball work done, bought a couple bags and a Black Scout as a gift to someone so I did spend some money).  

So basically, if someone comes to you and asks simply for "drill only", how do you take that?

Thanks in advance,
Nate
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Greens Pro Shop

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2003, 10:57:04 PM »
I personally never mind if a person bring in a ball they get elsewhere for drilling, although I do know some shop owners who have very different feelings than myself on the matter.  

     What I personally never understand is the customer who brings a ball in and expects to have it drilled for next to nothing just because they got a good deal on Ebay or someplace else. I rarely have this issue in my shop but I have some friends that own shops in other areas who encounter this quite regularly.  I don't agree with some shops that charge astronomical blank drilling fees but I also feel that a shop shouldn't be expected to work for next to nothing either. In my shop I charge $25, $35 and $45 respectively for plastic, urethane/low end resin, and high end resin/particle,I feel these prices are fair for the amount of work involved and the service provided. In almost 12 years of ball drilling I have only really had one customer complain about my drilling prices and this was a guy who i often cut a break becasue most of what he brought in were ebay specials that I couldn't justify charging full drilling price for as I knew the balls were crap and wouldn't do what he hoped for...go figure! LOL.  
     
     Most people don't realize that even the Pro's on tour pay $35 a ball to have them drilled and that's just a rough cut..they have to do their own layouts, work out their own holes, do their own grips etc...The truck just punches the holes, that's it.  When a pro shop drills  a ball 99% of the time we do all the layouts, drilling, surface adjustments, working out of holes/grips etc.  Comparitively any legue bowler coming into most shops for a blank drill are getting more value/service for their money than the pro's do!

Edited on 12/3/2003 11:59 PM
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Rev_O

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2003, 11:02:01 PM »
same way here. plastic $25 urethane $35 resin/particle $50

we dont care where you bought it, we are more than happy to drill it for you.
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Rev-O

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Doug Sterner

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2003, 11:02:33 PM »
I don;t have a problem with it. See if people bring me the ball, theyare supplying the product and if there is something wrong with it, it's out of my hands.

I tell them that I will do my best to get them the reaction they want but I cannot guarantee it because of the specs on the ball.

I even have them sign the drill sheet that says "driller is not held responsible for blemishes or defects to the ball since the ball was not purchased from his shop. He is not required to honor any warranties or guarantees on the ball."

They also do not get the perks of buying the bal lfrom me. I still charge the same fee of $35 including inserts but they do not get the "service package" I throw in. Included in the package are free coverstock adjustments, free monthly cleanings, yearly tuneups and 3 free games.

Besides, when I charge $35 to drill a ball here, $5 goes for the inserts and slug and the $30 pays for my bowling that week :-)
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Diamonds are a bowler's best friend!
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY

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TTforshort

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2003, 12:12:39 AM »
Why is there a price discrepancy between the cost of drilling a resin ball and drilling a particle ball? Is it harder to drill a particle ball?

My shop charges the same for any ball you bring in to have drilled. $35.00, with thumb slug and inserts the cost is $55. Basically, the service is the same whether the ball is plastic, resin or particle.

Please 'splain, Lucy.

TT
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C-G ProShop-Carl

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2003, 01:05:32 AM »
I agree with the statement made by Doug. Warranty issues are not my problem. So if the ball cracks or anything along those lines, most of the time that person is going to be stuck.
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Carl Hurd

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HamPster

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2003, 01:45:05 AM »
Yeah, it's actually a better situation for us.  We don't take on the risk of having something in stock that someone might not buy, we don't have to worry about the warranty, we don't have to spend a lot of extra time talking to them about picking out a ball, and like Justin said, it's nearly pure profit.  I think it'd work out possibly better for shops if all they did was blank drillings so they wouldn't have to pay so much to keep balls on the wall.  Some shops have more of a markup on their stuff, so they profit a fair amount from ball sales, but we really don't.  We add a small percentage, add our standard drilling fee, and put the price on it.  Also, even if they didn't buy the ball from us, it still means something that they're coming to have us drill it.  Kudos if you get a ball cheap, if we found a cheaper place to buy our inventory, we'd switch suppliers tomorrow, but there's no price tag on quality of service.
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BuzzsawMike

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Re: To the pro shop guys
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2003, 02:39:33 AM »
Agree with the rest. Never a problem if you bring a ball in. If its a  straight up conventional drill its $30, anything else its $45. Add $20 for grips and slug. I know of shops that charge $70 period for drills if you do not buy the ball from their shop. To me thats insane. Its just like if you buy a car part at Napa and take it to a mechanic to have it installed, the mechanic will charge his per hour fee to do it gladly. Thats the same idea us Pro Shop guys should take in. Its pure profit to us. Don't jack the customer cause they choice to buy off the Internet. Thats their choice, sure it would be nice of them to buy direct for us but hey I'm not worried about the 3-5% of people that buy balls off the net. Thats a low figure to worry about. When they are in there you can explain to them the downfalls of buying off the Internet (warranty, blems, terrible pins etc.) or from places like Sports Authority! Plain and simple, we are supplying a service, bring it on in!!
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Mike Savoia
Lane #1 / Vise Pro Staff
Area 300 Pro Shop
 http://www.techcitybowl.com
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