More and more it feels like I'm just the guy that puts holes in the ball.  People come in with requests, demands, or instructions, and any questions they ask just further set or fuel their nearly predetermined idea of what they want.  For a while there I actually started feeling like a professional, or somebody who was making a difference, but as soon as you start butting heads with people, your stomach drops.  If people want knowledge, a pro shop is apparently the last place they go.  They'll ask other coaches, other people, pop on here with questions, but they won't trust their pro shop.  All I keep hearing is, "this is what I want," or "this is the way I hold the ball," or "I want to do it this way."  I'm not happy or content being the monkey on the press, but at the same time I'm in no position to try and influence a change. 

I know I yammer on about the same crap all the time, but I find things a lot easier to take if I have no misconceptions or unrealistic expectations about my situations.  So what do you really want from your pro shop operator?  I'm not saying pro shop guys all know what they're doing by any stretch, but I suppose I don't get why everybody thinks they know more than professionals who do something for a living, and honestly I'm bitter about it.  I don't spend dozens of hours a week thinking, reading, learning, and writing about bowling just to drill someone's thumbhole 3 sizes too big because they like to grip it, yet still complain about that thumb being twice the size of their other one, and won't let me do a thing about it.  I'm sure that sounds arrogant, but it's just insanely frustrating when people won't let you help, it's like dealing with one teenager after another. 

From all the things you post here, I would say you are in the wrong line of work. 

At the end of the day a pro shop is just another business.  Some people want to be educated, some people want holes in a ball.  The key to a successful business it to please your customer.  As soon as you accept that, running the pro shop will be more enjoyable.

Makes sense, but sometimes pleasing them and giving them what they want are two totally different things, that's what I'm having the most trouble with I think. But about the pro shop being just another business . . that may help the most.  I very well may be in the wrong business.  Or at least in the wrong position at the right business.   

At the end of the day a pro shop is just another business.  Some people want to be educated, some people want holes in a ball.  The key to a successful business it to please your customer.  As soon as you accept that, running the pro shop will be more enjoyable.

We have ala carte pricing, but we do charge more for outside drills.  It's just used as an incentive to buy from us, but I'm not really sure why it matters personally.  If you want to bring a ball to me to drill, one that I have no liability on, and one that I don't have to order or stock, that's a winning deal to me. 

What I would like to see is ala carte pricing.  Charge the same price for drilling for everyone.   It should not cost more to drill a ball when it is not purchased through them.  It should really cost more for the customer who purchases a ball through a shop because if there are any warranty issues the pro shop takes care of it for you. When you bring a ball not purchased by the shop that is straight labor. Any problems with warranty issues, the customer has to deal with it. To have a ball drilled with grips and slugs shouldn't cost a customer $87 plus tax.

It's hard to be in the pro-shop business these days, especially with the internet.  Help the ones who want it and take the money from those who think they already know.

Track_Fanatic:  If you buy new tires from Firestone, do you think Goodyear will mount and balance them for you cheaper?  If pro-shops lowered their prices on drilling internet balls, they would be cutting their own throat.  A pro-shop is not just a drill press.

We have ala carte pricing, but we do charge more for outside drills.  It's just used as an incentive to buy from us, but I'm not really sure why it matters personally.  If you want to bring a ball to me to drill, one that I have no liability on, and one that I don't have to order or stock, that's a winning deal to me. 

Quote from: Track_Fanatic on December 04, 2013, 12:48:55 PM

What I would like to see is ala carte pricing.  Charge the same price for drilling for everyone.   It should not cost more to drill a ball when it is not purchased through them.  It should really cost more for the customer who purchases a ball through a shop because if there are any warranty issues the pro shop takes care of it for you. When you bring a ball not purchased by the shop that is straight labor. Any problems with warranty issues, the customer has to deal with it. To have a ball drilled with grips and slugs shouldn't cost a customer $87 plus tax.

Exactly what my point is about shops charging more.  You don't have to stock or order anything.  Incentive to buy from the shop? I never heard of it being an incentive. That's a good one.  It's straight commission. Easy money. 

Actually the one that sounds the toughest is the easiest haha.  I speak many different "languages."  I've spent nearly my whole working life interacting with people from doctors to engineers to construction workers to all manner of people that come to bowling alleys, so in person I can speak any "language," in any manner that I need to.  Conversations are easy because adjustments can be made quickly, whereas when I'm writing, I tend to start technical.  I can't judge or get any kind of reading from people I'm talking to on forums, so that's why I have issues here, I try to speak all languages at the same time.  But it is hard to explain technical things in general terms, I've actually learned a lot just in the last couple months. 

We fit the rest of the bill just fine too.  Just disappointed we don't have more opportunities to help.  Thanks for the reply, starting to get the feeling I've been in the business so long that I'm getting out of touch, and that's the one single thing I want to avoid. 

This isn't too difficult but I have a feeling that one of the factors might be a bit difficult for you to handle.
1.  Be open when I can get to you.  I understand you want regular hours but many of your customers work during those very same regular hours.
2.  Run a neat and organized shop with room to sit if you have to wait behind a customer or two.
3.  Have a good supply of the bowling accessories most people need. 
4.  Carry a good inventory of balls and grips and have the ability to get what is needed the next day if you don't stock it.
5.  Be able to watch a bowler throw some balls (obviously must be in a center) and know how to layout a ball to take advantage of his skills and maybe hide some of his flaws.
6.  This is the one that might be tough for you...Don't get overly technical in explaining what you are doing unless you are dealing with a guy who asks and understands what you are saying.
7.  Be courteous and remember I'm choosing to spend my hard earned money with you.  Treat me with respect.