Author Topic: Why do bowling balls cost what they do? (Read 16097 times)

Juggernaut · « **on:** January 21, 2011, 04:07:39 AM »

After some of the recent threads about bowling equipment, specifically bowling balls, this question has come to my mind: Exactly why DO bowling balls cost what they do?

Usually, polyester (plastic) balls are the least expensive, followed by either a urethane or an "entry level" reactive, then a "mid level" offering, then on to the upper levels of performance. And, with each step, there is an increase in price level. Why is this?

If a plastic ball costs, and I'm guessing here, around $20 to make, does it take more than $120 to make a high performance ball? Since a high performance ball costs AT LEAST $100 more at the consumer end, does that mean it cost that much more to make?

I'm not talking about R&D costs because, lets face it, if they're spending that much on R&D to increase the price by $100 a ball, they're wasting a lot somewhere, especially since many times it is just a re-hash of some different core/cover combination. I'm just wondering why something a relatively simple as bowling ball has such a wide variance in the price range from the base model to the top level when it seems that it shouldn't cost that much more to make.

I guess it might be that, by the time it reaches the end consumer (you and me), it has gone from the manufacturer selling it for a profit large enough to cover production costs and shipping, to the distributor re-selling it for a profit to cover their expenses, to the proshop re-selling it for a profit covering their expenses, so that we, as end consumers, are paying enough for three different entities to profit off of it? But if that is it, why do some of them costs so much more than others.

And PLEASE, no flaming this. It isn't intended to question anyones motives or character, only to wonder why bowling ball prices have gone so high and why people are so willing to pay so much for them?

Good transactions list in my profile

Gravity-Reign · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:22:30 PM »

Most companies have to pay sponsorships, every time you see Duke or Weber with a Storm jersey on or using a Storm ball, the company is paying for it. I'm sure thats not cheap!

"Proud to be everything, the right wing hates"

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:40:15 PM »

Can you answer that question for Shoes? Does it really cost that much more to make a $150 technical running shoe than it does to build the $29.99 Wal Mart brand running shoe?

Research & Development and Marketing is your answer. Costs a lot of money for guys to stand around and perfect something that will pass scrutiny as being "technologically advanced" even though it basically does the same thing as the less technically advanced (on the simplest terms). Then you have marketing, to convince the customers that this "technologically advanced" shoe (or bowling ball) is actually going to increase their personal performance enough to justify the obscene price difference for it. Psychologists aren't cheap, and that's all marketing really is - phychologists figuring out how to brainwash the masses into dropping their cash.

9~ Internet Tough Guy and
Cyberspace Sheep Lover

BKloss · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:41:19 PM »

I think you answered your own question?

I think the companies base it off of R&D, granted the materials may not be expensive but the following has to be considered and included in the price.

-someone has to sit in an office or setup a poll to come up with the names, colors, logos etc.

-packaging

-testing

-advertising

-staff positions who have contracts and get free items, or paid to throw a certain company

-maintenance costs of the facility making the bowling balls (yes it is an assembly line for the most part but someone starts the process whether it be button pushing or chemical pouring etc)

Just my thoughts, "New Technology" = more money

The same goes with TV's, Electronics (Video game systems for one start at what? $499? then within months are down to $199, why not pay top dollar for a NEW item if the companies can see they have customers willing to pay top dollar, you won't see prices come down anytime soon)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brunswick Advisory Staff

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

jls · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2011, 01:08:05 PM »

Jag, many many years ago a sales rep told me that his company does not make any profit on plastic balls... In fact, to offset it, they tack on $5 to the cost of their high end models...Which may be the reason that just about all plastic balls are no longer made here...

Now for why the cost is sooo high... Well why don't we start with PAYROLL...Why is American Payroll sooo high... You see, Here in America most companies have to pay more for their workers...And because of that, they must charge more...U C when keyboard pounders surf the net 24/7 while at work, they are indeed costing their employers money...

Which is why, more and more now watch Facebook and other sites to see what their employee's are doing when they are supposed to be working...

If keyboard pounders would ever do 8 hours of work, I would guess that cost could go down by 25% - 40%...

And the cost of sooo many items has gone way too high...

Golf balls for $50 a dozen...Drivers for $399...Shoes for $219...etc etc etc...It's not just bowling balls...

And why is gas sooo high...

Go Bears

jls

qstick777 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2011, 02:36:22 PM »

??

Why does a Lexus cost more than a Toyota? Why does/did Mercury cost more than Ford?

jls · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2011, 03:04:53 PM »

Why does it cost Obama more to dye his hair than Michelle...

qstick777 wrote on 1/21/2011 3:36 PM:??

Why does a Lexus cost more than a Toyota? Why does/did Mercury cost more than Ford?

jls

Juggernaut · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2011, 03:27:48 PM »

qstick777 wrote on 1/21/2011 3:36 PM:
??

Why does a Lexus cost more than a Toyota? Why does/did Mercury cost more than Ford?

I'm not asking why a STORM costs more than a ROTOGRIP, I'm asking why a Virtual Energy is the price it is in the first place.

I guess if you need an example, why does an Invasion cost more than a Tropical Heat?

Good transactions list in my profile

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:00:50 PM »

At one time they always referred to increase in prices due to UNIONS RAPING (bad word to use) the country .. there's really only one reason .. GREED!

Pinbuster · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:25:22 PM »

No one here (me included) knows what costs are involved in making a ball.

Almost all plastic balls are 3 piece construction, the most expensive material is the cover and it is just a thin veneer over a cheap core filler.

2 Piece plastic are more expensive because the use more cover material.

I also believe the process of pouring a 2 piece ball is more difficult, hanging a core, getting the correct tilt to the core etc is a more labor intensive endeavor.

Urethane and resin urethane are more expensive materials. Cores consist of different density materials that have to be assembled/manufactured.

People are willing to pay more for the high performance balls because they do produce higher scores. Otherwise everyone would just use an plastic pancake core ball.

Just as you should be willing to pay more for a driller that can fit you and lay out a ball properly for your game.

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:49:11 PM »

Let's see .. some high end ball have gone up in price $20 per ball in the last two months .. do you really think the companies expenses have gone up that fast? Someone might argue that this has been cooking for a while ..I'm not one that believes that!

JoeBowler · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2011, 07:03:57 PM »

Since urethane is a oil product and the price of oil has gone up some could be attributed to that.

Who raised the price? Manufacture? Distributor? Retailer? Probably all the above.

But I guess they are all getting rich, Columbia bankrupt and bought out, FAB bankrupt, NU-Line, Champions, and I can't remember all the other manufactures. AMF and Brunswick struggling.

Joe we all know that everyone makes too much except for you and you just get worked over all the time.

mab · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2011, 07:44:11 PM »

Is nobody listening to the evening news, reading the news paper ? We are coming out of the deepest recession of our countries history since the great depression. Now we are heading into what will most likely be the largest inflationary economic time in our history. You will really have to make hard decisions weather or not anything you spend money on is a NEED or WANT. Please make the right decisions and make sure you NEED whatever you covet and not WANT it, the consequences could be life altering.

One of these days I'm going to put it all together and roll a 300 game

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2011, 08:55:01 PM »

Joe we all know that everyone makes too much except for you and you just get worked over all the time

Well my friend .. Right now I'm making 62% of what I was making in 1995! I get along on that .. perhaps it is too much .. I really don't care what other people make .. let them get what they deserve .. I don't think I ever got "worked over".. when I see a price is more then I think it should be .. I watch others pay it .. I won't .. someone is jacking up the price of bowling balls .. what you could get NIB/DRILLED/DELIVERED (top of the line ball) for $180 you're now paying $210 .. that my friend is GREED! It's probable just what bowling needs to put the finishing touches to a long life! Go ahead and make all the comments you wish but TRY to remember how the END STARTED!

completebowler · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2011, 09:11:52 PM »

Why are Lee jeans cheaper than Levi? And both are cheaper than designer brands?

It is supply and demand. These items will only sell at the price point that the consumers are willing to pay. Do you want Tropical Storm performance or Anarchy performance? Well guess what?

? The Anarchy is higher performance and so if that is what you would like to have on the lanes then that is what price point you will be paying.

How many of you guys that are unhappy with Storm and EBI will skip paying the extra $10 to $20 for the ball that you believe will give you the best chance to score?

These companies are hedging their bets and protecting their product. They believe that these new policies will only slightly effect their total sales (on top end only really) and in the process it will steer consumers back to pro shops where the odds are better that the bowler will end up with the right ball, with the right layout and proper surface for their individual game. And let's not even talk about fit.

Nobody is getting screwed here guys. There is an old saying that you get what you pay for. Keep shopping for the absolute lowest of low ball deals and at the end of the day the performance on the lanes will show. Trust me, I see it everyday.

ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
WALLED LAKE MI

Author Topic: Why do bowling balls cost what they do? (Read 16097 times)

Juggernaut

Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

Gravity-Reign

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

9andaWiggle

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

BKloss

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

jls

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

qstick777

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

jls

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

Juggernaut

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

JOE FALCO

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

Pinbuster

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

JOE FALCO

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

JoeBowler

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

mab

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

JOE FALCO

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?

completebowler

Re: Why do bowling balls cost what they do?