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Author Topic: If Online Pro Shop closed  (Read 4928 times)

BuddiesProShopcom - Bill

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If Online Pro Shop closed
« on: December 20, 2007, 07:55:05 PM »
There was an article in this month's Bowlers Journal and a statement was made that if all the internet sites closed, ball sales would remain the same.  My question is do you think if you had to pay retail for your bowling equipment you would buy as many bowling balls?

-Bill
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Maine Man

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2007, 04:20:38 AM »
No, I know I wouldn't.  Right now I buy 2-3 new balls a year with the advent of internet specials and cheaper equipment.  But, before the days of the 'net I used to only buy 1 ball a season, and sometimes only 1 ball every other year because my local pro shop had no outside competition and they could charge whatever they wanted to back then.  So, based on my track record, I would say that I would dramatically reduce the amount of equipment I purchase.  I think the article does not give enough credit to how far internet pro shops and retailers have come as far as customer service and ontime delivery.  I have always had great experiences with buddiesproshop, and bowling.com (both of which are where I have purchased most of my balls the past 5 years) and I would think the industry would suffer greatly if internet sellers dissipated.  Just my .02.
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sdbowler

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2007, 04:21:50 AM »
I don't think many people would. Some centers that I know if the pro shop is owned by the center will give bowlers discounts in the pro shop to try to keep the business there. That still does not help though. It has been along time since I bought something from a local pro shop. By bags I just got last year I bought online due to better deals.
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pnj1967

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2007, 04:37:57 AM »
I wouldnt be able to, so NO is my answer.
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gojr1815

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2007, 04:47:35 AM »
My buying habits would not change because I don't buy from the online shop very often. I will pay what my pro chop charges because he is in the park for the area I live in. He does not push high end stuff just what he thinks I need.
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Why Jr Why
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scotts33

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2007, 05:18:13 AM »
I would.  Most of my purchases are thru my pro shop.  The others with you Bill.  

I try to give my pro as much business as I can.
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legend4life95

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2007, 05:35:43 AM »
Do you think $259+ for a high end ball is fair? Thats what my local shop charges. Thats why I started drilling my own stuff. If I had to buy my equipment locally, I would be throwing the equipment I have now for the rest of my days. I realize thats not the going rate for most other shops. Ours is just greedy and its the only shop within a 45 mile radius. IMO a high end ball with drilling should not be over $179-$189. I
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Nails

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2007, 06:04:58 AM »
I'm not a ball whore, but I can't imagine near as many balls being sold if online sales were cut out.  Have you seen the "arsenal"/equipment lists for some of the people here?  16-20 year olds with 10-20 balls?  The only way to afford that is volume discounts of online sales and Ebay, and most of those sellers have to be getting deals on their stuff as well.
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Brickguy221

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2007, 10:19:53 AM »
quote:
I wouldnt be able to, so NO is my answer.
 


What Paul said.....If I had to pay retail price for bowling balls, there is a better than a 50-50 chance that I would quit bowling. As much as I like to bowl, that kind of expense wouldn't be worth it along with the difficulity of being able to afford it. Remember, on top of a ball that has a retail price of $259, there is also the drilling cost, thumb slug and finger grip cost and sales tax, so a pro shop that would charge the retail cost (as posted by various companies as the retail cost before any discount)of $259 + $50 drilling + $10 thumb slug +$10 finger grips + sales tax of approx. $26, that ball would end up costing a person......$355.....The total cost here could be $10 higher or lower depending on what the driller charges as on the average most (not all but most) charge from $40 to $60.
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Brick

Edited on 12/21/2007 11:20 AM
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gojr1815

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2007, 10:26:27 AM »
At the pro shop I use the price that is on the ball includes drilling and any cover stock changes. Then I believe slugs 12 and grips are 10. Also included are future adjustments. Once you become a regular customer then he gives discounts.
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Why Jr Why
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fins4ever88

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2007, 10:35:53 AM »
I can't say I would. I would definitely buy more used, though I guess if less people bought new, less will be available used, and those that are used would be more expensive than they already are.

I think a company like Ebonite may suffer a little bit if that would happen. Many people complain that Ebonite balls don't last very long. If a customer hears this, would they want to invest all the money into a ball that has a reputation of not being a long lasting ball rather than going with something like a Brunswick PK18 ball?
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Goof1073

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2007, 11:09:32 AM »
Hmmm...In our area there are a good number of shops that have gone to a ball only pricing scheme with drilling being extra.  This was mainly done to help the consumer compare their prices to those of the online shops...of which Buddies is a large player in the New England area.  In cases like these I can see sales staying around the same.

Now there are other places around the country that charge what they want and have inflated prices.  In that kind of a setting it could potentially hurt balls sales *if* the owner’s don’t adjust their pricing accordingly.

It’s really just a pricing game really.  People want the best deal and shops want the most money...it’s the balance of the two that still doesn’t seem to be widespread within the industry.  Other industries have been utilizing fixed prices to combat this very issue...it helps to level the playing field while protecting the value of their goods.

But to answer your initial question;  If shops don’t change anything I could see sales going down some...but I’m not  sure how much or if the manufacturers would react accordingly (supply / demand).
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bartzini

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2007, 11:21:48 AM »
I would not be able to afford the purchse of two balls a yr. I wait on specials. The two balls I bought this yr. BWP & Action Attack I bought for less than 100 dlls /ball. Lets face it, bowling as a hobby is not cheap. Paying full retail at my local pro shop will take a bite out of what I can afford to spend on bowling.
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charlest

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2007, 12:05:26 PM »
I would be buying about 30% of what I buy now.

And I would be making a LOT of NOISE to certain manufacturers if their balls did lose significant performance and could not be restored. Well, actually, I'd probably never buy from them again.
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KDawg77

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Re: If Online Pro Shop closed
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2007, 12:11:09 PM »
Excellent question, Bill, but not all shops sell at suggested retail. My local shop gives my excellent prices that even surpass Buddies by five dollars in many cases when you factor in drilling if I bought from you or another shop. This is truly an individual shop/bowler question. I think those shops that sell $259 balls woul start to suffer.
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