I'm often asked, and apparently expected, to provide frequent customers with discounts and credit lines.
Ironically, it's most often from skilled bowlers that have obvious problems with money. These guys like to buy lots of bowling balls, but I don't want to get stuck having to manage a bunch of credit account balances, and chase them down later for payment.
What do other Proshops do about this?
Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Moderator: Moderators
- snick
- BCU Graduate Layouts
- Posts: 759
- Joined: August 31st, 2014, 8:00 pm
- THS Average: 196
- Sport Average: 180
- Positive Axis Point: 5.5625" x .625 up
- Speed: 17 off hand
- Rev Rate: 360
- Axis Tilt: 17
- Axis Rotation: 55
- Heavy Oil Ball: Storm Physix
- Medium Oil Ball: Storm Streetfight
- Light Oil Ball: Rotogrip Hustle Pearl
- Preferred Company: Rotogrip
- Location: Tucson, AZ
Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Benchmark Bowling Pro Shop
Byron
RH
PAP: 5.5625 x .625 up
REVRATE: 360
SPEED: 17mph at release
AR: 55º
AT: 17º
Byron
RH
PAP: 5.5625 x .625 up
REVRATE: 360
SPEED: 17mph at release
AR: 55º
AT: 17º
-
- Trusted Source
- Posts: 1386
- Joined: December 14th, 2014, 3:08 am
- Preferred Company: Radical
- Location: San Juan, PR
Re: Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Bowling is an expensive sport, just like golf. If they aren't good enough to get on staff then they either have to save up for more balls or be happy with what they've got. They can always take up basketball, you know, free court and one inexpensive ball... but then we have those expensive sneakers...
Silver Level Coach
Kegel KCMP1 and KCMP2 Completed /Approved Exam
Kegel KCMP3 Completed
Kegel Certified Pro Shop Operator
Free agent
Kegel KCMP1 and KCMP2 Completed /Approved Exam
Kegel KCMP3 Completed
Kegel Certified Pro Shop Operator
Free agent
Re: Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Of the proshops I've been too, I've never seen one give a credit line to anybody. It's way too problematic.snick wrote:I'm often asked, and apparently expected, to provide frequent customers with discounts and credit lines.
What do other Proshops do about this?
Take credit cards yes, but not give credit lines (it's not a bar, you can't run a tab.)
But discounts I've seen those's, most places I've been if your a league member you got a discount in the proshop (At least they said you did).
One shop I use to go to for years till he retired, gave me a discount or some freebies. Because I was a long time customer and referred others to him a lot.
Oh and I have seen layaway in a proshop.
"REMEMBER, it isn't how much the ball hooks, it's where."
-
- BCU Graduate Layouts
- Posts: 477
- Joined: January 24th, 2012, 11:02 pm
- Positive Axis Point: 4 1/2 Left x 3/4 Up
- Speed: 18.5 off Hand
- Rev Rate: 350
- Axis Tilt: 17
- Axis Rotation: 55
- Heavy Oil Ball: Guru Mighty
- Medium Oil Ball: Guru
- Light Oil Ball: Torrid Affair
- Preferred Company: Radical
Re: Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Credit is generally a bad idea. If they don't have the money or credit cards to buy a ball, you don't want to be the guy lending them credit, mostly because you have no way to force collection. I extended credit to some people when I was starting out to try and bolster business and get some good players to let me drill for them. It was a form of advertising. If you look at it like that, it can make sense. Just don't expect to ever be paid in full. I know I haven't been.snick wrote:I'm often asked, and apparently expected, to provide frequent customers with discounts and credit lines.
Ironically, it's most often from skilled bowlers that have obvious problems with money. These guys like to buy lots of bowling balls, but I don't want to get stuck having to manage a bunch of credit account balances, and chase them down later for payment.
What do other Proshops do about this?
Discounts for regular customers I look at as advertising as well. If I have a guy that buys 6 balls a year, is a good bowler, and talks up my shop you best believe if I get a great deal on something I'm passing quite a bit of it along to him.
James Talley
- snick
- BCU Graduate Layouts
- Posts: 759
- Joined: August 31st, 2014, 8:00 pm
- THS Average: 196
- Sport Average: 180
- Positive Axis Point: 5.5625" x .625 up
- Speed: 17 off hand
- Rev Rate: 360
- Axis Tilt: 17
- Axis Rotation: 55
- Heavy Oil Ball: Storm Physix
- Medium Oil Ball: Storm Streetfight
- Light Oil Ball: Rotogrip Hustle Pearl
- Preferred Company: Rotogrip
- Location: Tucson, AZ
Re: Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Thanks for the info.
Benchmark Bowling Pro Shop
Byron
RH
PAP: 5.5625 x .625 up
REVRATE: 360
SPEED: 17mph at release
AR: 55º
AT: 17º
Byron
RH
PAP: 5.5625 x .625 up
REVRATE: 360
SPEED: 17mph at release
AR: 55º
AT: 17º
-
- Member
- Posts: 69
- Joined: August 7th, 2012, 7:26 pm
- THS Average: 221
- Positive Axis Point: 5.25 left, 1/2 up
- Speed: 16.5
- Rev Rate: 325
- Axis Tilt: 12
- Location: Richmond, Va.
Re: Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Credit nothing, end of the day its your money and expense. Discounts are nice if you have a frequent customer or someone who buys a lot of stuff, but don't put yourself in dire straights. End of the day, they want the balls so youll make the sale. If you do exceptional work, they'll be back if theyre feeling salty. This is a business.
James C. Jones, Innovative Bowling Products Certified Pro Shop Operator
Orbdrillers Pro Shop, Petersburg, Virginia
Local IBEW 666, Journeyman Wireman
Rev Dominant, Lefty
16.5 mph, 300 rpms, 12* of Tilt, PAP: 5.5" left x 1" up
Orbdrillers Pro Shop, Petersburg, Virginia
Local IBEW 666, Journeyman Wireman
Rev Dominant, Lefty
16.5 mph, 300 rpms, 12* of Tilt, PAP: 5.5" left x 1" up
- snick
- BCU Graduate Layouts
- Posts: 759
- Joined: August 31st, 2014, 8:00 pm
- THS Average: 196
- Sport Average: 180
- Positive Axis Point: 5.5625" x .625 up
- Speed: 17 off hand
- Rev Rate: 360
- Axis Tilt: 17
- Axis Rotation: 55
- Heavy Oil Ball: Storm Physix
- Medium Oil Ball: Storm Streetfight
- Light Oil Ball: Rotogrip Hustle Pearl
- Preferred Company: Rotogrip
- Location: Tucson, AZ
Re: Bowlers want proshop credit lines; how do you handle it?
Yep, I talked to a few the guys and they understand completely.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the post.
Benchmark Bowling Pro Shop
Byron
RH
PAP: 5.5625 x .625 up
REVRATE: 360
SPEED: 17mph at release
AR: 55º
AT: 17º
Byron
RH
PAP: 5.5625 x .625 up
REVRATE: 360
SPEED: 17mph at release
AR: 55º
AT: 17º