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sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 10:41 pm
by snick
If a customer asked for his oval drilling cut-list and other drillsheet specs, would you give it to him, ostensibly "for his files"?
I feel like this is the intellectual property of the driller that created it.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 11:14 pm
by EricHartwell
While I am not a driller, just an educated consumer, If I ask for the information on my drill sheet and you don't give it to me I will never be back in your shop. Simple as that. I spend more money in proshops than most. I add balls to my arsenal every year.

While you may think that it is "intellectual property" it is information I have spent money on getting with an initial fitting. The information is mine and I just let you use it.

I have had that driller where everything is a secret. Obviously I don't use his services anymore.

So if you want to alienate a customer don't give out the information and try to hide it like a little secret.
The educated customer like myself will get someone else to measure it off an existing ball and never be back.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 2nd, 2019, 12:42 am
by snick
I am mostly interested in proshop industry norms.
Thanks for your consumer perspective on the matter though.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 2nd, 2019, 1:16 am
by imagonman
snick wrote:If a customer asked for his oval drilling cut-list and other drillsheet specs, would you give it to him, ostensibly "for his files"?
I feel like this is the intellectual property of the driller that created it.

Contrary to what you 'feel', this is not copyright work. Look up what constitutes original, creative copyright protected works. I think you'll see this does not apply. Neither is it a work for hire situation.
What is the true concern of 'protecting' the info on the drill sheet?? I don't get it!

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 2nd, 2019, 1:19 am
by MegaMav
IMO, if you do great work worth its value it cannot be replaced on the cheap!
Whether or not the drill specs are given up, the customer will be back if you've mastered the fit and finish art.
Very few pro shops are consistently putting out top shelf work.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 2nd, 2019, 2:53 am
by elgavachon
snick wrote:If a customer asked for his oval drilling cut-list and other drillsheet specs, would you give it to him, ostensibly "for his files"?
I feel like this is the intellectual property of the driller that created it.
I give it out.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 2nd, 2019, 2:59 am
by snick
elgavachon wrote: I give it out.
Thanks.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 2nd, 2019, 4:26 pm
by JimH
A customer came into my shop one day. He had been away to another country and bought a ball and had it drilled by a highly regarded PSO and then asked for the drilling spec sheet. When he returned home he brought the spec sheet to have the same drilling on a new ball to a local shop. He did this a few times with different shops and was never satisfied. He then came to my shop complaining that no one could drill a ball properly.

He handed the spec sheet to me and was suprirised when I asked him for the ball. It turns out that the spec sheet he was given by the original driller did not match the drilling on the ball. I drilled his new ball and he was happy. My advice for anyone who wants a drilling copied from another ball is to bring the ball, NOT the spec sheet. A PSO should be able to copy a drilling from the ball.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 5th, 2019, 4:35 am
by The Kid
I'm on the fence here. I think a good fit takes more know-how than drilling to specs. If a bowler can take their specs with them, then they can find the shop with the lowest prices as long as the PSO can read my handwriting. That kind of sucks. On the other hand, I think most serious bowlers know that there's more to a PSO than being able to punch three holes. If you're good, they'll probably be a repeat customer.

All that said, I don't run into this very often. Mostly people who like to get a new ball while at nationals. I'm happy to oblige.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 6th, 2019, 10:03 pm
by alzgarvin
I understand the reason for the original post. I pride myself on my hand fitting technique and drilling the ball to that exact span and pitches. Most of my customers come back because of their poor experiences with drillers prior to me. But there are those few , and usually higher average bowlers who buy many more new releases than the average, who, even though they had poor fits and even pain before coming to me, go to another shop because of price. Some have even apologized to me after 4 or 5 purchases elsewhere, saying that they loved the time I took to properly fit them and they are pain free and super happy with the fit I gave them, but they just couldn't pass up the price another shop gave them. Sure doesn't make me feel any better when they say.....but by the way I took them the ball you drilled me and told them to match the fit. Most of these have been new releases that are being sold before the street dates and or way too cheap. Example, Statements sold at $180 out the door with grips, thumb, drill, and tax. Or Crux Prime at same price. So it's not like I am getting beat up on price because I am out of the market. I sell for MRP plus $39 drill, $8 for set of grips, plus thumb and tax. On a positive spin, some of those venturing to other shops end up with horrible layouts and even poor fits due to their inability to match and drill a ball. I do give out drill sheet info when asked, but it really sucks when those bowlers disappear for a while after you give it to them.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 7th, 2019, 12:36 am
by Glenn
In my area, the bowler's drill sheet and the house oil pattern graphs are both closely-guarded secrets.

Re: sharing drilling sheet specs with customers

Posted: June 7th, 2019, 6:23 pm
by nwohbowler
I'm one of those people who asked for the sheet for my files. I did that specifically for a case in which I may be out of town and need to have a ball or switch grip drilled on short notice. I'm not out here shopping around for the cheapest option, I just don't want to be screwed or sink a bunch of time working to get refit by a different PSO in an emergency situation. Is it messed up if someone only does it to try to find a cheaper option, yes, but I think you'd find most who ask are more doing it for the same reasons as I did.