Let's get this in context. What Doriana is saying is quite true, without mentioning names, she is referring to us and our prices and the difference between wholesale and retail. The gap, whilst not huge, is a "LITTLE" more than $20.00. What we have largely alleviated though is the 70 to 100% mark-up from importer to wholesale and then the 70 to 100% mark-up from wholesale to retail.
In the majority of instances our wholesale price is cheaper than other distributors and the big difference is that we can in 99% of situations, supply within 10 days at most. We do not wait for balls to come by sea, nor do we have 3 to 4 week delays in getting our gear cleared through Customs. Nor do proshops buying from us place an order and it still is not supplied in 3 to 4 months. MANY proshops around Australia receive their equipment (specifically ordered from the US) from us within 5 days to 7 of ordering as Doriana has found out for herself...............
Our retail pricing does not include drilling, that is where the proshops can make their profit to cover those expenses. If a proshop charged our retail price + drilling at a fair price, there is still plenty of money in it for them.
As has been completely explained when we wrote to all proshops earlier this year, we can save those entities significant dollars as now they do not have to stock their proshop with equipment which is going to sit on their shelves for years to come. NOW they can buy brand new release gear when they have the orders, knowing they will be filled with as much expediency as is humanly possible. If anybody wants referees, we have plenty available.
The Australian bowler has been RIPPED OFF by so much for so long before we generated this business, it is only of recent times that the bowling public has been able to purchase their CURRENT gear at fair prices.
All we are trying to do is present a better deal for everyone, those that have purchased from us in the last 8 months or so are now fully aware of how they can be looked after, including numerous proshops around Australia.
As we have heard so many times over the last few months, "our regular suppliers can't supply for 3 months, can you help us out?". And how many have we let down??????? Who IS the go-to distributor in Australia? Sometimes that may not leave quite as much fat in a sale as the proshop owner might like, but it sure puts a smile on their customers' faces, and isn't that what it is all about??????
Finally, as many people are now aware, we are putting extraordinary figures back into the Australian bowling industry via sponsorship of players and tournaments. Again, the bowler and the game are the beneficiaries.
On a brighter note, we wish all our customers and other Total Bowling members all the very best for the festive season and a very successful year in 2006.
Regards.........Max & Lee
