A good solution for financially supporting a pool cause.

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
Anyone that has read some of my posts concerning financial aid (through league fees, etc.) knows that I am not a huge fan of professional pool and its players. I don't purposely dislike them, it's just that I feel the entire country is agog in their beliefs that ANY professional athlete/player is some sort of icon and necessary for the good of our nation, poolplayers included. So I usually scoff at any idea that I should have to support pool through my league dues, weekly fees, tournament entry fees, or whatever. No offense intended to anyone who ekes out a living by wielding a cue, but I just just believe that supporting pro pool should be something that is voluntarily done.

That said (and I do not wish this thread to turn into a flame war about financial support for professional pool, or people's opinion of that), I think I've thought of a way to VOLUNTARILY support professional pool (or a pro tour here in the states, if there ever is another bona-fide one).

Here it is: I shoot guns as another one of my many hobbies. I buy a lot of shooting/reloading supplies online. One of the online retailers I use a lot, Midway USA, has a column on their "Check Out" list (just under the line for tax amount) that asks if you would like to "round up" your purchase amount to the nearest dollar to help the NRA out. In fact, I believe that Midway calls this program the "NRA Roundup". It's strictly on a voluntarily basis. They have a column on the checkout page that shows how much money has been collected yearly for this cause and believe you me, it's in the mega-thousands. So, why cannot/should not the many online retailers of pool/billiard equipment have a program like this that helps support professional pool in some form or another? Round up (voluntarily done buy individual online shoppers) our purchases to the nearest dollar and use the donated money for the cause of showcasing professional pool. Take for instance PoolDawg or Ozone Billiards, they have free shipping once you spend X amount of dollars. How many times have we had to throw a 12-pak of chalk or a couple of Le Pro tips into our order just to meet the free shipping requirements, when we could have just "rounded up" to the proper amount all the while helping professional pool? Get the idea?

Can you see the possibility of something like this happening on our online retail sites? Do you think this could work? Most importantly, if something like this came about, what organization would the proceeds go to?

Something to ponder anyway while we're shaking off the effects of chocalate candy from kissy-kissy day :thumbup:!!!

Maniac
 
Last edited:
I'm confused how you think you are "involuntarily" supporting pool through league dues, tournament fees, etc.

1: You're not supporting any professional pool player through these payments, only the organizations that run them. They operate like any other business and make profits the same way.

2: They aren't "involuntary." If you want to play league, it costs money. You're voluntarily paying for a service and you receive a "product" in return.

Also, why would any for profit online sales company want to take up donations when they already have you using the money to buy tips or chalk? They won't benefit from collecting donations to support pro pool players. People don't go buy a cue because X pro pool player uses one. Their sales would likely not go up all that much with an official pro tour.

I'm confused at the whole point of your post.
 
Last edited:
vapoolplayer said:
I'm confused how you think you are "involuntarily" supporting pool through league dues, tournament fees, etc.

1: You're not supporting any professional pool player through these payments, only the organizations that run them. They operate like any other business and make profits the same way.

2: They aren't "involuntary." If you want to play league, it costs money. You're voluntarily paying.

I'm confused at the whole point of your post.
Click to expand...

I didn't say that I was. I am referring to past threads that suggest that they RAISE my current dues/fees for no other reason than to support professional pool. I do not want my current fees raised to help ANYBODY, let alone a professional poolplayer. I have agreed to play in leagues for the current amount they now charge, so I have no qualms of where the money is going. But.......if they raised my weekly fees a dollar or two (as some suggested) for no other reason than to support pro pool, then I will find some other way to spend my money.

This subject is not what I want for this thread.

Maniac
 
vapoolplayer said:
return.

Also, why would any for profit online sales company want to take up donations when they already have you using the money to buy tips or chalk? They won't benefit from collecting donations to support pro pool players. People don't go buy a cue because X pro pool player uses one. Their sales would likely not go up all that much with an official pro tour.

I'm confused at the whole point of your post.
Click to expand...

They'd lose some money no doubt, but it would be a way to sponsor the very sport they make money off of. A vastly improved professional tour that is followed by our country's poolplayers will only bring more dollars to the online retailers later down the road. Popularity of pool equates to more $$$ spent by those partaking in it.

Basically, it's an easy no-hassle way to sponsor.

Maniac
 
I like the idea because it's a quick and painless way to raise funds.

The key will be developing a "cause" that online buyers are willing to support. Just "support professional pool" or such, won't work. I'm like you: who cares? I'm a professional editor but no one's raising money on my behalf.

If it were "Bring Pool to the Schools" or something, then it's got chance.
 
Maniac said:
They'd lose some money no doubt, but it would be a way to sponsor the very sport they make money off of. A vastly improved professional tour that is followed by our country's poolplayers will only bring more dollars to the online retailers later down the road. Popularity of pool equates to more $$$ spent by those partaking in it.

Basically, it's an easy no-hassle way to sponsor.

Maniac
Click to expand...

Currently there is no successful business plan to market pool through sponsorship for the most part.

Not turning the thread into a "fix pool popularity" thread, but there is absolutely zero reason for any billiard supply website to take donations for sponsorship until someone can show them pool can actually become a spectator sport/game.

The blanket statement "a vastly improved professional tour.....will bring more money...." is definitely not true for anytime in the near future.

If I run an online billiard store, with pool in its current state, with no organization currently showing any way to successfully market pool, why would I give you the option to round up, say for example 3$ for a sponsor donation, when I know you're going to spend 5$ on something else?

If the amount I lost would be like an "investment" in pool's future, of course I'd happily do it, but there is absolutely not even a shred of evidence that I would make that money back with an "improved pro tour." When was the last time you heard someone say "SVB uses a cuetec, so I bought one?"
 
Last edited:
Basically what I'm saying is, if you went to a billiard retailer and presented this option to them, they would ask "why should I" and "show me numbers suggesting I would benefit from this."

Can you give any reason except "it would be worth it in the long run?"
 
vapoolplayer said:
If the amount I lost would be like an "investment" in pool's future, of course I'd happily do it, but there is absolutely not even a shred of evidence that I would make that money back with an "improved pro tour." When was the last time you heard someone say "SVB uses a cuetec, so I bought one?"
Click to expand...

As bdorman's post just above your last one said, investing it into the B.E.F. or some other type of "Pool in School"-type of program may be a better solution.

As far as SVB/Cuetec is concerned, no, I have never "heard" someone say that, but I can assure you that SOMEONE SOMEWHERE has bought a Cuetec for no other reason than SVB is using one. If you don't believe this, you're kidding yourself.

Shoot 'em straight, my friend!!!

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
As bdorman's post just above your last one said, investing it into the B.E.F. or some other type of "Pool in School"-type of program may be a better solution.

As far as SVB/Cuetec is concerned, no, I have never "heard" someone say that, but I can assure you that SOMEONE SOMEWHERE has bought a Cuetec for no other reason than SVB is using one. If you don't believe this, you're kidding yourself.

Shoot 'em straight, my friend!!!

Maniac
Click to expand...

Not enough people are "saying" it to matter. Just because "someone somewhere" did it, isn't a counter point to my statement. Most sponsors help players just to help them out, not because they actually bring something to the table. (hard to hear for some people, but its the truth. companies are lucky to break even on pool player sponsorship)

You're making blanket statements again saying "well they should just put money into X, like pool school."

I return to my original question.........how can a billiard supply company benefit from this type of donation?
 
vapoolplayer said:
Basically what I'm saying is, if you went to a billiard retailer and presented this option to them, they would ask "why should I" and "show me numbers suggesting I would benefit from this."

Can you give any reason except "it would be worth it in the long run?"
Click to expand...

It's just an idea. Throughout the annals of humanity, mountains have been moved because of someone's ideas. People that sit around on their hands complaining have never accomplished anything nor have they contributed much to society.

I was just throwing the idea out there for the sake of discussion.

I bet if we made a poll asking if pool/billiard supply companies should do more for sponsorship of the game, it would run highly in favor of those that think that they should.

I guess we could always switch the subject to best-hitting cues or best tip or best chalk or..........well, you get the picture ;)!!!

Maniac
 
vapoolplayer said:
I return to my original question.........how can a billiard supply company benefit from this type of donation?
Click to expand...

Many times when a donation is given to a cause, there is no benefit expected. I give money to St. Judes Hospital and have yet to recieve anything back (except some warm-and-fuzzy feelings in my heart :love:).

We've got to stop meeting like this :D. I don't want the rest of the forum members to think we have a man-crush on each other :embarrassed2:!!!

Oh, and by the way, when I first started playing pool seriously, I bought a Cuetec (and still have it) because Allison fisher used one. Really.

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
I bet if we made a poll asking if pool/billiard supply companies should do more for sponsorship of the game, it would run highly in favor of those that think that they should.


Maniac
Click to expand...

Yes they would overwhelmingly say yes. But do they have any idea what they are actually talking about? Did they take the time to actually consider what the reason behind sponsorship is?

Billiard supply companies have no responsibility to turn the game/sport into something popular. Nike didn't make football, baseball, or basketball popular. Only AFTER the NBA, NFL, and MLB became a success did they start pouring money into sponsorship.
 
vapoolplayer said:
I return to my original question.........how can a billiard supply company benefit from this type of donation?
Click to expand...

The billiard supply company isn't making the donation. The customer is making the donation; the billiard supply company is just the conduit. With online sales it's super-simple to keep track of the money collected and forward it to the "cause" once a quarter.

If I shop at Seybert's and "Round-up to Bring Pool to the Schools", of course I'm doing it just for the warm and fuzzies. Why do I contribute to any cause?

They key for the online retailer is that I'll become a repeat customer because I can get a warm-and-fuzzy with my next purchase...and by definition its cost me less than a buck!
 
bdorman said:
The billiard supply company isn't making the donation. The customer is making the donation; the billiard supply company is just the conduit. With online sales it's super-simple to keep track of the money collected and forward it to the "cause" once a quarter.

If I shop at Seybert's and "Round-up to Bring Pool to the Schools", of course I'm doing it just for the warm and fuzzies. Why do I contribute to any cause?

They key for the online retailer is that I'll become a repeat customer because I can get a warm-and-fuzzy with my next purchase...and by definition its cost me less than a buck!
Click to expand...

......who ever said the billiard company was making the donation?

If I had a billiard supply, why would I risk a relatively large % of a purchase to let you donate to a cause I won't benefit from? If you would round up a buck, when you'd normally buy a tip or a box of chalk.....I'd lose the tip or box of chalk purchase.

Multiply that exponentially and I'm losing quite a bit of money. You're already a repeat customer likely, so I don't need to take up a donation to get your business.

It would be one thing if billiard supply companies were doing the revenue a company like Nike is, but the fact is they are not.

You're trying to squeeze blood from a rock.

Also, you need to take into account the actual probability for success of said donation. For example: I have 10$ in my pocket and someone on the corner is asking for money. If I think they would benefit from the money, I would give it to them. However, if I think they would just use it for booze, I wouldn't.

If I'm a billiard supply, I would let some of my profit go by taking donations if I thought it would help pool. Realistically, are any donations going to help pool? Likely not, so I won't add that option to my website and I'll take the profit I make from someone trying to buy something for free shipping instead of round up with a donation to make free shipping.
 
Last edited:
vapoolplayer said:
I'm confused how you think you are "involuntarily" supporting pool through league dues, tournament fees, etc.

1: You're not supporting any professional pool player through these payments, only the organizations that run them. They operate like any other business and make profits the same way.

2: They aren't "involuntary." If you want to play league, it costs money. You're voluntarily paying for a service and you receive a "product" in return.

Also, why would any for profit online sales company want to take up donations when they already have you using the money to buy tips or chalk? They won't benefit from collecting donations to support pro pool players. People don't go buy a cue because X pro pool player uses one. Their sales would likely not go up all that much with an official pro tour.

I'm confused at the whole point of your post.
Click to expand...


2: They aren't "involuntary." If you want to play league, it costs money. You're voluntarily paying for a service and you receive a "product" in return.


This would be a requirement to play in the league , buying the ammo and contributing to the NRA isn't a requirement .
 
Great idea!! Seems to me, if the donations go to pool in schools or BEF or anything related to pool for that matter, it helps generate more interest. More interest means more customers, more customers means more money. That is why a seller would be interested.
 
david(tx) said:
2: They aren't "involuntary." If you want to play league, it costs money. You're voluntarily paying for a service and you receive a "product" in return.


This would be a requirement to play in the league , buying the ammo and contributing to the NRA isn't a requirement .
Click to expand...

Ammo companies contribute to the NRA, they just don't tell you what % of a box of ammo is contributed. Only about half of the NRA's funding comes from donations from grants and private citizen donations such as "rounding up."

If a league didn't tell you how much of your dues it wanted to give(hypothetically speaking) to a sponsor or cause, you would have no idea you were "involuntarily" donating, just as you have no idea you are "involuntarily donating" to the NRA through rifle and ammo purchases.

Ironically Maniac, you have an issue with involuntarily supporting things, yet you purchase guns and ammo.......you are involuntarily contributing to the NRA. :) (I'm a gun owner, don't flame me or say I'm being anti-gun)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top