Am I wrong?

[alstl]

Taking care of your frequent customers with lower table time makes good business sense. I used to go to a pool room which had a weekly handicapped tournament and they would give extra sweet handicaps to their regulars. Eventually everybody who wasn't a regular caught on and quit showing up and it killed the weekly tournament because the regulars didn't want to play each other.

You have to be careful how you work something like that. You don't want others to feel like they are "outsiders".

 

[JesPiddlin]

You said...

...To answer your question, I am one of those players that will help out if needed. I correct others to respect the place and its equipment. I put cues away, and put cues and balls away whenever needed. I even spent 15-20min giving a table a complete cloth and rail wipe down that same day....

and

SlopStroke & Neil: I completely understand that its a business, I do. It really is a 2 way street and I as a regular always try to help out whenever possible. I'm not above picking up a broom or giving equipment a wipe down when its busy and staff can't get to it....

Respect is what it's all about. When your respect someone or something, you take care of it. Most likely, the owner of the pool hall you frequent did not open the pool hall to lose as much money as possible. Therefore, it is probably a business venture intended to make money. You do not get a right to have a place like that available to you at whatever price you want. Businesses charge what they need to survive and to continue going. The guy running the place probably doesn't have another job, so the money he makes pays his bills for him and any family members he is responsible for. If you respect the guy and want him to remain open and not raise his prices, you NEED to help him out. Put up stray cues, wipe down the tables, pick up chalk, tidy up the restroom, (or at least don't mess it up) and pay full price. Show him that you respect his rights and needs as the person who made this great place available to you.

One of these days, YOU could be the owner of a pool hall. Think about how you're gonna feed your family, have the tables recovered and pay the light bill, the permits, the insurance, etc.. Are you going to keep the prices as low as you can? Sure you are!! If you don't, everyone will be down the street at the other pool hall. But, you certainly can't afford to take food and clothing from your children just to let Joe Blow play his game at a discounted price. You have to make a living at it, or it's not a good investment.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing to get a discount for being a regular. Maybe your room owner can afford it. I'm just suggesting that you look at the other side of the coin and realize you are not the only factor in this equation.

A lot of places are going out of business, right now. Many of the pool halls are having a really tough time. Do what you can to keep your pool hall open. We NEED more pool halls.

 

[Bustah360]

You said...



and



Respect is what it's all about. When your respect someone or something, you take care of it. Most likely, the owner of the pool hall you frequent did not open the pool hall to lose as much money as possible. Therefore, it is probably a business venture intended to make money. You do not get a right to have a place like that available to you at whatever price you want. Businesses charge what they need to survive and to continue going. The guy running the place probably doesn't have another job, so the money he makes pays his bills for him and any family members he is responsible for. If you respect the guy and want him to remain open and not raise his prices, you NEED to help him out. Put up stray cues, wipe down the tables, pick up chalk, tidy up the restroom, (or at least don't mess it up) and pay full price. Show him that you respect his rights and needs as the person who made this great place available to you.

One of these days, YOU could be the owner of a pool hall. Think about how you're gonna feed your family, have the tables recovered and pay the light bill, the permits, the insurance, etc.. Are you going to keep the prices as low as you can? Sure you are!! If you don't, everyone will be down the street at the other pool hall. But, you certainly can't afford to take food and clothing from your children just to let Joe Blow play his game at a discounted price. You have to make a living at it, or it's not a good investment.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing to get a discount for being a regular. Maybe your room owner can afford it. I'm just suggesting that you look at the other side of the coin and realize you are not the only factor in this equation.

A lot of places are going out of business, right now. Many of the pool halls are having a really tough time. Do what you can to keep your pool hall open. We NEED more pool halls.

I completely understand that this is a business and not a non-profit venture. Like I said, I'm not looking to run down anyone's business. I too try to help out whenever I see I can do something right then and there. I do disagree with the whole "do whatever you can for the place and pay the same as everyone else." concept. As an earlier reply wast posted "its a 2 way street". If I were an owner of my own establishment as you've said, I'd try and look out for the regulars that look out for my place. One hand washes the other, know what I mean. Someone also stated that mutual respect between owner and clientele is something that makes for good business as well. I would imagine that if you have a pool room, you as the owner will find several different ways for the room to stay a float. Having somethings setup like a league for your dead nights, weekly tourneys, an occasional pro tour stop, food/snacks, and a liquor license for some real cash flow. Bottom line, nothing wrong with treating your regulars right. After all, they are the people who promote and advertise your place without charge.

 

[JesPiddlin]

I completely understand that this is a business and not a non-profit venture. Like I said, I'm not looking to run down anyone's business. I too try to help out whenever I see I can do something right then and there. I do disagree with the whole "do whatever you can for the place and pay the same as everyone else." concept. As an earlier reply wast posted "its a 2 way street". If I were an owner of my own establishment as you've said, I'd try and look out for the regulars that look out for my place. One hand washes the other, know what I mean. Someone also stated that mutual respect between owner and clientele is something that makes for good business as well. I would imagine that if you have a pool room, you as the owner will find several different ways for the room to stay a float. Having somethings setup like a league for your dead nights, weekly tourneys, an occasional pro tour stop, food/snacks, and a liquor license for some real cash flow. Bottom line, nothing wrong with treating your regulars right. After all, they are the people who promote and advertise your place without charge.

The pool halls I'm talking about (the ones that went out of business) did all this. It didn't stop them from shutting down. Oh... one started selling beer, but they had tournaments and competitions and league on slow nights, etc.. Most of them also sold snacks and some sold small meals.

The kind of respect I'm talking about isn't "gimme gimme." For instance, when we go to our local pool hall (where we are REGULARS), we don't ask for or expect any handouts from the owners. But, we help them when we can and we try to take care of their property and we even advertise for them for FREE (not just word of mouth). Because of all this, when "our" pool table is acting up and they have the side off it and are charging everyone else by the hour... if we come in and want to play on that table (we play quarters, not hourly), they hand us a styrofoam cup and TRUST us to put the quarters in the cup for all the games we play. They know we will not cheat them and we do not want any handouts. We earned that trust and respect. We will do all we can to help them stay in business, because we want to be able to go there to spend our nights out, not somewhere else. And, once in a great while, if something happens and we're a dollar or two short, I'm sure they would probably either let it go, or let us pay it next time we come in. No problem.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I completely understand that this is a business and not a non-profit venture. Like I said, I'm not looking to run down anyone's business. I too try to help out whenever I see I can do something right then and there. I do disagree with the whole "do whatever you can for the place and pay the same as everyone else." concept. As an earlier reply wast posted "its a 2 way street". If I were an owner of my own establishment as you've said, I'd try and look out for the regulars that look out for my place. One hand washes the other, know what I mean. Someone also stated that mutual respect between owner and clientele is something that makes for good business as well. I would imagine that if you have a pool room, you as the owner will find several different ways for the room to stay a float. Having somethings setup like a league for your dead nights, weekly tourneys, an occasional pro tour stop, food/snacks, and a liquor license for some real cash flow. Bottom line, nothing wrong with treating your regulars right. After all, they are the people who promote and advertise your place without charge.

Are you asking if you're wrong or are you trying to convince us you're right? This forum is made up of a lot of different folks in the industry. Yes, you have your serious pool players that support these rooms and that probably makes up 90% of us but a lot of us have also made our living in the pool industry at one time or another. It's a different perspective. We've seen the bills, had to deal with the customers that felt they were "entitled", gone home wondering if there's enough left at the end of the day to pay our own bills. Dude, nobody is making a killing right now. A lot of guys who take the plunge to open a poolroom are losing their shirts. Their entire life savings are gone. You're gonna start a thread because your less-than-one-hour play time wasn't pro-rated? omg.

 

[ctyhntr]

Bustah360,

Re-rephrasing my original reply. If this employee isn't consistently following the guidelines set down by the owner for treating customers, you should bring it to the attention of the owner.

You previously stated that you don't want anyone in a fix over it. However, see it from an owner's point of view, because this employee isn't following the owner's instruction, he/she may be damaging the owner's business and goodwill.

I see what you're saying. I would imagine if its a once in a while hookup for the player, then yes. The owner has the right to charge whatever the hell he wants from the player. My point is if its common practice for the owner and the employees to pro-rate regulars all the time, why should this character decide to be different?

 

[Bustah360]

Are you asking if you're wrong or are you trying to convince us you're right? This forum is made up of a lot of different folks in the industry. Yes, you have your serious pool players that support these rooms and that probably makes up 90% of us but a lot of us have also made our living in the pool industry at one time or another. It's a different perspective. We've seen the bills, had to deal with the customers that felt they were "entitled", gone home wondering if there's enough left at the end of the day to pay our own bills. Dude, nobody is making a killing right now. A lot of guys who take the plunge to open a poolroom are losing their shirts. Their entire life savings are gone. You're gonna start a thread because your less-than-one-hour play time wasn't pro-rated? omg.

Jude! Ya killen me bro. I started this thread to ask others for their opinions, plain and simple. With all the nonsense and fooling around people do when they start threads out of good fun, why attack mine? I didn't start anything to hurt anyone here or their businesses. A forum is first and foremost a place for different topics and discussion. Everyone's entitled to an opinion and all members are welcome to state one. Hopefully it has to deal with the topic at hand. Where you got "less-than-one-hour play time", I have no clue. Its crazy when you start a thread and some people like to get all sensitive. If you don't like what you're reading. Don't add to it. By posting your complaint of my thread only bumps it back up to the top. Maybe better for some to just let it go.

 

[JesPiddlin]

I agree with ctyhntr that whatever the boss man sets into motion should be followed and if there is an actual agreement to an amount you are discounted, then it should be followed. But, even then, the place has to make money and has the right at any time to change their minds.

Jude! Ya killen me bro. I started this thread to ask others for their opinions, plain and simple. ...A forum is first and foremost a place for different topics and discussion. Everyone's entitled to an opinion and all members are welcome to state one...

And so, Jude stated his opinion. Maybe you didn't like it????

...If you don't like what you're reading. Don't add to it...

And, the truth of the matter comes out. If we don't think the way you do, you don't want to hear from us.

 

[ShootingArts]

just a reminder

Just need some input from my fellow poolhall junkies out there. I just came back from my favorite poolhall to shoot at. As most poolhalls do with their regulars I would imagine, I get pro-rated table time. Because I'm a regular there and get along with all the employees as well as the owner himself, I get charged a standard price when I'm done. That's great, and I would hope that most poolhall owners do the same for their loyal shooters who are there all the time and bring business there whenever they get a chance.

My issue tonight was with an employee that charged me every penny he could knowing that I'm a regular that gets pro-rated not only by the owner himself, but all the other employees behind the counter. Even a new guy knew enough to charge me as such. I have nothing against the poolhall, owner, or anyone else there. Like I said I love the place. Should I just shrug my shoulders and say, "hey, I get hooked up all the time, I'm not gonna b*itch about it."? Or should I be urked at the thought of this guy deliberately being a p*rick to me, knowing better?

My first instinct is to find out what days he's working so I avoid getting screwed every time he's there. I figure there are plenty of players out there that this has happened to, so I'm just looking for opinions on the matter. Thx AZ'ers!

Just a reminder that the original poster's issue was with a single employee not the pool room owner or their policies.

Hu

 

[chin0]

I don't think you are in the wrong, nor are you right. It is a pretty neutral situation. If they give you a price break, great, if not, it was what you expected to pay, though you always had the royalty of a pro-rate. Maybe just mention it to the guy and see wassup. If he says it was a mistake than he would give you the pro-rate, if he says, no this is what we are charging you this time, just pay it, and go to the owner about it next time you go in and see if you are going to get charged regular price now. JMHO.

 

[ctyhntr]

JesPiddlin,
Thank you for agreeing with me, the discussion was getting off track.

Bustah360,
Next time you think you're not being charged correctly, pay the bill, ask for a receipt and then bring it to owner's attention.

 

[rvan]

:thumbup:I gusse i am lucky living in Phx, I can play on both bar box's and 9s for free in about 4 different bars/ halls.
And if i need to pay i think that it is real cheep 5 to $10.oo for a all day play. But this is from 11am to 6 or 7 pm for free, with beers or food.

Thanks Rvan.

 

[BigDaddyInc.]

dude your complaining about what maybe 5 bucks if your pushing it and have been playing all day long, in my opinion if your paying that much attention to the price to know a few dollar difference then you should set some different priorities in life, how do you know that same guy didnt get in trouble for giving someone else a discount or something, its not his fault hes just doing his, and i dont think i am but if anybody else thinks im wrong feel free to say it

Right on if he or she is new then i would say they want to keep their job over giving you a discount. Put yourself in their shoes.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

Good deals at your favorite pool hall should never be expected but always appreciated.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth... NEVER.

 

[Bustah360]

JesPiddlin:

Ok...I'll say it one more time for ya. Opinions are welcome. Judging me by calling me a cheap@ss out of nowhere is NOT. I've said earlier on that if you don't want to add input and just judge as to why I'm posting, then don't bother adding to the thread. No need to micro-manage btw. I'm sure you have no problem understanding what I was trying to say.

ShootingArts:

Thx! I'm glad someone else pointed that out.

BigDaddy:

I agree. If its a new employee you can say he/she probably wouldn't want to put the job in jeopardy. This person is not a new employee though.