Any other pool halls charge like this?

[stljohnny]

Yes it is fair to charge higher for single players at night.
What if there is a waiting list, why should room owner lose money when a single player ties up table at a single player rate when they can rent out at 2 or more player rate which would be much higher. So the compromise is, charge the single player a little higher where they probably won't play as long. That is only fair.

I suppose that's "fair" from a room-owner perspective, but it's a good way to drive away people that play by themselves. It's not fair to customers, in my opinion.

I see your point, and like I said, if I were a room owner and there was a waiting list for tables, the guy playing by himself is "taking up a table", but then again, he's probably going to be there a while; which is still generating revenue.

 

[Mikjary]

Their evening rates are $6/hour for one player, $9/hour for two players, $xx/hour three players, etc... The day rates are a little cheaper.

Look, last night I didn't expect to play anyone thats just the way it happened so I would have gladly paid that amount if I had been by myself. To me it's more of a question of principle. The guy has upset me before over stuff and last night was the last straw for me, at least for a while.

Here's the rundaown for my very first interaction with him:
It was a Sunday and from 1-4 on Sundays you get to play pool for free if you belong to one of their in-house leagues. I use to play in a league out of there so I know the deal. I walk in and the guy's wife asks me "Are you on an APA team?" I knew what she was getting at and answered "Yes, but not on a team out of here." He then jumps in on the conversation telling me all excited-like "Well, you can't play for free then!" and says that I have to pay AND he said it like 3 times like I'm trying to pull a fast one on them, or something. I stated that I knew that and it was cool and went on with my day.

I do not feel that is the way to conduct yourself as a new owner of a long standing pool hall to a customer 'new to you' who you've never met before. Things have just went down hill since.

Anyway, again, thanks for the input everyone-

J.

J,

I've had a few things I didn't like about poolrooms kinda stick in my craw over the years. I would always let it fade for a week or two and then go back. If it didn't feel right, adios. I spent my money someplace else. Don't let it eat you up.

Little things mean something to some of us, but not so much to others. Give it some time. You can make a decision after you cool down. There's no hurry.

Best,
Mike

 

[itsfroze]

one price

Where I play its one price per hour per player -- one player 5.75 two players is twice that, three players is three times that and so on day or night week days or weekends

 

[Wheeljack]

Don't mean to diss you but if you played an hour and a half at one player rate that should be $9 so if he would have charged you the two player rate which he should have that would be $6.75 so if I go by what you say you were only overcharged $2.25 not 4 bucks.

Also did you tell him or the counter person you were joining your friend on the table. If he didn't know it at the time he may have thought you were playing with him the whole time and he just missed it and charged you for the whole time the other guy was on the table.

Sorry, you are correct. When I left he originally tried to charge me $13, which I knew could not be right, and he then changed it to $9. (I've been joking for two months now that he can't do math. He messes up table cost every other time I'm in there) The difference of that was $4 and that is where I got the $4 amount from. You are correct that he did overcharge me by $2.25. Again, for me it's not about the money as much as how the whole thing went down and it wasn't the first thing I've had a problem with.

Yes, we were all at the counter when I came in. There was no mistaking it...

@Mikjary: You are right. I appreciate your thoughts. I have other places with close to, or the same, quality of tables around for me to play at. I'm going to utilize them for a while. If I ever feel like going back in there then I will, AND I will give him a big ol' F* You smile when I do

Later-

J.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Pool halls in Japan typically charge everyone playing a single player rate. They don't usually have multiple player rates.

And many don't have a computer telling them how to charge! Then again, the hour rate is like 600yen. $7ish that seams high, but is like paying $3 per hour, when you consider what 600 yen can but you...I.e. 4 ice cream bars or 1 beer at a cheap restaurant.

So, yea, I think $7 per hr per person. That is a crime without reducing your bar tab or tricking the bill somehow.

The premium rate might be warranted if it were premium equipment, brushed and wiped between use; balls wiped between use; High end cloth changed before holes form; etc. Somehow I doubt it. This maintenance is somehow lost on American room owners.

 

[dr9ball]

An

The premium rate might be warranted if it were premium equipment, brushed and wiped between use; balls wiped between use; High end cloth changed before holes form; etc. Somehow I doubt it. This maintenance is somehow lost on American room owners.

While maintenance may be lost on the room owners, courtesy is lost on the customers. I can't count how many times I see spilled beer, cokes etc on a pool table and before the smoking ban, cigarettes on the tables, busted walls and toilets in the bathrooms. Some people do not know how to act anymore when they are out in public. When I find a nice room, I marvel at how nice it is and then wonder how long it will stay that way.

 

[Scott Lee]

Once again, a dumb blanket statement made by someone who knows nothing. MOST poolroom owners are nice people, and good businessmen. Obviously this one doesn't understand how to keep customers happy, and attract new business. I would put this in the not-normal column of room owners.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I guess pool room owners have a tendency to not be the best businessmen.

 

[Wheeljack]

Once again, a dumb blanket statement made by someone who knows nothing. MOST poolroom owners are nice people, and good businessmen. Obviously this one doesn't understand how to keep customers happy, and attract new business. I would put this in the not-normal column of room owners.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I think ALL room owners need to be good business mean. You don't just fall into money when you run a room. If you're not a good business man then you're cutting your own throat.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Personally, if it were up to me, I would like to see pool rooms I frequent run with the balls on the table and a gate at the pool area entrance. Basically, the owner would take your credit card in exchange for entry and give you a card. The card given to you would be for pool. It would have the time on it and someway to match up with the credit card or money left at the door.

Everyone pays $3 an hour in the pool room whether they gamble, hang out, play or are just walking from table to table catching up.

I'm tired of $10/hr time and room management methods which inhibit mingling, gambling and just plain matching up for free. I hate those places where good players are around but it is all about just hanging with a buddy for an hour. Let's play.

BTW, I do think you ought to leave a credit card or a few hundred at the door, in case you are the idiot who trashes cues, equipment, spills beer, puts a hole in newer cloth, etc.

If there are too many people for your liking, maybe there could be a 15 min in/out for free policy.

As an aside. . .in Japan introductions are a big deal, so the owner where I play will ask people if they want to play others and make introductions as needed.

 

[poolstar31]

Their evening rates are $6/hour for one player, $9/hour for two players, $xx/hour three players, etc... The day rates are a little cheaper.

Look, last night I didn't expect to play anyone thats just the way it happened so I would have gladly paid that amount if I had been by myself. To me it's more of a question of principle. The guy has upset me before over stuff and last night was the last straw for me, at least for a while.

Here's the rundaown for my very first interaction with him:
It was a Sunday and from 1-4 on Sundays you get to play pool for free if you belong to one of their in-house leagues. I use to play in a league out of there so I know the deal. I walk in and the guy's wife asks me "Are you on an APA team?" I knew what she was getting at and answered "Yes, but not on a team out of here." He then jumps in on the conversation telling me all excited-like "Well, you can't play for free then!" and says that I have to pay AND he said it like 3 times like I'm trying to pull a fast one on them, or something. I stated that I knew that and it was cool and went on with my day.

I do not feel that is the way to conduct yourself as a new owner of a long standing pool hall to a customer 'new to you' who you've never met before. Things have just went down hill since.

Anyway, again, thanks for the input everyone-

J.

Wheeljack,

I dont live in the area, but have been to that pool room a few times and have met the new owner. I had the same first impression of the guy too. But, I really think he just has poor people skills. It doesnt help that he knows NOTHING about a pool hall. He and his wife have been nice to me though.

Look at it this way though.......it is the only pool hall in the area that is clean, has nice equipment and a pro shop. I would still support it because of that. I wouldnt want to have to play at the other places everyday

 

[ShootingArts]

seems obvious to me

Just to clarify, I never got a rack of balls. I walked in and the guy I played with was up at the counter. I asked him if he wanted to shoot and we went straight to his table.

They do not use a computer. They right it on paper. Simple 'system' that makes it easy to make notations of time, player changes, etc...

The hall is Waldo's in Port Orange, FL. I use to really like the place when it was with the previous owner, but I'm not sure now. This isn't my first problem with the owner, but this is the first time he's messed with my money and NO ONE messes with my money, I don't care if it's $4, or $400... I've got other places here I can and do play at. Waldo's gets about 1/3rd of my time. Sorry, GOT about 1/3rd of my time.

For any of you on here familiar with this place I'm not trying to bash this business. I disagree with the owners business practices and don't like his attitude, but that's my problem. His wife, co-owner, is cool in my book though. To bad he jacks everything up for me...

Thanks for the input everyone-

J.

It seems obvious to me, you never got a set of balls so if the issue is if you owe single player time or not then you owe nothing. How could you have practiced by yourself without any pool balls?

Hu

 

[Lock N Load]

Hello Wheeljack, people do not realize how much business they lose!

So, I go into a hall here in the Daytona Beach area last night to kill some time before going to meet friends.

Normally, I practice by myself, but last night there was a guy there that I knew when I arrived and we played together for an hour and a half. He already had a table when I got there.

So, I finish and go to pay my time and the owner charges me the single player rate. I questioned him on it and he said my friend already had his table and his time was seperate. I pressed the issue a little and the owner just shrugged his shoulders at me. Pissed me off to no end. I told him that was fine and all, but that is not the way it is normally done.

This place changed owners late last year and the old management did not charge me that way. My old pool room in KY did not charge that way.

Does anyone here have a pool room that charges like that? If I'm wrong here then I will get over it. Otherwise, that joint just lost over $100/month in my table time fees over a $4 overcharge.

Please share your thoughts-

J.

Wrong is just that, wrong! Plus he does not realize how many people he will lose when you finish telling other people about his bad business ethics, and policies. His loss and your gain. Nice thread.
Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[cesarmorales]

Playing in different pool rooms can be a bich if you don't know the rules or scams they come up with. Going on the road I have come across a number of arguments with pool room owners. One place I played at, I think it was Alabama, I play some guy for about two hours and two minutes. The owner charges me for three hours. He says he does not prorate. I said it is simple math, no big deal but he was an inbread dumb ass.

I think it was in Kentucky where I start playing a guy for cash and we end up playing for about six hours. There is a big sign that says Tuesday night, play all night for $8. So I go to pay and the guys says its $30 dollars. Five dollars an hour. I asked about the 8 dollar deal and he said you have to ask for that when you start playing.

 

[Wheeljack]

I think it was in Kentucky where I start playing a guy for cash and we end up playing for about six hours. There is a big sign that says Tuesday night, play all night for $8. So I go to pay and the guys says its $30 dollars. Five dollars an hour. I asked about the 8 dollar deal and he said you have to ask for that when you start playing.

Ouch! I just don't know about folks... that is terrible!

 

[Bankin]

Hi Wheeljack,

I had a similar bad experience with the new owner. Good to see it wasn't me, but sad this guy has no idea about good customer service. If you search for a thread titled Daytona Beach I typed my experience there. Bottom line is he was rude and lost me as a customer over 3 bucks! It does suck because I wanted to play in some of their Friday night tournies, but imo this guy doesn't deserve my business.

Good thing for me I just got my room done and have a sweet Proline 9 footer with Simonis 860 so I'm not exactly heartbroken.:thumbup:

 

[DelaWho???]

So the friend that had the table continued to play after you left? Should the room owner have charged him for single rate while he was alone, double rate while you were with him and then single rate after you left?

You came in as a single player, saw someone you knew and jumped on a table to try and save $4.00 and you're getting bent out of shape when the guy charges you as a single player?

Suck it up. If the friend told the room he had more people coming you'd have something to cry about. You came in alone, you left alone, sounds like paying as a single player is the fair thing to do. It's a business not a charity.

On the other hand the room owner could have comp'd you the $4 and told you you'd pay the single rate next time. It probably would have been the smart thing to do, but if you in any way acted the fool while trying to weasle your way out of paying the $4 he's under no obligation to do it.

 

[Maniac]

If I was running MY own pool hall..........

.........this would be MY policy: One set of balls for one table for one price (say $9.00 an hour). No balls from the rented set go to any other table. It doesn't matter how many persons play on the rented table/set of balls, it's still $9.00 an hour (If six people are playing on the one table only ONE is shooting at a time and the wear-n-tear on the equipment is no greater than if one person were practicing on it. Plus it frees up the other tables for MORE patrons and people that DON'T have to wait for a table are gonna be repeat customers). The key words here are REPEAT CUSTOMERS!!! If you keep your patrons happy, they come back, and keep coming back over and over again. Renting tables, buying alcohol, food, equipment, etc. This is how a poolhall survives, by the constant ka-ching-ing of the cash register. Keep 'em happy. The table rental fees aren't what is gonna keep the place open anyway. It's the alcohol and food that's ultimately gonna pay the bills. JMHO.

Maniac

 

[lstevedus]

Some people just don't get it and never will. Word of mouth is your best form of advertising. You get a bad reputation and you lose business. You get a good rep, and you got a waiting list to play. If I was that guys wife, I would tell him stay to away from waiting on people. Look at what's being said on this forum.

 

[JazzMatt]

Oooh OK, I thought single player rate was cheaper!

Over here in Malaysia typical rate for a table is RM18 to 24 an hour, depending if it's a normal or tournament quality table. When we say 'single' or 'solo' rate it means 50% off - RM9 to 12.

But the joints here are getting really creative. One example is this joint where Mon-Tue is 'student nights' where for RM30 they can play from 7PM till 2AM. Wed is ladies night where ladies play for free - all the players have to be ladies, and they must all order a drink. 7PM-2AM holds. Thursday is tournament night, Fri-Sat normal rate, Sun something else... can't remember.

This place is doing really well, more joints coming up.

 

[TX Poolnut]

So, I go into a hall here in the Daytona Beach area last night to kill some time before going to meet friends.

Normally, I practice by myself, but last night there was a guy there that I knew when I arrived and we played together for an hour and a half. He already had a table when I got there.

So, I finish and go to pay my time and the owner charges me the single player rate. I questioned him on it and he said my friend already had his table and his time was seperate. I pressed the issue a little and the owner just shrugged his shoulders at me. Pissed me off to no end. I told him that was fine and all, but that is not the way it is normally done.

This place changed owners late last year and the old management did not charge me that way. My old pool room in KY did not charge that way.

Does anyone here have a pool room that charges like that? If I'm wrong here then I will get over it. Otherwise, that joint just lost over $100/month in my table time fees over a $4 overcharge.

Please share your thoughts-

J.

One more reason I'm glad to own my own pool table.