Do you really support pool

[Nostroke]

I havent read this whole thread but let me tell you one thing you can take to the bank. Your pool room must make money or it will close.

I tried to tell this to the mgt/workers of a recently closed PR. They tried the tell me that the owners had so much money they didnt care and continued to give away Table time, sodas etc. Of course the room closed.

Just recently, i was speaking with an allegedly intelligent man in his 50's. He had inside info on how his PR was near closing due to inprofitability and what a shame that was. Before we finished the conversation, he mentioned how he ALWAYS goes across the street to buy his Snapple bec it is 50 cents cheaper than the pool room and how the owners cant find out as it's the same brand of soda. He had no idea how insane he was talking. I want to add that this guy is 'fixed for life'.

Bottom line- Your PR will close if it isnt making money and the right amount of money. If they own their own building, it's even worse. 98% of the time they can close the room, rent the place out to Starbucks or something and sit home and collect rent. Much easiier and way more profitable than dealing with guys like the above.

 

[Carpe_Diem]

Well I suppose, according to your criteria I support pool at least a little.
Between league night and the day's I can get out and practice I pay for my table time as well as having a bite to eat and couple of beer's right at the pool hall itself.

The local owners who are relatively a young couple have great prices on their tables and menu so I have no reason to eat or drink anywhere else other than my friendly neigberhood pool hall.

Cheers.

Paul

 

[jrt30004]

i like to think i give everything i can to the sport. i belong to the apa and bca, which - i know everyone on here *****es about leagues and how they only suck up money for themselves - but face it they still put pool in the minds of people who wouldn't normally care. and if you don't believe that go to an apa league night and watch the female 2's. allright back on point. i also go as much as i can to the rooms i frequent on non league days - two places offer free table with luch. i buy lunch, i don't take free refills on my drinks and i sometimes stay a litlle after and pay some time. i also play in a few local tournaments. on league nights i'm known to run up at least a $20 bar tab. i have bought stuff from vendors at viking events. however - that's about all i got. and if i get free time with luch - i'm taking it. if i get free time on league nights - i'm taking it. my girlfriend also shoots and we've gone out on a friday night to play and the bill was 80 bucks. 5 hours time @ 10 bucks an hour a few drinks and tip. and any room around here worth shooting in is 10 dollars an hour. and i'm sorry - i buy what i want. not what you have to sell. if the cues you sell in your room are low end crap, sucks to be you. i buy my chalk from a billiards supply store - i won't steal from the rooms i play in. i have my repair work done by steve lomax when he's at mr. cues for tournaments. but beyond that i'm sorry. i used to be a sous chef, i know what food cost is, roughly, and i'm not paying a premium for bad food, sorry most of the stuff you get in most pool halls sucks. 7,8,9 dollars for a burger and fries and nine times out of ten it's frozen crap, sorry. i know what you pay for every soda that comes out of a box syrup, what the bottled water costs you. stop overcharging and i'll start overbuying. these are rough times for everyone. my father and i own our own business and we have had to drop our prices to the floor to keep a few customers. if you want to be around when the dust settles you have to do what you have to do.

 

[u32]

After reading your post and reflecting on the pool halls In Calgary ,AB do not have any qualms about buying online (ebay , cuestore.ca ,az forums) . The one cue store that is in a bar locally here is over priced. One time I brought 314-2 shaft on the forums to him for a little help (radial shaft didn't fit to snug for my liking) and he made a remark that I bought it online. I didn't want to get into an argument with him I just nodded my head. I wanted to scream at him "well if it was 75 dollars less I would have got it from you!" same with is cases shaft etc.. I will not buy a big money item locally if I can get it online, I go online. To keep it short I stop going to his pool hall and went elsewhere.

I dont mean to seem argumentative or act like I am holier than though. But a big problem with pool is lack of support. I understand that the economy is in the tank right now and money is tight. I think now more than ever we need to support our vendors and sponsors. I see people all of the time that come to pool halls and pay table time but on the way to the pool room they will stop at Mcdonalds because the food at the room is too high. They will buy the cues on E-bay because they dont want the room owner to mark up the price. Now, when there are no places to play people want to blame smoking bans and economy. One problem with pool is lack of support from the players. I see threads on here all of the time about homemade ball polishers. What about the companies making ball polishers. Arent they part of the billiard community too. There is more to supporting pool than showing up and paying table time. Eat , drink, and buy products from pool people.
I am really not looking for an argument and didnt mean to get on my soap box, I just wanted to give people something to think about. Thank you for reading