My fav poolroom changed ownership, no more free table time for me.

NaClBandit said:
It seems that most pool rooms make a good percentage of their revenue on refreshments of some kind (food, drink, bubblegum, etc.).

Does the use of one table during off-peak hours really hurt the bottom line?

We're talking about the minimal wear and tear on the equipment (cloth, rails, balls, chalk usage) as a result, and the electricity to light the table. This doesn't seem like a significant loss - in fact it's almost negligable on a day to day basis. Now over the course of a year, it may amount to less than $100 dollars (ball cleaning, chalk replacement, table refurbishing, electricity...only the portion of these caused by the free time usage). Considering that he is paying for food & drinks over this period they certainly have made a profit.

Letting a select few play for free won't run you out of business. Playing behind the owner's back without permission is a different matter though.
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Well I know ONE EMPLOYER who's Personal Policy States "NO PERSONAL USE OF COMPANY COMPUTERSOR INTERNET",and if you get caught Surfing the Net at Work, ordering on-line at Work, or doing Personal E-mail at work . YOU ARE FIRED in a Heartbeat..... :cool:
 
Mjantti,

If you make a deal with the owner then of course that is not stealing. The owner may like you and want you to be there to bring people in. Hopefully, you treat his paying customers nice and they rent a table and/or spend money on food and drinks. And maybe they pick up a few tips from you.

But if you make an arragnement with a bartender to play for free and you know that the owner of the place would not tolerate it then that is theft. Pure and simple.
 
..u wouldnt wanna give yr left arm, u couldnt play pool...I've had friends get freetime cause they (staff) liked having them there, like family and pros rolled into one..money makes the world go round? well for amateurs, yes but....
yeah, I pay and play, not everyone has too. Its grace, really. A higher law than economics and its been handed to me at times too.
 
Real simple...you want free table time? Buy a table and put it in your house!

Don't own a house? BUY ONE!!! Doesn't fit in the house? Buy one where it does!!

Otherwise...PAY!! You'll contribute to a different image of the cheap broke pool player always looking for a handout or freebie.
 
drivermaker said:
Real simple...you want free table time? Buy a table and put it in your house!

Don't own a house? BUY ONE!!! Doesn't fit in the house? Buy one where it does!!

Otherwise...PAY!! You'll contribute to a different image of the cheap broke pool player always looking for a handout or freebie.
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AMEN DM, .... ;) Great Idea.... ;)
 
lighten up

No one's begging here. The OP said that he would offer his friend money but he wouldn't accept. You're saying that you would refuse the free time?

I had the same situation with my friend. I made sure to tip him well to show my appreciation - there's no such thing as a free lunch!
 
NaClBandit said:
No one's begging here. The OP said that he would offer his friend money but he wouldn't accept. You're saying that you would refuse the free time?

I had the same situation with my friend. I made sure to tip him well to show my appreciation - there's no such thing as a free lunch!
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Just throwing some NaCl on the wound..... ;)
 
People actually pay for table time!?!?

Where I used to play, I had been there for about 5 years. I had become good friends with everyone who worked there. Hung out together outside of the bar, etc...

I never paid for table time. And believe me if you want to count, it was all made up for in tips, helping people move, help out around the bar, fix things, whatever... Change a burnt bulb, change keg taps, move a keg, go get them food from somewhere (outside the pool hall) etc.. It's called friends reciprocating favours..

Geeze, guy comes on to vent about something, and you people attack him like you know his entire history at said pool hall.. Lighten up...
 
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When the old owner (your friend) gave you free table time and wouldnt take your money, fine! Thats alright since its his business and he can give you as much free table time as he wants, but he can also refuse you the time. The whole thing with the new owner and your friends, personally, i think is wrong. Not only is that somewhat stealing, but whatll happen if your friends get caught? Do you honestly think that they will blame themselves only?

As for free table time, i dont really get free table time. Honestly, if im flat broke and cant pay, i dont bother go to the pool hall then. Sure if i was offered, then why not. Either way, when i go into a pool hall, im prepared to pay for however long i plan to play. If someone gives me table time for free and i know that the person owns the place, then fine. Expecting anything for free, IMO, is really just being greedy.
 
Well the New Owner bought the Place to make money I am sure. If the Employees did not like the NEW Wages they were offered by the new Owner, those Ex Employees were free to go else where.

As a former Small business Owner, I get upset when Employees Rip off their Employer. Be it giving UNAuthorized FREEBEES, Discounts, or just plain STEALING from their Employeer.

Have never own a Pool Room, but have owned a Small business, and I called the experience “Pride of Ownership”, as I was stuck with a list of FIRSTS:

Paying Employees First

Paying Vendors first

Paying Suppliers First

Paying Utilities First

Paying Rent First

Paying a BUNCH of other BILL FIRST or Being SHUT DOWN.

ALL THIS, Before I got to put ONE DIME in my pocket.

Running a Business is sometimes Fun, and sometimes you say to yourself in the Good old Days I got a Steady Check of Friday, with one “H” of a lot less hassle..... :D
 
Tons'O'fun said:
.Would i have accepted it if they did call, probably, but I'm sure none of you perfect people would accept free table time. Oh god no.
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No, I wouldn't, I am sorry you can't understand that. We seem to live in a day and age where the only moral compass as to the right or wrong of something is if you will get caught.
 
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You are missing the boat

Tons'O'fun said:
Boy while the cats away......

As I stated twice before, the new owner had a dispute with the current employees over what he was willing to pay them. They left, period. There was no controversy, no firing, they just wanted more money than the new owner was willing to pay.

The change of ownership took place last Thursday night, I met the new owner Friday night and paid full price. I have been there 2 other times and paid full price as well.

While the ex-employees offered to call me and give me free time, it never happened and I never got any free time under new management. Would i have accepted it if they did call, probably, but I'm sure none of you perfect people would accept free table time. Oh god no.

I am going to pay and understand what the dilemma is. The last paragraph of my original post stated Now, I have to pay full price again for the first time in over 10 years!. i suspect this is going to have a huge impact on my pocket book and on my table time. I may have to find a new room and start playing money games again to help cover table costs. For those who actually read that far, this means that I am planning to pay for my table time from now on.

However, I am entitled to whine about my situation just like all the other whinny children that cry about their bad rolls, their weak stroke or losing a match hill-hill.

Get a life. This is the last I am going to comment on the matter.
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THERE IS NOW 2 JOB OPENINGS. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR IF YOU NEED FREE TABLE TIME THAT MUCH. PROBLEM SOLVED. LOL
 
Another little consideration ...

I don't about where you live, but here, half of the billiard
rooms offer 2 hrs of free Pool when you come in and eat
lunch at their place, so it is not like they are never giving
up free time to anyone.

Plus, one room here (Shooters) has free table time 2-3 times
a week from 11:00 pm to 1:30 am. every week. That's when
the money players like to play, so quite a few match ups occur
in the 10-10:30 pm range.

On Bar tables I might add. Heck, we are still on the tail end
of getting over them going to .75 a game, and .50 for a
challenge 9 ball table. Used to be .50, and .25 for a challenge
table.
 
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