Poolhall does not replace chalk?

feldz23

feldz23

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Why would my local poolhall not buy any new chalk? For months now the chalk at the poolhall where I play leagues has not replaced the chalk. I know chalk is really cheap ! I always bring my own chalk now. But how can management be so cheap as not to buy and put out new chalk. I hate getting chalk on my ferrule, and when the chalk runs all the way down, why don't they just replace it !!!
 
feldz23 said:
Why would my local poolhall not buy any new chalk? For months now the chalk at the poolhall where I play leagues has not replaced the chalk. I know chalk is really cheap ! I always bring my own chalk now. But how can management be so cheap as not to buy and put out new chalk. I hate getting chalk on my ferrule, and when the chalk runs all the way down, why don't they just replace it !!!
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The best answer would come from the room owner. Are they aware they have this problem? A gross box of chalk is only around $24-ish which should last for a good period of time unless people are ripping it off.
 
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I know

a couple of rooms here are bad about that also. I would probably attribute to 2 things:

1) They are buying by the box (12 pcs) now, instead of by the gross (144 pcs.).
2) Duty is usually delegated to the waitresses or the pool manager (tournament guy), and they have just overlooked the need to do it.
The manager might view this as being below his status, and the waitresses
might just be unreliable for doing it.

Plus cost, although minor in relation to all cost, might be a factor.
I have noticed rooms reluctant to put out Master's blue, and are putting
cheaper chalk on the tables as well. Sheesh room owners, Master's chalk is only $3 a box (.25 each) by the box, and cheaper by the gross, so how much money are you really saving by going to cheaper chalk, while damaging your reputation by going to substandard chalk.

I think this mindset also comes about when a room has mostly social bangers in it, and not true players.
 
I've seen it before. I even heard a room owner say "im not buying mayonaise anymore- I don't make any money on mayonaise" even though he sold sandwiches.

Money can be a "disease item". Some can't bring themselves to spend it unless they see a direct and immediate return. You bring your own chalk and he is saving a dime. That's good right?:rolleyes:
 
My wholesale cost is 12.95 per gross ( 144 pcs ) that is .09 cents for a piece of master chalk. The owner of the poolhall plays on APA and BCA leagues. So it is not like he does not know about the chalk. The place does really good business wise so it cant be a money problem.
 
feldz23 said:
My wholesale cost is 12.95 per gross
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Good price for Master Chalk - Who is your supplier?
If the owner is also a player then what was the response when you asked him about the chalk?
 
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The bar that sponsors my pool league team seldom puts chalk out and when they do it's some crap they picked up at the dollar store. I bought myself a box of master chalk. On the bottom of each piece I stick a label I made from Avery return address blanks. I printed my name and my websites url on it. Now, when my personal chalk gets to the stage where I want a fresh piece, I leave the old one on the bar table.:)
 
This another arguement for a pocket chalker. I once asked a barmaid for new chalk. She replied that they ran out, that everytime they put out new chalk, it would vanish. Uh, maybe they should sell chalk from behind the bar instead of tempting people to steal some?
 
they are cheap. period. i refuse to play at a joint that dosent have some good chalk for regulars or players tucked away
 
I have seen some rooms with chalk machines. They were set up like a gumball dispenser. A .25 or .50 a piece in a little plastic capsule
 
At my pool hall of choice, the owner was so low on chalk a few months ago he paid overnight shipping for 3 boxes of masters blue. I laughed at him for it but i guess its worth it when he treats his customers right.

At Romines Hot Pockets in Millwakee, I want to guess they go threw 3-5 gross boxes a night as they dump a box every so often for people to take to the table/home.


NotSoSilentBob
 
feldz23 said:
Why would my local poolhall not buy any new chalk? For months now the chalk at the poolhall where I play leagues has not replaced the chalk. I know chalk is really cheap ! I always bring my own chalk now. But how can management be so cheap as not to buy and put out new chalk. I hate getting chalk on my ferrule, and when the chalk runs all the way down, why don't they just replace it !!!
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Why has the ballast on the Gold Crown Table 4 gone over a year without being fixed? Why is the music/DJ 5 times louder than it actually needs to be? Why dont the balls get cleaned (unless I bring my cleaner to do it)?
Why are my hands blue after 30 minutes of play? Why are some of the sets of balls not matching sets? WHy are a third of the bar tables covered in multi colored cloth with alcoholic print ads on the bed of the cloth?

I will tell you why Richie. It is a bar with pool tables to help sell the alcohol. They want to cater to a party crowd and atmosphere, not a pool room. They are making money the way they are running it. It is their right as the business owners to create the atmosphere they want and overall it is doing well for them.

FYI This place is not located in Lee's Summit ( the hometown listed in Richie's profile).
 
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I hate to say it, but I never saw this til I moved south. It's incredible how cheap some people are. Bob Byrne says in one of his books, bad chalk is about as cheap as you can get. On the other hand, the owner/manager may not be aware that new chalk is needed. Communication between employees leaves a lot to be desired, sometimes.
 
feldz23 said:
My wholesale cost is 12.95 per gross ( 144 pcs ) that is .09 cents for a piece of master chalk. The owner of the poolhall plays on APA and BCA leagues. So it is not like he does not know about the chalk. The place does really good business wise so it cant be a money problem.
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My supplier charges 14.50 per gross if you buy a case (5 gross) of Master chalk... j
 
I think it is a good point, I always have problem with new chalk in a local pool hall. I do not understand why, as the owner has Gold Crowns and is doing quite well. I asked for a nice piece of chalk in this place one time, she made a big fuss and gave me that annonyed look.

I go to another local pool hall sometimes, it is not a place where serious players go, but the service there is top notch.

This place is called Q-1 billiard, located in Richmond, BC, Canada.

One time I told the owner I did not like old chalk because it would leave a ring on my ferrule. He does not play pool and I think he did not understand it so I explained to him why players would prefer a new piece of chalk.

Mind you, I only explained this to him once.

Everytime I went there since then, he would make sure he took out the old chalks on the tray and put in two cubes of new chalks before handing me the balls. He also told his stuff to do the same. So, I never had to ask for a new chalk ever again. This is a place where the customers in general do not care--they are bangers who go there with their hot girlfriends, just to kill time and have some fun. They have lots of customers, and it has been over a year, since I had to ask for a new chalk. It may not seem much, but imagine how much attention he puts in to remember his customers special needs.

All I wanted him to do, was not to give me the dirty look when I ask him for a new chalk next time. To my surprised, he showed me how he valued his customers opinion, and now he has a customer for life.

This pool hall is doing very well, they are usually packed on the weekends with all 34 tables taken. It is a perfect example of how an investment in excellent customer service would pay off.

Although the tables there are not the greatest, I am a regular now because of the "chalk.":)

Richard
 
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I would agree that sometimes the owner/manager may not be the brightest star in the sky lol.

I have several friends who have the magnetic chalk holders and just use them. They bring thier own chalk and dont worry about what the house gives them.
 
the people who had a local pool hall were stingey with their chalk,,,there was no reason for it,,,their tables were rentals and the table owner supplied chalk for free. (they're out of business now)

I had a pool hall for a few years and keeping chalk was a problem,,,people didn't steal it; they knocked it down the ball returns in the table,,,I recovered my own tables and have found up to 72 pieces of chalk in one of them.

if a pool table had drop pockets, then I would suspect chalk thieves... j
 
feldz23 said:
.. I hate getting chalk on my ferrule, and when the chalk runs all the way down, why don't they just replace it !!!
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Disclaimer: I don't own or run a pool hall. THBS, I think failure to maintain the equipment is a good way to lose the players. I've heard room owners say, "Oh, they'll never notice," but some do and they go elsewhere. From the other comments, it sounds like most of the people who play there may not notice.

Anyway, here is something you can propose to the owner that will take care of the deep-drilled chalk: get a rough file and file the face of the chalk down so the hole isn't so deep. That's what they used to do at the Palace (a notorious cheap place in SF) with the chalk. You could also see the rubber through the cloth on the carom tables. You can do this yourself in an emergency if you carry a pocket knife around.

Good players don't drill holes in the chalk. That's the wear pattern of bangers.
 
I remember this

I was remembering this thread on Tuesday night. I had a customer come up and ask me for some new chalk. Which was funny because I had just walked around the room and made sure each table had at LEAST 2 pieces of chalk on it. When I walked by this guys table he had 5 pieces of chalk on it. Keep in mind that the two guys playing on this table are THE ONLY GUYS IN THE ROOM! No one else. So they stop playing after 20 minutes. They pay thier time and I ask where the chalk was I loaned them. They tell me they left it on the table...I say no problem. I walk back in the pool room...and the chalk is missing on FIVE tables! Every piece off the tables, off the shelving, off the coat rack shelf...everything. Over 20 pieces gone....While I was steaming...I thought back to this thread asking why owners are cheap about chalk..lol. I remember thinking...THIS is why I hate giving out new chalk all the time. Even though we go through it by the gross. Thanks for letting me vent. Thats all.
 
cueandcushion said:
I was remembering this thread on Tuesday night. I had a customer come up and ask me for some new chalk. Which was funny because I had just walked around the room and made sure each table had at LEAST 2 pieces of chalk on it. When I walked by this guys table he had 5 pieces of chalk on it. Keep in mind that the two guys playing on this table are THE ONLY GUYS IN THE ROOM! No one else. So they stop playing after 20 minutes. They pay thier time and I ask where the chalk was I loaned them. They tell me they left it on the table...I say no problem. I walk back in the pool room...and the chalk is missing on FIVE tables! Every piece off the tables, off the shelving, off the coat rack shelf...everything. Over 20 pieces gone....While I was steaming...I thought back to this thread asking why owners are cheap about chalk..lol. I remember thinking...THIS is why I hate giving out new chalk all the time. Even though we go through it by the gross. Thanks for letting me vent. Thats all.
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I think there are theives that do that just for fun , they really needed 20 peices of chalk right? A friend that owns a local hall here puts a box on the counter with all the half used chalks in it , and written on it is "take one with you" or something of that nature , he said it cuts down on the theiving to some extent and some people paw thru the whole box looking for a goodie.
 
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