Poolhall Prices- Hurting Pool?

[BrooklynJay]

Obviously, the trick is to get people into the pool room.

It could be table specials, cheap rates, leagues, hot bartenders, ladies night...whatever. It's a way to get people into your pool room so that they can purchase the other items you have for sale - food, beverages, cues, etc. - which have a higher profit margin. (Selling bottle beers for $4 each when the case costs you less than $20 = cha-ching!)

As stated, if you're trying to make the rent on time along you'd probably go out of business quickly.

 

[cuenut]

I don't think any place will make money on table time alone, and cold drinks won't cut it. Players want to find a place that is reasonably priced and has well kept, good equipment. At least that is what I look for. The most expensive pool hall in my town is $6.75/hour flat, but they have specials during the week. My favorite place, however, accommodates the players as well as those just wanting to go out and have a good time without blaring music in a club. They have a segregated area for 5- 9 footers that are "reserved" during peak hours for the serious players/regulars. The college aged crowd that is looking to go out and have a few drinks and party shoot on the 8 footers.

Liquor sales = $$$. However you slice it, patrons = money. The most successful pool hall in my area has 12 8 footers and a nice, although relatively small bar and sitting area separate from the tables. They pride themselves on good service, and you can count on them to have really good looking waitresses that know how to flirt and get tips. If you wait for a customer to come to the bar to order a drink, you will lose out on sales. These girls are constantly moving about, gabbing with customers, etc. Their friends come over to chat, and their boyfriends show up and drink and shoot a little. There is constant turnover of employees outside of the Management positions. When the waitresses leave, unless they are disgruntled, they will come around occasionally to see their old friends and you have some retention. New girls bring their new friends and it starts to feed on itself.

Bottom line for profit, in my opinion, is to find a way to attract non-serious pool playing customers who drink and hang around and think that the place is "THE" place to be. You have to ask yourself why do customers who visit your establishment not coming back. Getting them in the door for the first time won't make you money over the long haul.

 

[arsenius]

Not that it helps make money, but the "area for the serious players" is something I have always looked for, and have never seen. There are usually better and worse tables that the serious players play on, but I haven't seen many closed off areas that _also_ had decent tables. The place I used to play at had a closed off area with crappy tables, but as I understand it it used to be a semi-private room for players (no door, just a doorway). But now it is just used for private parties.

 

[Jimbojim]

the house pro gave me a 50% discount on the price. Usually any day between 9am and 5pm, its 6$CAN an hour(3$ for me) and between 5pm and 3am its 10,50$CAN an hour (5,25$ for me).

But I got a deal with the manager, I clean the tables with a steam machine twice a week and he gives me 20 hours of free pool per week...that really helps me for long practice sessions.

 

[cuejoey]

the house pro gave me a 50% discount on the price. Usually any day between 9am and 5pm, its 6$CAN an hour(3$ for me) and between 5pm and 3am its 10,50$CAN an hour (5,25$ for me).

But I got a deal with the manager, I clean the tables with a steam machine twice a week and he gives me 20 hours of free pool per week...that really helps me for long practice sessions.

Why don't you start another thread about the steam machine that you use to clean tables..that sounds interesting..the type of machine your method in using it ect..thanks...

 

[bigpocket]

Ya no the pool hall I play at has helped the business a lot buy doing one little thing. Raise THE PRICE OF CHICKEN WINGS TO LIKE 8 BUCKS FOR 6 TO 8 chicken wings LOL. It seems to be working and the regs are comming back.

 

[Jimbojim]

Why don't you start another thread about the steam machine that you use to clean tables..that sounds interesting..the type of machine your method in using it ect..thanks...

Well actually the steam machine is not the most efficient way. At first, I thought they were gonna ask me to vacuum the tables and brush them. The steam removes some dust and some chalk stains but not everything.

Its a regular steam machine, like you use for clothes.

 

[nfty9er]

That should not happen

Don't forget to factor in the "patrons" that never buy anything - ask for tap water - never pay for table time - etc - blame those people, not the room owner. lol

Must be a lot of freeloaders in Texas. I have owned my room 27 years and get very few of those people. If they don't spend money I let them know they are not welcome. No loitering. So you allow that?

 

[nfty9er]

Funny u make that comparison

Good post.

Referring back to my previous post, the increase from $1.25 to $7.75/hour is at at the same room, spanning 42 years. And that rate is per table up to 6 players.

I just checked the prices of the movie theater across the street, $7.75 per ticket. And that 20 screen theater is always busy.

In this area I do not think that the cost of playing pool is a large factor in the decline in pool.

Steve

I have always kept my hourly pool prices about the same as a movie ticket. If they get full so will I and in pool you guarantee enjoyment not always a movie.

 

[nfty9er]

Get the bar

Most of us owners do not want, usually, to have alcohol in the room just because of all the usual "drunk" problems. My normal liability insurance is about $300 per month for a $1,000,000 policy. The expenses of adding a Bar, which generates much more $$$, we must have $3,000,000 minimum policy ..which costs just less than 3x the base price.
I do not think I have ever seen many problems in a pool room where there was no alcohol. I am looking now for a new location, we will have GREAT food, and a family area, but the rents just continue to get higher every year, and it is getting so we almost > MUST have the booze. Not sure which way we will go.

But the profits and business will be at least twice as much daily. That will easily pay the per month cost. And maybe you should find another insurance agent. 1 milliion is usually the standard around here. I have been in business 27 years without one claim for anything.

 

[Blackjack]

Must be a lot of freeloaders in Texas. I have owned my room 27 years and get very few of those people. If they don't spend money I let them know they are not welcome. No loitering. So you allow that?

I don't allow it at all. Those types know that and stay away. Those idiots would become extinct if more room owners enforced the "no loitering" rule - or "you can stay if you pay" rule. Many of the guys that do that hang out over at Click's. They won't come here because they know my rules - if they call e an a$$hole because of that, so be it. I'm not in business to make friends, I'm in business to make money.

 

[nfty9er]

This may be a repeat

Rent and operating costs are the number one reason pool halls are dying. Here in St Louis a local room had to close because their rent went to $19,000 a month. Was that absurd? Not at all. In the neighborhood they were in that became the going rate. Our billliard parlor is in a middle income neighborhood and normal rent for our 90 yr old building would be about $7,000 a month. Add to that $1,500-$3500/ month utilities, employee wages, workman's comp insurance, health insurance, table maintenance and repair. Thats a lot of playing at $3.00/hour before you see a single dollar in profit. And a lot of complaining from players about how your $3.00 rate is so outrageous.

And in my opinion about the people who are playing for $50-$100. They are really just playing for pool time most of the time. 30 years ago when I was a teenager average players gambled for that much. I saw many a match for $200-$500 back in the 70's. $1000's of dollars matches in the 80's. Truth is people do not want to gamble anymore. They really just want to prey on lesser players. The idea that you can become rich playing pool passed this sport by....and the gambling did too. ( I am talking about the TRUE DEFINITION of gambling) You know...when each player has the same chance of winning.

Our prices for playing pool have bounced between $3.60 and $3.00 /hour for our MAXIMUM rate for almost 15 years now. No one "gets rich" at that rate guys.

How big is your room so we can compare? Are you talking 3 bucks a table or per player, 2 players or more? What are the rents in your area? It is like your business is a side to your main retail business so you can afford to do that and you own the building.

 

[Ruthless]

Pool in Orlando costs $4 - $5 hr per person at night (min 2 people per table weekend nights) and $1.75 - $3 hr during the day on 9' GC's at the upscale places (get an hour free with lunch purchase).

Cheap compared to some of the table robbery prices I've seen across the country

 

[14.1player]

I just paid $20 an hour in central London..... £$%^&*(!!!!
No GC IV/Diamond table, no Simonis, no Aramiths or Centennials...

You guys have it good in the US..

 

[nfty9er]

That is not what happens

Well, I agree the cost of pool is hurting pool. I think they must be that high to support a business. It is kind of a catch-22 for them. If they lower prices they have more business, but they don't get anymore money than with the higher prices and less business. If they have a bar, maybe they make it up there, but without a bar they have to make it on table time.

Lowering prices does not get more business. That is why you always keep it in line with the local economy. I use the movie prices for my hourly prices. 2 people 2 hours equals about 16 bucks. Same as a movie. My drinks and snacks a lot less though. lol.

 

[nfty9er]

You need to rethink that theory

I think $8-9 and hour is more than the casual person wants to spend. These prices have driven away most of the kids. These prices may be necesary to maintain the business, but most people think it is more than they want spend.
For the more serious players who want to get better and practice, many places have special rates. I pay $5 flat rate to play all I want as long as the place does not get busy and need my table. I know many places that charge a flat rate of $10 to people who want to play on a regular basis. There is a pool hall in northern NJ that charges something like $40 a month to practice by yourself all you want.
High rents are driving the prices, but teenagers who want to "hang out" on the weekends don't have $20-30 for a few hours out so they go play video games $5 and sit around.

What are u talking about? Do most kids go to movie?. Well let me tell you something they also go play pool for 2 hours when what is playing is lousy.
Same price. Plus they play video games. The only people driving away kids is me, when they loiter, sneak in booze, or "hang out" Otherwise I have a large following of kids. And a lot of parents and kids. They love it.

 

[Ruthless]

Lowering prices does not get more business. That is why you always keep it in line with the local economy. I use the movie prices for my hourly prices. 2 people 2 hours equals about 16 bucks. Same as a movie. My drinks and snacks a lot less though. lol.

I managed a room for years and may see it differently.

A few rooms here won't even have league teams because they have a waiting list by 6pm every night (avg 16 tables, avg gross $1800-$2200 a day) *** These are full liquor places with a full kitchen and menu also.

 

[nfty9er]

Confused

Pool is too expensive.

Pool halls should give big discounts during the non busy times/food specials/etc to keep the people coming in.

Maybe this is why bowling will continue to outpace pool LOL.

It is more expensive to bowl than play pool. With out without discounts. And more bowling alleys have closed than pool rooms in my area.

 

[nfty9er]

Well it depends

I am facing the same problems as ajrack. My rent is $3100 + tax, which brings it up to $3800 a month. Add in insurance, utilities, payroll and other expenses, it is imperative that I make money. Most of the money comes from beer/beverage sales - not pool rates. I currently have a $3.00 flat rate during the day, and its $4.00 an hour per person after 6PM - $5.00 and hour on the "good" tables. I FREE POOL on Tuesday nights - and Thursday is ladie's night and they play for free. I believe that I have the most affordable rates in the city. During the slow times I try to invent ways to bring people in so that I can make money to cover those bills. Why should I "give big discounts" when its slow? When the place is packed, I offer half price drink specials - because I can afford to do it. Asking a room owner to offer discounts during slow periods makes no sense. If you want the proces to go down, then the rooms need your busines - as in YOU spending YOUR money. When that happens, the room owner is given breathing room and we can discount tables rates and drink prices.

How big a room do you have? IMO you would be doing it backwards. Get them in for cheap pool in summer to get them to drink. Makes sense. Golf works same way in winter, discounted rates in winter. I will take some lessons from multi million dollar businesses anytime. In summer regulars are the key , they help you survive. Over a month it ads up.

 

[nfty9er]

Good reply. I also play golf and I would venture to say most of my customers. From all walks of live and professions.