Question about table time

[dabarbr]

Last night I was playing in a match at a place unfamiliar to me, meaning I didn't know anyone there.

Three guys rented a table near to where I was playing. They were playing eight ball and the winner stayed on the table with the loser sitting down waiting for the next game to end. In other words there were only two players at the table at any given time.

When it came time to pay they were being charged at the three player rate. The person at the counter was well aware of the way they were playing but still insisted on the three person charge. Personally I think they should have been charged at the rate for only two persons. They eventually paid for the three but not happy campers. What do you think?

 

[8ballEinstein]

Gotta agree with you here. But, I have a feeling this happens often.

 

[FAST_N_LOOSE]

There were three people at the table. They play the three person rate. I've been in alot of poolrooms and it's always like that......

Now that i run a room, i understand why. It's called rent, electric, cable, phone, gas, and payroll.

The room owner didn't tell them to play "king of the hil". They could have played "cut throat" or "chicago" it was their choice.

My rates are all per person, per hour (except my specials)

if you go to a bowling alley, and rent a lane by the hour, you pay per person.

Pool is still one of the cheapest nights out that friends or couples can have. It amazes me, that poolplayers are always upset about paying for something. I get regulars that come in, and aren't going to play that day, but they have no problem drinking the free coffee, or asking for a fresh pot even if they aren't playing.

 

[dkindig]

I used to play at a local place (still do sometimes for a change of scenery) that charges a fixed hourly rate no matter how many people are at the table, and then discounts it 50% if you're there by yourself practicing.

One night the waitress charged me full rate for five hours for the table when she should have discounted it for the first three hours and then charged me full rate for the last two hours.

There had been a couple of other minor disagreements in the charges prior to that, but they weren't big deals. Anyway, I had kind of had it with them not following their own policy, and was going to say something to the manager next time I came in. I added up what I had spent practicing there the last two months, and it came to $800 with table time, bar tab and food.

I just decided that it wasn't worth arguing about and went out and bought a good used table and I practice in my living room now. They lost a lot of income by not paying attention to their own policies.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

How many at table, not how many plays

Sometimes I play at Santa Clara Billiards where they charge by the number of people at the table. For example, if there are 4 people, but only 3 play while one watches but does not play, the charge is for 4 persons. If 3 are at the table but only 2 play, the charge is for 3, etc...

Once we knew this was the rule at this place, we only go with people that will play.

 

[sde]

Last night I was playing in a match at a place unfamiliar to me, meaning I didn't know anyone there.

Three guys rented a table near to where I was playing. They were playing eight ball and the winner stayed on the table with the loser sitting down waiting for the next game to end. In other words there were only two players at the table at any given time.

When it came time to pay they were being charged at the three player rate. The person at the counter was well aware of the way they were playing but still insisted on the three person charge. Personally I think they should have been charged at the rate for only two persons. They eventually paid for the three but not happy campers. What do you think?

A room that I go to occasionally charges this same way. What the players there do is to get two tables, the total cost is the same and one player at a time practices while the other two play each other.

Steve

 

[FAST_N_LOOSE]

sometimes i play at santa clara billiards where they charge by the number of people at the table. For example, if there are 4 people, but only 3 play while one watches but does not play, the charge is for 4 persons. If 3 are at the table but only 2 play, the charge is for 3, etc...

Once we knew this was the rule at this place, we only go with people that will play.

that's harsh...... But i've seen it before. Usually in busy rooms, where the counter person can't keep track of who is actually playing.

I only charge for people that are going to be playin, but can understand the policy in a big/busy room.

 

[Lea A]

Hmmm...yeah, I'd expect to pay for three players unless I'm at my home room and the bartender is doing me and my pals a favor.

 

[mbvl]

There were three people at the table. They play the three person rate. I've been in alot of poolrooms and it's always like that......

Now that i run a room, i understand why. It's called rent, electric, cable, phone, gas, and payroll.

Now that you run a room perhaps you can explain why room owners charge like this. A table is a table. What difference does it make how many players there are? Rent, electric, etc. don't depend on how many players there are.

I'm serious. I think charging by the number of players is gouging, and I think it's just plain wrong. Car rentals don't ask how many people are going to ride in the car. DVD rentals don't ask how many people are going to watch the movie.

One table is one table. The room owners should go out of their way to get as many people playing as possible.

Mark

 

[Lea A]

It does seem wrong, but the "per-person" practice is certainly not specific to pool rooms...think movie theaters, plains, trains, and even hotel rooms, to some extent...

 

[snipershot]

Now that you run a room perhaps you can explain why room owners charge like this. A table is a table. What difference does it make how many players there are? Rent, electric, etc. don't depend on how many players there are.

I'm serious. I think charging by the number of players is gouging, and I think it's just plain wrong. Car rentals don't ask how many people are going to ride in the car. DVD rentals don't ask how many people are going to watch the movie.

One table is one table. The room owners should go out of their way to get as many people playing as possible.

Mark

The thing is, all three were playing in the hour, maybe not all at once, but they all played some pool each hour. If they want to play that way, they might as well get on a coin op table to avoid any further confusion. Like Marcus said, they could have played a different game where each player got more playing time per hour, or like another poster said, get another table. When Im playing with two of my friends, I get another set of balls for the table next to us so I can play while Im waiting. I spend 50-100 a week at my local pool room, and my only complaint is that they are not open late enough for me to spend more! lol! For the record, I am not a room owner, nor do I want to be one.



Joe

 

[rhncue]

The thing is, all three were playing in the hour, maybe not all at once, but they all played some pool each hour. If they want to play that way, they might as well get on a coin op table to avoid any further confusion. Like Marcus said, they could have played a different game where each player got more playing time per hour, or like another poster said, get another table. When Im playing with two of my friends, I get another set of balls for the table next to us so I can play while Im waiting. I spend 50-100 a week at my local pool room, and my only complaint is that they are not open late enough for me to spend more! lol! For the record, I am not a room owner, nor do I want to be one.



Joe

Same here. The room I usually go to now charges per player that will be playing no matter if only two are playing or not. A room I used to manage charged by the hour per person but only for the amount of people who were playing at the same time. If I'm in the wrong mood and there are three of us and only two will be playing at a time we sometimes get 3 tables, two to play on and one to sit the cases on.

Dick

 

[CAR22]

Does any one know how it is at wade crans place in doltan ga

 

[frankncali]

Owners should take the guess work out of it and make it less likely that
any arguement or misunderstanding takes place.

If I had a room I would have a single player rate and then a 2 or more rate.


One goal of every room should be to get larger sets of people coming into their room. Gets some girls in those groups and your golden.

If never fails that 2 people have a table and call some friends. They meet there and one of them wants to play one game or two. No need to charge a 3 person rate.

Personally I would have thanked them for coming and gave them the 2 player rate.

Theres not too many reasons to upset a customer especially right now.

 

[poolplayer2093]

Last night I was playing in a match at a place unfamiliar to me, meaning I didn't know anyone there.

Three guys rented a table near to where I was playing. They were playing eight ball and the winner stayed on the table with the loser sitting down waiting for the next game to end. In other words there were only two players at the table at any given time.

When it came time to pay they were being charged at the three player rate. The person at the counter was well aware of the way they were playing but still insisted on the three person charge. Personally I think they should have been charged at the rate for only two persons. They eventually paid for the three but not happy campers. What do you think?

Are you serious? No really i gotta know this is like a joke thread right?

what if there're only 2 people playing at a table. there's only one person shooting on the table at a time

3 people came in as a group and played together on the table that's how many get charged.

how do you feel about all you can eat resturants? if a family of 5 goes to one is it ok for them to only pay for 1 plate and everyone just shares the food on it?

 

[whitw]

how do you feel about all you can eat resturants? if a family of 5 goes to one is it ok for them to only pay for 1 plate and everyone just shares the food on it?

I feel this is a poor analogy, as a family of 5 would eat (roughly) 5 times the amount of food as 1 person. On the other hand, 5 players playing ring or scotch or king-of-the-hill on a pool table will not create 5 times the cloth wear, or power bill, etc.

My city has only 2 or 3 good rooms and they all charge for the table, at a fairly premium rate ($9-10/hr), regardless of the number of players.

 

[marek]

no per-person charge here

As far as I know no poolhall in my country (Czech Republic,Europe) charges table time on per-person basis. Always simple table time rate no matter how many players there are at the table. I dont see any reason why should anyone use per-person charge - it is always ONE player shooting at a time! Anyway the more players in the poolhall the higher income in food and beverages so I think it is wise to encourage more players to come, not to discourage them by increasing the rate by per-player principle. On the other hand its always function of the offer and the demand... :smile:

 

[BogeyFree]

There were three people at the table. They play the three person rate. I've been in alot of poolrooms and it's always like that......

Now that i run a room, i understand why. It's called rent, electric, cable, phone, gas, and payroll.

The room owner didn't tell them to play "king of the hil". They could have played "cut throat" or "chicago" it was their choice.

My rates are all per person, per hour (except my specials)

if you go to a bowling alley, and rent a lane by the hour, you pay per person.

Pool is still one of the cheapest nights out that friends or couples can have. It amazes me, that poolplayers are always upset about paying for something. I get regulars that come in, and aren't going to play that day, but they have no problem drinking the free coffee, or asking for a fresh pot even if they aren't playing.

I run a pool room too and agree 100% with what you just said.

 

[FAST_N_LOOSE]

now that you run a room perhaps you can explain why room owners charge like this. A table is a table. What difference does it make how many players there are? Rent, electric, etc. Don't depend on how many players there are.

I'm serious. I think charging by the number of players is gouging, and i think it's just plain wrong. Car rentals don't ask how many people are going to ride in the car. Dvd rentals don't ask how many people are going to watch the movie.

One table is one table. The room owners should go out of their way to get as many people playing as possible.

Mark

so should i charge like there is always 4 people on the table? Or 8 people on a table?

If you do the math, if rooms only charges for 1 person say 5-8 dollars per hour, there would be no pool rooms!

A golf course doesn't care if there is 1 guy or a foursome, but if there is a foursome, you better believe they are all paying (and not crying about it)

golf, bowling, roller skating, ice skating, mini-golf......etc, etc.... They all charge per person.

This thread is just more proof to show that poolplayers will whine about anything. Table time, a spot in a set, "a bad roll", the other guys "luck", the free coffee not being fresh enough........ I've heard em all.

 

[FAST_N_LOOSE]

as far as i know no poolhall in my country (czech republic,europe) charges table time on per-person basis. Always simple table time rate no matter how many players there are at the table. I dont see any reason why should anyone use per-person charge - it is always one player shooting at a time! Anyway the more players in the poolhall the higher income in food and beverages so i think it is wise to encourage more players to come, not to discourage them by increasing the rate by per-player principle. On the other hand its always function of the offer and the demand... :smile:

a pool room with a bar is a different animal (to some extent)

i'm referring to rooms without a bar. (although even with a bar, i would still most likely charge per person per hour)