How Do They Make Any Money?

[Burnsey]

Golf Clubs 4 Cash

I recently got a new set of irons, basically swapping out the same as my current set, because I wanted the black finish (more money than sense, I know).

Price new was £1,350, bid is half that at £650.

They're used, obviously, to my spec (shaft/length/loft/lie/grip etc) and when the offer landed I was relatively pleased, but thought, do people buy a used set at this level - accepting they have to add some for profit, so at least £750 maybe?

Appreciate it must be a volume sales model, but can they make money after all other costs turning clubs at a few quid each?

I am going to pop over to my local store with them today and a couple of other clubs, as they tend to up their offer in person.

 

[Neilds]

When I sold a few clubs(3 wood and 2 hybrids) to cashforeclubs I saw them on the website for about £20 more than I got for them so I imagine that volume is the key, as well as quick turnover

 

[jim8flog]

If you have ever attended a Clubs for Cash purchasing session at your club or offered your clubs to a site that buys them you will realise what they buy them for and hence the mark up.

I have had quite a few sets from CFC over the years, current set came from them, some have been a great purchase some not so but found them great at sorting out problems, they must have a very big turnover. It is obvious that a lot of stuff they buy comes direct from manufacturers (lots of the same sets) which shows the manufacturers mark up.

 

[howbow88]

Golf Clubs 4 Cash

I recently got a new set of irons, basically swapping out the same as my current set, because I wanted the black finish (more money than sense, I know).

Price new was £1,350, bid is half that at £650.

They're used, obviously, to my spec (shaft/length/loft/lie/grip etc) and when the offer landed I was relatively pleased, but thought, do people buy a used set at this level - accepting they have to add some for profit, so at least £750 maybe?

In answer to your question - yes. It seems a bit bonkers to me too, but golf seemingly makes normal people act bonkers in their quest to play a little bit better.

And of course, new clubs (or some new second hand clubs) will definitely make people play better golf

And yes, lessons will help too. But has anyone looked at the cost of lessons recently? Best of luck to all the PGA pros out there, many of which work jolly hard, but I don't think I'll get a lesson again looking at the cost of them.

 

[Burnsey]

If you have ever attended a Clubs for Cash purchasing session at your club or offered your clubs to a site that buys them you will realise what they buy them for and hence the mark up.

I have had quite a few sets from CFC over the years, current set came from them, some have been a great purchase some not so but found them great at sorting out problems, they must have a very big turnover. It is obvious that a lot of stuff they buy comes direct from manufacturers (lots of the same sets) which shows the manufacturers mark up.

Yes, appreciate at the events, the club is flogging stuff, so the trade in point is often a ‘go on then’ situation.

In answer to your question - yes. It seems a bit bonkers to me too, but golf seemingly makes normal people act bonkers in their quest to play a little bit better.

And of course, new clubs (or some new second hand clubs) will definitely make people play better golf

And yes, lessons will help too. But has anyone looked at the cost of lessons recently? Best of luck to all the PGA pros out there, many of which work jolly hard, but I don't think I'll get a lesson again looking at the cost of them.

But a pro is making 100% profit in lessons, so to speak - he’s there, so why not be paid for it.

This example is buying at £x to sell at £x plus not much.

My club pro is £20 a half hour, with a session free if you pay for 4, so good value in my opinion.

Plus, he will play a 9 hole if he’s got time, which is the best lesson I find.

 

[howbow88]

^ I'm not critcising pro's at all for what they charge. If people are silly enough to pay high prices for them, good luck to them.

The prices you have quoted for your pro is so much cheaper than what we have near me But again, I don't blame any pro for maximising his time and expertise.

 

[Burnsey]

^ I'm not critcising pro's at all for what they charge. If people are silly enough to pay high prices for them, good luck to them.

The prices you have quoted for your pro is so much cheaper than what we have near me But again, I don't blame any pro for maximising his time and expertise.

It costs £x per hour to have your house cleaned, with no special skills - well, getting those floor tiles shiny is an art form and let's not talk double creases in shirts...

A pro should charge whatever the going rate is around their local area. Many doing it online now, which makes me laugh a little.

Decent pro's will always have a full diary.

 

[Imurg]

It always used to irk me that people would happily.y pay 40/50/60 quid or more per hour to learn how to play golf but would shudder at the prospect of paying 30 quid per hour to me to get their kids through the driving test with some expectation that they would have enough skill and knowledge to get though at least a few years driving before seriously damaging themselves.....
Priorities eh....

 

[Burnsey]

It always used to irk me that people would happily.y pay 40/50/60 quid or more per hour to learn how to play golf but would shudder at the prospect of paying 30 quid per hour to me to get their kids through the driving test with some expectation that they would have enough skill and knowledge to get though at least a few years driving before seriously damaging themselves.....
Priorities eh....

Absolutely. If I need a new putter, the kids don't eat Irrelevant to the subject at hand though.

As an aside, popped the GCFC offer on the club whatsapp group and they're gone. Maybe shows they make a decent 'trade no hassle' offer and that is effectively cheap to mere mortals.

The six hundred quid wasn't the aim here. If I had kept them, I'd not use the new ones and they take up space. No one likes losing seven ton, but to be fair, I'll no doubt have the 250's when they launch Good thing about being a Titleist fanboy, is they only change every two years.

 

[jim8flog]

Yes, appreciate at the events, the club is flogging stuff, so the trade in point is often a ‘go on then’ situation.

The last time GCfC came to our club members were queuing up around the car park to get a quote. With a lot selling their clubs, bags etc.
The only downside was that the money went on to your proshop account and not directly to you.

Picked myself up a good Vokey wedge and a different shaft for my driver when one person did not accept their price and I offered slightly more. They were a bit picky about what they would actually take but I suppose they know their market.

 

[Burnsey]

The last time GCfC came to our club members were queuing up around the car park to get a quote. With a lot selling their clubs, bags etc.
The only downside was that the money went on to your proshop account and not directly to you.

Picked myself up a good Vokey wedge and a different shaft for my driver when one person did not accept their price and I offered slightly more. They were a bit picky about what they would actually take but I suppose they know their market.

They offered me a pound for an old Mizuno 7 wood

I sold the shaft for £50.

The events they attend is in support of the pro shops, so only fair the funds go towards future purchases there. Many pro shops now use them solely and don’t bother sticking part exchanges. Guaranteed money before they work out the deal to swap.

 

[cliveb]

It always used to irk me that people would happily.y pay 40/50/60 quid or more per hour to learn how to play golf but would shudder at the prospect of paying 30 quid per hour to me to get their kids through the driving test with some expectation that they would have enough skill and knowledge to get though at least a few years driving before seriously damaging themselves.....
Priorities eh....

Have you considered the fact that driving a car is a much easier skill to acquire than playing golf?
Well, it is for me

 

[howbow88]

What's more important though?! I've never heard of anyone going to prison for hitting a big slice. It can happen if you drive like a tool and kill someone though.

 

[The Squirrel]

What's more important though?! I've never heard of anyone going to prison for hitting a big slice. It can happen if you drive like a tool and kill someone though.

People on adjacent fairways are in a lot more danger from my dodgy golf driving than anyone is from my hopefully more consistent road driving

 

[Golf is fun]

Have you considered the fact that driving a car is a much easier skill to acquire than playing golf?
Well, it is for me

It's also a numbers game. According to a quick google search there are roughly 38,000 registered driving instructors in the UK and 7,500 registered PGA professionals.
Also on the consumer side, to learn to drive you may have a lesson 1 or 2 times a week for 6 months, maybe more, whereas a golf lesson may be something you do once a month or less, and therefore is occurring much less frequently and so easier to justify spending more on it.

I'm not saying it's right, but it's just how the world works, you could apply it to many roles nurses v bankers, teachers v salesmen, refuse collectors v tech bros and on and on...

 

[Neilds]

This thread has taken one of the biggest tangent ever

 

[Springveldt]

This thread has taken one of the biggest tangent ever

Nearly every thread ends up on a tangent on here. It's pretty amazing.

 

[RichA]

To answer the original question...
I've done the "Sell Your Clubs" with them to get a quote and looked at identical sets or individual clubs that they are selling. What I saw was a 50-60% markup on the trade in prices, which seems reasonable for what they do.

 

[cliveb]

What's more important though?! I've never heard of anyone going to prison for hitting a big slice. It can happen if you drive like a tool and kill someone though.

It was a joke. I even remembered to add an emoji to make it obvious.