Pro shops closing

[Deleted member 15344]

Which, if you have the means, is great.
A significant number of Golfers don't have the kind of disposable income needed to play at Woburn and pay the prices in the shop. Saving 20 quid here and there can be the difference between being able to play and not being able to.
That's why they go to AG or online.

That's fine but then they shouldn't be surprised when pro shops start closing. They maybe a tenner or £20 more but they also add a personal touch and aftersale care for all items that can be sorted there and then

And I don't have that much disposable income

 

[Imurg]

That's fine but then they shouldn't be surprised when pro shops start closing. They maybe a tenner or £20 more but they also add a personal touch and aftersale care for all items that can be sorted there and then

And I don't have that much disposable income

But if they can't afford that extra 10 or 20 they're going somewhere else regardless of any extra service they may get.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

But if they can't afford that extra 10 or 20 they're going somewhere else regardless of any extra service they may get.

Then go somewhere elsewhere but again they won't have much ground to complain if the local club pro has to close his shop

 

[Pin-seeker]

As with any purchase if I can save £10-£20 by shopping around then I will. I wouldn't like to see pro shops closing but I don't owe them a living.
Tbh It never crosses my mind to buy balls,gloves,tees,grips from the Pro shop or AG as I know they're cheaper on eBay.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Then go somewhere elsewhere but again they won't have much ground to complain if the local club pro has to close his shop

Why are you assuming they'll complain? If they're not using the Pro shop then I can't see them been overly bothered.

 

[DAVEYBOY]

I look after number one and if I can get a driver for £50 less from AG or DG then its bad luck for the Pro shop.

 

[leaney]

It's the harsh reality of the world we live in. Shops of all kinds have and are going under because online shops can sell at a much cheaper rate. As a result more and more pros will cease to trade.

It means some job losses for the pros but the online trade has also generated jobs and who's to say a pro should be able to make money whereas someone starting an online shop shouldn't?

I understand the 'personal touch' that some like but the recent purchases I've made from Golf clubhouse have been great. Ordered one day, delivered the next and saved me around £50 that I've been able to spend on my daughter instead. And I believe if I were to have an issues with any if the products, they would resolve them (that's also why receipts and warranties were invented).

 

[markgs]

The pro in my golf course beat AG by 200 pounds on new titleist 714 and AG could not get anywhere near his price even refused to price match not that i would have bough them from AG anyway just wanted to get on there case. A lot of pro shops can get stuff at good prices its really down to them if they want to cut there profits a little they will stay open if not well go to AG. Simple really

 

[fundy]

We dont have a pro shop in the traditional sense. We have a shop, run by the clubs owners but theres very little in it bar the basics and some club logo'ed clothing and we have a couple of attached teaching pros (who also do club alterations, grips etc). Seems to work fine as a business model for our place and there is none of the implied need to "support the local pro", that said I do miss the days of having a proper pro shop at my home club, and can spend ages (and fortunes) in them if I ever go to a course that has a decent one!

 

[DAVEYBOY]

The pro in my golf course beat AG by 200 pounds on new titleist 714 and AG could not get anywhere near his price even refused to price match not that i would have bough them from AG anyway just wanted to get on there case. A lot of pro shops can get stuff at good prices its really down to them if they want to cut there profits a little they will stay open if not well go to AG. Simple really

Are you sure he didn't change the 712 to 714 on your new irons LOL :rofl:

 

[chrisd]

Our pro is just about to leave. We've had about 40 applicants and, I believe, are interviewing 6 of them this week. The retainer is about 20k BUT they get, shop for free, all profits on sales, a percentage of green fees, profit from winners vouchers when goods are purchased, about £50 an hour for lessons, ball sweep profits . I am sure that lot ads up to a pretty reasonable annual sum.

 

[Imurg]

Then go somewhere elsewhere but again they won't have much ground to complain if the local club pro has to close his shop

They won't complain - they don't care
For them to use the Pro shop the prices have to be the same or less. To do that the Pro has to slash his profit margin to the bone, often to the point of making little or no profit. That's why Pro shops close.
With everyday costs going up and wages generally static or dropping, if people can save a few bob they will.
Exactly the same principle as buying your milk from Tesco rather the milkman, or your meat from Sainsbury instead of the local butcher.
Had a Milko round the other day trying to drum up business. Unfortunately he's a few pence a pint more expensive than Tesco, to the point of £50 over a year.
Sorry but I can't afford to throw £50 away just because he brings it to my door when I'm going to the shop anyway.

 

[Robobum]

Our pro is just about to leave. We've had about 40 applicants and, I believe, are interviewing 6 of them this week. The retainer is about 20k BUT they get, shop for free, all profits on sales, a percentage of green fees, profit from winners vouchers when goods are purchased, about £50 an hour for lessons, ball sweep profits . I am sure that lot ads up to a pretty reasonable annual sum.

Just the 360 days + opening and £60k of initial stock to worry about then.

Next year, we'll be millionaires Rodney

 

[Deleted member 15344]

They won't complain - they don't care
For them to use the Pro shop the prices have to be the same or less. To do that the Pro has to slash his profit margin to the bone, often to the point of making little or no profit. That's why Pro shops close.
With everyday costs going up and wages generally static or dropping, if people can save a few bob they will.
Exactly the same principle as buying your milk from Tesco rather the milkman, or your meat from Sainsbury instead of the local butcher.
Had a Milko round the other day trying to drum up business. Unfortunately he's a few pence a pint more expensive than Tesco, to the point of £50 over a year.
Sorry but I can't afford to throw £50 away just because he brings it to my door when I'm going to the shop anyway.

It's all down to choice - I believe the local pro at your golf club is a valuable member that need supporting - yep it might be a little bit more over the year but it's worth it and he is always there and have managed to get a great deal of freebies from him plus get given regular testing with new clubs or the odd hour on the Flightscope or little tips when on the putting green , signing people in on a cheaper rate if a little early - lots of little things.

 

[chrisd]

Just the 360 days + opening and £60k of initial stock to worry about then.

Next year, we'll be millionaires Rodney

I didn't say it was easy, merely saying that they don't live on just the 20 grand retainer. To restock my business would cost in excess of 400k!

 

[Imurg]

It's all down to choice - I believe the local pro at your golf club is a valuable member that need supporting - yep it might be a little bit more over the year but it's worth it and he is always there and have managed to get a great deal of freebies from him plus get given regular testing with new clubs or the odd hour on the Flightscope or little tips when on the putting green , signing people in on a cheaper rate if a little early - lots of little things.

What "choice" do these people have?
"I have 50 quid. I need shoes. AG have AQLs at £49.99 or I can get them from the Pro but he wants to charge me £59.99"
Where's the choice..?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

What "choice" do these people have?
"I have 50 quid. I need shoes. AG have AQLs at £49.99 or I can get them from the Pro but he wants to charge me £59.99"
Where's the choice..?

Wait until you can get the extra tenner if you don't want to line the pockets of the big retailers and prefer to support the local pro.

You can go through every single different scenario but I would still feel the same go to the local pro - he will always try and do something for you.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Wait until you can get the extra tenner if you don't want to line the pockets of the big retailers and prefer to support the local pro.

You can go through every single different scenario but I would still feel the same go to the local pro - he will always try and do something for you.

So you'd wait longer & pay more for the same item

 

[Imurg]

Wait until you can get the extra tenner if you don't want to line the pockets of the big retailers and prefer to support the local pro.

You can go through every single different scenario but I would still feel the same go to the local pro - he will always try and do something for you.

But I need shoes now not in 2 weeks time.....
Not arguing about using the Pro if you can....but by going through the price match routine the Pro is cutting his margins.
If he has to keep cutting them he will eventually reach the point of losing money,at which point he will close.
You play at a big club, it has a lot of affluent members who won't worry about a driver costing 15 quid more than it would 10 miles away at AGMK. Your shop ain't gonna close.... Your Pro can price match to an extent but probably doesn't need to fully match them.
Less affluent clubs, with less affluent members who need cheaper deals, are the ones at risk.
And it's a significant number of Clubs and members in that position that is causing shops to close

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So you'd wait longer & pay more for the same item

Correct but I get a lot from my local pro that I couldn't get from a retailer.

But I know my pro would happily let me have the shoes then and there and pay the extra later when I could afford it - because it's all about the personal choice.