For a pro shop, is an electronic-constant-pull machine expected?

[Hawks9451]

I'm looking to open a small racquet shop and my current machine is a lockout. Is a Baiardo or similar equipment expected? I would like to offer a comparable or superior service to most shops and think, from what I've read, that consistency is easier with an eCP.

Also, bit of a medium shot, but could @Irvin or anyone else familiar with the USA Tourna rep clue me in on pricing for a 700 or 850? I'd imagine that drop-ship pricing through retailers isn't the best deal available in this sector.

 

[esgee48]

There’s nothing wrong about seeing a LO in pro shop. Ref tension is just a number. It will vary be stringer and stringing machine. I actually trust guys with LO more cuz they can’t fiddle with all the options on an eCP.

Having said that, what’s the matter with a Wise tensioner?

If speed or volume is a concern, LO is a lot faster than any machine out there.

 

[ryohazuki222]

Unless you have to put the stringer in the shop for practical reasons like only one person stringing and watching the shop, I think stringers are better placed in a back room. If so, doesn’t matter. Very few people know anything about stringing.

if you already have a rep for being a good stringer the machine won’t matter much.

to a certain extent it also depends on your pricing strategy. Hard to pull off being the premium cost option with a ratty looking machine on display in the show room floor, ya know?

ive never really gotten the “business case” for the more expensive machines. Would love to learn though. How long is it taking to re coup that sunk cost?

take the extra money and get a briffidi and add customization services. Put the briffidi in the back room too. Best money you’re going to make is by getting folks addicted to tinkering.

 

[esgee48]

The tennis center I play at has amateurs using a Baiardo and they are very slow when using it. They seem to have a different person stringing every time I check in at the front desk. Not sure how anyone can get consistent results when 2 frames are dropped off. Not accusing them of bad string jobs but if 2 frames are done by 2 different stringers at different times, unsure if you can get the same feel. If I receive multiple frames I try to do them in the same stringing session

 

[Irvin]

I'm looking to open a small racquet shop and my current machine is a lockout. Is a Baiardo or similar equipment expected? I would like to offer a comparable or superior service to most shops and think, from what I've read, that consistency is achievable more readily with a constant-puller versus a lockout (less fiddling, multiple pulls, etc.).

Wish I could find a used Babolat Sensor. Like the way they look a lot. Not so dreary and all-black.

Also, bit of a medium shot, but could @Irvin or anyone else familiar with the USA Tourna rep clue me in on pricing for a 700 or 850? I'd imagine that drop-ship pricing through retailers isn't the best deal available in this sector. Those Tourna machines do look nice, although the lack of an auto brake on the 700 gives concerns reminiscent of my misgivings with my current machine (freely spinning table while weaving crosses). Any help on this front would be supremely welcome and appreciated.

What machine are in your area that you will be competing for service with? If they are mostly eCP machine you should get an eCP. In you want a contact that will give you wholesale pricing start a conversation with me.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

I ran a pro shop for 15+ years and used a NEOS for every single one of those string jobs.

Remember you are in this to make $. My love for tennis didn't pay the rent.

my experienced tips:
1- set up your machine in a high customer traffic area. When a customer walks in and you are stringing a racquet, that's an easy lead to stringing their frame and conversation starter.

2- I have had maybe fewer than 10 customers EVER notice my machine and care if it was a LO versus electric. LOL at thinking that makes a difference for the average Joe player. Remember, the bulk of your clients are 3.0.

3- Good tip above about offering customizing services if your clientele looks for it.

4. MARGIN MARGIN MARGIN. I got out of the pro shop business because I couldn't compete anymore with online. A majority of players didn't care what brand or heck even what type of string to use. Find a brand that is offering you better margins on reels and equipment.

 

[Rabbit]

@Cobra Tennis - thanks for the dose of reality! My best friend runs the largest tennis shop in our state. He has always owned/used NEOS 1000s for the reasons you state. He has always had a great effect on me. I read stuff on the boards and get all excited and he says "Yeah....and does it make a difference to a 3.0?". I own a Mighty Sensor, but I do this as a hobby.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

@Cobra Tennis - thanks for the dose of reality! My best friend runs the largest tennis shop in our state. He has always owned/used NEOS 1000s for the reasons you state. He has always had a great effect on me. I read stuff on the boards and get all excited and he says "Yeah....and does it make a difference to a 3.0?". I own a Mighty Sensor, but I do this as a hobby.

Hah! Stringing as a hobby and stringing for business are two different animals for sure. Nothing wrong with a high end machine, but my kids gotta eat too!

Those landlords want their $, they don't care if you using a Bairdo or a klippermate!

 

[struggle]

Our local public tennis center has a nice new Bairdo, but they suck at stringing.

If you want smiling crosses, they are your go to "shop". So.......discerning clients will know, no matter the machine.

We have one MRT in town (he has a true stringing business at home), then a few other stringers who are just as good.

 

[PURETENNISsense]

I ran a pro shop for 15+ years and used a NEOS for every single one of those string jobs.

Remember you are in this to make $. My love for tennis didn't pay the rent.

my experienced tips:
1- set up your machine in a high customer traffic area. When a customer walks in and you are stringing a racquet, that's an easy lead to stringing their frame and conversation starter.

2- I have had maybe fewer than 10 customers EVER notice my machine and care if it was a LO versus electric. LOL at thinking that makes a difference for the average Joe player. Remember, the bulk of your clients are 3.0.

3- Good tip above about offering customizing services if your clientele looks for it.

4. MARGIN MARGIN MARGIN. I got out of the pro shop business because I couldn't compete anymore with online. A majority of players didn't care what brand or heck even what type of string to use. Find a brand that is offering you better margins on reels and equipment.

This is Gold! and 100% true. Thanks for sharing!

 

[brownbearfalling]

What services do you intend to provide with your shop?

If it is a stringing only shop, maybe consider upgrading your machine. Budget in all the inventory that you want to carry and over head costs. You might even consider getting an RDC if you want to go down that route. Like others said major of tennis players aren’t enthusiasts and wouldn’t know the difference between machines. It more of the skill of the person stringing. Also and electronic machine doesn’t have to be expensive. The gamma ELS and X ELS are $1700 and $1800. A NEOs 1000 cost $1800. For a solid machine I would recommend the gamma XLT. It has a linear tensioner. $2300. Cheaper than a NEOs + wise head set up

if you plan inventorying everything tennis, you’ll need lots of capital to have everything and money left over to consider a new machine. I say that because most tennis equipment have very poor margins. Racquets and balls especially. Clothing has better margin but doesn’t sell at high volume. At least in my experience.

 

[guanzishou]

My tennis club is one of the largest and most active tennis clubs in the city, and it only has a drop weight stringing machine in their pro shop !!!!!!

 

[esgee48]

What type of DW? A Stringway?

 

[USMC-615]

I ran a pro shop for 15+ years and used a NEOS for every single one of those string jobs.

Remember you are in this to make $. My love for tennis didn't pay the rent.

my experienced tips:
1- set up your machine in a high customer traffic area. When a customer walks in and you are stringing a racquet, that's an easy lead to stringing their frame and conversation starter.

2- I have had maybe fewer than 10 customers EVER notice my machine and care if it was a LO versus electric. LOL at thinking that makes a difference for the average Joe player. Remember, the bulk of your clients are 3.0.

3- Good tip above about offering customizing services if your clientele looks for it.

4. MARGIN MARGIN MARGIN. I got out of the pro shop business because I couldn't compete anymore with online. A majority of players didn't care what brand or heck even what type of string to use. Find a brand that is offering you better margins on reels and equipment.

Spot on post!

 

[Hawks9451]

I ran a pro shop for 15+ years and used a NEOS for every single one of those string jobs.

Remember you are in this to make $. My love for tennis didn't pay the rent.

my experienced tips:
1- set up your machine in a high customer traffic area. When a customer walks in and you are stringing a racquet, that's an easy lead to stringing their frame and conversation starter.

2- I have had maybe fewer than 10 customers EVER notice my machine and care if it was a LO versus electric. LOL at thinking that makes a difference for the average Joe player. Remember, the bulk of your clients are 3.0.

3- Good tip above about offering customizing services if your clientele looks for it.

4. MARGIN MARGIN MARGIN. I got out of the pro shop business because I couldn't compete anymore with online. A majority of players didn't care what brand or heck even what type of string to use. Find a brand that is offering you better margins on reels and equipment.

Thank you for your excellent post. If you'd like, could you go into more detail about your decision to exit the industry? It seems like the retail, non-service-based aspect of pro shops (soft goods) has been boxed out by online.

 

[struggle]

Problem with soft goods is no one can stock enough variety to compete with online.

I can order 6 pairs of shoes from TW (different brands even), pick the pair(s) i like and send the rest back, all at zero penalty to me.

Shop scenario is maybe 2-3 brands, limited sizes, etc......

Our town had a shop until recently, but the stringer was terrible and overly confident in his lack of skill (most folks were clueless to this, of course).

They were limited in selection, etc.

Now, as much as it pains me..........to succeed these days you'll need to cater to Pickleball, IMO. Some folks have a problem with that (understandably)
but someone else is gonna be taking that money.

 

[USMC-615]

Problem with soft goods is no one can stock enough variety to compete with online.

I can order 6 pairs of shoes from TW (different brands even), pick the pair(s) i like and send the rest back, all at zero penalty to me.

Shop scenario is maybe 2-3 brands, limited sizes, etc......

Our town had a shop until recently, but the stringer was terrible and overly confident in his lack of skill (most folks were clueless to this, of course).

They were limited in selection, etc.

Now, as much as it pains me..........to succeed these days you'll need to cater to Pickleball, IMO. Some folks have a problem with that (understandably)
but someone else is gonna be taking that money.

Excellent point about the pickleball folks...no sense in leaving that coin on the table for someone else to pocket.

 

[jim e]

Even though most players have no clue about stringing, that it is the stringer more important than the machine, when someone walks into a shop and sees a high end machine, it presents a wow factor and gives more credibility to the shop stringer, even though he may be inept.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

Thank you for your excellent post. If you'd like, could you go into more detail about your decision to exit the industry? It seems like the retail, non-service-based aspect of pro shops (soft goods) has been boxed out by online.

Struggle hit the nail on the head. Ordering and keeping inventory is expensive and hard to move. Folks can walk in the shop, see an item, pull out their phone and have it delivered to them tomorrow for 10-20% less.

Tennis is a niche community. Beginners don't typically walk in the shop and purchase a $200 frame. They go to Wal-Mart for a $20 frame.

Pickleball the last couple of years has really gained steam so I tried to keep a little pickle ball equipment too. Don't want to leave $ on the table!

How many Pure Drive Lites in a grip size 1 should you keep in stock? what about grip size 2? 3? 4? Trying to keep just 1 in each grip size is $600 out your pocket real fast. Now combine that with about 10 other frames you probably keep on the shelf and boom, there's $10,000 sitting there.

Shoes are the worst. So many different sizes and then every 6 months a new version comes out and you're left holding the bag on old stock that you have to sell for basically what you paid for it. Also, I can't discount things the way an online retailer can or I lose my tail fast.

Then throw in all the little things--grips, dampeners, socks, etc and you can see that you'll easily have thousands of dollars sitting on the floor not moving.

I was somewhat fortunate in that I was teaching + running the pro shop for the club and got to take home 80% teaching and 50% pro shop profit. Lots of different arrangements between you and the facility you are using. There were some winter and vacation months the pro shop didn't generate hardly any income.

Probably the biggest pain the last few years was brands requiring minimum $ orders to keep the margin level decent. Back in the Andy Roddick days, a Babolat frame was about $100 from my rep and I sold for around MSRP. As years went by I would have to order 15+ racquets at a time to be in good standing and get better prices.

 

[guanzishou]

What type of DW? A Stringway?

Similar to this one:

 

[esgee48]

That’s the type of DW rec stringers generally use cuz it is slow. A Stringway auto DW is much faster since it pulls ref tension at angles that can be non-horizontal.

 

[Hawks9451]

I have a Stringway MS140 on a stand. Only problem I have with this setup is the flying clamps. I find them ergonomic, and I can get consistent results using them with a starting clamp, but I think my dynamic tension is less than a fixed clamp machine with eCP.

 

[lwto]

Unless you have to put the stringer in the shop for practical reasons like only one person stringing and watching the shop, I think stringers are better placed in a back room. If so, doesn’t matter. Very few people know anything about stringing.

if you already have a rep for being a good stringer the machine won’t matter much.

to a certain extent it also depends on your pricing strategy. Hard to pull off being the premium cost option with a ratty looking machine on display in the show room floor, ya know?

ive never really gotten the “business case” for the more expensive machines. Would love to learn though. How long is it taking to re coup that sunk cost?

take the extra money and get a briffidi and add customization services. Put the briffidi in the back room too. Best money you’re going to make is by getting folks addicted to tinkering.

10 racquets per day..took 20 days to pay off Babolat Sensor($2000.00 used}.. around there. and believe me, it was only the stringer manning the shop and doing the stringing. I doubt most tennis shops could afford a dedicated stringer. People like to see electronic stringers..

 

[esgee48]

I have a Stringway MS140 on a stand. Only problem I have with this setup is the flying clamps. I find them ergonomic, and I can get consistent results using them with a starting clamp, but I think my dynamic tension is less than a fixed clamp machine with eCP.

If you get consistent repeatable results, that is all that matters. Clients want something with certain characteristics. If you can do the parts I described, they can just change their ref tension. If you do several frames at the same time and the DT etc is off between those frames, you will have trouble keeping repeat clients. Repeatable and consistent should be a stringer’s motto.

 

[ryohazuki222]

10 racquets per day..took 20 days to pay off Babolat Sensor($2000.00 used}.. around there. and believe me, it was only the stringer manning the shop and doing the stringing. I doubt most tennis shops could afford a dedicated stringer. People like to see electronic stringers..

I don’t understand this math. You’ve gotta break it down more for me.

 

[esgee48]

2000 / 200 is $10 per frame.

 

[Hawks9451]

I don’t understand this math. You’ve gotta break it down more for me.

the trick is getting a used babolat sensor for 2k. It's like when my grandpa bought a house for 40k.

 

[ryohazuki222]

2000 / 200 is $10 per frame.

So?

 

[ryohazuki222]

the trick is getting a used babolat sensor for 2k. It's like when my grandpa bought a house for 40k.

Ya. Stringing machines don’t seem to depreciate after a certain point. And weirdly sometimes they manage to appreciate. Assuming reliability isn’t a problem though…

but that’s not what’s tripping me up. Other than, comparing used crank to used sensor. Used crank would be cheaper. Still not seeing where the more expensive machine makes up for the additional cost of the machine itself.

 

[Hawks9451]

So?

-$2000 overhead
$10 svc rate, 10 volume/day is $100/day. $100 x 20days = $2000.
slippage for commercial utilities bill, retail storefront lease (or mortgage), opportunity cost, etc.

 

[Hawks9451]

Ya. Stringing machines don’t seem to depreciate after a certain point. And weirdly sometimes they manage to appreciate. Assuming reliability isn’t a problem though…

but that’s not what’s tripping me up. Other than, comparing used crank to used sensor. Used crank would be cheaper. Still not seeing where the more expensive machine makes up for the additional cost of the machine itself.

I think a clean-looking crank might be the way to go, insofar as the perceived value for an electro is negligible

 

[ryohazuki222]

so stringing labor is free in this scenario? Really easy to pay off fixed costs when I’m not paying for the labor to use the tool.

 

[Hawks9451]

so stringing labor is free in this scenario? Really easy to pay off fixed costs when I’m not paying for the labor to use the tool.

Think it’s a sole proprietor situation

 

[Slicehand]

Hand made, big payed, make it a natural and organic shop

 

[ryohazuki222]

Think it’s a sole proprietor situation

I mean that’s definitely not paying the stringer off.

 

[dak95_00]

I found myself in a discussion the other day. I was saying it was nearly impossible to make $80k/year stringing. By making, I meant profiting. It seems this thread is backing up my claim. I’m sure the other guy, who is NEVER wrong, will chime in.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I understand math. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s VERY improbable.

On this topic of machines…..
Regular people do not care! Most have never seen a stringing machine. They’ve never even seen someone string a racquet. You could be using a Klippermate right next to someone using a Baiardo and they might start asking questions or just admire your craftsmanship. We, the people on this forum, ARE NOT regular tennis people. We aren’t remotely close to regular tennis people. Out of the 100 league players I know, maybe 8 string. Maybe another 8 have strung. None brag about their machines. Maybe 1 out of the 8 will talk about stringing from time to time. The other 92 just hand their racquets over and accept them back TRUSTING we did something right. I swear I could string most of their racquets 20 lbs looser and they would just think they finally found a nice, comfortable string combination.

My pickiest clients are the 80 year olds looking to regain the spin and power they had in their 60s. They’ll buy and try anything; racquets, strings, grips, lead tape, etc. It breaks my heart to send them to the pickleball courts.

 

[guanzishou]

That’s the type of DW rec stringers generally use cuz it is slow. A Stringway auto DW is much faster since it pulls ref tension at angles that can be non-horizontal.

I don't use the stringer service at my tennis club, because the stringers are usually teenagers or high school students and they don't do consistent stringing jobs.

Before I have my own stringing machine, I usually went to a Sports Shop Warehouse where they have a very good tennis section. The stringers there use a high end electric Head stringing machine. They always do consistent stringing jobs. Now that I have my own machine I don't need to go there anymore.

 

[Trinity110]

We, the people on this forum, ARE NOT regular tennis people. We aren’t remotely close to regular tennis people. Out of the 100 league players I know, maybe 8 string.

This is so, so accurate. I know very few players who think much about string. They restring due to some spasm of electrical activity in their brain, absolutely random. They can't remember their tension, they aren't aware of what string is used. (even my teaching pro says "some poly; I like it")

And guilty as charged, I played for TEN YEARS (age 47-57) before I had my racquet restrung! Local chop has a lockout. It could've been a defibrillator for all I knew! Looked like a stringing machine, had a tennis racquet on it, end of thought process. To their credit, they saw an older player and used 17g synthetic gut. No upselling. I started getting it done regularly, saw the cost, and soon got a Klippermate. Now I have a Gamma X 6 FC, have read tons, have bookmarked sites of string characteristics, blah blah. String for all my friends, none of whom care a whit about what I know.

We aren't the norm. Keep the shop clean. Keep the machine clean and in use, even to the point of stringing a nothing racquet with nylon so pass through traffic thinks, "Maybe MY racquet should be restrung." Those people are out there. I was one once!

 

[USMC-615]

Got to thinking about something concerning costs...about the only vids on the YouTubes that I can really think of is ol' TennisSpin's, as most of his vids are from inside his tennis shop. I wouldn't want to even attempt to take a stab at what he has shelled out/floorplanned, etc for all the various merchandise in his shop...it's got to be wayyy on up there in cost. Then throw in store lease/rental, utilities, insurance, payroll, etc, etc, etc...it's amazing anyone can operate and stay afloat with the online/drop-ship gigs they got out there nowadays. Hand salute to anyone who can do it.

 

[Irvin]

it's amazing anyone can operate nowadays and stay afloat with the online/drop-ship gigs they got out there nowadays. Hand salute to anyone who can do it.

A group of 10 shops here in the metro area gives free stringing with a racket purchase, except for natural gut. Buy your racket from a drop-ship store and you save from driving to get your racket but you still pay sales tax and the cost of stringing. And the quality is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. All stores that sell rackets must charge MAP.

 

[Rabbit]

I'm looking to open a small racquet shop and my current machine is a lockout. Is a Baiardo or similar equipment expected? I would like to offer a comparable or superior service to most shops and think, from what I've read, that consistency is easier with an eCP.

Also, bit of a medium shot, but could @Irvin or anyone else familiar with the USA Tourna rep clue me in on pricing for a 700 or 850? I'd imagine that drop-ship pricing through retailers isn't the best deal available in this sector.

Here's my take on your question. First, I hope you have an area with some demand as tennis is down as a sport in the States.

Past that, my take is your key is how well you deliver. If you can produce a quality string job -- one that the customer is happy with, not Roger Federer! -- and you can do so in a reasonable time period, then you should be OK with a lockout. I string at home. What I do to differentiate myself is:

1. I do good work -- if a customer ever has a complaint, I offer to restring for free. I've never had anyone abuse this policy. My customers are my best advertisement as they tell other people my work is consistent and quality.
2. I go the extra mile -- if someone comes to me and wants a hybrid with synthetic gut, I'll kick in the synthetic gut as part of my labor cost. For all my customers who use an overgrip, I replace it for free with what they are using. I ensure that the grip looks good -- is taper cut and taped with finishing tape. I also will replace an overgrip anytime they request it for free.
3. I back my work up. If I make a mistake, I pay for it. I have zero problem doing something for free if I messed up. I take pride in what I do.
4. I turn work around overnight or give a date it will be ready and don't miss. If I say a racket is ready by this date, by golly by gum it is.
5. I keep records for my customers so they know when it was strung, with what string and at what tension. I do this with a spreadsheet that I can also access on my phone so I can answer them anytime.

I should note that it's fun for me, not a job.

If you have a lockout and feel an eCP is a necessity, you could always go the Wise route. I used one for ten or so years and strung a bunch of tournaments using it. It was really handy because I could use the venue's stringing body and still get the eCP benefit. If you're doing it for a living, an eCP will save wear and tear on you! They're just easier to string with.

 

[struggle]

A group of 10 shops here in the metro area gives free stringing with a racket purchase, except for natural gut. Buy your racket from a drop-ship store and you save from driving to get your racket but you still pay sales tax and the cost of stringing. And the quality is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. All stores that sell rackets must charge MAP.

The quality of stringing at Atlanta area shops (or any other stringers, for that matter) is like a box of chocolates whether free or not.
You're area just happens to have alot.

That's why many shops are tricky, unless there is only one person on the machine. Even then, some stringers might contradict themselves
from one week to the next. You just never know what you're gonna get. Consistency is key, of course.

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

My shop currently makes use of 3 distinctly different stringing machines. Customers, for the most part, could care less what machine is used. As stated in this thread, delivering consistently accurate string jobs is the key.

Customers should probably be more interested in the type of post stringing stringbed measuring devices and processes that are used in order to measure and quantitatively verify consistency.

 

[struggle]

My shop currently makes use of 3 distinctly different stringing machines. Customers, for the most part, could care less what machine is used. As stated in this thread, delivering consistently accurate string jobs is the key.

Customers should probably be more interested in the type of post stringing stringbed measuring devices and processes that are used in order to measure and quantitatively verify consistency.

Why 3 distinctively different machines? Like having a garage of vintage to supercar?

 

[USMC-615]

A group of 10 shops here in the metro area gives free stringing with a racket purchase, except for natural gut. Buy your racket from a drop-ship store and you save from driving to get your racket but you still pay sales tax and the cost of stringing. And the quality is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. All stores that sell rackets must charge MAP.

There are several 'franchisee-based' tennis shops in the Atlanta, Buckhead, Marietta Alpharetta areas, are there not?...I've been to a few shops in the metro and outlying areas albeit many years ago. I'm speaking more on the terms of a mom & pop shop. And as such, the horsepower you have to have, aka liquid assets, aka cold hard cash can be an absolute deal breaker on cranking up a shop. Many moons will pass before you ever even think about that thing called profit. Until such time as you can move volume from mfg's, etc, etc and start getting discounts and whatnot, it takes a boatload of funds to get rolling. Whether you sell a single item or 100 items in the first two weeks to thirty days, at minimum the two P's are coming...called Payroll and the Power bill, and both got to get paid. That's more so what I was getting at in my post.

And I'm sure many of the places there will sell under MAP in a NY minute, even if the little difference comes outta pocket. I wouldn't sweat the few dollars to keep a person coming back to my store for future purchases, in lieu of walking out and doing MAP business right down the street...it's the 'I need that purchaser a helluva lot more than they need me at that point' mentality. And doing other little things that'll keep them coming back as well...for example - free can of balls w/certain things, overgrip, etc, etc, etc...the little things that will get 'em right back in the door in the future when looking for racquets, attire, shoes, bags, strings/stringing services, you name it.

 

[Irvin]

There are several 'franchisee-based' tennis shops in the Atlanta, Buckhead, Marietta Alpharetta areas, are there not?...I've been to a few shops in the metro and outlying areas albeit many years ago. I'm speaking more on the terms of a mom & pop shop.

The 10 shops I’m talking about are not franchised shops but are owned by 1 Pop actually a grandPop now. He started stringing out of his garage as a 17 year old and opened his first store 2 years later. You won’t see these stores anywhere but in the Atlanta metro area. No franchises are available Or offered.

 

[Irvin]

And I'm sure many of the places there will sell under MAP in a NY minute, even if the little difference comes outta pocket.

If the manufacturer ever finds out the will lose the account.

 

[USMC-615]

If the manufacturer ever finds out the will lose the account.

Yes Irvin, if a mfg'r finds out there can be repercussions. But if the little money is made up on the back side of the transaction, it becomes a moot point. Don't ever think it hasn't been done a million times in the past, and will be done a million times in the future. It's called business!

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

Why 3 distinctively different machines? Like having a garage of vintage to supercar?

Haha. Not exactly like garage of toys. They all serve a purpose.

Main workhorse is a Baiardo. Backup in case of mechanical issues or power outage is an old LaserFibre drop weight (Stringway). Backup is good idea as Baiardo goes down once in a while and support from Wilson is virtually non existent. The third is currently an advanced prototype, not yet available to the public, that I am testing and evaluating for the manufacturer. This is partly why measuring outcomes is so important to me. I need to give my customers same stringbed when I decide to string on prototype or when main unit is down.

When customers visit and see me stringing on machine other than Baiardo, they don’t care. It doesn’t matter to them as long as their racquet performs as expected.

 

[ryushen21]

I'm looking to open a small racquet shop and my current machine is a lockout. Is a Baiardo or similar equipment expected? I would like to offer a comparable or superior service to most shops and think, from what I've read, that consistency is easier with an eCP.

Also, bit of a medium shot, but could @Irvin or anyone else familiar with the USA Tourna rep clue me in on pricing for a 700 or 850? I'd imagine that drop-ship pricing through retailers isn't the best deal available in this sector.

Is it necessary, no. The majority of players aren't that finicky about what kind of machine you are using. And they won't be able to tell the difference. A LO machine can be consistent and very reliable and the lower cost of purchase would save you on startup costs. There will be a small percentage of people who see its not an eCP and turn their nose up at it but they won't be the bulk of your clientele.

As far purchasing, I would go direct to a company like Tourna to set up a business/wholesale account. It was pretty easy to do when I set one up with my last school district but the process might be different with a for profit entity.