How do you buy strings?

[YULitle]

When you go to your local pro shop, retail outlet, or private stringer do you pay for string and then labor separately? OR has the person put the labor into the price of the string already?

I know that some of you might buy strings from TW and then have them strung locally, or even string them yourself. But, for those who buy string and get it strung at the same place, how do they sell the string to you?

 

[bucpride]

Before when I go to my local pro shop, the price of the string includes the labor already. If you bring your own string to them, they charged $10 for labor.

It is quite expensive buying from them though, I remember that Babolat Pro Hurricanes from them were $25...their cheapest is $15 for Prince synthetic gut.

 

[racquet_jedi]

The sucky Sports Authority nearby "includes the stringing in the price of the string"...

Unfortunately, they only carry 3 options and they sell for about $20, Prince Synthetic, Wilson Sensation, and Head Flexpoint strings...

What's worse is that they have a 74-hour turnaround service...

What's even worse was that even though their was a clear sign that said the price of labor was included in the price of the string, the sale guy still said that they charge for the labor...

Thank god the coach at the high school strings racquets for $15 using his own premium string reels...

 

[YULitle]

The sucky Sports Authority nearby "includes the stringing in the price of the string"...

Unfortunately, they only carry 3 options and they sell for about $20, Prince Synthetic, Wilson Sensation, and Head Flexpoint strings...

What's worse is that they have a 74-hour turnaround service...

What's even worse was that even though their was a clear sign that said the price of labor was included in the price of the string, the sale guy still said that they charge for the labor...

Thank god the coach at the high school strings racquets for $15 using his own premium string reels...

HAhahahah. Yeah. That's one of the downsides to contract stringing. The guy/gal that strings there probably strings at a few other SAs as well. Which drives up the turn-around time. I've heard of SAs where they threw a random employee on the stringing machine, with little to no experience. :shock: That's what you should fear the most. I wouldn't take my racket to a place where the stringer isn't there to help you, or willing to help you (some contract stringers won't even point you towards the restroom: "I don't work here.")

 

[TheShaun]

i buy from TW and then take to the stringer. but if i were to buy at the shop it would be cost of string plus labour.

 

[mattyc]

It's all about Dick's Sports stores.

When i lived in the states, I used to take my racquets and reel into them and they would string for free.

 

[HyperHorse]

I take the set of strings to the stringer, he opens the packet and then the strings fly out and entangle him...
Then he says "I hate poly strings!".

 

[YULitle]

I take the set of strings to the stringer, he opens the packet and then the strings fly out and entangle him...
Then he says "I hate poly strings!".

Must be Babolat. I think they may be the only manufacturer that doesn't zip tie their strings.

 

[JavierLW]

I buy my strings on Tennis Warehouse and take them to a local stringer.

 

[flyer]

Must be Babolat. I think they may be the only manufacturer that doesn't zip tie their strings.

Yeah and its the biggest pain in the arse in the history of the world,

anyway...i buy my strings from TW and string them on my newwww stringer

 

[Zachol82]

I want to send my racquet back to TW and have them string it for me...do they do that? :O!

 

[tbini87]

i buy my strings in reel form, then string them myself! the ultimate saving on stringing racquets!

 

[YULitle]

I think I may have to repost this with that option. I think the percentage of self-stringers here is very high. Should've been obvious at the start.

 

[pow]

Must be Babolat. I think they may be the only manufacturer that doesn't zip tie their strings.

Pro Supex Big Ace aren't zip tied either. I was wondering if my stringer made a mess when he opened it. :twisted:

 

[tzinc]

Seems to me the smart thing to do would be to buy the strings elsewhere off the net especially and then bring it in and have it done. It's cheaper that way.

 

[origmarm]

Where I have mine strung you pay for the string and then the labour. I usually bring my own string and order it off TW, the cost of string in the UK is RIDICULOUS, it's over double TW prices, I've seen Klip Legend over here for $65! PSGD for example is about $25. Even with the TW $35 shipping and the 12% import duty, if you buy enough at a time (I do two orders a year) it works out much better. Labour is $20 for stringing and they have a good stringer and a Babolat Sensor machine.

My feeling is the "stringing included" prices are just a way of charging more in the big stores as most decent players probably don't trust the stringers there anyhow. As YuLitle says, half the time it's some kid who has seen it done a few times.

 

[iplaybetter]

i do not buy string for others than myself unless they need it on request then i sell it for a small upcharg and then charge labor otherwise i charge 5 bucks for my house string

 

[Jonny S&V]

The sucky Sports Authority nearby "includes the stringing in the price of the string"...

Unfortunately, they only carry 3 options and they sell for about $20, Prince Synthetic, Wilson Sensation, and Head Flexpoint strings...

What's worse is that they have a 74-hour turnaround service...

What's even worse was that even though their was a clear sign that said the price of labor was included in the price of the string, the sale guy still said that they charge for the labor...

Thank god the coach at the high school strings racquets for $15 using his own premium string reels...

Yes, and if you just want to buy the string set alone, they'll still charge you the $20 for the set w/o labor. :?

 

[YULitle]

Yes, and if you just want to buy the string set alone, they'll still charge you the $20 for the set w/o labor. :?

At our shop we take that labor charge out, but it still comes out to a higher price than if you bought it on TW (not counting shipping.) I've been fighting them about this very thing since I started with the company over two years ago.

 

[Sliceboy2]

I buy strings everywhere where theres a good deal, that includes TW, and string by myself.

 

[quest01]

I usually buy my strings from TW then have the local pro shop string the racket. The cost of labor is $20 dollars unless you buy the strings from the pro shop but the price of the string at the pro shop I go to is almost twice as much. Now that I bought a stringer I don't have to worry about breaking strings or paying the $20 labor fee.