Handling gut has zero to do with the machine. Much more fragile gut was strung on much lesser machines in the past.
Is there a lower paying job than stringer?
- Thread starter Booger
- Start date
Handling gut has zero to do with the machine. Much more fragile gut was strung on much lesser machines in the past.
bobleenov1963
Hall of Fame
I don't think that is true. On expensive electronic machine, you have the pre-stretch function, 5%, 10%, 15%, etc... And many other things that you just you don't have on a cheap machine. Yes, it has a lot to do with the machine.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
You do realize, or maybe you don't, that natural gut preceded a stringing machine. Before stringing machines, natural gut was strung using dowels and awls. The first machines were drop weight types like the Serrano. Bjorn Borg had his rackets strung on a crank type machine and he played gut at 80 pounds. So once upon a time, there were no electronic machines and still natural gut was strung. BTW, pre-stretch has zero to do with the care and handling of natural gut.
I've strung gut on all the machines I've owned, a Tremont, a drop weight, a NEOS 1000, NEOS 1500, and of late the Babolat (Mighty) Sensor.
You're a bit out in left field.
what's the diff? i've strung natural gut several times with my klippermate
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Watched a guy patch NG by hand/wooden dowel in the 70s..................................................still have............................one somewhere, had after two marriageswhat's the diff? i've strung natural gut several times with my klippermate
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FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
I also think it's a perception of demand issue.
You would literally need to pay someone $100 to come to your house to change a light bulb.
The problem is that everyone understands that you need light. So, you pay.
I bet most Walmart racket players (91% of players) play with the same strings forever.
Maybe the other thing may be the pool of people who string.
Maybe a stringer at the tennis store is already there, just sitting there at the cash register doing nothing.
So, it costs the store nothing extra for labor of stringing, as it's subsidized by the already paid for labor.
So, they barely charge for it. Otherwise, I don't see how a store can be profitable charging $10 for a service
that takes 30-45 minutes when all is said and done. It takes several minutes just to ring out the customer.
It's not, but the $10 is all gravy, since the already getting paid worker is already just standing there doing nothing.
The other stringers are tennis nerds with day jobs who just string as a favor. If they relied on the income, they would not charge minimum wage. It's more like a favor.
So, it seems tennis stringing does not exist in a normal commercial labor marketplace, and that's why trades charge $150/hr and stringers get minimum wage.
You would literally need to pay someone $100 to come to your house to change a light bulb.
The problem is that everyone understands that you need light. So, you pay.
I bet most Walmart racket players (91% of players) play with the same strings forever.
Maybe the other thing may be the pool of people who string.
Maybe a stringer at the tennis store is already there, just sitting there at the cash register doing nothing.
So, it costs the store nothing extra for labor of stringing, as it's subsidized by the already paid for labor.
So, they barely charge for it. Otherwise, I don't see how a store can be profitable charging $10 for a service
that takes 30-45 minutes when all is said and done. It takes several minutes just to ring out the customer.
It's not, but the $10 is all gravy, since the already getting paid worker is already just standing there doing nothing.
The other stringers are tennis nerds with day jobs who just string as a favor. If they relied on the income, they would not charge minimum wage. It's more like a favor.
So, it seems tennis stringing does not exist in a normal commercial labor marketplace, and that's why trades charge $150/hr and stringers get minimum wage.
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Not in reality. My first string job was my own racquet, the old timer that taught me ( as I purchased his machine at that time) , said I may as well use my usual string that I hit with, which was an uncoated natural gut called Victor Imperial. Since he was standing right next to me, the job went real well. Told me since I strung the gut with no issues, said I should be able to string any string at that time. That was in 1968 on an automatic peddle drop weight called a Serrano machine. I strung a great deal of gut over the years on that old machine. It's not the machine as much as the stringer paying attention to details.
Radicalized
Professional
Ten years ago when I wrote a thread regarding stringing with the Gamma X-2, it was still $160. Today it is $330.
Occasionally, I'll get someone handling me a card at some of the courts. They don't even go as low as $15. And I doubt any of these guys spend time concerning themselves with everything that goes on in this section.
For me, it isn't for income, just myself and my family, generally.
Anyone around here has a whole lot of time and gas invested before they even get to the shop/store because everything is on the highways or packed away in some tennis-friendly towns. And they're still paying $20 or more for stringing.
By the way, how did I end up in another thread with Sureshs peddling pickleball? I thought at least this section would be safe. This was generally the safe(r) haven of the forum.
SpinControl
Rookie
It's not a valid argument to say you need to be paid more because it's not a steady gig. Plus benefits only happen for full time work, so part time nurses making $50/hr may not get benefits.
The charge is what the market will bear and what the rate is.
Sure, you can charge what you want, but no one has to pay it. You'll get undercut at every turn until those charging less feel that they need more to pay for time and materials. That is unless you're a wiz and Fed's personal stringer.
That said, with inflation we see today, bump it 20% to $18-$21, and people will understand. We all need to eat, and it's not like they're stringing weekly. Heck, even if they do, they're spending $5/daily Starbucks run.
Booger
Hall of Fame
Basically, anyone who charges less than $50/racquet should get their catalytic converter stolen, continuously until they up their pricing. Do you even business, bro? Rich people get that way by leaving a wake of blood behind them. If the market isn't being conducive for profit margins, it's time to manipulate the market.
In my hometown, it was known that every gas station owner in town would get together for breakfast every sunday at a local diner, and by sheer coincidence, the gas prices would be the same at every station on the following monday morning. I wonder what they always talked about.
WYK
Hall of Fame
Most shops have a stringer that works on salary - especially on-line retailers. Many retailers charge nothing for stringing to bring you in to their shop.
This is what kills and has killed stringing costs.
The only way to make money in this other than being a pro is to cater to the local club market.
These are people that often have an idea what they want or like, have maybe seen you string, and have more disposable income.
We intend to set up another pro shop next spring. Until then, I drag my stringer to the club so people can see and ask about it.
It's amazing how little people know about what goes in to stringing a racquet. The other day someone said 'Oh! So you have to WEAVE it?'
This is what kills and has killed stringing costs.
The only way to make money in this other than being a pro is to cater to the local club market.
These are people that often have an idea what they want or like, have maybe seen you string, and have more disposable income.
We intend to set up another pro shop next spring. Until then, I drag my stringer to the club so people can see and ask about it.
It's amazing how little people know about what goes in to stringing a racquet. The other day someone said 'Oh! So you have to WEAVE it?'
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Probably used to pre-strung racquets
As a youth, i used to hang out in a sailmakers loft on occasion.
That is/was some high tech weaving/stitchery. (This was 35-40 years ago).
Now, it's insane (sails, not wings).
Tennis hasn't changed much at all comparatively.
Just trying to keep the changing topics them going....
That is/was some high tech weaving/stitchery. (This was 35-40 years ago).
Now, it's insane (sails, not wings).
Tennis hasn't changed much at all comparatively.
Just trying to keep the changing topics them going....
SpinControl
Rookie
So you think tt.forum is the diner?
You're not reaching the masses.
The people that drive prices will be the popular stringing locations. D icks, TT, etc. Once they raise prices, then private stringers can follow. Until then, you're just talking and being frustrated.
It's not just the "rich people". Poor people shop at Walmart for a reason. Rich people mostly don't care and will pay it. Survey your clients and tell me whether they're rich or poor. If poor(er), then you have your answer. They will look for a bargain unless you offer something different (like convenience or a better job). THAT is business 101.
Oh, and collusion to fix prices is against the law. Most people frown on that. I'm sure you would too if you hate the gas prices in your town, so why promote immoral behavior. If stringing doesn't pay you a living wage...time to look for another job and do stringing as a hobby.
Booger
Hall of Fame
Bro the entire world is built on collusion and market manipulation. Business 101 now is capturing your customer into an ecosystem and extorting them for profit. e.g. BMW is trying to get all car makers to convert options like heated seats into a monthly charge. How smart is that?
Business ethics is just a lie told to poor people and insulin costs $400/bottle here lol.
SpinControl
Rookie
No doubt.
The supreme court made it clear that companies are like people so can throw money at pols.
Hence, we have two corrupt parties with greedy palms out for their monies.
Don't believe that any party is here for you.
They're here for themselves. Just look at their riches once they become pols. They're paid to be influencers even if they lose every election.