One of the things that I find fascinating about the golf business is the wide range of business models. I suspect that all of us clubmakers have found the niche that suits our business or "non-business" objectives. There is a line you have to cross when you move from being a serious hobbyist to doing it for a business, even part time. That line usually involves things like the IRS, sales tax, insurance, etc. I think it is more or less defined by the first time you sell something to someone who is not someone you knew before they bought clubs from you.
I don't see other folks as "competition". If they are c&g'ers, they can't produce the quality I do, and my customers know it. Even more important, a c&g'er doesn't have the fitting skills that I see as the critical difference. I tell potential customers if all they are looking for is cheap, go to Wal-Mart. Sam Walton's people will sell them something cheap that fits about as well as what they'll get from a c&g'er. Most of my referrals come from people who have already bought "premium" clubs from me, and they come through the door pretty much knowing what to expect. I have made the mistake of selling a few components, but I don't do that anymore.... Royce -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of sean weijand Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 2:42 AM To: Shop-Talk Mailing List Subject: ShopTalk: What is it worth? Unfortunately I'm not in the club making business but i do have an intense interest in golf and golf clubs. I have noticed the last few threads reading the statement that "I only charge $5.00-$10.00-.$15.00 per club. I paid (for my wife 11 'cap) well over that for her clubs (John Letters on SK fiber shafts). This was a PCS "A" Fitter (Bruce Chambers Vancouver B.C. Canada). We were looking for the best possible fit for her game. We could have gone OEM but there wouldn't have been a price advantage. Nor would their have been a quality / professional advantage. It strikes me that we must be the exception as standard customers from the responses i've read. Does leaving so much "on the table" make any sense? Despite enjoying Bernie's input and his obvious vast knowledge on clubmaking (I would gladly pay your green fee Bernie if you ever come to vancouver just to pick your brain for four hours) i question the low value he places on his services. If a hobbyist such as Bernie, who is an extremely well informed hobbyist, price themselves so far below the market because they are making "friends" or "just helping out the guys at the club" is biting into the "legit" market and forcing guys such as Dr Voo into selling bogus knockoffs to stay in business because the customers who are interested in a quality fitting / relationship with a club-maker are getting it from cheap knowledgeable "hobbyists" should they not re-visit their pricing structure. (boy that was one long sentence). If the OEM's have demonstrated there is a price point for some perceived performance I wonder why a professional clubmaker who is selling performance would create a situation where the pricing levels are expected to be considerably below the going rate. Being a contractor in the refrigeration business i guess i am used to always making an effort to drive the street level pricing higher. The only way we are able to do that is to offer more that the guy in a truck. To me that is what a clubmaker offers me. i can get the "guy in a truck" in a set of off the rack taylor made's. so after all this rambling the question I am looking for an answer to (in this slow golf season of winter) is do hobbyists have a responsibility to price their product to a level at least approaching that of a full-time clubmaker? I don't mean to make disparaging remarks about Mr Baymiller or Mr Voorhies I just use them as examples. (perhaps the cost of posting, (we get know who you are)). tks sean
