Demo Days

[Greenie]

is this the way it is now?

Hi guys. One of the highlights of the early season for me was always going to a local demo day. Hitting all the clubs from all the venders there was always a blast. Well a few years back this local course stopped doing it. I asked the manager last yr. if it was coming back and his reply was no. He said it only brought in 7 to 8 thousand dollars so the course decided it wasn't worth their time. I am not in the business so I am not sure what that means or how a demo day works. He didn't say profit so I geuss 8 thousand in sales isn't all that much.They always supplied the balls and had a sale price for the day on most clubs. I would think just the fact having it would bring in some future business. To show off the nice practice faciilty they have and maybe pick up a few rounds would count for something. I also would think it is beneficial for the club vendors. I know my purchases have been based off of demo days. Did I always buy right then?. No. But I did buy around 50% of the time right then. Not a bad deal to get the show special price.
How does a demo day work business wise guys?

Now on to is this the way it is now?
I went to a demo day yesterday. I had to drive 50 miles to get there. Not a real problem. I went there to try out the Cobra ZL. I asked for the 10.5 reg. voodoo..Not a strange request. The rep said he didn't think he had one..What ??? I know it is all about fitting now but I would think he would have an off the wall stock setup one for sure. Well he did have one so I waited to hit and walked up to hit a few balls..There was 6 balls in the stall so I hit them. The ball flight was a liitle high so I asked to try the 9.5. He didn't have a 9.5 to hit. No it wasn't in use. I was told he didn't have one. Well I was pretty much done. Decided to hit a few S2 irons so I reach over in this bucket of balls that was there and got yelled at. I was told I had to buy my own balls..What!! is this the way it is now? Buy your own balls to see if I like your clubs..Are things getting that bad? No, I am not cheap and yes I would have bought some balls had the Cobra rep had a 9.5 to try out. I hung around awhile and I don't know how many times I heard many of the reps say sorry I don't have that here..It shocked me it was a demo day and some of the vendors didn't have the basic clubs to demo. Maybe it was just early in the yr.
I had felt foolish hitting someone's balls and grabbing someone elses balls . I just thought I missed the message. Evidently alot others did to. Things got interesting. People were grabbing balls out of other peoples buckets getting dirty looks and or getting yelled at. I just sat on a bench and watched the show..Where was candid camera? I heard more then a few comments on how cheesy buying balls was. I agreed. Am I wrong? Comments are welcome..

Well after the ball show I walked into the pro shop. I was very interested in buying a ZL. I wondered what the show price would be ..Didn't know which one I needed but I would have worked with the Cobra rep. a little more if I was going to buy one right then. He was super nice and I had no problem with him at all. Well when I asked about the show price I got the funniest look..You know the answer. Is this the way it is now????????? Man was I spoiled before.

[mantan]

Wow, sounds like a pretty crappy demo day.

Down here demo days are the same as they've always been...a long range of tents and the opportunity to hit everything you want for free. Three of the bigger ranges are hosting demo days the next three Saturday's. The opportunity to make a sale is

I don't see how any credible demo day would make customers pay for range balls for the opportunity to demo equipment. Or why any manufacturer would agree to demo at a place that had that stipulation. I agree with your point that demo days are an opportunity for the facility to hopefully drum up business and a way for manufacturers to show off what they got. As much as the industry is suffering, you'd think both sides would do everything possible to make that happen.

[Tmiller72]

Buying range balls at a demo day? Isn't that kind of like having to buy gas to test drive a car?? Weird.

[mission_scratch]

Welcome to my world of Demo Days (minus the buying Range ball)...

As a Lefty, I always find that the big companies alot of the times wont have the items I am looking for in the specs I need, or at all in LH.. Last year, I was very excited to get a chance to demo some Irons. Mizuno hardly ever has any left hand irons or drivers in LH.. sucks, but I just found that I just go out there to try what new stuff there is out there.. dont get me wrong some compaines have alot of LH stuff.. Like Callaway and Cobra... fun none the less, just wish more companies would prepare better for LH's. Your Demo Day just sounded like it was all bad.. I would never pay for my own balls to hit clubs at a demo day.

[itw419]

The demo days here in Michigan are pretty good. Two different retailers offer multiple retailers over each weekend for a month or so. Balls are always free and Miles of Golf even turned on their Trackman the Game hitting bays and let everyone use them for free so you could get some hard data to compare clubs. The only downside is the amount of people who show up. Sometimes you have to wait a while for a hitting bay to open up. But thats to be expected at an event like this.

[Bob Cat]

[quote name='Greenie' date='28 March 2010 - 06:31 PM' timestamp='1269815512' post='2346557']
I asked for the 10.5 reg. voodoo..Not a strange request. The rep said he didn't think he had one... Well he did have one...
...so I asked to try the 9.5. He didn't have a 9.5 to hit. No it wasn't in use.[/quote]

I would love to have seen a video of ppl taking balls, the wierd looks and awkward feelings. Odd.

10.5 R flex would be a very common combo. How many did he have? Just the one?

[Greenie]

[quote name='Bob Cat' date='30 March 2010 - 08:42 PM' timestamp='1269996164' post='2351279']
[quote name='Greenie' date='28 March 2010 - 06:31 PM' timestamp='1269815512' post='2346557']
I asked for the 10.5 reg. voodoo..Not a strange request. The rep said he didn't think he had one... Well he did have one...
...so I asked to try the 9.5. He didn't have a 9.5 to hit. No it wasn't in use.[/quote]

I would love to have seen a video of ppl taking balls, the wierd looks and awkward feelings. Odd.

10.5 R flex would be a very common combo. How many did he have? Just the one?
[/qu


Yes, just to sit there on a bench and watch the whole situation was funny. I believe a video would have been hilarious and would get alot of laughs. Of course I felt a little embarrassed earlier in the day when I reached in someone's bucket for a few balls not knowing myself.

He had only one 10.5 R flex and one with a lite flex that still had the sticker on the face. I overheard him tell someone else that he didn't get alot of his demo stuff in yet.

[CHARGERS]

[quote name='Tmiller72' date='28 March 2010 - 08:28 PM' timestamp='1269822480' post='2346798']
Buying range balls at a demo day? Isn't that kind of like having to buy gas to test drive a car?? Weird.
[/quote]
it does sound weird, but what can start to happen is more people wind up just hitting balls and being re-fit over and over again. There are way too many demo days going on now...the reps can't have all the equipment at one place-they have to do 2 or 3 at a time on the same day. I know most of you from this site will buy the latest and greatest equipment, but the avarage golfer that attends a public demo day at a driving range or course does not spend as much on equipment. If I owned a driving range or golf course I would have some type of charge for the balls or entrance fee and then credit the amount with a purchase of equipment to qualify real buyers.

Try going back to the same car dealership and driving all the new cars in the lot and then leaving without making a purchase-let me know how many times you get away with that.....

[mantan]

[quote name='CHARGERS' date='19 April 2010 - 08:48 PM' timestamp='1271728128' post='2389160']
[quote name='Tmiller72' date='28 March 2010 - 08:28 PM' timestamp='1269822480' post='2346798']
Buying range balls at a demo day? Isn't that kind of like having to buy gas to test drive a car?? Weird.
[/quote]
it does sound weird, but what can start to happen is more people wind up just hitting balls and being re-fit over and over again. There are way too many demo days going on now...the reps can't have all the equipment at one place-they have to do 2 or 3 at a time on the same day. I know most of you from this site will buy the latest and greatest equipment, but the avarage golfer that attends a public demo day at a driving range or course does not spend as much on equipment. If I owned a driving range or golf course I would have some type of charge for the balls or entrance fee and then credit the amount with a purchase of equipment to qualify real buyers.

Try going back to the same car dealership and driving all the new cars in the lot and then leaving without making a purchase-let me know how many times you get away with that.....
[/quote]

Interesting angle.

Over time the benefits of the green grass demo for the range/club have changed. It used to be that was one of the few places to try new equipment and manufactures often offered discounts to entice early sales. But with so many options to test/buy and fewer and fewer sales being generated, the 'benefit' of the demo day is a lot higher for the manufacturer getting their products exposed than the range getting sales or increased business.

I wonder how the financial side of demo days work. Do the companies pay the range a fee? Or it considered a mutually beneficial partnership to bring people (and essentially future usage/sales) to the range while the OEM's get product exposure.

The course that hosted this demo day is one of the few who has a wide range of clubs available to demo all the time. And I'm sure there are people who will buy buckets all day to 'self fit' clubs, then run somewhere else to make the purchase. I'd have no issue with a range charging a nominal fee to test equipment (maybe a per hour charge or something) that could be applied to a purchase.

But I'd have a hard time paying a fee on a true 'demo day' where the OEM's are bringing out their clubs to test and I'd have to 'prove' I was a serious buyer to participate.

[Pingfitz]

Greenie, maybe we went to the same demo day!! ( I live 45 minutes west of you) I scheduled a Ping fitting, was told over the phone that when I arrived, to check in at the shop and they would take me to the rep. when I checked in I was told that I had to buy my own balls (first time ever at a demo day!!), the rep had a basket of balls that were provided to him by the range for appointments only. Everyone was surprised and confused by the providing your own situation. You are correct that special pricing is often offered at demo days, it often is the choice of the host facility to do so or not.

[Greenie]

[quote name='eaf321' date='25 April 2010 - 11:56 AM' timestamp='1272210976' post='2399552']
Greenie, maybe we went to the same demo day!! ( I live 45 minutes west of you) I scheduled a Ping fitting, was told over the phone that when I arrived, to check in at the shop and they would take me to the rep. when I checked in I was told that I had to buy my own balls (first time ever at a demo day!!), the rep had a basket of balls that were provided to him by the range for appointments only. Everyone was surprised and confused by the providing your own situation. You are correct that special pricing is often offered at demo days, it often is the choice of the host facility to do so or not.
[/quote]


I have since went to another demo day and it was alot better. They supplied the balls , gave you a show discount and gave you 125% trade in value for your used clubs. Unfortunately I had already bought my driver elsewhere and still have my old clubs to sell. I am set for the yr. now so I won't waiste anyone's time hitting balls but this demo day was great. At least I know there are some good demo days as I remember them. I actually went there to meet some fellow members from here and found a good place to go next yr if I want the lastest and greatest... Well now I know there are better demo days still around . The Onley Golf Park isn't one of them.