I am pretty sure there was a thread about this before. I just can't find it. Are there two ball rollers or bags available for rent for those bowlers that ship their bowling balls to the venue. And if so how much are the rental fees. Thanks in advance for any info.
Thanks for the reply. I may do as you suggest or maybe get a cheap bag while I am out there. I am just trying to find a way to avoid the new airline fees for extra bags. We are already giving them enough of our money why let them have any more.
Last year was the first time I used bowling ball express and will definitely do it again. I shipped out my 4 main balls (in fact that's all I think I took) then used my 4 ball roller as a suitcase. This year I will do the same except carry on my two ball tote (or may ship those too) which still leaves me my 4 ball roller as a suitcase.
Next year will be really easy. Since I live in So Cal, I'm just driving. No shipping fees, airfare....just a hotel. Just gotta figues out where I want to stay. Probably at one of the side tournament locations.
You can ship your bags as well. Remove the balls and box them separately in a 4 ball box and then get one or two stand-up boxes and put your bags into them. UPS store and places like that also have boxes available that fit these. Without the balls inside they ship quite easily and safely. That's what I did in Reno last year, then I just had a small carryon suitcase for my clothes and no bags to check.
BBE is one of if not the best service at the USBC open
the guys and gals there do a great job.
if not for them just think about hte fun we would all have at the airport or with the airlines
just my 2 cents
I used BBE last year to Reno, my first time shipping balls to a tournament. Put 4 balls in 2 totes and a 4 ball box.I carried my shoes in my carryon. It was cheaper going than coming back for some reason due to UPS. The people at BBE are first class in my book.
Shipper
Are you really saving that much money over paying the airline for an extra bag? I fly Southwest so I get 2 bags to check, 1 carry on, and 1 personal. If you have to pay for an extra bag, don't most airlines charge you $25? When I looked last year at BBE, it was like $100 each way. It is a little hastle getting the bowling balls at the airport but I think that it is worth it.
I think a lot of the airlines just increased what they charge to something like $50 per.... not sure about that though. WIth all the horror stories about lost luggage, TSA screeners messing with your stuff, etc etc I'd much rather pay the charge to send it UPS. It cost me last year no more than $100 round trip. Saves the hassle at the airport and ,in my opinion, is much more convenient.
Just got back myself, flew southwest and paid the $25 each way for extra checked bag. Had two 2 - 2 ball totes and my suitcase. carried on my laptop and one big duffle bag with my other bowling equipment, except the rescicted items which I put in the suitcase, along with other stuff. Seems to me there is no way around not paying some kind of fee whichever way you choose to go if you want to take more than 2 balls, unless you travel with a non bowler or another person or group so you can share a suitcase or have more baggage check & carry-on availability. The bunch I go with may try this and get on the same flight next year to avoid any fees. Unless you don't care about the bowling it will be a continuos problem for people far away from the tournament. Maybe the USBC should look into helping out the bowlers they make enough in brackets every shift.
I have used the BBE for several years and agree with all those that support the job they do. It is terriffic and they are great folks. This year we bowled on opening day and I shipped two of my balls in advance. Through no fault of the BBE, the people at the convention center loading dock lost them and BBE made it right. They could have stopped there but they did not. The next day, they continued to look and found my equipment and returned it to me. That is a class act.
As far as the $100 one way, something is wrong with that quote. I live in the Atlanta area and have shipped as many as six balls in two separate boxes and a third box with bowling bags for less than that. This year to ship four balls without a bag was under $50. I only started using the service after witnessing the damage that the baggage handlers can reek on the bags. One of my team mates this year bought two new three ball totes that were ultimately destroyed by the airline. Another time, my wife and I watched someones bowling ball roll down the tarmac as it was being offloaded from the plane. No one went after it. Thanks but I'll use the BBE as often as I can. They do a great job.
Have to Agree with you Turkeyboy I live in NJ and just printed my labels 4 16 pounds balls plus exta ins 56.18
I have never paid 100$ some one did some thing wrong if he got charged that
I have been using BBE since the first year they started
We just got back and 6 of us ship[ped our stuff through BBE. They do a terrific job, the equipment is right at the venue, no hassle lugging stuff through the airport, lost equipment etc. It cost us $60 each from RI (pretty close to as far as you can get from Albuquerque) for a case box. I packed my balls in two ball totes, put them in a four ball box and taped it up.
Had absolutely no problems and their system makes finding your stuff once you get there very simple. Even though I will be driving next year, I will still use BBE, just for the convenience. They are, without a doubt, one of the best things that USBC has done for this tournament.
I created BBE for all the reasons stated. It started out very simple as a way to assist bowlers with the demanding changes in flying to a tournament site. It has been used not only for the Open Championships, but for the Womens, Youth and Senior Masters tournaments that I know of. The idea was to offer a service that would put your equipment in the tournament venue for the greatest convenience of picking it up, using it and being able to ship it back home without leaving the venue. It was, and still is, a SUPER service and I'm proud to say that I created it.
What you don't see behind the scenes are the pickup and delivery schedules by UPS. They don't send the usual "what can brown do for you trucks," they have or hire special flat bed trucks to handle PALLETS of bowling equipment. There is also special computer programing that needs to be adjusted each year due to location and then there is the UPS Account Manager that has never even heard of this kind of service who needs special training on it's operation.
The reason the people who work the booth make it what it is, is that they buy into the program and absolutely LOVE the opportunity to have the personal contact with all of you. That was a by product of the program that was initiated with the hiring of the late Ruben Rios who instilled his people skills into the program. He was my personal choice to ready the program for initiation and he came through with flying colors. I miss him dearly and you should too.
The program now is overseen by Dana and her crew of caring, dedicated, part of the program employees. Treat them well, and from what I read, they treat you well and that has and will be the standard if management chooses to continue the service.
I look forward to seeing all of them Memorial Day weekend as I watch my son participate in his 11th Open Championships event.
Butch Wittman
