Do you think that club manufacturers should sell heads only?

[nsxguy]

anyone else daydreaming about a multiple OEM "build-a-bear" type golf store?

 

If only... then everyone would be in there

 

Actually, not even (close to) everybody here on WRX would be "in there".

[ChipNRun]

anyone else daydreaming about a multiple OEM "build-a-bear" type golf store?

Check it out: https://www.golfworks.com/

 

 

[A_G Golf]

anyone else daydreaming about a multiple OEM "build-a-bear" type golf store?

 

If only... then everyone would be in there

 

Actually, not even (close to) everybody here on WRX would be "in there".

 

I know, we are normads in the golf industry finding our way

[bighitlama]

Should they? Probably not. Do I wish they would? Absolutely.

 

Why not offer it as a custom option. I've bought several sets of irons knowing I was going to trash the stock shafts and replace them with one the manufacturer didn't offer. They obviously inventory heads unshafted or they wouldn't be able to offer so many custom options. I'd pay the same price for just a set of heads not to have to remove the ones I didn't want and clean out the hosels. This would be more profitable for the company as they would save money on the shafts and the cost of installing them. You can buy component heads from some companies so there must not be any inherent reason it can't be done.

[bblack_91240]

I usually just buy barely used clubs and resell the shafts. Wait for the people that bought it, hit it 5x and are reselling it. Usually works out to be half the price or better than new. Sometimes you just need to get lucky on eBay in the bidding auctions.

[Ri_Redneck]

Absolutely not! I want their customers to sell the heads at half price after playing them for a week or two.

 

BT

[jll62]

Should they? Probably not. Do I wish they would? Absolutely.

 

Why not offer it as a custom option. I've bought several sets of irons knowing I was going to trash the stock shafts and replace them with one the manufacturer didn't offer. They obviously inventory heads unshafted or they wouldn't be able to offer so many custom options. I'd pay the same price for just a set of heads not to have to remove the ones I didn't want and clean out the hosels. This would be more profitable for the company as they would save money on the shafts and the cost of installing them. You can buy component heads from some companies so there must not be any inherent reason it can't be done.

 

Yes, they could do it, but there's really no reason for them to do it. The target market is so small that a heads only program wouldn't generate much additional revenue, yet they'd need to forecast and inventory the heads separate from the regular custom shop. That's inefficient and not worth what they'd make out of it.

 

However, a I think an even bigger concern is quality control. How do you warranty the heads when the build is being done by Joe Consumer? If you build the entire club, you can warranty the club as built. But if there's a problem with the way a customer built the club and then they try to make a claim on the head? Sounds like a nightmare and a possible PR problem. No company wants to put their quality reputation in the hands of an unknown consumer. This isn't a problem with head only programs for reputable club fitters/builders because those companies are the ones who will stand behind the work. That's not true if you or I are doing a build.

[baudi]

Oems only focus on a full product because of marketing. They want to adress players with a full package.

Understandable ( higher margin) yet Quite annoying to be honest since the shafts and grips I play are excellent and often not offered by oems.

This is the reason I will seldom buy new equipment when it is released. If the components were offered direct at a normal price I would be tempted to buy new releases at an early stage.

 

 

[chris975d]

Customers that want heads only are so far outside the norm, and the total sales via that method would be so low that it isn't something for the manufacturers to even deal with addressing. There would be little to worthwhile revenue in it for them.

[Browns71213]

anyone else daydreaming about a multiple OEM "build-a-bear" type golf store?

 

Isn't that what Club Champion is? Personally, I just wish manufacturers would add black shafts as a standard putter option.

[baudi]

Customers that want heads only are so far outside the norm, and the total sales via that method would be so low that it isn't something for the manufacturers to even deal with addressing. There would be little to worthwhile revenue in it for them.

 

Yes. Out of the norm. 100% correct.

But it is not about 'total sales' it is about fitting and service.

 

OEMs are ok in building clubs to specs but their basic attitude is too uniform and standard.

Great for off the rack or semi customized clubs.

However it is utterly stupid to produce a component if it is not needed.

That spoiling attitude is awkward and dumb.

 

OEMs could charge a bit more per indivual component; they could support local labor in your shop and have a better ecological footprint.

Unfortunately their global attitude has a numb internal focus.

 

TM and Callaway both tried selling components on a very small scale btw.

 

 

[JStang]

I wish they would but it makes zero financial sense for them to do so.

[chris975d]

Customers that want heads only are so far outside the norm, and the total sales via that method would be so low that it isn't something for the manufacturers to even deal with addressing. There would be little to worthwhile revenue in it for them.

 

Yes. Out of the norm. 100% correct.

But it is not about 'total sales' it is about fitting and service.

 

OEMs are ok in building clubs to specs but their basic attitude is too uniform and standard.

Great for off the rack or semi customized clubs.

However it is utterly stupid to produce a component if it is not needed.

That spoiling attitude is awkward and dumb.

 

OEMs could charge a bit more per indivual component; they could support local labor in your shop and have a better ecological footprint.

Unfortunately their global attitude has a numb internal focus.

 

TM and Callaway both tried selling components on a very small scale btw.

 

They tried it and moved away from it because the average customer didn't want it enough to support the idea (no demand). Often times, people who aren't in the golf business but are golf enthusiasts don't have a true grasp of how things actually occur. The majority of club sales still come from bone stock off the rack purchases. It's moving more toward the limited fitting systems that most manufacturers are now supplying us (retail accounts with), and I'd say those offerings take care of 99% or more of what people would want. There is almost zero financial benefit to offering individual components, and increased logistics that would go along with it. Not until if/when the overwhelming majority of club purchases go the "custom" (speaking of the individual manufacturer's fitting systems here) route. But, as I've seen in closing in on 30 years in this business, the average golfer is still very, very hesitant to do a custom fitting. Golf is an extremely difficult sport, and SO many golfers are downright embarrassed/afraid/nervous to do a fitting because they think "they have to be good to do that", or they simply have stagefright and don't want to hit in front of a stranger/fitter. Some forum members might be surprised to find out how often that is the reasoning given by the majority of golfers who won't do a club "fitting". It's one of the reasons I actually sell more clubs by offering demos in the shop that customers can sign out and go play with...I usually know a bit about their game and can put them in a demo that's pretty close to what they need, and let them take it out on the course without a "stranger" watching over them and see what the club can do for themselves.

[jmconnell4]

I wish they would but I dont think they pay much at all for a shaft. I think that also helps pad their profit

[baudi]

Customers that want heads only are so far outside the norm, and the total sales via that method would be so low that it isn't something for the manufacturers to even deal with addressing. There would be little to worthwhile revenue in it for them.

 

Yes. Out of the norm. 100% correct.

But it is not about 'total sales' it is about fitting and service.

 

OEMs are ok in building clubs to specs but their basic attitude is too uniform and standard.

Great for off the rack or semi customized clubs.

However it is utterly stupid to produce a component if it is not needed.

That spoiling attitude is awkward and dumb.

 

OEMs could charge a bit more per indivual component; they could support local labor in your shop and have a better ecological footprint.

Unfortunately their global attitude has a numb internal focus.

 

TM and Callaway both tried selling components on a very small scale btw.

 

They tried it and moved away from it because the average customer didn't want it enough to support the idea (no demand). Often times, people who aren't in the golf business but are golf enthusiasts don't have a true grasp of how things actually occur. The majority of club sales still come from bone stock off the rack purchases. It's moving more toward the limited fitting systems that most manufacturers are now supplying us (retail accounts with), and I'd say those offerings take care of 99% or more of what people would want. There is almost zero financial benefit to offering individual components, and increased logistics that would go along with it. Not until if/when the overwhelming majority of club purchases go the "custom" (speaking of the individual manufacturer's fitting systems here) route. But, as I've seen in closing in on 30 years in this business, the average golfer is still very, very hesitant to do a custom fitting. Golf is an extremely difficult sport, and SO many golfers are downright embarrassed/afraid/nervous to do a fitting because they think "they have to be good to do that", or they simply have stagefright and don't want to hit in front of a stranger/fitter. Some forum members might be surprised to find out how often that is the reasoning given by the majority of golfers who won't do a club "fitting". It's one of the reasons I actually sell more clubs by offering demos in the shop that customers can sign out and go play with...I usually know a bit about their game and can put them in a demo that's pretty close to what they need, and let them take it out on the course without a "stranger" watching over them and see what the club can do for themselves.

 

That's the whole point.

Parts are not meant for 'the average customer' but for the 1(0)% hard core wrx-er know-it-all golfer who is still happy with his premium shaft but ready to try a new head.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

1000% yes. I love building my own clubs, but don't necessarily find the models I'm looking for with maltby. I don't think I have the game for the TE or DBM, nor the TS series. I would love components from major suppliers.

[chris975d]

Customers that want heads only are so far outside the norm, and the total sales via that method would be so low that it isn't something for the manufacturers to even deal with addressing. There would be little to worthwhile revenue in it for them.

 

Yes. Out of the norm. 100% correct.

But it is not about 'total sales' it is about fitting and service.

 

OEMs are ok in building clubs to specs but their basic attitude is too uniform and standard.

Great for off the rack or semi customized clubs.

However it is utterly stupid to produce a component if it is not needed.

That spoiling attitude is awkward and dumb.

 

OEMs could charge a bit more per indivual component; they could support local labor in your shop and have a better ecological footprint.

Unfortunately their global attitude has a numb internal focus.

 

TM and Callaway both tried selling components on a very small scale btw.

 

They tried it and moved away from it because the average customer didn't want it enough to support the idea (no demand). Often times, people who aren't in the golf business but are golf enthusiasts don't have a true grasp of how things actually occur. The majority of club sales still come from bone stock off the rack purchases. It's moving more toward the limited fitting systems that most manufacturers are now supplying us (retail accounts with), and I'd say those offerings take care of 99% or more of what people would want. There is almost zero financial benefit to offering individual components, and increased logistics that would go along with it. Not until if/when the overwhelming majority of club purchases go the "custom" (speaking of the individual manufacturer's fitting systems here) route. But, as I've seen in closing in on 30 years in this business, the average golfer is still very, very hesitant to do a custom fitting. Golf is an extremely difficult sport, and SO many golfers are downright embarrassed/afraid/nervous to do a fitting because they think "they have to be good to do that", or they simply have stagefright and don't want to hit in front of a stranger/fitter. Some forum members might be surprised to find out how often that is the reasoning given by the majority of golfers who won't do a club "fitting". It's one of the reasons I actually sell more clubs by offering demos in the shop that customers can sign out and go play with...I usually know a bit about their game and can put them in a demo that's pretty close to what they need, and let them take it out on the course without a "stranger" watching over them and see what the club can do for themselves.

 

That's the whole point.

Parts are not meant for 'the average customer' but for the 1(0)% hard core wrx-er know-it-all golfer who is still happy with his premium shaft but ready to try a new head.

 

And that's not enough to make it worth the time to set up.

[baudi]

That is because OEMs act way too slow on the spot.

The suffering giant TM is losing terrain.

 

2 years ago TM launched 'the turn' to increase sales by upgrading equipment.

Basically not a bad idea. Client retention. Today it is invisible on their website.

https://www.klarna.com/us/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/Klarna_TaylorMade_CaseStudy.pdf