Len,

Every Proshop that I have ever frequented, opereated much like you describe. Almost all of the shops charged for everything when I first started going in. After a few months I would try to pay for using their paper tuner or chrono etc and they wouldn't let me. Now they might charge the guy that was with me but I would always explain that if they spent as much money in there as I did that they wouldn't charge them either. The point is that you can afford to make certain concessions to certain customers because you know they are going to be there, they are to spend x amount every year, and your are going to have ample oppurtunuty to make money off of them. If I was cotton farmer and I spent that kind of money and still got tagged for labor on everything I would be looking for a new place to go.....but...on the other hand when I don't frequent a shop, I fully expect to get charged for any survices that I require. You have to keep your "loyal" customers happy but you can't give buddy deals to everyone and still stay in business. I have spent about $1500 in my Pro shop since Jan. 1 and it's a shop that I just started going to, needless to say, I have already gained "preferential" status, and that's how I plan to keep it