Summit Lanes, where do I begin... I go to the Pocono's a few times a year to visit my parents and as a respite from city-living. Nightlife options in the Pocono Mountains being what they are, my girlfriend and I would hit the local bowling alley when we were in town for the weekend.
Summit Lanes had always been reliable. The clientele was about what you would expect, as was the service, the facility, etc. That all changed this past Saturday night. After checking in and getting our lane, we had an issue with the bowling balls getting stuck behind the pins. The person on duty at the desk, Daryl was quick to notify us that he was the only staff member available, and that he would fix it for us in time. So, after waiting a few minutes Daryl fixed our problem. A few frames later we have the same problem, and went through the Daryl biding his time and then fixing our lane. I mentioned that Daryl could just give us a new lane (it was not crowded) but he thought it better to fix so that they would not be down a lane (apparently, when you bowl at Summit and your lane breaks it is not Summit's problem, it becomes your problem as well). After the 2nd fix the lane had a 3rd issue. I asked again about having our lane switched but Daryl told me that since the line at the front desk had quieted down he could now dedicate his full attention to fixing our lane this time, and that if it happened again he would switch us. At this point, I asked for a free game because it is basically impossible to play while your lane is not working. Daryl reluctantly agreed to offer a free game and mentioned that a free game was not standard practice. Of course, our lane broke a 4th time and Daryl finally switched our lane. When he switched our lane he also informed us that he would no longer be giving us a free game. Apparently, when Daryl doesn't get his way he goes into a child-like state where he revokes any previous offers to make-good on situations that negatively affect his customers. I should have expected this sort of treatment since Daryl teaches a course at the local college called ""Making would be life-long customers hate your bowling alley"" - he teaches the 200 level advanced course. After our lane switch, we had a new issue with the new lane, which Daryl had to then fix again. Despite all of the mechanical failures and professional (and personal) shortcomings of Daryl, we tried to book a few more games. Daryl then proceeded to tell us that he didn't care about the problems that we had and that he would rather that we did not bowl anymore.
I would normally be angry when wronged by a person like Daryl but I have to think of the bigger picture. Daryl works at a bowling alley, and I'm quite sure that he isn't even the manager - so in the grander scheme of ""the game"" Daryl lost a long time ago.
There are 2 other bowling lanes in the area: West End Lanes and Sky Lanes.
Regretfully submitted but necessary,
Dennis
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