Spins Bowl Independence — Local services in Independence

Spent 40 mins on the web-site on 3/10 trying to reserve a lane for Friday 3/11 for open bowling for a last minute birthday celebration for my 12 year old daughter (last minute because we thought she would be dancing in a competition that night, but she didn’t have any numbers until the next day). Reservations site took me all the way to payment page and then kicked me out. After several attempts I finally called and was told, rather curtly, that the online reservations doesn’t work and they don’t take reservations. Why on earth is it still on their website?

My daughter decided she would like to still go and play arcade games and do laser tag. I called on 3/11 to make sure the laser tag was available and was told it would open around 6:30 pm. Based on the website, I thought we could go play some arcade games have a meal in the restaurant prominently promoted on the website and wait for laser tag to open.

We arrived around 4 pm. The restaurant appeared to be permanently closed (also not represented on website) there was a bar open, but my family was very rudely told the kitchen was not open when they were viewing the menu (the woman neglected to mention it would open at 6). We decided to go somewhere else to eat and come back for laser tag and before leaving asked the staff to confirm laser tag would be open later and were told that it would open in about an hour (this was around 5:20 pm). We thought great, we could go eat and come back for laser tag.

We returned around 6:30 and played more arcade games as no laser tag was open. We waited until 6:45 to ask again if laser tag would be opening and we’re told in about 15 minutes. We patiently waited never asking staff again because we felt like we were imposing, and finally left at 7:30, laser tag having never opened with a very disappointed 12 year old. A birthday evening bust.

We understand staffing issues. We understand establishments are struggling. We’re very patient and understanding people. This was a horrible experience and totally unnecessary. The website needed to be accurate and staff merely had to be polite and honest about their ability to provide services and we would have completely understood and rolled with it.

Instead, the entire experience with this establishment felt like a never ending two day long bait and switch. It’s disappointing because this place has so much potential, but our first experience was so horrific that I can’t imagine taking a...

Not a great experience, but they took care of me and seem committed to improving the reservation system. (See edit at end of review)

I wanted to book two lanes for two hours on a Saturday afternoon. The online reservation system was down so I called the number that the system message stated. Staff there emailed me an event proposal, and asked that I add my credit card number to is and then fax it or scan&Email it back to them. I did not have access to a scanner or fax machine at the time.

A few hours later, I stopped at the location itself and asked if I could reserve lanes for the next day. Staff said no, but try the website. I did try again and saw that it was up and running. I set up a reservation but the cost kept coming to almost twice the pricing listed on the site (at $25 per hour per lane on a Saturday, two hours should cost $100, but I was getting a cost of $180) I took it down to 1.5 hours and booked anyway, for $120. I assumed the incorrect cost was related to the system being down earlier and that the company would make it right.

We bowled, it was bowling. The place has nicer paint and carpet than most bowling alleys I've been to.

Staff at the location agreed that the price I paid was not consistent with pricing and gave me a card so I could contact HQ (the same contact who provided the proposal for me to fax)

I reached out Monday morning via email and was informed that there is a service fee for booking online and, in this case, that fee takes the price per lane from $25 per hour, up to $40 per hour, and there is nothing they can do about that because I agreed to the refund policy (no refunds) when I confirmed my reservation. This service fee is not stated anywhere on the site or in the online reservation system

So, heads up, in case you want to reserve.

EDIT a few days later: A company rep contacted me this week to provide a refund. It is appreciated and I've raised the review for that. I'm sure the site will be made more clear, seems this is a company that's figuring things out and I hope they do. At any rate, it's been pretty full every time...

Response to owner's response that was A LIE. Now after the owner tried to extort me and have me edit in my original post, you go and post a fabricated response like that. As plenty people who have reviewed this establishment before and after me who have agreed. How do you start a time before people even get their shoes, their balls, or find their lane?? The time was clearly started beforehand, don't lie. Second, a complimentary game? Hey look at that another lie? Please,.. there was nothing complimentary about it. The first game was paid in full and the second game even though the first game was shorted due to no fault of our own. Another game was about to be paid in full again, by a hard working single mother. Who only wanted to see her kid happy. The 1/2 price game the second round was only brought about because someone pulled some strings, not and i repeat NOT due to the poor first experience. So don't lie to these people in your reviews of reviews. It only makes you look worse. By the way, saying you were honoring lane reservations when there was clearly 20+ lanes open at the time.. you can try again with that one. The place was never full to begin with. No need to feed the public lies. Besides the food and bartender, this trip was a complete wash. I will recommend different venues after seeing how this place is run now. P. S. Clean your bathrooms, they're filthy. For everyone asking for the old Cloverleaf back. Just visit

*Original post * I would give the bowling alley a complete zero if I could. How do you stop a paid game 2 sets shorts because of an hour time frame? Mind you 20 lanes are open, on a Friday at 7:25pm 😂 Be watchful of the time. The big man with the Goatee is one to keep a...