Should AGD lower their prices?
I haven't been on AO for a while now (switched to a Vision Impulse which has been rock solid and shoots great) but I've always wanted to get another Mag. I have been searching around and see all these new upgrades that are out and would really like to get a new Mag with the following...
Blue ULE Body, Black Intelliframe and LVL 10 X-Valve.
The problem is that, after doing a little searching around, I don't see this setup being sold as a complete marker, only as upgrades, and to get what I want I'd have to spend a goods deal of money. I'd have to buy a classic and then buy the upgrades (comes to over $800) or buy the pieces needed to put one together from scratch (still comes to over $660).
These prices don't make the Mag competitive anymore. I know the Mag is nothing but quality but there are many excellent markers out there in that price range that in my opinion beat the Mag (you can get a nice Vision Impulse, base E-Matrix, 2003 Bushmaster LCD w/PDS, and a number of nice custom Autocockers for that price, or less!).
In my opinion AGD needs to stop marketing the Classic/Mini-Mag, start marketing only the X-Valved, LVL 10, ULE bodied Mags as their base marker, and keep the E-Mag and X-Mag as their high-end markers. I also believe that in-order for this to be competitive, the base marker has to sell for under $500 complete (more like the $400 area with bottom-line, hoses and a good barrel, not a marker that needs another $100-$200 to get up and running). I do believe this can be done now that AGD is switching over to all aluminum parts (which are cheaper to manufacture).
Now please remember that this is just my opinion, so please don't flame me. As a none Mag user for a few years now, I have been watching AGD from the outside in. They have an almost "cult-like" following of very loyal customers which have kept them going but I don't see many new user switching to Mags. In the past few years I have seen all the local shops in my area stop carrying Mags because the price just didn't compete. There has also been a significant drop in tournament teams using Mags of any kind. How many teams do you see using Mags? How many teams are being sponsored by AGD?
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see AGD back on top of things and I just think the only way their going to do it is to lower their prices and sell only competitive markers (LVL 10, X-Valved markers to compete with all the electronic markers with vision type systems).
Do you agree?
I've got quite a gut, I'm no spring chicken, but I can still play with the best of 'em. Oh, and by the way, that's my paint you're wearing.