What has AO become

[FiXeL]

I have seen in the past couple of years, people try a simple mag as a loaner.
The next remark is, "hey this is nice, accurate, where can I get one?"
I've built 2 basic mags for these people. Also a few others got interested and now own several mags each.

It's an infectious marker. Not enough people know about them.

Same here, all the people that tried a mag got interested and bought one, or i built one for them.

but once again it was "Hands on experience" that sold the Automag and not marketing.

QFT. I agree AGD is not really putting much effort in marketing their markers, but i can't blame them with the current stream of disposable markers on the market today. Even Tippmann isnt what it used to be, and alot of markers are sold for ridiculous prices. A high end mech marker can't compete with those prices. It will be a marker for the most demanding player, period. Or production should be moved to china to reduce cost, risking quality. AGD would never do that.

I love my mags, it's not just the feel when i play but the pure quality that comes with them. Imho its like why should you get a volkswagen if you could buy a Rolls Royce? Please keep in mind i'm a kind of guy that wants the best, and expects the best. Of all the paintball markers i've seen up to date, there is nothing that can equal an automag when it comes to quality.

It may not be the most efficient marker out there, nor does it have alot of updates recently... But it puts paint on target and it works, even after all the others have failed in the years to come.

[GoatBoy]

When's the last time you broke down and explain your mag to someone? or better yet hand your main Mag out to be played with? Marketing is good but not as great as "Hands on experience." it is up to the Automag Owners to advertise Automags now.

...

so when your brought your marker didn't you get to try it out first? i know i'm sure as hell not gonna just buy blindly. Players are salespeople, too.

OK, remind me again why it's my responsibility to do this again?

I am putting a "loaner" mag together again, but I fail to see why it's my responsibility to do so.

You should direct this attention back at AGD, not its customers.

[nathanjones008]

OK, remind me again why it's my responsibility to do this again?

I am putting a "loaner" mag together again, but I fail to see why it's my responsibility to do so.

You should direct this attention back at AGD, not its customers.

Yes it is good to try a marker before use. But it is the responsibility of the company to take the reins of leadership. The company(AGD) can not rely on the customers 100% to do thier job.

[Ruler_Mark]

Yes it is good to try a marker before use. But it is the responsibility of the company to take the reins of leadership. The company(AGD) can not rely on the customers 100% to do thier job.

I honestly think they arent in it farther than supplying thier group of hardcore players. Whens the last time you've seen them advertise? if they ran one ad of tongues not getting chopped or the RT'ing on mech or the ult electro like abilities they would be rolling off the shelves.

[Person]

All AGD would have to do is contact good medium sized paintball fields and set up a booth and let rental guys use a mag for an hour a piece. Obviously they would probably have to work out some sort of deal with those fields.

That'll sell them.

Transitioning from a blowback to any automag is like switching from throwing rocks to an m82.

[SCpoloRicker]

Small scale advertsing/marketing really isn't effective.

/marketing guy

[pyrodragon]

if anyone knew much about marketing it was the man himself TOM KAYE. He's been in the game long enough to know how to market his own product. If he and the rest of AGD think it's a good idea to not market their product, then they know the reasons why it's not a good idea. I stand by them 100%. I'm sure they have a sound business plan intact for how to run their business. time after time this company has been their for their players and supporters and will do so. Automags are still respected and will be respected as a top quailty marker for years to come. it's not gonna die like the autococker did, if anything it will be like CCI phathoms. so in conclusion, let the people who own the business run it as they see fit, until then let it rest.

[trev_pbller]

Check out e-bay and see the flood of Spyder guns to see an explanation- it's ridiculous.

I used to frequent this site as well as others when Tuna built my Tunamax several years ago, but in the last two or three years after going to college I haven't been on here much. I noticed that there were at least still some people floating around, but no more Clare, Tom, Army, Dayspring, Jack n Coke, all of the people I remember. And most of the members aren't from the 2000-2003 range, either. These guns are great, and when I see people bidding Spyder Imagines up to over a 100 bucks it makes me want to puke.

[Oregon_pb_]

Its simple, the ones who want to win regardless of cost or hurting the industry are doing ok. The ones who wanted to make quality markers for the players have typically been hurt.

AGD and AKA are of course the prime examples.

[Maghog]

This isn't about marketing, and it's not about the economy either. AO really IS slowing down. Hopefully, it won't die, but it would take a lot to come back to the status that it once had. There have been a lot of really super, intellectual debates on this board, but they seem to have been replaced by, "what camo should I wear?" or, "why hate Smart Parts, Part 57"
The whole paintball scene is sort of in a lull right now. We've hit the pinnacle of technology, old schoolers are dying out and being replaced by fresh blooded youngins who mostly like to mouth off more than listen to someone who has experience.
Honestly, what is there left to talk about?
I love seeing what all of the private custom shops coome up with, even if it is "just" the newest pneumag. I find them incredibly inventive, but then, I think I'm one of the few.
What is happening is that the industry's money grabbing tactics are slowly taking effect. Soon, price will be all that matters and the wonderful feeling of being part of a special community will have completely dissolved.
Try to think of AO as the Alamo, a place where people gathered to defend something they believed in, even though they knew it would fail. As time goes on, and paintball breaks up into more fractions that are all controlled by one greedy monster, AO will be there, gasping for air.
The end won't be pretty, but it will be graceful, of that I am sure, because everything else that AGD has done so far has been honorable.
Dan@Triggernomics

[MoeMag]

Agreed...
We have done it all... t Tune the lvl 10, ult, my bolt sticks, leak down the barrel, spinning paintball, reactive trigger. Just about any subject can be found with the search.

But hey,
We are still here as a whole. We all still love automags. (at least I do).

And there are some crazy things going on. What other forum has this level of user based R&D. We made our own Pnuemags, We made our own Ace boards, We made our own E-mag Program, there are more custom frames out than ever. Look at all the "in house" services that AO members have.

So... no its not like it used to be. When I got here I think things were already winding down back in '05, one of the new guys I guess. I think we are doing plenty fine. Besides I really enjoy the friendly corner threads around here. Who would have thought that a brand of paintball gun would pull together such a specific demographic.

[paintballbudd]

Many people thought Steve Job's Apple was dead as a doornail. Only thing left to do was close the doors once and for all. Look at them now.

AGD has always been a company of miracle makers. Never count them out. You people have no idea what paintball will be in 10 years. Saying "we have hit the pinnacle" is like Bill Gates saying there would never be a need for more than 8megs of ram. Don't be so stupid.

-buddo

[Maghog]

Paintballbudd-I am not being stupid. Were you aware of the fact that Apple survived in large part by the involvement of none other than Bill Gates? He made a huge investment that sent the company forward, so you might want to rethink your argument instead of using an example that is based on exactly the problem that I am describing.

I'd be interested in your response.

Miracles are fine with me, and I still believe that the mag will one day prevail as the best marker ever designed.
My comments were directed more towards the internet\forum community, which to me slowly seems to be falling apart.
Sure, we'll always have PBnation, but how much fun is that?
Paintball is now run by a huge hydra, a dragon with many heads. Cut off a head and it grows two more, but it still has the same body.
Does anyone see us actually NOT getting devoured by corporate America?

Dan

[BigEvil]

Paintballbudd-I am not being stupid. Were you aware of the fact that Apple survived in large part by the involvement of none other than Bill Gates? He made a huge investment that sent the company forward, so you might want to rethink your argument instead of using an example that is based on exactly the problem that I am describing.

Maybe he is trying to tell us that the Gardners are investing in AGD?? LOL

[punkncat]

This isn't about marketing, and it's not about the economy either. AO really IS slowing down. Hopefully, it won't die, but it would take a lot to come back to the status that it once had. There have been a lot of really super, intellectual debates on this board, but they seem to have been replaced by, "what camo should I wear?" or, "why hate Smart Parts, Part 57"
The whole paintball scene is sort of in a lull right now. We've hit the pinnacle of technology, old schoolers are dying out and being replaced by fresh blooded youngins who mostly like to mouth off more than listen to someone who has experience.
Honestly, what is there left to talk about?
I love seeing what all of the private custom shops coome up with, even if it is "just" the newest pneumag. I find them incredibly inventive, but then, I think I'm one of the few.
What is happening is that the industry's money grabbing tactics are slowly taking effect. Soon, price will be all that matters and the wonderful feeling of being part of a special community will have completely dissolved.
Try to think of AO as the Alamo, a place where people gathered to defend something they believed in, even though they knew it would fail. As time goes on, and paintball breaks up into more fractions that are all controlled by one greedy monster, AO will be there, gasping for air.
The end won't be pretty, but it will be graceful, of that I am sure, because everything else that AGD has done so far has been honorable.
Dan@Triggernomics

+1 interwebz