Major manufacturer/distributor closes today. Guesses anyone?

[insixdays777]

Even if it is smartparts "going under"...I dont trust those weaselly Gardners. It could just be a stunt to rid themselves of the hated Smartparts name brand once and for all. I mean think about it. They got DLX up and by all appearances doing very well with the luxe...

I mean, OK "shutdown" SP. Let all the haters rejoice, dance and sing. Then.....a few months from now oh wow look there is a new company...oh look they are a cool new woodsball focused .50cal company...remember the rumor of the Gardner brothers 50cal company venture a few months back....

Drama will never end.

[fishmishin]

smartparts is laying off some people, but is not closing its doors. This info is from a person that works in corporate at Smart parts. I just got off the phone with him ~ 15 min ago.

Yep that is what I was just told myself. If they where going to close the doors though would they want everybody to know it? We are talking about the Gardners here. I think it would really hurt them in trying to blow out any remaining inventory.

[MANN]

Yep that is what I was just told myself. If they where going to close the doors though would they want everybody to know it? We are talking about the Gardners here. I think it would really hurt them in trying to blow out any remaining inventory.

You have a point there. Help liquidate what they have.

[bulzeye]

What exactly did they say? shut down going out of buisness? or laying off employees.

doors are locked

[MANN]

doors are locked

As of when?

[Chace]

I hope it is SP.

It would be great if it was SP.
I am frankly tired of the cs there. It took me two weeks to get a screw from them for my Ion. And then I traded my Ion for a Mag, and never looked back.

[BiNumber3]

Well Tom did mention elsewhere that a few large companies were millions in debt...

[Shirow]

Well, that is refreshing news.

[drg]

http://www.paintballx3.com/general/m...ors-today.html

WTF is this:

The game of paintball has taken another HUGE hit today as one of the largest and longest running companies in the game has laid off almost its entire staff and are said to be closing their doors in a few weeks. Out of respect to the owners and employees we're holding off releasing the name of the company for a day or two. More tomorrow.

Seriously? That is just piss poor. My soul cries for the woeful state of journalism today.

[JaNordy]

I won't believe it until I see it, but if true, good riddance. Hope they don't come back ever again. I honestly believe paintball is better off without that company.

[Skoad]

I've been out of the sport for a while. Regardless of the company, how do you guys see this as a good thing? I feel paintball, as an industry, is dying. Just hope this isn't going to be the first domino.

[bulzeye]

As of when?

i would guess as of today. we'll see though

[MANN]

i would guess as of today. we'll see though

their operator (whoever answered the phone) was there because I asked them to transfer me.

[tasker89]

Even if it is smartparts "going under"...I dont trust those weaselly Gardners. It could just be a stunt to rid themselves of the hated Smartparts name brand once and for all. I mean think about it. They got DLX up and by all appearances doing very well with the luxe... I mean, OK "shutdown" SP. Let all the haters rejoice, dance and sing. Then.....a few months from now oh wow look there is a new company...oh look they are a cool new woodsball focused .50cal company...remember the rumor of the Gardner brothers 50cal company venture a few months back....

This is a good possibility. We all know that the leadership at SP knows how to hire lawyers and game the system with the best of them. It is certainly possible that SP will dissolve and some "new" corporate entity will rise in its place. (Gardner/Italia collabo anyone?)

The corporate form is an externalizing machine...if they can dump debts and bad will, while keeping assets (specifically the IP) why wouldn't they?

[Ratt]

If SP closes shop...

...what happens to 'their' patents? Would it be at all possible for companies to start producing electros w/out paying royalties?