Smart Parts will be closed at the end of the month !!

[going_home]

Not so simple if you take into account the fact that buying any electronic marker from any business is "patronizing their business".

Still no need to hate. Save some money and buy used, then you've bipassed paying for patents.

[DFSniper]

Hmm, so if SP does close its doors (and I'm not convinced they will) does that mean we gotta carry over the love (Hate) to GI Milsim and Luxe?

everyone is already bashing italia for his .50cal lies, might as well throw the brothers grim in the mix too!

as for dlx, thats up to you. some support em, some dont just because theyre the spawn of SP

[Frizzle Fry]

everyone is already bashing italia for his .50cal lies

I just found a new lie and shared over on VPBRN (Vaguely Paintball Related Nation).

http://paintblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/an-on-the-spot-interview-with-richmond-italia/

At about 1:58 he says:
"We've got the technology today to make a smaller paintball, we didn't have that 5 years ago, but today the machines can make a smaller paintball and there's absolutely no downside to it."


Here are some toys that most won't remember.

.43cal - 2003 Milsig/RAP4, 2008 Kingman Chaser/Eraser

.50cal - 1987 Crossmann 3357, 1998 paintball blowgun

.55cal - 2005 Pirhana Maxx55, 2006 PCS US-55

.62cal - 1987 Tippmann SMG60, 1987 AGA62


ALL of the above mentioned markers failed for one reason or another (mostly performance and availability), except the .43cal who's main appeal is that they're small enough to fit in magazine fed markers (which all of them are) without looking bulky or having extremely low capacity. That's just a handful of odd-caliber markers that've been produced en-masse over the years, dating back to the earliest days of the game.

[[NA]WARLORD]

That WAS his reputation before he dissapeared from "the scene" for a few years.


The Dragun fiasco? The money he and his brother owe people?

The Dragun guys were the Spurlocks, George and I forget his brothers name.

[dre1919]

Well, I for one would like to see solid evidence before sounding the death toll on Smart Parts. However, I do feel it's karma for allowing their greed to try and destroy the paintball industry. On one hand, I'm happy they developed and flooded the market with cheap feature rich markers because it drove the new (and used) prices into the ground. There was never a need for a marker to cost $1,500 and so I was happy to see that fall by the wayside. However, if you have a marker you need or want to sell, Smart Parts played a large role in making sure you wouldn't get crap for it. (Why should I pay $700 for your used Angel when I can buy an Ion for $200?!) Ultimately, it was just very poor ethics and a decision to grab as much cash as possible without any concern for the consequences of the sport or it's industry that drove SP to this point. I understand, as a company, you want top make as much money as possible. However, you have to pay attention to the market and be aware of the ramifications of what you introduce into that environment. If you kill off your competition, and then the sport takes a hit from an unstable economy, coupled with negative backlash from not being a team player you get this type of thing. You reap what you sow.

[badpennny]

Well, it looks like they've told actual clients/dealers otherwise. At least 3-4 have come forward in this thread.

I called them last week and inquired about the possibility of getting a RMA for my brother's Ion/Blackheart board. I talked to a tech and asked if I should be worried about getting the items back prior to the end of the month; he said while they are short-staffed, turn around should take a week and regardless of what happens with the financial situation, the RMA process should not be effected. They still haven't gotten back to us with RMA approval, so I'm not sure what to think anymore. I just convinced my brother to get a mag, but he'd like to offload his sp guns in working order.

[dre1919]

Well, any paintball manufacturer going out of business is not good for the sport. But, I suppose if one has to take it on the chin, might as well be SP.

[Drix]

Maybe we can convince AGD to make a limited edition F Smartparts UL body and rail to commemorate the occasion :rofl:

[Reiner]

However, if you have a marker you need or want to sell, Smart Parts played a large role in making sure you wouldn't get crap for it. (Why should I pay $700 for your used Angel when I can buy an Ion for $200?!)

Ultimately, it was just very poor ethics and a decision to grab as much cash as possible without any concern for the consequences of the sport or it's industry that drove SP to this point.

Almost contradicts itself, doesn't it? Bringing out the Ion dropped the mark-up for manufacturers tremendously. So were they really grabbing as much cash as possible? I think Smart Parts biggest problem (other than the hatred held by many players) was that they seemed to think bringing out the Ion was going to put a paintball marker in every household, that paintball would keep growing and growing because it was now "affordable". That backfired on them. Making cheap electros avaialble for anyone that wanted them, changed the game at local fields, and in the end not only halted paintball's growth, but helped reverse it.

[leloup]

I think it helped bring back more pump play.

Now you know Spart Parts is dying is a momentus occasion if...
My wife is an elementary school teacher, and she overheard to mothers talking about amartparts going out of business. If random elementary school moms are talking about...it is big news!

[Skeeter]

... Personally I would love to see them lose the patents, they shouldnt have filed them in the first place.

Rumor again: The patents MAY be held by the bank now... This contradicts previous statements that the "brothers Grimm" held the IP, and not Smart Parts.

Also, as some people have stated, SP claims that a "bank ownership" change has led to the difficulties. Rumor again: What is the status of PNC Bank? Have they been bought out, in the past few months???

4 more years, and some of the patents will expire (IIRC).

[dre1919]

Almost contradicts itself, doesn't it? Bringing out the Ion dropped the mark-up for manufacturers tremendously. So were they really grabbing as much cash as possible? I think Smart Parts biggest problem (other than the hatred held by many players) was that they seemed to think bringing out the Ion was going to put a paintball marker in every household, that paintball would keep growing and growing because it was now "affordable". That backfired on them. Making cheap electros avaialble for anyone that wanted them, changed the game at local fields, and in the end not only halted paintball's growth, but helped reverse it.

Well, one can look at it two ways. The first is that maybe they thought by putting out cheap electros with lots of features would "put a paintball gun in every household". Or, maybe they thought "If we cut the throats of all our competitors by offering a cheap electro with lots of features, they'll go out of business and we'll own the market share." Based upon how they handled the patent issue I'm inclined to believe the latter is more likely. I could easily see them saying "Let's go ahead and kill off all the other manufacturers so we monopolize the electro market."

Like I said, it was a double edged sword. The fact that new markers had to drop in price to compete for sales meant not only were new markers cheaper than ever before, but used markers were absurdly cheap by comparison to what they used to be. It's not a coincidence. It's been great if you're in the market for a new marker...it's sucked if you're trying to resell one.

[Pump Scout]

Rumor again: The patents MAY be held by the bank now... This contradits previous statements that the "brothers Grimm" held the IP, and not Smart Parts.

Not really. What it contradicts is the idea that the Gardners told the bank they wouldn't put personal property up as collateral on their loan. Frankly, the intellectual property wrapped up in a patent was likely their most valuable asset up to the purchase of the CNC mill... and maybe after that purchase.

[Reiner]

Well, one can look at it two ways. The first is that maybe they thought by putting out cheap electros with lots of features would "put a paintball gun in every household". Or, maybe they thought "If we cut the throats of all our competitors by offering a cheap electro with lots of features, they'll go out of business and we'll own the market share." Based upon how they handled the patent issue I'm inclined to believe the latter is more likely. I could easily see them saying "Let's go ahead and kill off all the other manufacturers so we monopolize the electro market."

Yep, that thought was probably in their mind as well. And it worked for a while. Unfortuntately, if you are going to play the low mark up, high volume sales game, the high volume has to continue, otherwise it ends up being a low mark up mediocre or even low volume sales game. That doesn't work well. I don't think that Smart Parts, or anyone else really, had any idea what putting high volume shooting semis in everyones hands would do. With the added firepower, paintball prices were consumed at a much higher rate and manufacturers and retailers were able to lower prices due to higher volumes sold. Fast, cheap electors for everyone, combined with cheap paint, spelled disaster for the growth of the game. Of course, very few people predicted that. Most thought decent, cheaper equipment and cheaper paintballs would attract more players, rather than scare them away.

[Skeeter]

Actually, it's really the other way around. 10 supporters or "neutrals" for every hater. Unless the players are active forum members on a few paintball websites, they probably do not know much about the fiasco and won't care.

Yes, you are 100% correct for the average consumer. The variable, is that the folks who have been in the industry (long time store/field owners) will know better. We make the decisions as to what stock to hold in inventory. If we don't offer it (Ion, Vibe, Shocker, etc.), then the customer does not learn about it, and has a significantly reduced chance of purchasing one.