Selling out...

[behemoth]

Well put MEDIC. You can add BigEvil and his MAGNUS products and those who associate with him to that list. I mostly avoid Automags.org and spend most of my forum browsing time over at MCB to avoid them. The owner of MCB fixes any issues over there much better than the mods do here.

Did you try crying about it? I heard that helps.

[MAGpie]

IE: Would you sell your soul to the Devil... Sorry, I don't touch ANYTHIN SP/GOG. Not barrel socks, not grips, not barrels, not even their money.
For example.

So, no.

For me, principals are very important. It is when people start giving them up, that they start losing sight of what is important to them.

But keep in mind that I am not an unforgiving ass either. People make mistakes. If they own up, if they make it clear that they regret their wrongs, then I am not beyond the point of giving them a second chance.
Please just don't ask me to give anyone a 3rd chance.

[sjrtk]

As far as taking a sponsor ship from SP, I would have to say no. Mainly due to there ethics, I don't take credit for what i haven't done and don't expect to take a hit for what some one else screws up. I really hate what they did to the industry and i can't/wouldn't support them even if they were willing to pay me to play. I would leave the game first.

As far as the DYE issue with the wipe as mentioned befor. Hey every one has a Jackass moment, even in rec ball there is cheating. It happened, its over, don't take it personal because the guy was a dick. For buying a rotor, well i'll pass unless I find one at a VERY good deal. I just prefer the Halo. So it really ins't a ethics issue for this case. Just a preference issue.

[Tropical Life]

lol This is such a basic and easy sports response: How many athletes are currently playing for teams they dont like? do they cry about it no?Actually hyped they got picked up.Take the money and make a name for yourself and get paid doing it. When your contract is over you move on to a better sponsor. Again this is more for the Pro player wanting to move up, as a paintball consumer/rec-player you can buy what you like or dont like cause personal opions and are totally entitled to it.

Pro sports business 101

[athomas]

Each person has reasons that they buy or don't buy products. If it stems from an association because of something you witnessed and didn't like then so be it. That is as good a reason as any to avoid a product. You should always be comfortable with your choice. I have done the same thing in the past and will probably do so again in the future. We all form opinions based on some perception. Whether it is real or not doesn't matter. It is our perception and the feeling we get because of it. Depending on the level of infraction or perception of the offending company or product, a larger price discount could persuade most people to overlook the problem. There is nothing wrong with that. That is essentially the same as forcing a company to pay $ for their mistakes. Its a cost associated with a wrong doing even if it is from a used source and not directly from the offending company. Any used product that is heavily discounted affects the new value as well because of the reduced "trade-in" value.

You just have to be aware of the line where the discount no longer offsets the infraction. You always have to be comfortable with your association or it is not worth it.

[spece108]

As for the dye issue, the same guy took time to individually help out and hook up our little team from alaska twice while he ran the pan-am. Once with hotel theft issues and another time with needed products. Plus he ran that series with his wife, working with family is cool in my book.

If anyone remembers there was a video of a gog shot on bob long that was removed crazy fast a number of years ago. All in the experience I guess.

[Dawg047]

Curse you BEO and Tuna with his Magnus products, how dare you all provide great information and sweet high quality products to further the Automag and keep its legacy going? You guys are no better than those darn dirty apes.

But seriously, I personally don't care who makes the product as long as I see it is quality, it is designed well and it will meet my expectations. Of course when business ethics effect opinions or product quality, I think that is when you have a problem. A while ago when Craig Palmer and Bud Orr had there tiff about pneumatic operations of there markers, I stayed away from WGP for a while because I thought Orr was in the wrong but it didn't stray away from the fact the Autococker was still a great marker but I do agree, it effected my decision making. That's why I shoot Mags, because Tom's ethics IMHO have always been provide first class quality, design and technology first, and deal with any business tiffs outside everything else.

[Sniper Steve]

Good topic, I usually don't post in general discussion topics but I like this one. I too have thought a lot about this, I am not a SP fan and I usually wont play with SP stuff but I do buy and sell used SP stuff from time to time because I do know that other people like it and that doesn't bother me. But I do use the Freak inserts for my Deadlywinds barrel and in my opinion one of the best I have shot(although on a side note I recently shot a Hammerhead barrel system and I loved it).

Sometimes a product can be great from a not so great company or the price might be too good to pass on for a product. I don't think that is compromising one's beliefs, I think that is making a sound decision and laying pride aside. Another good example of this is Walmart, can't say I agree with their overall philosophy but in though economic times saving money is important.

[stevewar]

just buy a rotor ... seriously

Since I'm the one who wrote the post originally, I will put in my .02. I will never buy anything Dye makes, because the company founder wiped paint in game in which his team was playing (and destroying) walk on players. After having your butt kicked for 1/2 the day, it's a small buy joyous victory to have watched a shot out of my gun fly through the air, smash into him, and leave a glorious splat. Then to see him duck down, rustle around, and come back up without that big splat was infuriating. Rememeber, I was playing with essentially a couple of decent players and about 20 noobs.

That said, if Dye were to offer me a sponsorship, and got Mr. Youngblood to apologize for being a douche that day (I'm not saying he's a douche in general), then I would probably have taken them up on it.

To be honest, I was offered a pro sponsorship and turned it down. I liked playing walk-on games with my friends, and the casual / friendly nature of the game. I think taking the game too seriously might have ruined the fun for me.

My .02

PS.
I have never, and will never own anything made by Dye.

[stevewar]

As far as taking a sponsor ship from SP, I would have to say no. Mainly due to there ethics, I don't take credit for what i haven't done and don't expect to take a hit for what some one else screws up. I really hate what they did to the industry and i can't/wouldn't support them even if they were willing to pay me to play. I would leave the game first.

As far as the DYE issue with the wipe as mentioned befor. Hey every one has a Jackass moment, even in rec ball there is cheating. It happened, its over, don't take it personal because the guy was a dick. For buying a rotor, well i'll pass unless I find one at a VERY good deal. I just prefer the Halo. So it really ins't a ethics issue for this case. Just a preference issue.

one not,e if it was just ANY jackass I wouldn't care, but in this case, it was the HEAD jackass.

[stevewar]

As for the dye issue, the same guy took time to individually help out and hook up our little team from alaska twice while he ran the pan-am. Once with hotel theft issues and another time with needed products. Plus he ran that series with his wife, working with family is cool in my book.

If anyone remembers there was a video of a gog shot on bob long that was removed crazy fast a number of years ago. All in the experience I guess.

Agreed, I don't think the guy is generally a douche bag, he's done a lot for the sport.

I also said in the original post that it is my own persona, and petty issue.

[sjrtk]

one not,e if it was just ANY jackass I wouldn't care, but in this case, it was the HEAD jackass.

I know what you mean no hard feelings, just because you the head doesn't mean your not an ass.

[Pudgey51]

wow guys, i forgot to subscribe to the thread but some good valid points have been made.

stevewar- didnt remember it was u who posted the thread about the beef with dye, but i tried to keep ur name out of it as u can tell by my generalization of the info. in any case, i apologize if u felt obligated to post and bring ur name into it....


as for my side, its a toughy...i dont know if i could turn my back on a companies ethics without knowing everything first and really is any company gonna represent themselves honestly to a perspective representative? they will probably put on their smiley faces nod to ur questions and make everything copasthetic (sp?) but they all have dirt to hide. i guess it would depend on what they were offering. If i could play the amount i want to, never pay a dime, and receive some extra cash inflow i might be persuaded to represent a less than reputable company. for at least a little while, remember dave chappele has represented both pepsi and coke, it just depends on who signed the most recent check...

or if u prefer paintball terms, Ollie Lang once was the poster boy for Dye..but he isnt anymore...and i bet some people have already forgotten that fact...

its a tough one, ill give everyone that. for those of u who can easily say no....i salute u.

[Fat Yoda]

I think most teams today would just bite the bullet and accept the sponsership from anyone no matter what thier polices are. Now a days it is what you can get for free. The love of the game is lacking. The team I usta play for way back in the day (late 80's and up to the mid 90's) was heavely sponsered by S P and Dye and others. I have played against all of them at one time or another. As far as not buying from the said companies that have unscrupulas owners or employees, to each his own. I will not buy a S P marker, barrel system yes, marker no(because of thier polices against AKA and how they ripped off Pnue Ventures) With so many different companys out thier now, you should be able to find anything you need.
And yes I will say the Gardner brothers are butt heads and Mr. Long are some of the best cheaters out there. But then again, thier heydays are over.
Stay true to you convictions and play safe, and most of all HAVE FUN!!!!