The Offcial BOX Thread

[bofh]

AGD,

As I've said before, you have to decide if it's worth it, to get a "new" box.

I believe that the box, in this application, is a post sale issue. It's something you want to represent your company when people look at it, not to pull in a sale. People already have their cash on the table when they see the box.

I think, at most, make a sticker that cover a good chunk of the top, and have the information of the marker, Color, warp/pf, left/right, mini/auto/e-mag/cnc on the side. (like you currently have) And perhaps molded/plucked foam inside. (as far as I know this is what you have, I haven't bought a mag in a while.)

That's all, but I warn you, I'm not a professional. And the right people to ask is not us. We, (AO) already know what we want to buy, we check specs and read reports and go into a store knowing what we want to get. A box won't change us.

[luke]

This whole box thing has bugged me from the beginning. It's the most ludicrous thing I have witnessed here at AO. Next thing people will be complaining about the cost increase.

I'm not one to flame anyone, but, I have to say wanting a pretty box with the purchase of a paintball gun the most ignorant thing I have ever heard of.

I don't know how the "AGD Company" is ran, but, It looks to me like Tom does all the development work by himself. Everyone needs to ask themselves what they would rather have Tom concentrating on, new products or marketing? Non of us own stock in AGD, so why is everyone worried about their marketing? What do you stand to gain from it? Are you worried AGD will go out of business if they don't advertise? Yea right!

AGD will eventually be at the top again because of the products they INVENT not the box they bring it to us in.

I vote for keeping the SIMPLE WHITE BOXES so Tom can use his time to develop great products for us, not pretty packaging.

[BTAutoMag]

i like loads advertising quote...

"We thought about putting the money towards a nice box, but sunk it into making a superior product instead."

[than205]

There's another good point. Maybe the non-AGD should be asked how much packaging does matter.

[Gecko]

the best product packaging i have seen was my excalibur. No box just a nice warrior sports gear gun bag.....
I still use it today, holds 3 barrels and has a spot in front for oil allen wrenches etc...
Gecko

[MagDog68]

Oh...THAT kind of Box! I thought...nevermind.

~Fred

[G-Rexx]

Anyone looking to shell out $1000.00 plus on a marker, knows what they are buying, either a high end mech. or a spiffy elec. No one in our sport doles out that much mullah without knowing what they are buying, NO ONE!!!

When I purchased my E-Mag, it could have come in tin foil and I would not have cared. I knew what I was getting before I knew what the box looked like, and I could't care less about the package.

Tom keep the price of the markers down and continue to send them in the white boxes. Most folks who buy these high end markers, buy them off display racks in high end paintball shops. Don't raise the price and wind up cutting your nose off to spite the winers in the marketing world.

[cphilip]

What is this preocupation with the Technology verses Marketing debate? Where does everybody get that? How come everyone seems to think one has to suffer for the other? It most certainly does not. You should set a goal to do both well. Your logic completely baffles me that one will always affect the other like they are opposing players. They often can go hand and hand. As a team. I think most of you are completely distorting the issue by constantly assuming one would suffer in order to do the other. If it does your doing it wrong.

[skipdogg]

Two box versions

Have Two box versions

Version One-
One box is shiny looks good has pretty colors. It will cost $10 more for the overall price, and whiney players that have color matching gun parts, will gladly spend the extra money so they can brag to their friends that they are dumb and spent an extra $10 for a box.

The second version-
for serious paintballers that are too smart to be roped into buying "neat shiney things" and actually work hard for there money, and just wanna play some damn paintball and give two friggin poo cakes about boxes. This version will cost $10 less. And then we can point and laugh at all the stupid people that spent an extra $10 for A DANG STUPID BOX!!!!!


i know tom already said this idea, but he didnt say it the way i wanted to :)

[cphilip]

Tom already said that. And I agree, it was a good idea.

[MagDog68]

Thats the way to go! But I will still want my white box! I have three Mags and only one box

~Fred #1

[G-Rexx]

MagDog, I've got three mags, and no white boxes. Don't need the clutter!!!

[the JoKeR]

I personally don't care so much about the box or packaging. If the gun arrives to me safe and sound, the packaging did it's part. Two of the last three guns I bought were on-line purchases, and came in the same white box with a nice color sticker to "customize" it. For me, that's enough. I understand people spending 1k or more for a gun want a little more flash for their cash, and when you're spending that kind of money, you deserve it.

[cphilip]

You know I actually keep my box in case I am shipping back or eventually sell it. People like the original box. Collectors know the value of the original box. Doubles the value on Collectables. Just a nice touch on a used marker sale but one that is always noticed. Only thing is I sent the emag back for update and THEY KEPT my box!

[2000Sabre]

Tom,

It's too bad that you feel like your being beat up because as cphilip put it we're only giving you constructive critism and not attacking you personally. However, I'm very appreciative of the fact that you do listen.

My take on the box issue is that is not the box itself that makes me buy the product but what's in the box. However, as a buyer of a high end marker, the presentation does add emotional/psychological value to me. To me it says that I made the right choice and that the company not only cares about the product they make but how it's presented to the consumer. It says to me that this company wants me to enjoy the entire experience.

Why do you think many luxury cars give you a leather bound owner's manual? It's just another small way that this company is saying to me that I've bought quality. I don't think it's should be any different when I buy a high end marker. There's a certain level of expectation that comes with buying a $1450 marker. You expect a lot for your money and if it's not delivered it can make the experience less than satisfing.

Now in the case of the SLF, if these were truely a limited production run then this should have been pointed out to us prior to purchasing them. That way we would have probably set our own expectations and if we still purchased one, then it's at our own risk.

How do we get around this. We'll maybe you can have a box design contest like you did for the intelliframe packaging. This way you don't divert attention away from getting the product finished. Maybe sub-contract it out to a design house? I think there are lots of way you can get nice packaging without having to do it yourself. If it adds 10 - 25 dollars to the cost of the product what's the difference, you're buying a $1500 marker so who cares that some of the cost is in the packaging.

In terms of overall importance, I think the packaging is third behind the product and the manual/video. More important to me that I have reliable product and quality documentation than a pretty box. But the box does help.

You're the one who ultimately has to decide what AGD is and isn't. If you don't want to put money and effort into marketing but would rather just let the products speak for themselves that's your choice. We on AO will still stand behind you and buy your products whatever decision you make.