Why Was AGD NOT at the Chicago PSP???

[damageinc54]

Would AGD like to explain to us why they were not at the Chicago PSP event? Was it to far of a drive? The venue was much closer to AGD than the Tweeter Center where the NPPL was held. One of my team mates just bought an Emag. He asks me if AGD will be at the PSP selling ULE bodies, I said hell ya they will be, no way they would not be at a major tournament right in their back yard. Looks like I was wrong. I dont know who is in charge of marketing at AGD but they missed a great opportunity to show off their new products and maybe even sell some!?!?! I am sorry but you guys dropped the ball on this one. Dye, Smart Parts, Shocktech, JT, and Worr Games were there with their huge trailers and booths. Even Custom Products had a trailer there!!! AGD did not even have a 10x10 EzUP with one wooden table. I am very disappointed.

[nerobro]

I'ts a very good question. The agd events schedule says they SHOULD have been there... I wonder what happened.

[Frank (the spank)]

I don't know... but I have my best man on the case.



Believe it or not, he's walking on air.

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

I have to say this. AGD has horrible marketing. They couldn't sell a big mac to an ethopian. If you think about it, if AGD would have their stuff ready on time, not have huge waiting list (supply and demand, soon the demand for xmags will be gone because no one can get one!), actually be at most/all major event, and get a few magazine ads, they mags would sell like hotcakes. Not that they don't sell already, but they would sell much better. Right now would be the perfect time to work on marketing skills with all the new products coming out. Most people outside of AO have no idea about ULE parts, Y grips, ULE trigger or Xvalves. If Dye or WDP came out with these parts, everyone and their momma would buy. There's no use making a great product if you can't sell it. Sure, ads in magazines do cost alot, but they will eventually pay for themselves if you get more customers.

[cphilip]

I think it was partly to do with Tom going on his annual Vacation. It was announced they would not be going a few weeks ago. I think ,when that Schedule was first made up long ago, Tom had thought he was going to skip his annual trip so he planned on being there. But somewhere along the line it the Vacation trip was back on.

Not sure but thats what I think it was anyway.

[FalconGuy016]

Originally posted by RT pRo AuToMaG
. Most people outside of AO have no idea about ULE parts, Y grips, ULE trigger or Xvalves. If Dye or WDP came out with these parts, everyone and their momma would buy.

Yes, no one has any idea. I seem to know everythign about every other company and all their products, even though I have NO INTENTION of buying their guns and parts

[Muzikman]

Phil,
Problem with that theory is that even on the schedule Tom said he would not be there and that he would be Dino hunting. I just think someone forgot about the event:)

[cphilip]

My understanding was it was a consious decision not to go. Because they said they were not going BEFORE it even came up to time. And I am not certain his dates for Dino hunting didn't change. In Fact I do know a few months back that was even cancelled. And then suddenly it was back on. So... Your guess is as good as mine.

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

sorry

Sorry, I have to agree. Big mistake. All this new stuff and not one single AGD employee at the booth showing all the new stuff. I know Tom is boss but don't you have at least one other Marketing employee there? They need to be yelled at big time, I mean it was Chicago, come on!!!! Hometown for you, no excuses! Last year was a revolution for you, the XMag, Lvl 10, and No Rise. This year you dropped the ball.

With the Y-grip coming out it would have been a perfect chance for people to handle it and see if they like it and want to order it, and the ULE trigger to see if they will chuff. So AGD screwed themselves over and shouldn't complain if sales are slow on these two items and that it's only AO people buying them (which has happened for example with the roller trigger), because this would have been the way to sell more and they just let it slip by. Notice how everyone talked about the new NY Extreme Matrix and how many sold there? And the 2003 Shocker which could easily crush the XMag in sales (same look and all)? And you know the Angel Speed sold like mad and was shown alot.

Getting products out there sells them, because I got to play with a Matrix this weekend I am definitely looking to sell my Mag and switch to them. It ripped. I saw a 2003 Angel LCD and a Viking too and have positive impressions of them now and would probably look at buying one of them before and XMag even though I am a Mag user now and like my gun. I didn't see any other Mags besides my own at that field and that's what gets sales. Exposure and giving people the chance to see them in action and try them which is the idea of trade shows.

Step up guys, or just accept why it's only AO members buying your stuff.

[GT]

no offense guys but Tom aint the only guy that works for AGD>

jb

[Muzikman]

Phil,
If you take a look at the AGD schedule that Tom pasted back at the beginning of the year you will see that they should have been there and that Tom was not going to be around.

PSP Chicago June 21st (tk hunting fossils)

So again, someone dropped the ball. Not that I was there or anything, but it does shock me that a major event so close to home should not be missed. Then again, IAO is just around the corner and that is where all the "new" products are introduced anyway.

[hitech]

To those of you claiming that AGD made a bad marketing decision, do you know anything about marketing? You may think something is obviously a good idea when in fact it is not.

To those who are claiming certain products sold well, do you actually know how many sold? Or are you guessing? The actual numbers might surprise you.

There is a lot more to deciding what event to attend. I know, I have helped make that decision (different industry). First of all, the event itself costs big dollars. You won't make anywhere near enough in sales to justify it. So, what you have to decide is how much is this particular event worth exposure wise? That is a very hard question to answer. Tom has traditionally debuted new products at IAO. I'm sure he believes it is worth more in exposure. Never having been to either I can't comment. However, all that said, I would have probably at least sent someone with a small booth.

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

marketing

HiTech, I actually do understand marketing and business, I majored in both. But I do understand the validity of your claims based on your experience as well as understand the costs. However, some of the key costs of such an event is travel, lodging, etc. and because it's AGD hometown those would have been minimal. Event fees are a worthwhile expense. And you're telling me every player who attended the Chicago event is going to attend the IAO? The teams and promoters will, but they're sponsored, they're not the people being sold to. I bet people pick one event or the other to be live spectators for, and in cases of events in different locations no more than 10% of the people who attended Chicago will attend the IAO and vice versa. So that 90% in Chicago that won't be at IAO are lost marketing opportunities. Would all buy Mag items? Of course not. Would they at least see them and remember something about them? YES!

And it is not always just about sales. The NY Extreme Matrix sold out the seven or so they had according to Paintball.com (or Force of Nature, one of those two key sites) and had three or so on backorder. BUT more importantly it gained serious exposure that made it the talk of fields this weekend. I kept hearing about it the day I played. And that makes a company push ahead. I also bet they'll have those backorders and more in sometime this millenium, unlike AGD and the XMag. It's about getting the name AGD out there, a stupid banner would have at least shown that they represented. Instead they can change their slogan to "AGD: the company that can't even afford to show up to their hometown event." Great rep. I bet even those cheapskates Brass Eagle showed in some fashion. And they did it because showing at all events builds brand recognition and boosts sales. And look what effect AGD not showing and not making a clear announcement they are not showing at all had on current customers. A negative one. (TK fossil hunting) is a pathetic way of saying they're not showing, is Tom the only employee of AGD? NO!

The market is a competition that is growing steadily, and if AGD doesn't want to take an aggressive stance and expect their products to do all the work, all the ULE items in the world won't stop it from going right back to the 3rd tier market status it had a couple years back.

[hitech]

Re: marketing

Originally posted by QUINCYMASSGUY
And it is not always just about sales...more importantly it gained serious exposure that made it the talk of fields this weekend.

That is exactly what I was talking about. I cannot personally comment on the particular event. I assume AGD did not think it was worth it. Maybe they are wrong.

Originally posted by QUINCYMASSGUY
(TK fossil hunting) is a pathetic way of saying they're not showing, is Tom the only employee of AGD? NO!

I doubt this is the reason. Maybe why TK did not attend, but I doubt that is why no one attended (well, not directly anyway).

Originally posted by QUINCYMASSGUY
The market is a competition that is growing steadily, and if AGD doesn't want to take an aggressive stance and expect their products to do all the work, all the ULE items in the world won't stop it from going right back to the 3rd tier market status it had a couple years back.

Generally, AGD has let their products speak for themselves. I personally think that was fine ten years ago, but doesn't work today. Then again, no one in their right mind would hire me as a marketing consultant! Tom does understand marketing. He understands the budget constraints AGD operates under. It's very hard to really know what is best without that information. Then again, it seems to me someone should have been there. However, to play devil's advocate, maybe they didn't want to have a booth unless it was their best. The old if you can't do it well, don't do it. Which is worse, not showing up or having a "bad" showing?

Still, I think someone should have at least been on hand to do technical support.

[magman007]

Listen, added on from hitech, the NPPL is much "bigger" and has been promoted much better than PSP, that is probabally why i think tom skipped PSP and went to NPPL. The Nppl is also "cleaner" in my ideas, with the judging, and it is much more professionally run.


PLus i dont think i would want to be associated with psp, i feel they are all a bunch of jackasses