How to lower paint prices?

[nak81783]

Deathstalker,

You bring very valid points to the discussion. That's why I started the thread by saying, "I understand businesses have to make money, etc." On one extreme, you mentioned paintball companies going out of business due the idea of a boycott based on high prices. Then no more paintball, no more gear, etc, etc. That's a good point, but as mentioned that's one extreme.

Consider the other extreme, paint prices for a poor college kid like myself (yes, I'm working towards getting a good job ) are causing me to slowly drift away from the sport. I don't know how many are in the same boat as I am, but if a bunch of us get out of the sport, who are you gonna play with? Paintball by yourself is very boring. In addition, the companies would go out of business since those in my situation decided to get out of the sport.

Yes, those are two extreme situations, neither of which I think will ever occur.

I guess my point is, and I mean no offense by this: Just because YOU CAN afford it DOESN'T mean I can.

Respectfully,
Nathan

[Star_Base_CGI]

Supply and demand.

Buy a Paintball press and press Premiums for $20 a case. Than sell them direct on the internet to you.

You think people are boohooing we arent making money now? Let them know what its like to work for a living!

[nak81783]

I'm sorry, I guess it's just too late for all my thinking processes to work. Can you please explain that?

Thanks,
Nathan

[ratmonkey]

i remember proball platinums were 95 a case when i last played before this summer. i got back into the sport cause paint got so stinking cheap even this poor college kid could afford to feed his tippman or mag.

[shartley]

[Star_Base_CGI]

Okay well, if someone were selling premiums for $20 a case that would force the other paintball companies to actually compete. Instead of selling their paint for $40 a case.

[ben_JD]

Originally posted by Animal Mother
Is Bud Orr's "Worr Paint" on the market yet? He built his own factory and is making his own stuff now. Wondering if it hit the market yet.

I worked on that transaction (from the finance side); pretty cool actually.

To answer your question, the place opened quite a while ago once the equipment was released from customs impound. I have even seen a couple of cases here in the D/FW area.

[nak81783]

Shartly,

You're absolutely right. Life is that way. Not everyone can afford everything they want to do. The thing is, I used to shoot a bag a weekend, if that. Now with the growing number of people participating, and all the spray and pray tactics, that just won't do. That's why I'm slowly drifting away from the sport. It's kinda hard to accept that since it's my favorite hobby. I've given up most of my soccer, hunting, fishing, etc to stay in the sport of paintball, but now it looks like paintball's going down the hill too. That's the reason I was asking for opinions on lowering paint prices. Yep, that's responsibilty and priorities for you. College is number one right now; they'll be time for playing later. THERE BETTER BE!!!

Nathan

Oh by the way, I found a way to get paint for less. Find all your friends that are getting out of the sport due to it's high costs, and buy their remaining paint from them. I got over 1500 PMI Premiums last night for $5.

[HOMOCIDAL2]

The prices did go down. Just ask anybody who was playing 10 years ago. How many people got out of the sport and came back when they saw how cheap paint was? I know I did.

[magking1971]

Amen Homocidal2! I bought my first paintball in 89 and wow what change in price nowadays.
I didn't play for many years because of the price but now I have a MUCH better job and paint prices are soooo much cheaper.

[RRfireblade]

Originally posted by shartley

Agreed.

After working for my Pilots license,I think they really should lower the price of planes. Oh, well.

For those new to the sport,paint is cheaper now than it ever has been and is getting cheaper all the time,sure that makes you feel much better.Anyway,I'm an avid firearm shooter myself,ands it can cost around $1 a bullet IF I MAKE THEM MYSELF!!Not including the cost of the tools and equiptment.(most can be done around .10-.15cents each tho)
Believe it or not we (I) pay more for paint by choice.I often buy from a real local dealer who has tried to match internet pricing and can't.I know his cost and agreed to pay enough to keep him stocking paint.(in volume)It seems fair for both.($40-$50 depending on brand)Good enough for me.In some regards I like paintball to require some effort to play.It builds good character (in some) to have to work to play.My youngest brother,14,works 12-15 hours a week just to play and it ALL goes for paintball.I think he's a better person for it,although he may disagree.

Jay.

[Kevmaster]

I managed a field for over a year. Im PTI trained and know most all markers pretty damn well. I know industry practices and have been involved with two major suppliers to fields.

Heres what my opinion is. If anyone so much as points a finger at Jimmy the field owner for trying to "rip you off" and squeeze all your moneyout of your pockets, go cry to mommy and don't play paintball. I know 8 field owners PERSONALLY and know of many others. If you took all the fields in my state (North Carolina, one of the bets PB states) and looked at which fields were doing well financially and which were not....there would be about 4 that were doing well and about 50 that were not. Heres one of paintball's misconceptions: FIELDS MAKE MONEY. No, they dont! They barely break even in most cases. Yes, they charge $1200 for that new cool gun and www.Big-Online-Store.com sells it for $950....whats the problem....well...they pay $945 and I pay $1000 for it. I CANT sell it at their price and BREAK EVEN...not to mention it will sit on my wall for prolly a year before anyone wants it in that color and milling job.

Fields are not the bad guys here folks. We have little things called insurance. That costs a FORTUNE. Why? Because idiots go screw **** up and then try to **** us over because of their stupidity. We have RENT to pay on the land...we have TAXES to pay...we have REFS to hire...managers to pay. Electricity is required for most fields too...oh yeh...sup air fields run about $5-7 Grand.

Think all suppliers have it REAL GOOD? Think, oh National Paintball and Paintball Inc are both makin tons of money and thats where the profit goes....WRONG. Paintball Inc has not had one box of paint (zero...zilch...not ONE) in their warehouse for two months...TWO MONTHS. They're about to go under and are rumored to be bought out by a Nevada company. They have 4 warehouses over the country and prolly 100 employees. They don't seem to be making all that much money, in my view.

Well...I guess my rant is about done...so to sum it up, nobody else would stick up for the little guys in paintball. They work their *** off every weekend so YOU get to have a good time with friends. He is there to help you and makes almost nothing off of you when it comes down to it after he pays insurance, refs, rent, taxes, electricity.... Paint costs too much? get a pump...you'll find it is just as fun.

And if you do think your field owner is gouging you and think hes doing it to get rich....go work for him...get to see the other side. You'll quickly learn how LITTLE money is made in paintball

[LoveMyMagMoreThanYou]

Originally posted by nak81783
Ok, thanks. If you get a chance, ask him if he's heard about that minimum pricing thing. Or have him ask his PMI representative. I'm curious to see what his response would be. Maybe things are different State to State. Who knows? I'm in Michigan and have never seen even crappy paint sell that low.

Oh and yes, the Worr Paint is out. That's what I've been shooting lately. I really like it. It doesn't bounce as much as PMI Prems or BigBall. It also seems to get good range, unlike some of the lightly filled balls that seem to have a "wiffle" ball effect.

Nathan


OK, that MAP thing makes sense.

They can't tell you what to sell anything for. They would be in violation of the Sherman anti-trust act. It would be price fixing.

[Kevmaster]

yes, they can, and yes, they do

many companys paintball and not do it. They have three prices. Dealer, Min Advertised, MSRP. They ENCOURAGE you to sell it for the MSRP, however, to protect fields, they have a min advertised where nobody is allowed to sell below that price (usually $10 or 5% over wholesale depending on the item-- ie a popular reg runs $50 wholesale buy the manu says nobody can sell it below $60) and of course the wholeslae is the dealer price

many companies do this in PB...and not in PB aswell

[RRfireblade]

Originally posted by Kevmaster
yes, they can, and yes, they do

many companys paintball and not do it. They have three prices. Dealer, Min Advertised, MSRP. They ENCOURAGE you to sell it for the MSRP, however, to protect fields, they have a min advertised where nobody is allowed to sell below that price (usually $10 or 5% over wholesale depending on the item-- ie a popular reg runs $50 wholesale buy the manu says nobody can sell it below $60) and of course the wholeslae is the dealer price

many companies do this in PB...and not in PB aswell

I think he meant they can't force you to sell at MAP.

We are forced to advertise at no less than MAP.Once the customer is in the store none of our agreements require any min sale price.We sell everywhere from below cost on ocassion to full MSRP depending on what is in our best interest.Below cost,FYI, is sometimes benificial to move product based on sales incentives and such.

Jay.

P.S.
Most manufacturers do not expect you to sell @ full MSRP.