What's with the declining support for the Mag?

[FragTek]

I think that mags are slowly but surely picking back up in popularity with the release of the X-Mag, and with all of the great stuff that they are making for E-Mags and mechanicals I don't see why they wouldn't be hitting the spotlight again.

The only major problem that I am still really seeing with the Automag is the gas effieciency, there is none! There are also a few little doodads here and there that I could squabble about, but I don't feel them big enough cons to even bring up.

[GA Devil]

gotta say I love the "nice bodies" with clare ad. Got my attention.

[melster]

The only reason why I brought this up in the first place is because I love mags and I cannot believe that they're losing out the other markers.

When they first came out, mags and cockers were pretty much neck and neck as far as market penetration. In my neck of the woods (SoCal) at least, it seems that cockers have FAR outstripped mags.

Kingman's Spyder has the low end market, WDP's Angel has the electro high-end. The mechanical cockers and mags duke it out for the middle, but it looks to me like WGP has the upper hand.

AGD should be all over II & Skanline to feature their products, or at least offer them online! If no one knows where to buy one, how can you sell it to them? The superior product does not guarantee a sales win.

[PaintSkater00]

Actually people supporting mags has grown. If anyone of you has gone on pbreview.com this is a thread on a wish list(not on the automag thread but in general talk) and over half the people said they wished they had x-mags!

[Jeffy-CanCon]

There has been a decline in support for Automags over the years, from what I have seen. One large pball store I was in last summer had a single tiny shelf with Mag doodads, and they had to dust off a box of spare parts for my friend who wanted to buy some more nubbins. Locally, our store carries a good selection of parts (even pump-mag kits), and provides good support. I think it helps that they sponsor a club with a dozen or so die-hard Mag-users in it. :)

Melster has it right about the high & low end markets squeezing Mags and Cockers into a small middle ground. But I see the X-Mag and E-Mag taking their rightful share of the high-end market in the near future.

I agree with Shartly that a lot of the cool stuff we see on AO doesn't necessarily help AGD with marketing, as it is essentially "preaching to the choir". We're here because we already like and/or own AGD products. And most people don't know about the racecar, or Clare, or Skyball. Most people, especially new players know only what they see in the magazines: ads for Kingman, Tippmann and a dozen aftermarket cocker brands, and photos of pros with Timmys and Angels.

I disagree with the suggestion that WGP has "outmarketed" AGD. Most of those cockers you see out there are not WGP products. I bet if you check the production numbers coming from each company, they are fairly similar. AGD just doesn't have the same clone market that WGP has. It is pretty similar to the whole IBM/Apple thing, I think.

It's nice to be "l337". It's nicer to see your equipment being supported by your local stores and fields.

[MinimagRockin']

Originally posted by USAF-Flyboy with a Mag


Oh so true Mr Kaye, but don't worry..the So Cal AO'ers are educating them one at a time =)

Indeed, "educating" them direct from the school of hard knocks.

[RoadDawg]

Originally posted by bryceeden


You think California is anti-mag cocker country you should see Utah. I only know of four in the entire state and two of them are back ups to cockers. Every one still thinks cockers shoot farther, and even when I get the same range with my mag they tell me the chrono is wrong and my velocity really is higher than theirs.

I used to live in Salt Lake and I know exactly what your talking about. I had a micro RT when I lived up there but it has since evolved into a ULE Mech mag to a ULE Emag. So next time I'm up I'll have something to really rip with. I keep tempting my brother to put his Shocker down and give my emag a try but he won't listen to me.

[Lohman446]

Let me ask this about marketing, and correct me if I am entirely wrong, and lets not make it a marketing question necesarrily, lets make it a business question.

There comes a point in business - or should, that those involved in it make a living that they are comfortable with, and do not necessarily seek more income. At this point these people are doing what they want to do, again hopefully. There is an effort made to maintain, and to innovate things that current customer's will want, and upgrade to. I beleive that AGD may be at this place - they spend a lot of money without great revenue if viewed in dollars on AO, and on sponsorships (though I beleive sponsorships are overrated by many companies in paintball). However, they are advancing the game and maybe that is there goal.

Look at all your questions - all the cool things that AGD has done. Now stop asking the question in a way of has it increased revenew and ask instead, has it made the game more fun for all involved with AGD? Not everything should be measured in $$ signs, SP can do that. I look up to AGD and TK - they have tried to consistently improve the game through actual testing and thought - rather than just trying to sell the newest idea, they have tried to improve the game, and build a strong company, not just make as much money as possible today, maybe that is why they are one of the oldest, most respected names in paintball today.

[Konigballer]

you really cant fault with the logic in shartley's last post. I agree with him, and the church analogy fits well. Anyways, Mag popularity fell off years ago and held steady with the diehards. There just isnt hords of people flocking to purchase them. When people see an Xmag in person they spaz and say they love it. But whats the point in loving a companies' marker if you cant even get a hold of one yourself or even see one in the first place?

Alot of people who own mags have them as a backup gun to their main marker. Thats what has to change.

[Meph]

Originally posted by AGD
HEY! Don't our cool boxes count for something!!! :)

AGD

HAHAHAHA!

Why did you have to bring up THAT Tom? Of all the things, the dreaded Mag box!

[bornl33t]

Re: Re: What's with the declining support for the Mag?

Originally posted by WARPED1
Yes.
Sorry, but AGD couldn't market a Big Mac to an ethiopian.
Great products, crappy marketing, just my opinion, put your flamethrowers down zombies..............

while I don't agree with it, I about pee'd my pants I was laughing so hard.... a Big mac to an ethiopian... bwaaahahaahhaa