Okay sorry if you clicked on this thread thinking you're going to get some kind of official AGD press release. You're not.
I'm kind of new here, but I thought I would throw this post out as sort of an area for speculation for the (probably) upcoming AGD ULE MAG. Also maybe you guys could list the specs and price point that you hope to see.
As far as I'm concerned the current RTPro is a pretty hot marker. The big thing was the level ten upgrade. IMHO the LX makes the mag a viable option again after a few of years of being outclassed by supercockers and electros. The only problem I have with the current RTP is the mag slide lock barrel system. I know some of you like it but I always thought it was a bit clunky. The ULE takes care of that very nicely. As such I suggest that AGD IMMEDIATELY start selling RTPros with the current body switched out for the ULE. A simple and effective change. I fell this solution offers a number of advantages when compared to rolling out a completely new mag.
1. There will be a reduction in production costs (when compared to designing an entirely new mag).
2. The current RTPro components have already been succesfully tested by consumers in real world enviornments. If an entirely new mag is designed, there are potential problems.
3. This will keep current RTPros from devaluing. If only one component is changed between new and old RT mags, then it is sort of hard to call the old mags obsolete. To this point, look at Angels. WDP rolls out with a new Angel every 6 months or so. The newer angels are always better, faster, etc. which severely hurts the selling price of the current model. Don't believe me? Check out some of the for sale prices for angels on this very forum.
4. The gun can be offered immediately. Basically AGD has all the parts already made, they just need them to be put together. How easy is that?
5. A ULE body in a RTP frame looks smoking. If you go to the online store, click on the mainbodies section, click on the ule body, and and then click on "larger image" link you'll see what I mean. Also there are pics of the ule mainbody added to and RTP frame all over this forum. I know Z-man has one.
However I do see a few problems, the biggest of which is the TAC-ONE. If AGD honestly sells the T1 online for less than 500 bones, the new RT mag will have to follow suit in pricing, or they just won't move. The T1 seems to have all the advantages of the current RTP and none of the disadvantages. Actually I don't like the way it looks, but thats only because I like my markers with the extra bling, and flat black never did it for me. However if AGD sells the T1 for 100 less than the RTP, I'm buying a T1, and taking that left over 100 to get the whole thing nickle plated. Bling city! Basically there are two very simple options AGD has to solve this problem.
1. Raise the price of the T1 (booo.)
2. Lower the price of the RTP (yay!)
Either option has drawbacks for AGD and its probably going to take some serious market research to figure out which option would be better (for AGD, for the consumer the answer is pretty obvious). However if AGD sticks with the current and widely anticipated pricing I don't need Ms. Cleo to tell me whats gonna happen: T1's sell like hotcakes while RTP's stop moving entirely (this would probably piss off a lot of AGD retailers).
Also there is a problem with the ULE body in general and that is that it phases out the thread lock barrel system. If manufactures stop making aftermarket barrels with the old threading the are going to be a lot of classic body owners left out in the cold. This will also hurt the sales of the 68 classic and the minimag. To be honest I don't really care because I've always been a cocker boy, and have only recently been considering the purchase of a mag, but for someone who is considering buying a minimag and notices that there are no aftermarket barrels for it, this might be a problem.
Anyway (Big Mr. K, I hope your listening) in an ideal world this is what I would like to see.
ULE MAG: The current RTPRO with the mainbody switched out for a ULE body on sale to the general public direct from AGD for the slick price of $500.
P.S. As to the barrel, I realize that producing hundreds of new barrels with cocker threads might be a bit pricey, and while you can afford to have JJ produce nice ones for the X-mag, including barrels of simalar quality on a 500 dollar gun might be a problem. So my suggestion is just sell the damn thing without a barrel. Seriously who does not immediately replace their barrel. I see kids with 100 dollar spyders sporting 200 dollar freak kits. Stock barrels stay on most guns for like 10 seconds and with quality aftermarket selling for as little as 35 bucks, why bother?
P.P.S. Whew! Im done. I probably said some pretty stupid stuff in this post, but as noted earlier I'm kind new here so cut me some slack.
I'm kind of new here, but I thought I would throw this post out as sort of an area for speculation for the (probably) upcoming AGD ULE MAG. Also maybe you guys could list the specs and price point that you hope to see.
As far as I'm concerned the current RTPro is a pretty hot marker. The big thing was the level ten upgrade. IMHO the LX makes the mag a viable option again after a few of years of being outclassed by supercockers and electros. The only problem I have with the current RTP is the mag slide lock barrel system. I know some of you like it but I always thought it was a bit clunky. The ULE takes care of that very nicely. As such I suggest that AGD IMMEDIATELY start selling RTPros with the current body switched out for the ULE. A simple and effective change. I fell this solution offers a number of advantages when compared to rolling out a completely new mag.
1. There will be a reduction in production costs (when compared to designing an entirely new mag).
2. The current RTPro components have already been succesfully tested by consumers in real world enviornments. If an entirely new mag is designed, there are potential problems.
3. This will keep current RTPros from devaluing. If only one component is changed between new and old RT mags, then it is sort of hard to call the old mags obsolete. To this point, look at Angels. WDP rolls out with a new Angel every 6 months or so. The newer angels are always better, faster, etc. which severely hurts the selling price of the current model. Don't believe me? Check out some of the for sale prices for angels on this very forum.
4. The gun can be offered immediately. Basically AGD has all the parts already made, they just need them to be put together. How easy is that?
5. A ULE body in a RTP frame looks smoking. If you go to the online store, click on the mainbodies section, click on the ule body, and and then click on "larger image" link you'll see what I mean. Also there are pics of the ule mainbody added to and RTP frame all over this forum. I know Z-man has one.
However I do see a few problems, the biggest of which is the TAC-ONE. If AGD honestly sells the T1 online for less than 500 bones, the new RT mag will have to follow suit in pricing, or they just won't move. The T1 seems to have all the advantages of the current RTP and none of the disadvantages. Actually I don't like the way it looks, but thats only because I like my markers with the extra bling, and flat black never did it for me. However if AGD sells the T1 for 100 less than the RTP, I'm buying a T1, and taking that left over 100 to get the whole thing nickle plated. Bling city! Basically there are two very simple options AGD has to solve this problem.
1. Raise the price of the T1 (booo.)
2. Lower the price of the RTP (yay!)
Either option has drawbacks for AGD and its probably going to take some serious market research to figure out which option would be better (for AGD, for the consumer the answer is pretty obvious). However if AGD sticks with the current and widely anticipated pricing I don't need Ms. Cleo to tell me whats gonna happen: T1's sell like hotcakes while RTP's stop moving entirely (this would probably piss off a lot of AGD retailers).
Also there is a problem with the ULE body in general and that is that it phases out the thread lock barrel system. If manufactures stop making aftermarket barrels with the old threading the are going to be a lot of classic body owners left out in the cold. This will also hurt the sales of the 68 classic and the minimag. To be honest I don't really care because I've always been a cocker boy, and have only recently been considering the purchase of a mag, but for someone who is considering buying a minimag and notices that there are no aftermarket barrels for it, this might be a problem.
Anyway (Big Mr. K, I hope your listening) in an ideal world this is what I would like to see.
ULE MAG: The current RTPRO with the mainbody switched out for a ULE body on sale to the general public direct from AGD for the slick price of $500.
P.S. As to the barrel, I realize that producing hundreds of new barrels with cocker threads might be a bit pricey, and while you can afford to have JJ produce nice ones for the X-mag, including barrels of simalar quality on a 500 dollar gun might be a problem. So my suggestion is just sell the damn thing without a barrel. Seriously who does not immediately replace their barrel. I see kids with 100 dollar spyders sporting 200 dollar freak kits. Stock barrels stay on most guns for like 10 seconds and with quality aftermarket selling for as little as 35 bucks, why bother?
P.P.S. Whew! Im done. I probably said some pretty stupid stuff in this post, but as noted earlier I'm kind new here so cut me some slack.
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