Still think SP is evil? Better read this..........

[WARPED1]

Dynasty's Skinny K on Smart Parts Critics

Well recently my team signed a sponsorship deal with Smart Parts for the 2004 season. For whatever reason people all over the internet and forums have called Adam and Billy Gardner Nazi's. By the way I am German and one of my great granfathers names was Adolf. I have heard crazy quotes like "the most hated company in the industry" etc etc. How shockers are a pieces of crap and how all smart parts stuff sucks. (Isn't that funny that the ****ty smart parts stuff won both the nxl and xball division 1 title at world cup)

[zaqwert6]

Originally posted by WARPED1
Dynasty's Skinny K on Smart Parts Critics

Well recently my team signed a sponsorship deal with Smart Parts for the 2004 season. For whatever reason people all over the internet and forums have called Adam and Billy Gardner Nazi's. By the way I am German and one of my great granfathers names was Adolf. I have heard crazy quotes like "the most hated company in the industry" etc etc. How shockers are a pieces of crap and how all smart parts stuff sucks. (Isn't that funny that the ****ty smart parts stuff won both the nxl and xball division 1 title at world cup)

Most people just say that negative stuff 'cause it's "fashonable". If you were at World Cup,you saw that the SP trailers were one of the busiest attendees at the whole event.Few poeple are really boycotting,other than those that never supported SP anyway.

[GT]

Originally posted by WARPED1
(Isn't that funny that the ****ty smart parts stuff won both the nxl and xball division 1 title at world cup)

warped,
I never thought you were retarded enough to give into the hype. Do you honestly think that the crap people play with really gives them an edge over another?

I guess I was wrong

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

gear

The gear didn't win it, they won it, and that still doesn't mean it was 100% skill. Bad Company competed with Spyders w/o eyes and still smoked alot of teams packing timmy's. The Shocker is better than alot, just not the ones it's claimed to compete with. And Dynasty have been known to play shady like all the rest, though I do acknowledge they have skill. And Div. 1 XBall, wow, really challenging themselves huh? They play pro everywhere else and act tough by sandbagging. Yeah I know they weren't able to get into the Pro division due to the season being set but still. I also think the nazi thing is ridiculous and an incorrect analogy. The Gardners are manipulative, self-absorbed, unethical, greedy, deceitful, scumbags who churn out more hype than WAS and do only what profits them even if making a few bucks more by taking advantage of a governmental loophole risks crippling the sport. Now THAT I believe is a fully accurate statement about SP.

[WARPED1]

Originally posted by gtrsi


warped,
I never thought you were retarded enough to give into the hype. Do you honestly think that the crap people play with really gives them an edge over another?

I guess I was wrong

That was a quote from Skinny, and in todays tournament scene, it does matter what kind of equipment you use. There was a time that it didn't, but now it does. After 13 years of playing ball, I've seen the evolution.

[Jonesie]

Originally posted by AGD
Pro team + sponsor dollars = product sales.
AGD

Yet Tom refuses, or at least claims that he is financially unable, to sponsor a Pro Team. WDP, SP, WGP, National, everyone else (just about) has one, and they sell product.

This seems to be a Catch 22 for AGD. You can't sell product without a sponsorship that comes with a high cost. However, you can't afford the high cost of sponosorship of a high quality, visible team without product sales. See where I'm going?

It may be time for AGD to bite the bullet and seek some outside funding to help get themselves into position to be a market leader. They have the know-how and the forward-thinking, but they don't have the naked girls (sorry Clare, keep your clothes on) or the flashy advertising, much less the high profile sponsorship.

I know most of you on AO support Tom, as I do. I also know that you think of paintball as a sport, which it is. However, I think the last thing Tom needs is a bunch of "Yes Men". Furthermore, I think these yes men serve little purpose considering they are his EXISTING customer base. While we do prove to be a benefitial source of input for AGD, we are both LIMITED and BIASED.

Paintball is a BUSINESS as much as, or even more so than, it is a sport. Ask Tunaman, cphilip, Shartley, Rogue, or DataPimp - they'll tell you. The Gardners are smart business men, they aim to protect their innovations. Perhaps Tom should have taken the same approach to his contributions to the sport, like Compreseed Air or Powerfeed. I'm not questioning your business sense, Tom; I commend you for your contributions to the sport for the sake of the sport.

I think that if AGD wants to become one of the MAJOR gun makers, on par with WDP, WGP, SP and National, it's time to seek a form of expansion beyond AO. It's time to find a high profile team to support. I see Dynasty, the Americans, and the N. Dogs in EVERY magazine I pick up. I've seen the Kids and the Lions/Pride in the SkyBall issue. Do the math.

Tom, I hope I "push your button" with this post. I push in a respectful manner, in hopes of helping a company to whom I truly believe in.

Respectfully,
David "Jonesie" Jones

[AGD]

Jonesie,

Find someone with a million bucks and have him call me.

AGD

[RRfireblade]

Originally posted by AGD
Jonesie,

Find someone with a million bucks and have him call me.

AGD

If he calls me first,I'll give him some pie.

[Python14]

Hey Mr. Kaye, What about college teams? Would it possibly be cheaper to get a college team(since the school may possibly subsidize some of it). Just a thought.


....or you can just sponsor me. I'm an influential member of the Southwest Virginia Paintball community. When I started using mags and demonstated LX to the masses(of noobs), products moved from the local store's shelves. Plus, I won't leave because of "business".

[snwbrdr913]

I know this may be random and off topic, but I notice looking at all these people with PIE REVOLUTION sigs, they weren't even here back when the whole ridiculous pie thing started, and everyone put pie in their polls and everyone voted for pie. In fact the only person here I recognize is shartley. And personman.

[Butterfingers]

Sponsorship is also a double edged sword. You float the money to sponsor a pro team and there is no gaurantee that they will give you the results you want. Sure you may sell more guns and become big but how are you gonna offset the cost? reduced quality? To date I have never seen a paintball gun put together to such exacting tolerances as an Automag.

Its happening to WDP. Thier US sponsored teams are falling off thier screens as we speak. Pretty soon you loose enough publicity and you don't sell enough to offset the cost of a pro team then bam you are in debt to your eyeballs. Remember you have contracts you pay them based on a pre arranged agreement.

AGD has survived because it has a solid customer base and excellent markers. So far this has worked. Sales are based on the quality of the products that the company produces... Not on hype generated by the media.

Tom isnt greedy thats why AGD has survived this long and is recognized as one of the industry leaders.

[GT]

Originally posted by WARPED1
That was a quote from Skinny, and in todays tournament scene, it does matter what kind of equipment you use. There was a time that it didn't, but now it does. After 13 years of playing ball, I've seen the evolution.

ALL ABOARD!

Quick wapred the hype train is leaving. Where will it stop this week matrix? impulse? shocker?

[Jonesie]

Originally posted by AGD
Jonesie,

Find someone with a million bucks and have him call me.

AGD

No offense, Tom, but I find this reply highly insulting.

Again, I'm not here to question your business, only to provide valuable, reasonable ideas.

I do understand that a Pro Sponsorship is quite expensive, I'm sure $1 million is a low-ball estimate for a team like Dynasty (Paint, Travel, Entry, Equipment, etc.) However, businesses in America finance large capital requirements everyday.

I'm sure your initial investment for the equipment at the factory was financed in some way. I know you don't actually fabricate much of your product, however I'm sure there is a collection of expensive equipment in the place, and I'm sure there is a means available to raise that kind of captial.

However, I do not mean to imply that such a move has to occur immediately, and I certainly don't imply that you should put your company's financial well-being at risk (or your own).

All I know is that everyday, small businesses find ways to finance their growth. Whether you hook up with some venture cpaitalists, take on (a) partner(s), call the bank, or play the lotto...

Best of Luck, Tom ~ Jonesie

[Ginjiroku]

I don't hate smart parts but I don't like them that much, but how does SP buying a team make them less evil?

[LaW]

Originally posted by Jonesie


No offense, Tom, but I find this reply highly insulting.

Again, I'm not here to question your business, only to provide valuable, reasonable ideas.

I do understand that a Pro Sponsorship is quite expensive, I'm sure $1 million is a low-ball estimate for a team like Dynasty (Paint, Travel, Entry, Equipment, etc.) However, businesses in America finance large capital requirements everyday.

I'm sure your initial investment for the equipment at the factory was financed in some way. I know you don't actually fabricate much of your product, however I'm sure there is a collection of expensive equipment in the place, and I'm sure there is a means available to raise that kind of captial.

However, I do not mean to imply that such a move has to occur immediately, and I certainly don't imply that you should put your company's financial well-being at risk (or your own).

All I know is that everyday, small businesses find ways to finance their growth. Whether you hook up with some venture cpaitalists, take on (a) partner(s), call the bank, or play the lotto...

Best of Luck, Tom ~ Jonesie

You make it sound like its a win win situation. However with this huge "investmant" it could turn around and bite airgun in the arse possibly leading them to go out of business in the worst case scenario. Its a large gamble to take for a paintball company in my opinion unless you can afford it if the outcome is less then exceptional.

Although small businesses sure find ways to finance growth, in paintball it is not guaranteed that the financing put towards growth actualy has the desired affect.

Just my .02's