Are your equipment buying decisions seriously affected by what the "pros" use?

[GoatBoy]

Other than being introduced to a product by seeing a pro player using it, does the fact that a certain pro uses that product, or if he wins or loses with the product, affect your buying decision?

[space_weazel_45]

NOPE!

[wobbles82]

Nada. I think a lot of people that are involved very much in the sport tend to forget about what the pros use. Like every other sport the people coming in look to what is the best, or what seems the best. I think Bad Company and Tippmann Effect are some of the greatest advertising teams ever, ive seen Tom Cole sell Flash LCD's at events to kids who see pics of him using an AMG.

[Butterfingers]

What people buy depends on what the store owner shows him...

I was playing PB today and I got a lot of WOAH what gun is that I told them it was a ULE RTP. And he was like WOW thats fast... (14 YO kid...) How come I never saw that...

He asked another guy with an E-mag what kind of gun that was. And he was like is that new the guy at cousins didnt have it.

Instead he was playing with a new shocker he took out of the box that just happened to be leaking...

Never understimate the importance of a good dealer network. Its like a machine Parents go in... Kids whine... kid comes out with a gun...

When I asked other players why they bought the gun they mentioned that he fired it in the store and realy liked it. Or... the worker at the store recomended it. The more experienced players just told the store worker a general idea of what they wanted and they gave them a reccomendation.

In this case its still a machine... buyer goes in... brain gets programed... buyer walks out...

[James]

i just ordered a blue ule emag
pros have no influence on me.
pros have changed so much too.
it went from angels and cockers.
to angels, cockers,timmy's,matrix's,impy's
i am sure shockers will be in there quick if not already.

[RenagadeOfFunk]

Its all about the stores you go to...
...there needs to be a solid website with good paintball stuff...

...I would think paintballgear.com would be...but its needs more custom stuff...and an anno section

...IMO

[Tyger]

No, with an asterisk.

I bought a product once because a pro let me try one out. Brass Eagle's "bubble vision" lenses, specifically. I was familiar with the product at the time, but never actually tried it. Would I have bought the goggles if he wasn't sponsored by them? Can't say, but the fact that he gave me exposure to the product was a factor in my buying them. Not that it was HIM that used it, but that he let me try it for myself.

I don't buy something becasue "Pro A" is shooting or using it. That's meaningless. But if that pro lets me try it out, and I like it, I'll spend the money. Same goes to anyone else who says "Here, try this." Let me get my grubby little paws on it and try it out, or show me PRACTICALLY that the product will work for me, and I'll try it.

-Tyger

[ej_y4]

most people on AO are not effected by products the pro teams push. Most of use shot mags, enouph said. However I do not believe this is true for the rest of the paintball players out side of AO, take a look at the pbnation forms.

[James]

Originally posted by ej_y4
most people on AO are not effected by products the pro teams push. Most of use shot mags, enouph said. However I do not believe this is true for the rest of the paintball players out side of AO, take a look at the pbnation forms.

werd couldnt have said it better.

[frenchman309]

I definately agree with the people saying the more experienced players don't buy into all the hype of the pros. We have a very active paintball club at my college and I don't think a single member cares which pro is shooting what.

[slushee]

simple answer .. yes. My decisions are influence by what the pros are using BUT they are more influenced by what I think looks better... even if it does nothing to make the marker/clothes better but costs more.

figured i should share my thoughts cuz i'm the first to click "yes" in the poll

[edweird]

not a bit... simple reason...

If someone paid me to travel and play tourney paintball with friggin brass eagle blade I would... Thus sponsorships fail to draw me to buy anything just cause some "pro" team uses it.

For pants and other gear... I sport what I like and what appears to be the most durable. Watching plenty of Xball and if this team consistantly makes killer slides on gravel wearing companys X pants I will take that into consideration.

[Halliday]

I look at what the Pros use, but it dosen't affect me. What has the most affect on me is being able to actually touch/use/try-out the product.

Example: I know a very dorky paintball player. He's been using Morph goggles for almost 2 years now. During that time I also saw Pros using them. I had my JT Spectras and was reasonably happy, until I tried on Dork's Morph gogs while reffing. I really liked them and bought my own within a few weeks.

So if I see some "cool" equipment being used I'll note it and evalutate it from afar. If I can get up close and actually use it I can really tell if it's worth my green.

[Dryden]

No, but I do look at what gear they're using and evaluate it when making purchasing decisions.

Essentially, I'm set with the products/brands that I've used for the past ten years and like: AGD, Viewloader, JT, and *gasp* Smart Parts.

Unless and until a product comes along that is unquestionably better than what I've got now, I'll stick with the brands I know.

I think I've purchased a grand total of three things in the past ten years not made by any of the manufacturers listed above: a J & J ceramic barrel, Vents Predator goggles, and my current Nitro Duck HPA tank.

[Creative Mayhem]

Ummm no.

I use nothing but AGD products.

To quote Tunaman in SCAO, "It's AGD or nothing for me.."