Is Agd Going Bankrupt?

[SCpoloRicker]

I'm somewhat tempted to go over to BlackCat Productions or another scenario event firm and look around for some costs, profit margins etc.

But I'm just going to go ahead and assume you're incorrect.

/yes I know what happens when you assume

[SlartyBartFast]

But I'm just going to go ahead and assume you're incorrect.

[SCpoloRicker]

Merde. I was referring to the incorrect cost assumptions 11 Bravo was making in regards to large scenario events.

But he's making the argument that because he can get cheap paint, everyone theoretically should. Its just the greed/profit chasing firms at fault.

And that probably doesn't need to be debunked.

Je m'excuse.

[Geoff Call]

Lots of arguing here. I'll throw in my change. As far as I can understand Tom Kaye is probably making a piss ton more money selling real estate now than he was with AGD. Though he sold the company to his VP I believe the company is in good hands and will prosper as long as a good product is still being produced, parts are needed, and players are diligent. I've noticed a lot of "attic-clearing" in the past few months since Tom left, and much of it to my advantage as well as many others of you. Some neat things have come out of it like many lost pump kits some NEW classic mags and classic minimags. The past couple weeks have spawned some long lost flatline regs which makes me more eager to put a new reg on my dye tank:). I don't think AGD would leave such a large mass of supporters in the dust without making some specs and paperwork loose for us to remanufacture the necessities for ourselves. Too old of a company, too good of a product.

As far as field paint goes, I've read a lot of peoples views, educated and non educated. You have to understand that a field does not rely on paint to survive, but players shooting the paint. If players are willing to shoot a 50 dollar case of white box and not complain about quality or price, and the field still makes 25 dollars profit, let it be. If paint were too expensive nobody would want to play, then where would we be. I work at a field that is supported by walk-ons and recball players. We sell more cheap paint than premium or tournament grade paint, not because of quality or price but because they don't know any better. Those of you who do know what the cost of low-grade paint is are the only ones complaining and aren't really keeping in perspective that if the paint gets cheap the field gets cheap because in many fields and stores every little bit of money goes to keeping the doors open, the power on, and the employees paid. If paint prices drop you will deffinitely see parts cost go up, or the nice ANS pods quickly turn into 32 degrees pods without a price change. Or maybe you'll gladly pay 5 bucks per thousand psi of HPA.

My prices might be a lot lower than your local prices because the owners of the field I work at have real jobs and the paintball thing is a hobby. They run the field in their free time and they do it for the good of the sport. BYOP, $10 field fees, $1 per 1kpsi, $50 for field paint if you chose to buy it, $4 20oz fills. You should see the CO2 bulk tank bills every month at the store I'm at, it's rediculous. Some of you know what I'm talking about.

If anything is too expensive its freaking belt driven hoppers. I'd gladly pay 200 bucks for an aluminum hopper with aluminum parts that never cracked, shattered, or broke like these plastic deals companies are passing off as professional equipment.

Just my thoughts. I'm sure I'll get slammed hard for most of it.

Thanks,

Geoff Call

[Aslan]

I see both sides...

On the one hand, I totally agree with Bravo that expensive field paint is not good. On the other hand, most paintball fields are not making money hand over fist.

I completely understand that field paint may be a necessary evil to cover all of the costs that Lohman and others mentioned...completely understand. But what I see as "short-sighted" by field owners is the price versus volume approach.

Sure, a field will make more money if they sell expensive paint and force field users to buy it. But their focus shouldn't be on sqeezing the last few dollars out of the players that frequent their field. The focus should be on getting more players ot frequent their field. Selling anything involves an analysis similar to this. You may be able to get 10-20 dollars for a case of let's say paint. That's what your marketing department says your current market will bear. BUT...it's not that simple. If you charge $10, your profit margin will be down, but your volume sales will be up...attracting new customers to your product. Maybe you realize that you have a large enough market share you don't need additional customers...but instead more profit...you increase the price closer to $20 and suffer the slight loss in volume.

For a field, I would say volume is important. Volume brings newbs...private groups...casual players...and friends of all of the above. An analogy can be made to movie theatres or amusement parks. People now go to amusement parks once a year. Why? It's too expensive to go there every weekend. They, like paint, increase the prices of food and souveniers to an almost rediculous price level and don't allow you to "BYOP". Movie theatres do the same thing...and nowadays movie theatres are struggling. Why? Well, there's numerous reasons...but one big one is that it costs $22 to go to the theatre by the time ya get a drink, popcorn and candy...all of which are over-priced greatly.

So...long story long...fields should focus on building volume, better refs, and a quality field with fair, fun play. If they do that...the volumes will more than make up for the losses they suffer to BYOP.

My opinion.

[Glickman]

For a field, I would say volume is important. Volume brings newbs...private groups...casual players...and friends of all of the above. An analogy can be made to movie theatres or amusement parks. People now go to amusement parks once a year. Why? It's too expensive to go there every weekend.

So...long story long...fields should focus on building volume, better refs, and a quality field with fair, fun play. If they do that...the volumes will more than make up for the losses they suffer to BYOP.

My opinion.

I know the local field by me (cousins paintball), while good at marketing, they really suck at business tactics, and only manage to make sales to new players who dont know any better, ie.

Paintball marker price at cousins= CP
The Same Paintball marker price online=OP
The Same Paintball marker price at any other proshop= PP
The Warranty Price at any other proshop= WP

CP > PP + WP + $100
CP > OP + $200
____________________________________

Good Quality Box of Paint at Cousins =CP
Good Quality Box of Paint at High Velocity (5 minutes away) =HP
Admission at High Velocity = HA

CP > 2(HP) + HA


Obviously if you can shoot 2 boxes of the same quality paint and get admission for the one price of a box at cousins, AND the competing field is 5 minutes away, they could be doing better.