Why does paintball cost so much?

[Nitroduck]

MXS allows full auto because they have diff kind of insurance.

I need to ask diane what kind of insurance they're using........

[IceCool32]

Originally posted by personman
Dude, Im just saying... You dont need an electro, why spend all that money? Im not saying that I wouldnt take one if some guy handed me one for free, Im just saying, its not worth the money.. I mean, all you get out of it is A cool trigger pull, and burst shots..

Interesting enough, I bet you've spent just as much, if not more on your set-up than I have my electro set-up.

[raehl]

Bah....

First, to say that no insurance allows full auto is silly. Maybe STANDARD paintball insurance doesn't allow it, or most insurance does not, but not being able to get insurance that allows full auto usage is not some physical law of the universe. You're just going to have to pay more for the insurance, something that isn't worthwhile to most fields (as full auto doesn't tend to be good for buisiness).

As for paintball being expensive - it isn't. It's no more expensive than pretty much any other recreational activity you'd play at a facility - like skiing, snow boarding, golf, ice hockey (much cheaper than ice hockey) etc. Tried playing viedo games at the arcade all day on a saturday lately? Probably not, beause it's expensive.

Recreational activity, especially whe that eactivity entails paying employees to provide the facilities for that activity, costs a decent amount of money. People arn't going to run a field in the red just so you can play paintball cheaper.

- Chris

[magdude25]

i got a bad job $50 dollers a weekend , so during the week i go to BYOP night at high velocity in ny , so i blow everything there , its too expensive it probly costs companies 10 cents per 100 balls

[raehl]

Which companies?

There really is *NOT* much movement on price on paint. Making a gelatin sphere is NOT an easy process and the equipment that is used to do it is EXPENSIVE. By the time you factor in workforce, distribution, refridgeration, and a wee bit of profit, you're looking at a couple bucks a case of margin for the manufacturer. At the field, the markup they put on is necessary to cover rent, taxes, staff, maintenence, improvements, etc.

I don't know why people think paint companies are gouging them on prices - it just doesn't make any sense in a free market with lots of competitors. With 5 major and somethin like 12 total paint manufacturers in North America, if someone could sell paint for less, they would. Simple economics.

So yeah, you can believe that you can get paint for a penny a ball, but you'd be wrong. (Well, unless youre buying seconds maybe...)

- Chris

[personman]

Originally posted by IceCool32


Interesting enough, I bet you've spent just as much, if not more on your set-up than I have my electro set-up.

Well, I have only spent money on a revy and a nitro tank. I got my mag for xmas.. lol(tko pak)

[Griffin]

Come on though, look at a piantball. It is a little piece of material with very little paint in it. How much can that really cost? Even our high God Tom Kaye has to admit that the profit margin for paintball companies has to be insane. Look at an Angel and an Emag, how much do those really take to make? And then they clip on a $1500 price tag and we all buy it! Oh well, it's the price you pay for the greatest game on earth.


-Griffin

[HyperSnyper]

Originally posted by personman
Dude, Im just saying... You dont need an electro, why spend all that money? Im not saying that I wouldnt take one if some guy handed me one for free, Im just saying, its not worth the money.. I mean, all you get out of it is A cool trigger pull, and burst shots..

He obviously hasnt fired and used a Hyperframe =) .


-Hyper (w/ frame)

[irbodden]

Griffin, that is how the world works. Those guys who make the markers and paint need money to be able to pay other people money. Its a big circle

I am assuming many of the guys on the board are from upper middle class familys or above, its like saying does a doctor really need to charge THAT much. Minium wage is only $5 an hour, why does he charge so much more that that. BTW, Most people pay a fraction of the cost of their doctor visits, insurance covers most of it.

[raehl]

Well...

The gelatin and filling for the shell? Virtually nothing. The equipment to shape that gelatin into a nearly perfect sphere? BILLIONS of dollars. The interest on the loan used to buy that equipment? A lot. And oyu have to pay people to keep the factory working, throw out some of your paint (at least if you're a good paint company) when you get bad batches (happens to everyone, just a matter of catching it before it gets out there).

Same for markers - the costs arn't really in the materials, it's in the development of the product, improvements to raw materials, labor, etc. You obviously don't have a good grasp on the costs involved in producing a product.

Let me put it this way: If you could start a paint manufacturing company and sell paint at half the cost of what everyone else is selling it at, you would, and you'd make a fortune. You can't, and no one does, because it isn't possible. Paintballs cost money. Deal.

- Chris

[X-Plosive]

Why does paintball cost so much?


Simple, the answer is David Youngblood.



On a more serious note I think you make paintball as expensive as you want it to be. No one is forcing you to shoot a lot of paint. You should limit yourself by playing a position that does not require you to shoot that much. Do not allow team members to pressure you into wasting excess amounts of paint. You shouldn't feel the need to get an expensive gun, they don't do much more than shine. You must find the equipment that fits your needs and nothing more. Mounds of Money are a luxury in paintball and people are treating it as more of a necessity. Very little money is needed to have a great paintball experience. Painballing is just a hobby you have fun with. After you get the proper equipment you just have to pay for field fees, air and paint. Field fees vary, some places are fair, some places are expensive and some places don't have one because they follow the Field Paint Only Rule. You have to find a field that fits your needs and if worse comes to worse you can always build your own little field as long as you play safe. Building your own field is not difficult; I assume you all have parents who are more than willing to help you in your project. It is not impossible; it just takes some effort and perseverance. Air is usually very cheap, if you are going to play at a real field Co2 fills go from $3 for a 20 oz tank up to $15.I will remind you that those fields who only allow field paint and have no field fee have inflated paint and air prices. One fill should be more than enough. If you decide to make a field you can just stop by the local paintball store and get your tanks filled. Paint is just something you have to learn to manage. It isn't difficult and paintballing may seem expensive to most people because all paintballers go to extremes to impress each other with the latest equipment and what not.

[Vegeta]

Actually, I belive Tom say that the paitn companies are barely breaking even.

I don't ahev that many problems with $. My problem, incu\luding several other people here, is feilds. Soem of you, actually I know for a fact that a lot of you have a feild within a 20 minute drive. some have 2 or 3 feild in your area. THe nearest feild for me is about 50 MILES. Now how do you supposed I get my parents (I'm 15) to just drive me an hour away for a half a day? What do you suppose they do? sit in the car for 5 hours while I play? And no, I can't prusuade them to play. I haev tried and tried to egt my dad to pick up my gun and play with me but he just doesnt wanna. Now, I wouldn't mind spending 10$ for a walk on fee w/air. Thats fine, if i can BMOP. But getting someone to get me there is more of the problem. I know what some of you are saying, play with friends. I have one friend who actually understand the "Paitnball" concept. All teh others in my area who own markers do not understand the concept. They have their own concept. Its called run at each other all day long and waist paint and money. They are FRIGGIN IDIOTS. There are no eliminations in their games. None. It lasts till they run out of gas, paint, or get hungry. WHAT KINDA FKED UP AEGRR (stops)

I will never play with them for that reason.


I am sorry if that turned into a rant. I tired nto to let out da rage like in the chat rooms (sorry bout taht mods).

Its just plain and simple: There are people who should be shot.

[j7million]

Ok, well what's the difference between a high-end electro and a cocker or mag both are high-end semi jsut not electro. They don't have the 1200 cost either.

The reason you and I pay so much for paintball is that the field or place where you buy it raises the price, if you was a dealer it would be cheeper. Any dealers that will share their price for paint out there?

But really, all you need is one paintball to get an elimination, not 600. If you can't afford to buy that much paint play differently.

[snowman]

I think some have posted some legitimate statements. Once you buy your gun, the cost starts to go down. I've owned my Mag for 11 years with no major mods, but with some of the new shiny guns, it's hard to realize a cost reduction within the first year. Also, you have to think about what else are you spending your money on? Do you like cars, computers, chicks? Thoes things cost money too. When I was in high school, paintball and D'n D were my life. That's most likely the reason I didn't have a chick, because I was a dork. Some people just choose their priorities. Now mine are as follows.

1. Paintball
2. Intercourse
3. Family

[snowman]

One other thing, when we started out, we all bought pumps since that was all we could afford. Of course, only millionaires could afford semi's back then. You also tended to shoot less paint with a pump, 12grams and and 80 round loader.