My E-Mag experience. And a question for AGD.

[AGD]

I'll comment on some specific points,
Winning Pro teams are NOT just available to use your product because you want them to or even if you pay them. The winning pro teams are tightly controlled by the people who own them for the marketing benefits they offer.

I agree advertising is very important and a next step for us but FIRST we have to make the whole Mag line look "new". The best marketing in the world will not help an old product. First things first. We learned this lesson three years ago when we spent a fortune on adds that didn't help old products.

Another thing is breaking the back of the ball breakage rep. Until we can positively address that, all the marketing we do could still be negated by a singe "it's still a blender" comment.

Of utmost importance is the fact that we are in a recession right now. Sales are hard to come by for everyone so a conservative position is a smart move.

AGD

[virus]

actually it was the old add with the classic, the p/f, RT and mini that lead me to get my mini....

i kinda liked that add... it listed the info i wanted to know about the marker, where the only other adds that did that as far as markers go was kingman with the spyders.... and i knew i didn't want one of them....

[TheBigRaguPB4L]

the way i figure it, throw an ano-able body on the mag, and you're good. everyone wants something shiny and something that looks good. if it doesnt' look cool, then people really don't want it. that's the way it seems to me. everyone just wants to be able to make their gun noticed. the problem with mags is that it doesn't look good to most people. a lot of people think they're ugly. forget how it shoots, once you get it tuned right, mags shoot great. but the one tone color that mags have, and people find it boring. i think AGD is moving in the right direction with the extreme's, but as for the standard mags for the average rec ball with not as high of a budget, more work is definitely needed. people don't want the standard round tube as the main body on their gun. it's to drab. they want something shinny with milling that's gonna make people follow their gun when they're on the field. think about it. i just got a stock 2001 cocker and got it working the way it should. how does it shoot? pretty good if you ask me. why don't you see anywone sportin stock cockers? cause they're plain. really though, is there that much of a performance difference between a stock and say a black magic? not that i know for fact, but i really couldn't imagine it being that drastic. but the black magic is more than double the price. i think all mags need is a new look. don't change the valve, just the outside.

all of the former has been the rant of the opinion of a fat bored kid at 2:30 in the morning. i must apologize for any that have read it. i'm sure your time could have been spent doing otherwise. to bad it was reading one of my dumb replies.

[PAINTBALLA01]

why'd you get a halo with warp? the halop is faster than the warp so the warp just slows the halo down

[momags!]

Tom and everyone else, you're right about the new look for the Mag line. And, of course, winning pro teams aren't a dime a dozen. I would, however, be willing to put together a non-winning pro team for you, Tom! Any takers?

Good to hear from ya, Acolyte.

[momags!]

Originally posted by PAINTBALLA01
why'd you get a halo with warp? the halop is faster than the warp so the warp just slows the halo down

- I would rather have the warp being overfed than under. Besides, I wouldn't say that the warp is being "slowed down" but rather given plenty of paint to work with. I had been using the 9V revvy before so I was going to have to buy either a 12V or a Halo anyway. An extra 50 bucks seemed worth it at the time, although the Halo didn't impress me like I was hoping it would.

[LaW]

I thought that the warp would be faster then the halo and the point of the halo was to have a hopper that would be able to keep the warp feeding....

[Gup44]

From AGD's Web Site
Warp Feed

Weight - 15 ozs
Length - 6 inches
Operates on 4 x AA batteries or 1 x 9 volt
Exceeds 20 shots per second feed rate
Designed for E-mag, but adapters will be available from Pro Team Products for most markers

AGD claims 20 balls per second on the warp and Odyssey claims the Halo does 16... Leads me to believe the Warp will outfeed the Halo.

[Russ]

I was the second person in my area to have a MicroE-mag. That gun was a lemon. It didn't inspire ANYONE to go out and get a MicroE/E-Mag. After a couple months of dicking around with PTP, they (PTP) gave me an AGD E-Mag. The people I play with looked at it with a raised eyebrow, with more than one person suggesting I sell it as fast as possible to re-coup my losses. I stuck with it.

Both local PB stores have employees who regularly 'dis Mags in general, stating things like "paint blenders" and "no range" to all that will listen. And that's quite a few, BTW.

As I played week in and week out with my warped E-Mag. People took notice of the gun's performance. More and more folks became interested in my E-Mag, although I don't know anyone else who's purchased one. Warp feeds are a hard sell, because they're different (and heavy). A lot of people just "don't like the look" Oh well.

The "average Paintballer", IMHO, is a teenager/young man. They want to be flashy. They want to be part of the "in" crowd. AGD products don't put them there. Quality and customer service aren't as important to the "young 'uns" as much as being cool and part of the crowd. Angels are hip, 'Cocker's show that your "experienced". It's too bad, really, that for the most part, people just don't get it. Quality and customer service ARE #1.

Another strange paintball phenomenon is "upgrading". People in general WANT to spend a lot of money on upgrades, weather they actually work is less important that individualizing their guns. There is no need to modify your AGD gun to make it better. This fact bothers some.

I personally like AGD's commitment to quality and their exemplary customer service. I buy their products, and will continue to do so with confidence. I hope AGD can survive and thrive in today's volatile paintball market.

[hotty9669]

Blenders

I have had my e-mag for about 8 months now. I traded my Bushy for a matrix and the Matrix for a brand new e-mag. The mag is by far the best gun I have ever shot.
Now to the point, Toms comment about getting rid of the blender mentality is right on. The people I play with all shoot angels or cockers and even though they love the trigger on the mag and the speed they still look at mags as blenders! Every time I break a ball I automatically get the Mags are blender comments. Even when they are cleaning out their own guns!! Mags, especially with people that have been playing 3 plus years they just cannot seem to get it out of their heads. They say they like mags, and even have one at home, but when it gets cold you might as well throw the paint at them!
It did not help that at Masters my E-mag and Warp took a dip in a puddle and for the rest of the tourney was blending paint. Tom and the crew where there and where a great help replacing everything on the warp (except the board) but nothing worked. After getting it home and controlled testing I figured out that the warp was skipping about every five to ten shots. I got it back from AGD and ran 8 month old paint stored in pods through it and not a single break, but it didn't help, I still get the "same old mags" comments from numerous people or it's great now but wait it untill it get's cold or rainy.
The conclusion is in my opinion at least in high-end guns and for people who care about performance more than looks the e-mag still is not on-par with an Angel or even Matrix now because people still have the pre-concieved notions that e-mags are just electric blenders and untill we get that stereo type proven wrong you will have problems getting back significant market share.

[Ack]

Well first post.. here goes..

I was just browsing throught he forums for the 2nd or third time since I was made aware of the site and find I have an interesting perspective on this thread. Originally, I was introduced to paintball 4 years ago, I was helping my wife (then gf)'s uncle out by working at a field he managed. Ended up becoming a ref and to this day still put in a weekend or two every couple months (great discounts).

Needless to say I ref at one of the larger fields you'll find and I see very few mag's, a ton of spyders and cockers and a splattering of everything else. So to make a long story short, I bought a spyder SE a back when I first got into paintball and recently decided to upgrade. So I decided to get a marker that I would be happy with in 4 years or more even with the advancements in the industry. You name it.. I looked at it. Then I came to the Emag. Not really having a ton of experience with them, I read a few online sites for reviews and decided finally with the Emag.. not for looks, but because its a solid performer and hell.. I just liked the way mag owners represented themeselves (thanks UDTSEAL), and it didn't hurt the Emag looks like I could bludgeon someone to death with it if I run outta paint

Conclusion, even though some people go for flash.. there are a few of us out here who like something solid, dependable, and with good support. Sorry for the long post, its 10:30am.. and I work 3rd shift and haven't slept in 16 hours now. Oh ya.. Hi. thanks for having me. Emag.. t-minus 10 days or so.

[momags!]

ack.......welcome to AO and the wonderful world of Mags! You're definitely in for a treat when you get your E out on the field for the first time. I, too, am less impressed with flashy looks, horns, and whistles and would much prefer a workhorse. Good luck and have fun!

[udtseal]

Hoo yah! to that Ack! :) Btw, where are you from?! Maybe you could come out with me and my team some time if you are near New Jersey? its a long shot but worth to ask!