Paintball and Economic Terrorism

[AGD]

All,

Now this has turned into an intelligent conversation. :)

What I believe to be at the core of this whole thing is whether or not the paintball industry should make and follow a plan, or leave it to a random walk. Its pretty easy to guess that I prefer the plan, ie ASTM, governing body for the tournaments etc. Now this has been attempted but never worked in paintball so you could easily say that its a hopeless cause.

Since there is a new crop of honchos in town there is another possibility that we could come to a Y in the road. Which direction we take is now in the hands of very few people. I would prefer that this group of decision makers had some experience in paintball but since they don't I am forced to see the negative side of things. Perhaps business acumen will overcome industry experience, only time will tell.

Our country in general has proceeded at the random walk and done remarkably well. But there are stand out examples of a plan really working well. like NASCAR. I spent a lot of personal time and effort along with people like Budd Orr and Jessica Sparks to get the heard moving in one direction. That never happened but for us old timers we still see this as our 'baby' and feel the emotions when things don't look right.

So forgive me if I have a sour view of the current situation, (its my right as a grumpy old man :)) Fireblade is right when he says its all of you who will determine the future of paintball not the past.

Its your world, do us proud.

AGD

[snoopay700]

Yeah, it is up to the players to decide the future. I'm actually pretty confident that if there is a loyal group to good brands that things might just level out. However, i must also agree that there is no innovation anymore, when there could be a ton. That too i think is more up to the players, and if you do have a design, make sure it would work, try to get a patent, and then make a prototype (make sure you can't be sued for the design) and if we have really good markers coming from smaller people, then that may make things level out. Anyway, as has been said before, only time will tell what will come of the industry, but i share a similar view of the industry as Tom, so i can only hope things get better.

[turbo chicken]

I read all i could and the only thing i can think of now is that someone mentioned a meeting in a board room where the decision was made to discontinue electro's for AGD

now ... did you and said staff actually meet in a "board room" with fancy furniture and plants in the corner ??

I kinda pictured some guys in a shop saying "Dang ... we're loosing money on this thing ... well it make since to stop then." ... "lets make more nailguns!!!"

I know everyone is having an intelligent conversation here but ... does anyone know the above? I really want to know for some odd reason.

and to add to the intelligent conversation ... Yes the future is in our hands as players, we can in a way steer to help teeter in one way or another. But as consumers in this market we have to let ourselves be heard. The only way to do that is to get involved and actualy take action. Simply talking about it will not accomplish anything(unless you have someone that is listening to you and actually cares what you think). But taking action and getting involved in some way is what will make a difference.

Hmmm... that makes me ask ... What can i do to get involved ... short of getting a job in the industry after finishing college.

[nathanjones008]

economy

What are some things we can do as customers? The only thing i can think of is boycott certain companies that have a bad business ethics. Also perhaps dig a lil deeper in our wallets and buy new AGD products. If we all buy used mags and equipment than they will (agd)simply not make money. very simple.This is why i buy most of my agd products brnd new.Also its the responsibility for a company to advertise. But as always it is up to the comsumer. is there any other ideas? i do not know much of paintball economics. :)

thanks

[hitech]

We have markers that can get through incredible amounts of paint on a 45/45 (more than the vast majority carry).

That is a HUGE power source. I want something that is light (no more than 3 lbs), no bigger than an M16, has a positive feed system that CANNOT chop a paintball (instead of preventing it by pausing), and is "self contained". it should also ALWAYS shoot at the same FPS (+- .05 fps) with any size paint without requiring adjustment.

THAT would be inovative. Any one of those would be (the weights and sizes are including EVERYTHING but paint) would be a step forward.

[hitech]

You've insulted a lot of people in the 'industry' by claiming there isn't anyone engineering product in paintball anymore.

Never mind... I'll read the whole thing next time before opening my mouth...

[Lohman446]

That is a HUGE power source. I want something that is light (no more than 3 lbs), no bigger than an M16, has a positive feed system that CANNOT chop a paintball (instead of preventing it by pausing), and is "self contained". it should also ALWAYS shoot at the same FPS (+- .05 fps) with any size paint without requiring adjustment.

THAT would be inovative. Any one of those would be (the weights and sizes are including EVERYTHING but paint) would be a step forward.

Do enough people want it to make it worth innovating? Would it sell? They are all great things, but so was the warp.

[hitech]

Do enough people want it to make it worth innovating? Would it sell? They are all great things, but so was the warp.

I am the LAST person anyone should ask what would sell. I have NO clue. But I do use a warp.

I have made an observation about products. The best product rarely survives. When two products are competing the lesser product is typically marketed better. The better product attempts to stand on its merits while the lesser product gets significantly more marketing. It appears that marketing is more important to sales than the product.

[Automagsam]

That is a HUGE power source. I want something that is light (no more than 3 lbs), no bigger than an M16, has a positive feed system that CANNOT chop a paintball (instead of preventing it by pausing), and is "self contained". it should also ALWAYS shoot at the same FPS (+- .05 fps) with any size paint without requiring adjustment.

THAT would be inovative. Any one of those would be (the weights and sizes are including EVERYTHING but paint) would be a step forward.

COUGH AUTOMAG COUGH LEVEL X COUGH XMAG COUGH X VALVE

[hitech]

The level 10 does not fit the criteria. It pauses and possibly resets without firing when a chop is possible. I want a positive feed system that by nature of it's design CANNOT chop, therefore, does not need anything to detect it. Think a belt feed system.

An Xvalved mag is not anywhere near lite enough to fit the criteria (have to include the air tank, killing the weight of every marker).

[snoopay700]

The level 10 does not fit the criteria. It pauses and possibly resets without firing when a chop is possible. I want a positive feed system that by nature of it's design CANNOT chop, therefore, does not need anything to detect it. Think a belt feed system.

Cough qloader.

[Automagsam]

Cough qloader.

cough srry that was real.

[Lohman446]

The Q-loader does not truly either. Think along the lines of a revolver cylinder where the feed system cycling is part of the firing mechanics of the weapon

[Automagsam]

The Q-loader does not truly either. Think along the lines of a revolver cylinder where the feed system cycling is part of the firing mechanics of the weapon

I think we are on to a CAD picture....Draw it up

[luke]

Think a belt feed system.

Was that an implication? Because TK owns the patent on that one.