The Industry has been Assbackwards from the getgo

I read an article lately in a popular paintball magazine about the future of paintball. It said that it talked to experts in the field on their views of where paintball was going. The “experts” were mostly pro players. I didn’t see any leading manufacturers or leading retail owners in that article. I think maybe the only “experts” that could shed any light on this subject are those of us in the trenches, local retail store owners, people that have stores and fields totally devoted to paintball.
The latest developments in the economy came as no shock to us. We have seen a decrease in numbers of players and consumers for over a year now, almost two years. The hard fact is that manufacturers have lost site of who the customer is. We are losing sales and repeat business to the lack of low end markers and accessories. There is too much concentration on a high end marker or mid grade marker that can shoot more paint. The new player needs to be able to buy the old reliable markers that have very little maintenance and would last forever. If they are really serious about the game they will see the next level of marker and have something they can give to a friend to try and get another person to play the game.
Another development is the sales from manufacturers directly to teams that have not shown any promise in representing their product positively or otherwise. Manufacturers sell their product to the “teams” and then the teams turn around and sell to their friends and neighbors leaving the retail owners scratching their heads as to why they are not able to move the latest and greatest. It’s because someone was able to get it for a better price before the retailer can even get it in their store. Stop giving product away, maybe then we can sell it for you the way it was intended and adhere to the so called MAP pricing.
If you put sales back in the hands of the retail stores who have long supported you and the sport of paintball we will show you good times again. Listen to us when you ask us what moves and what doesn’t. Listen to us when we tell you what kind of customers there are out there. Make teams and others looking for sponsorship packages earn it. Let the local retail shops offer your packages to the teams and customers. We know who is a legitimate team in our area and who is not.
Why is there a need to re-make your markers every year? Every year you make adjustments and new cuts in the body to try and sell the same marker. This also has clouded the market. Markers have seen 5 and 6 owners before the year is even up. More and more people trade or upgrade to new markers this way and retailers once again lose a sale. Lately the mid grade markers have become too costly. You add to many accessories to the finished product and retailers lose those sales to a marker that should have been stock. No fancy frame, no trigger upgrade, no fancy bolt. Let the customer decide and let them pay less and build on it. You are making the marker outside the price range it was intended.
One more problem that we face locally is when a large event comes to town. If you are going to call it a trade show, let it be a trade show. Sell only to your legitimate retailers and not to the general public. This kind of manufacturer direct sales hurt all of the stores in that area and affects them for months. Stand behind your retailers. Tell the public which stores they can buy the product at locally. You spend time with retailers on tech classes, let us be the ones to make the sale as well as service your product. This builds a better customer base which builds repeat business and loyalty to whichever store the customer picked, in turn increasing your sales to that store.
The future of paintball is in the hands of everyone that participates in this great sport. We need to go back to our roots. We cannot forget where we came from and we need to focus on the new player. The tourney players are already hooked, but they will not play forever. The sport needs new blood and until everyone is on board with this, our future is not so bright.

Am I crazy?

Here is a list of our rates:

Package #1 (10-29 players)

$35 per player

1. 200 paintballs each
2. Spyder Victor II marker
3. CO2 refills all day
4. Proto Goggles
5. NXe 2 pouch harness with pods
6. Referee(s) for your own private games
7. additional players who do not need equipment are $20 each(after the first 10 are paid at $35), does not include paintballs.

Package #2 (10 -29 players)

$46 per player

1. 800 paintballs each
2. Spyder Victor II marker
3. CO2 refills all day
4. Proto Goggles
5. NXe 2 pouch harness with pods
6. Referee(s) for your own private games
7. additional players who do not need equipment are $20 each(after the first 10 are paid at$46), does not include paintballs.

Referee giving Instructions before the game

Package #3 (10 -29 players)

$50 per player

1. 1000 paintballs each
2. Spyder Victor II marker
3. CO2 refills all day
4. Proto Goggles
5. NXe 2 pouch harness with pods
6. Referee(s) for your own private games
7. additional players who do not need equipment are $20 each(after the first 10 are paid at $50), does not include paintballs.

Package #4 (20 player minimum)

$25 per player = players who do not need equipment, no paint included.

See paint purchase options below.

Package #5 (30 - 80 players)

$30 per player = 200 paintballs each and rental equipment*

$40 per player = 800 paintballs each and rental equipment*

This was an actual e-mail question today:

Hi, I have a group of 20 people or so, who are interested in coming to your field on 11/23, sunday. We were wondering about package #4, more specifically how many paintballs are included per person. Also, we have 3 players with their own equipment, would they qualify for the 20$ rate? I also have a discount card from the last time we came to play at velocity, for 10% off the private group rate. Do I need to show it before we pay, or how would we be able to get the discount?

I really need to restrain myself. Isn't this a simple reading comprehension test any 4th grader could pass?