As to your question about why the industry is suffering, the answer I would give you would be only an opinion of mine and mine alone - I do work in this industry and I am painfully aware of all the factors that limit us on a daily basis in what we do and what we would like to do. Unfortunately, because I am not entirely a private person on here and do represent the company I work for I cannot freely discuss with you this particular topic.
That's fine, I wouldn't expect you to nor would I want you to.
As for my business experience I own half of a successful recruitment research company turning over £400000 PA with profits of £130000 in the last fiscal year.
The wage me and the other director take could be alot more but we wish to expand the business from the 8 staff we have now to 18 and upgrade our offices to compliment it.
Why do I complain about money you ask? Because I work hard for it, I'm sure everyone here does and because I work hard for it I don't let go of it easily. Your example of being 5k in debt from paintball (i assume playing and the such rather than buying stocketc) is admirable in that you love the sport so much but foolish in a way that it is, at the moment, a hobby where if you succeed you get very little back
Working in recruitment I've a lot of experience in different industries but paintball has yet to come which is odd considering it needs the right leadership. This being said, I've been around long enough to learn more than enough about the industry as a whole and why it's failing. Paintball is a luxery and with the recession luxeries get cut first for joe average. If joe can't justify spending £200 on playing a month Mrs Joe won't be very happy... And to stop
the wrath of his wife, he is forced to quit.
You also kind of answered your own complaint in your statement, you have disposable income but you like other things to. You maybe wouldnt be so concerned with the outlay for kit, if you curtailed those "other" things a bit. Its a question of balance...and noone ever said pb was cheap.
Yes I like other things such as going on holiday, taking my finacee for dinner and generally just doing nice and cool **** on the weekends. Paintball/life balance is extremely important and I think I've hit that balance but for others paintball comes first. As for my kit bag I really don't care whats in it. I've got a mini, and egg 2 and 0.8 fibre wrap. it shoots fine and hasn't broken
But again this is a discussion, let's not make it personal and let us discuss why you all think the industry is on it's knees if indeed it is. I've put forward my points and all I've heard back is "you know nothing" and "if you can't afford it don't do it".
This is not about me as an individual and I have put forward my points: There is not enough participation, the industry is getting greedy and bleeding regular paintballers instead of focusing on it becoming more accessable and Joe Avarage has not a chance of participation if the prices for even the started kit including playing gear stays so high.
