What is it about paintball where...

[goldenelite0]

...Order quality is so patchy? I won't specifically call out any company in particular as all the ones I've shopped with have been brilliant, But for example I've had:

- The barrel missing from a brand new marker
- A cover missing from my air tank
- Item A does not fit intended item B
- Slightly damaged items (only visual thank god)
- Countless items that are not quite the same as what I bought

I think in all my orders I have had something that wasn't quite right. Maybe you guys have had the same experience? I'm not really complaining, the problems I've thought serious enough to follow up on have been handled extremely well by the retailers/manufacturers and I have been more than satisifed by their customer care conduct.

But it's still a little disconcerting and a bit weird...I shop online all the time and I've never had such a bizzarre shopping experience as paintball!

 

[Bambulus]

It's the same here. I bought all of my equipment at the start of the year, and it was a very odd experience.

Numerous calls about out of stock items, unexpected upgrades and unexpected downgrades. A couple of returns due to incorrect orders and the like.

I also seem to remember receiving half a feedneck at one point, much to my confusion.

By this point I'd used a couple of the paintball retailers, most of which had fantastic customer service. I soon learnt which companies didn't have good customer service, and have avoided them ever since. So theres a plus side, really.

I'd never hesitate to order from the companies I've used (Bar one), but there definately is a hit-or-miss aspect to ordering.

Makes the whole process fun, really.
​

 

[Rat]

Not honestly had many if any real problems at all from major Paintball suppliers.

One order took a month or so to arrive but that was due to them having supply issues aswell. The crunch is biting everyone.

wasn't aware tanks came with covers? so far had o buy all my tank covers seperately.

I know there have been some companies struggling to meet supply and demand due to them not getting orders from their suppliers etc.

most seem happy to help as best they can or find some form of resolution.

 

[John C]

...Order quality is so patchy? I won't specifically call out any company in particular as all the ones I've shopped with have been brilliant, But for example I've had:

- The barrel missing from a brand new marker
- A cover missing from my air tank
- Item A does not fit intended item B
- Slightly damaged items (only visual thank god)
- Countless items that are not quite the same as what I bought

I think in all my orders I have had something that wasn't quite right. Maybe you guys have had the same experience? I'm not really complaining, the problems I've thought serious enough to follow up on have been handled extremely well by the retailers/manufacturers and I have been more than satisifed by their customer care conduct.

But it's still a little disconcerting and a bit weird...I shop online all the time and I've never had such a bizzarre shopping experience as paintball!

The main issue is that high end paintball equipment devalues insanely quickly.
Sometimes a product can lose half its value overnight.

Its tough for distributors to pour money into stock when in the UK there are so few regular paintballers.

I was helping a lad with a gun he'd bought brand new from one of our lovely site supporters.
Turned out it was the old, defective version that had been updated 12 months prior by the manufacturer.

Its easy to condemn them for not knowing about the update.
But that gun had been on the market for over a year without being bought. I think that says something.



With that said this whole in stock out of stock lying has to stop.
It only happens in UK paintball and it does put off people who are new to the sport because nobody likes being lied to.

 

[Missy-Q]

With that said this whole in stock out of stock lying has to stop.
It only happens in UK paintball and it does put off people who are new to the sport because nobody likes being lied to.

It happens in every country. Probably more so in the US than anywhere else.

Hint - agree a penalty with the vendor in writing when you buy anything.

EG. If I come down there to pick this up, and it's not in stock, you give me a case of paint for free. If it's there I pay you top dollar.

This way, people will make certain they are telling the truth and have the product, and if not, you get free shxt, which is also fine...

I have done this in all kinds of industries.

I did it a couple of months ago when I was accused of shoplifting. These security guys came over to me and asked me to empty my pockets as they believed I had palmed something (fxck knows what). I told them to get their manager. When he came over I said that I had been accused of stealing by the security guards. I said that I didn't take kindly to the accusation, and I would gladly submit to a search on one condition:

If they search me, and find what they are looking for, they can call the cops and I will go quietly. But if they find nothing, I get $100. That's the price of calling me a thief. The manager asked the security guys if they were sure. They said yes, so I turned out my pockets and won $100, which the manager took out of the till for me personally. I thanked the security guys on the way out, and gave them the finger while waving my $100 bill.
It was such a sweet day.

 

[frenchy2475]

Yes its the States too, I ordered three items from a US seller. One item was wrong and the other two were defective.

And you find out most of the time in the states. The original seller is not responsible if its faulty. You have to go back to the manufacturer... I call that passing the buck.lol