General PB Stores and Fields... disappointing?

PsychoBaller · 08-30-2006, 04:30 PM

Is it just me these days? or are a good percent of local paintball fields run by... well..... douchebags? It might just be the state of Jersey, but still.

It just seems that at many places where I'm at, the field/store owners, could give a sh*t less about the customer or players, just want your money, and want you gone at the end of the day. Attitudes as of late, or a lack of enthusiasm for anything but green.

Now I'm not talking about Refs, cause we all hate refs, comes with the job, hah. Mainly the owners or adults and such.

-baller

mike31c · 08-30-2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Is it just me these days? or are a good percent of local paintball fields run by... well..... douchebags? It might just be the state of Jersey, but still.

No, it's not just NJ...

More then a couple of places that sell pb stuff are just doing so for the fast buck... Thankfully, there is an I&I Sports locally that I trust fully with any of my guns...

Although I have not experienced shady pbfields itself, I know of a couple here in Nor Cal that spread more TWiB-itius then sportsmanship...

Treadstone · 08-30-2006, 04:48 PM

Not sure what part of Jersey you are from but I can say in the southern part of the state good fields/stores are few and far between. Personally I can say there are only a few fields that I will spend my money at and a very few more that I will go to if invited but only as a large group. If I don't have some sort of friendly relationship with the store I won't even bother, which now a days limits it to 2 places.

Drum · 08-30-2006, 04:58 PM

The folks at TopGun seemed cool and their refs were fairly attentive.

That said, everyone in the PB industry is going crazy right now. Here on the East Coast, the season is rapidly coming to an end and the gas prices have really crushed attendance for every field I have been to this year. No doubt, the stress of potential bankruptcy is more than enough to make people seem snippy.

Next year will be different. Either we will all accept the fact that gas costs what it costs and do what we want to do notwithstanding, or maybe the fields and stores that we love will be replaced by some sort of Walmart-like entity that has all it's investment capital on the Pacific Rim and that are more immune to financial loss.

Check six and keep yer head low.

D.

Robertsr · 08-30-2006, 05:16 PM

I drive an hour and a half to go to a field that has good staff and a great owner. 3 fields within 45 minutes of me have gone out of business in the last 2 years.

People vote with their feet.

Kindred · 08-30-2006, 05:35 PM

Not sure where in NJ you are, but MidState Paintball in Manville is run by a great guy. Not a huge store, but still seems to have everything I ever need. Plus he can get you anything that isn't on the shelf and really knows his stuff.

That having been said, I'd be inclined to agree with you.
another shop recently opened near me, and is the perfect example to make your case!

Shmavistime · 08-30-2006, 09:15 PM

Hells survivors does a good job. Futureball outdoor does a fairly good job, and killer paintball was great, but all the indoor fields are run by pure-bred SOB's.

kidneythief · 08-31-2006, 12:34 AM

I refuse to go to a "actuall" field these days. Seems that there is always some punk kid who usually works there talking how he "ramps 24" "are you sure you want to play" Or jackasses who think they know everything about the sport and its history. This is before you have to pay jacked *** prices for easily available items.

I play the local woods gathering with MCB folks who feel the same.

-Jake

Gabe · 08-31-2006, 12:42 AM

Here, the 'professionall run' field is a disgrace. The owner is lax with the regular teams even letting them play pranks on the newbies like sitting on the un-netted side of the field in tall grass and shooting the newbs in the back. Occasionally there is the group of newbies that are polite and mature and play with honor, but they are few and far in between. I prefer to play at the semi-outlaw woodsball field because of this.

As for stores there's wal-mart, sports authority, and a WAY overpriced airgun shop. All of these places don't weigh bottles when filling and in general give poor service. I have found a small mom and pop hardware store that fills bottles with a scale so I've been using them for a while.

Overall from what I can see, most paintball buisnesses are horrible. You might be able to find a few exceptions but most suck.

Deadfall · 08-31-2006, 12:56 AM

Well, thanks to Chicago's ban on shooting anything, I have to drive pretty far to get to any paintball feild, good or bad.

I've had mixed experiences with fields around here. At Badlandz, I literally feared for my safety by the end of the first (and only) day I went there. Not going back there.

CPX has its up's and down's. Apparently it has changed hands a few times. Under the previous management, the "airsmith" was one of the grumpiest old farts I've ever had the displeasure of putting up with. I once walked in with a gun that was apparently too new-fangled for his taste (don't even remember what gun it was anymore). I had a question about it and asked, "Do you know how to. . ." at which point I was promptly cut off with "Don't know and don't wanna learn!" F'in fantastic. . . Currently, the staff at CPX seems to be adequate, if not a little unenthusiastic. The previous ref's would encourage the more timid players to have a good time and actually play. "Get in there and mix it up! Don't just sit there!" But now, not so much. Most of the ref's now seem to be pretty AGG, which is a little annoying, but they do a decent enough job.

Take Aim is an indoor place in the suburbs near my old hometown of Bolingbrook. I haven't had any issues with the staff there. The players there can be a mixed bag, though.

I've had nothing but great experiences at Realms of Ruin. My only real complaint is that they don't have running water.

As for PB stores, I really haven't found any that are worth going out of my way to get to. Fox River Paintball has a cool bunch of guys that run the shop and are knowledgeable. That helped with softening the blow of their prices. However, getting there was an inconveniently long trip when I lived in the suburbs; now that I'm in the city, it's downright impractical.

Bad Boyz Toyz gets a hearty

from me. From my experience, they've always been over-priced and under-educated, at least at the Aurora location.

Now that Bolingbrook hosts the Chicago PSP event (I think it's PSP. Hell, I don't keep track of tourney-ball. . .), some of the sports and retail stores have started to carry some paintball stuff. Sure, after I move away.

08-30-2006, 04:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
PsychoBaller p8ntd dawurld, an thensum Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 1,068	General PB Stores and Fields... disappointing? Is it just me these days? or are a good percent of local paintball fields run by... well..... douchebags? It might just be the state of Jersey, but still. It just seems that at many places where I'm at, the field/store owners, could give a sht less about the customer or players, just want your money, and want you gone at the end of the day. Attitudes as of late, or a lack of enthusiasm for anything but green. Now I'm not talking about Refs, cause we all hate refs, comes with the job, hah. Mainly the owners or adults and such. -baller __________________ 13th Legionnaires Scenario Team* DC Viking #1 - DC Viking #2 - Palmerized Sheridan KP2 Destructive Customs

08-30-2006, 05:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Robertsr Ultimate Battle Monkey Z Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Waynesboro, VA Posts: 3,280	I drive an hour and a half to go to a field that has good staff and a great owner. 3 fields within 45 minutes of me have gone out of business in the last 2 years. People vote with their feet. __________________ Geriatrically Assured Destruction

08-30-2006, 05:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kindred Mod & Underwear Model Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Neshanic Station, NJ Posts: 1,961	Not sure where in NJ you are, but MidState Paintball in Manville is run by a great guy. Not a huge store, but still seems to have everything I ever need. Plus he can get you anything that isn't on the shelf and really knows his stuff. That having been said, I'd be inclined to agree with you. another shop recently opened near me, and is the perfect example to make your case! __________________ Strive for that moment when you're only a slice of pizza and a hooker away from paradise. -------------------- Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky

08-30-2006, 09:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Shmavistime Active Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 350	Hells survivors does a good job. Futureball outdoor does a fairly good job, and killer paintball was great, but all the indoor fields are run by pure-bred SOB's. __________________

08-31-2006, 12:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
kidneythief Lord humungus the Mod Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Home Finally!!! Posts: 2,447	I refuse to go to a "actuall" field these days. Seems that there is always some punk kid who usually works there talking how he "ramps 24" "are you sure you want to play" Or jackasses who think they know everything about the sport and its history. This is before you have to pay jacked *** prices for easily available items. I play the local woods gathering with MCB folks who feel the same. -Jake __________________ "I wish simply to be a decent person, yet I will always fear the retards" -Brian Hindt(geech) "Every man knows he is, basically, a complete sissy compared to Johnny Cash." - Bono LPPC member #24 MCB Moderator Machinist for hire Kidney Machine

08-30-2006, 04:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Treadstone MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: S. Jersey Posts: 847	Not sure what part of Jersey you are from but I can say in the southern part of the state good fields/stores are few and far between. Personally I can say there are only a few fields that I will spend my money at and a very few more that I will go to if invited but only as a large group. If I don't have some sort of friendly relationship with the store I won't even bother, which now a days limits it to 2 places.

08-30-2006, 04:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Drum The Mods' Mod! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Trenchtown Posts: 5,805	The folks at TopGun seemed cool and their refs were fairly attentive. That said, everyone in the PB industry is going crazy right now. Here on the East Coast, the season is rapidly coming to an end and the gas prices have really crushed attendance for every field I have been to this year. No doubt, the stress of potential bankruptcy is more than enough to make people seem snippy. Next year will be different. Either we will all accept the fact that gas costs what it costs and do what we want to do notwithstanding, or maybe the fields and stores that we love will be replaced by some sort of Walmart-like entity that has all it's investment capital on the Pacific Rim and that are more immune to financial loss. Check six and keep yer head low. D.

08-31-2006, 12:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Gabe Blaster of Muppets Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chugiak, AK Posts: 662	Here, the 'professionall run' field is a disgrace. The owner is lax with the regular teams even letting them play pranks on the newbies like sitting on the un-netted side of the field in tall grass and shooting the newbs in the back. Occasionally there is the group of newbies that are polite and mature and play with honor, but they are few and far in between. I prefer to play at the semi-outlaw woodsball field because of this. As for stores there's wal-mart, sports authority, and a WAY overpriced airgun shop. All of these places don't weigh bottles when filling and in general give poor service. I have found a small mom and pop hardware store that fills bottles with a scale so I've been using them for a while. Overall from what I can see, most paintball buisnesses are horrible. You might be able to find a few exceptions but most suck. __________________ "There's nary a beast that can outrun a greased-up scotsman!" - Willie "What makes a VM so charming is that you can chop down small trees with it" - Jaan

08-31-2006, 12:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
Deadfall Seasoned Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 623	Well, thanks to Chicago's ban on shooting anything, I have to drive pretty far to get to any paintball feild, good or bad. I've had mixed experiences with fields around here. At Badlandz, I literally feared for my safety by the end of the first (and only) day I went there. Not going back there. CPX has its up's and down's. Apparently it has changed hands a few times. Under the previous management, the "airsmith" was one of the grumpiest old farts I've ever had the displeasure of putting up with. I once walked in with a gun that was apparently too new-fangled for his taste (don't even remember what gun it was anymore). I had a question about it and asked, "Do you know how to. . ." at which point I was promptly cut off with "Don't know and don't wanna learn!" F'in fantastic. . . Currently, the staff at CPX seems to be adequate, if not a little unenthusiastic. The previous ref's would encourage the more timid players to have a good time and actually play. "Get in there and mix it up! Don't just sit there!" But now, not so much. Most of the ref's now seem to be pretty AGG, which is a little annoying, but they do a decent enough job. Take Aim is an indoor place in the suburbs near my old hometown of Bolingbrook. I haven't had any issues with the staff there. The players there can be a mixed bag, though. I've had nothing but great experiences at Realms of Ruin. My only real complaint is that they don't have running water. As for PB stores, I really haven't found any that are worth going out of my way to get to. Fox River Paintball has a cool bunch of guys that run the shop and are knowledgeable. That helped with softening the blow of their prices. However, getting there was an inconveniently long trip when I lived in the suburbs; now that I'm in the city, it's downright impractical. Bad Boyz Toyz gets a hearty from me. From my experience, they've always been over-priced and under-educated, at least at the Aurora location. Now that Bolingbrook hosts the Chicago PSP event (I think it's PSP. Hell, I don't keep track of tourney-ball. . .), some of the sports and retail stores have started to carry some paintball stuff. Sure, after I move away. __________________ Bruce Campbell Fact #95 If given any power tool and/or piece of gardening equipment, Bruce could find at least 7 ways to kill you with it. This does not include chainsaws. There is only one way for him to kill you with a chainsaw and that is brutally awesome. My Gallery

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