General

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Ronin

I'd guess that the reasons behind the price hikes are more likely connected to the weak dollar.

Maybe they just need price increases so they don't go the way of the Dodo, like other companies in paintball seem to be doing.

[za_hulk]

That’s bull shirts pure bull shirt. CNC mills are just sitting in shops looking for work. Every manufacturing tool/machine is not producing to full potential because no one is buying we are in a recession. And less people are playing speed ball (witch DYE products target) because no one has the cash. So why would you raise the price? That’s ridiculous

[sparky]

I acually like the price increase, beats hearing about a final mega clearance cause they are going out of business for good.

Besides, whats wrong with a price increase. Your wage generally goes up, and so do most other products. It's called inflation.

Come live north of the border where we buy most of our items from the US. We see pricing changes very regularly, with both retailers and private deals, simply because of the value of our Canadian dollar vs the US dollar. Items can vary 10% week to week.....

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by za_hulk

That’s bull shirts pure bull shirt. CNC mills are just sitting in shops looking for work. Every manufacturing tool/machine is not producing to full potential because no one is buying we are in a recession. And less people are playing speed ball (witch DYE products target) because no one has the cash. So why would you raise the price? That’s ridiculous

And how long can a shop that has machines sitting around doing nothing stay in business for?

Every product a company makes needs a mark-up (selling price less Cost of Goods Sold) in order to stay in business. The mark-up covers all other expenses, other that COGS, and profit, if there is any. The amount of mark-up is determined by a number of things, the most important being the amount of units sold. If more units are sold then the mark-up can be less to cover all those other expense. Less units sold means more mark-up per unit is necessary.

The recession has created a situation where less units are sold (you and I aren't buying as much stuff) and the reason many machines are not producing at full potential. There are two ways to approach this. The first, a company can try to cut prices in order to increase the number of units sold in hopes that the increase in amount of units sold will offset the drop in the amount of mark-up per unit. This is the way MOST companies seem to approach the problem. It's usually a knee jerk reaction. From a business point of view, it may not necessarily be the best way though. It really depends on what you are selling, the strength of the product and the strength of the brand.

The second way is to raise prices in hopes that the drop in number of units sold is small enough that the increase in mark-up will offset that decline and will keep the company in the black. I'm sorry you think that strategy is bull.

[WGPKlaus]

Originally Posted by Titus

I remember when Halos sold for $150, now you can buy them for $50 used. Give it a while the market will flood with used ones and before you know it you'll be posting a WTB ad for an outdated Rotor as the newest, latest and greatest will be out.

You can actually buy them new for $64.00 (Invert Too = Reloader B). As far as DYE doing this, it's a bad move, as I know for a fact their sales are already slowing, with the exception of the Rotor, and now they're actually starting to "Package" up their guns, case in point, they recently released an SLG Package which includes the new Proto hopper, a 20oz co2 tank and proto goggles. Not a very good move given the state of the economy, I only hope we don't see other manuf. follow their lead.

[Poe]

Paintball is like women's clothing. The average consumer is so uneducated the rules of supply and demand have very definite limits. Cheaper products are viewed as inferior even if they are exactly the same (Ion/Luxe). Companies loose sales when they attempt to compete through lower prices so they are forced to seek other avenues. Enter high dollar marketing, cosmetic features (milling), fancy packaging and needless accessories.

These price increases are insignificant and will likely be followed by a promotion reducing the prices or offering something when these products are purchased (.

[10-shot kid]

don't forget a couple big competitors (SP, BE) just shut down too. If you don't think that's going to make some companies prices go up, your nuts. Paintball company's have been going on ridiculously low margins forever now, I'd bet that is coming to an end soon.

[Ando]

Isn't their already overpriced? This man's money is going some place else.

[dempsey626]

Originally Posted by DMex

Isn't their already overpriced? This man's money is going some place else.

I think quite the opposite. Maybe everyone else is UNDER priced? Maybe that is why it seems that there are less paintball companies each year for the past 3 to 5 years?

I believe it has never been cheaper to play paintball than today. Some brands of paintballs are half the price from 10 years ago...markers for $200 with features you could not get for more that 3x the price... CO2 tanks and HPA systems half the price....I can think of very few things outside paintball that have gone down in price like our gear has.

Dan

[Cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by shadawg

Why? The Rotor is class leader. They don't have to compete on price, as they outcompete on performance.

except that in every category the rotor is outclassed by a loader that is 2/3rds its price.