76 replies to this topic

[jonsnipe]

we pretty much know what we are and are not going to carry, but this could help...
What are some specific products you guys want to see in the store?

[Jakobie1086]

Not sure how to put this... everything?

MASADA's
SR25's

That would be some stuff I would personally be interested to see, but there is so much other snuff I would also want.

Edited by Jakobie1086, 27 November 2010 - 10:39 AM.

[kavurcen]

Cheap optics; knockoff EOTechs and ACOGs (4x), some of the cooler and less common optics (1-4x scopes, 2x aimpoints) and a variety of mounts too

Lots of gear; affordable quality stuff, not just MOLLE; duty gear, concealment gear

Guns; try to explore newer manufacturers, but look at their guns and make sure they're worth carrying beforehand
I think it would be pretty sweet if you could be the official US distributor for the Hexagon Productions PPSH.

[wrightoperaters]

+1 on cheap knockoff optics.

Plenty of rail accessories. TD stubby VFGs are hard to find:D Index clips, KAC hand stop, just some examples of more rare ones.

BIOSHOTS

Sniper weight BBs. .28s, .30s, .36s, .40s

[Norinco QBZ-95]

ACM upgrade parts for both AEG's and GBBR's.

ACM GBB's like Bell's and Tercels.

[wrightoperaters]

+1 on ACM GBBs. Bell, Tercel, G.A.S., KJW, whatever you can acquire.

[Norinco QBZ-95]

GBBR AK's and AR's would be nice, but I'm not too sure if there's enough of a market for them.

[G36fanatic...]

Plenty of Pantac gear.(AKA, affordable, and quality gear)


Real Steel AR furniture would be great.

[kavurcen]

Here's an idea: Stock the P* HPA gearbox and Palmer's Pursuit Shop products.

[Bullseye]

Goldenball bbs.

M14 parts

Arena flakjak goggles.

[Mr.Tango]

Well you HAVE to have all of KWA's arsenal

But for real, be sure to have plenty of gear.

And maybe a grand opening sale .

Edited by Mr.Tango, 27 November 2010 - 03:03 PM.

[G36fanatic...]

kavurcen, on 27 November 2010 - 01:53 PM, said:

Here's an idea: Stock the P* HPA gearbox and Palmer's Pursuit Shop products.

1: The HPA gearbox might be a big hit, but again, it might only sell a small number to a select number of interested users.

2: Palmers isn't a chain store, nor are they a distributor. All of there products are made in house and the majority of there parts are for paintball. Palmers is a PAINTBALL shop, that just happens to cater to airsofters with ONE product, that is also used by many paintballers. Not only would ASB have a very hard time selling them, but I highly doubt palmers would let other people sell there products. If they did, palmers would loose revenue because some of it would go to ASB, and when they are the only ones who sell that product, why give away money?

[greatwatermelon]

For a starting up retailer, I would avoid stocking the very low quality brands, gas blowback rifles, chinese made gas blowback, weird kits and nearly collectiable guns. Really focusing toward making sure what you have in stock are good investments for your customers is important in making them leave satisfied and returning faithfully. Like, KWA, G&G, G&P, VFC, E1 for AEGs. KWA, TM, KJW for GBB's. and etc.

These are things I would like to see

For AEGs:
G&P- for people who aren't a fan of KWA or G&G, definitely another good brand for customers to invest in
G&G sportline- I feel like these guns are a better investment than Echo1's; cheap, well-made, durable, should sell fast

Gear:
Most stores obviously have Condor, which is cheap and it works. However, there is never gear that you cannot buy outside an smaller airsoft retailer for cheaper. Keeping that in mind, I feel like why people buy gear from an airsoft retailer rather than order elsewhere is because a retailer makes it convenient by gathering all that is available that is practical for an airsofter. Taking advantage of having a business/wholesale license, I really think you guys should should look to differentiating yourselves a bit from other retailers by also stocking brands that aren't much more expensive than Condor, but are definitely a STEP ABOVE Condor and other china-made gear. Like, Tac Force bags (http://tac-force.com/), ATS, Maxpedition (rig, pouches, etc.), Eagle (rigs), Mechanix (gloves), Propper (bdu), 5.11, etc.

If you do want to stock paintball masks as full face protection, check out the V-Force Pro-Vantage Thermal Goggles, they're like $30-40 and way better than JT entry level paintball masks crap.

Batteries/Chargers:
Intellect/Elite/BOL nimh's. Hot Power (cheaper alternative) & Kong Power Lipos, BOL nimh and Lipo smart chargers.

Accessories:
decent, cheap optics like sold on ebaybanned. (Avoid AMP, please)

--------

Yeah, that's my input for now.

[Piano Black]

I wouldn't mind seeing a solid selection of aftermarket internal and external parts so I don't have to order from Asia to get them all the time.

Consumables such as silicone oil, quality BBs, and gas are also good. You can sell a gun once, but you can sell the other items over and over again. It's like razors. It's not the handle that gets you, but the blades. I wouldn't sell the gas online, but for people who are already in the store, having gas visibly for sale tends to cause them to buy it.

-Piano

[G36fanatic...]

biotoxin, on 27 November 2010 - 04:50 PM, said:

Don't advise them to stock gear. Once its "out of style", they're essentially screwed.

I had no idea tactical gear went out of style... People have been using all types of tac gear since I started airsofting... What are they using where you airsoft?

Edited by G36fanatic..., 27 November 2010 - 05:27 PM.

[Guges Mk3]

Stock things that the other stores don't carry. Which means middle to high end stuff, plus items found in HK.

Do not carry junk that will break and cause you headaches and where you have no margins being a 3-4 middleman. Seriously...do you want to deal with leaky WE's from newbs?

Don't stock anything that will get your store in trouble...knock off optics can get you sued, especially if they have the knock off logo's. Skip real steel equipment. There are many cheap sources from real gun stores. You don't have to deal with the issue of selling real gun items and having airsoft gun items mixed in and causing ATF to come and look at your inventory.

Carry GOOD batteries, the ones with low IR and sell them at a good price. Sell good chargers too. I know a battery wholesaler/importer in California. I would be happy to pass you their contact info.

Carry Japanese BB's...if people think AE, Goldenball and others are good...they are in for a rude awakening with the premium Japanese stuff.

Carry real MAG Magazines or their less expensive Pro-Arm's cousins. I have contacts with both the owners...I can introduce you to them...

In the end...be a good middle-high end store. Gawd knows...we have a boatload of the low-ends already and your not going to be able to offer savings over them guys.

Edited by Guges Mk3, 27 November 2010 - 06:10 PM.

[mrquackbunny]

Guges Mk3, on 27 November 2010 - 06:06 PM, said:

Carry Japanese BB's...if people think AE, Goldenball and others are good...they are in for a rude awakening with the premium Japanese stuff.

Like what? I like Goldenball & AE...

[Bullseye]

Oh you mean the good stuff that you pay 20$ for 5000rds of? No thanks.. For the same quality as is in Goldenball ammo? No thanks...

[Guges Mk3]

If you can't afford it, you can't afford.

There are already 5+ retailers that sell Goldenball and AE rebrands. If they can carry it...I'm sure they will. But they asked what they should carry and I am giving them the perspective of the stuff that people buy from me. Or more accurately...that I broker for them.

Maruzen Super Grand Masters and Marushin 6mm .25 in box packaging is really good stuff. The hit ratio is pretty high with this stuff. Higher hit ratios mean you shoot less bb's at your target at extreme range to get a hit. But, hey, to each their own...

[Piano Black]

I'd like to see the new TM boxed ammo stocked stateside. I'd buy 1/2 a dozen boxes of the heavier stuff.

-Piano

[wrightoperaters]

Marui ammo would be a wonderful thing to be able to buy stateside.

[J0KER]

Tokyo Marui 5-7's...

[jonsnipe]

Thanks guys and keep it coming. I am paying attention...
This is a lot of good, funny, and interesting info.

[G36fanatic...]

I think you should carry both lower end, and high end BBs. The majority of airsofters really could care less what BBs go through there gun so long as they aren't from BIG 5 sporting goods store. Especially new players. They tend to not want to spend much on ammo. When I first got into airsoft, I always looked for the cheapest BBs that were still nice enough to not scratch my barrel.

On the other hand, you have some hardcore, or simply more avid airsofters that put a lot more effort into the performance of there gun to get every ounce of range and accuracy that they can. These guys will gladly pay extra for high quality BBs.

That being said, I think bioshot BBs would be perfect for you to carry. They are certainly comparable to high end BBs, yet they are near the price of the lower quality brands. And they are biodegradable. A lot of people that like to target shoot in there backyard, and Bio BBs are often times required by parents, and Bios are starry to become required at more and more fields across the country.

[aerosmith]

KWA M93r, TM 5-7, CA, KWA, E1, G&P AEGs, assorted optics. Bioval and AE BBs.

[validtumoralarm]

It would be nice to see Flyye gear if that would be possible. Their stuff seems to be hard to find in the US.

[Guges Mk3]

Some of you guys need to realize they are going to have issues carrying TM traded items. You know...License holders, lawyers, that sort of thing. This is why other retailers don't openly advertise them if they have them.

[Mafioso0711]

It's already been said, but for +1 reasons, I'd like to see some WA M4 GBBR platforms and aftermarket parts like outer barrels with VN heatshield w/ M203 and WA M4 compatible Magpul handguards, grips and stocks . . . oh, and other parts too. lol.
Of course, that's if its feasible. I'd much rather buy the stuff I want stateside, like it's been said before, even more-so if it's from the ASB shop.

[kavurcen]

Guges Mk3, on 28 November 2010 - 07:50 PM, said:

Some of you guys need to realize they are going to have issues carrying TM traded items. You know...License holders, lawyers, that sort of thing. This is why other retailers don't openly advertise them if they have them.

Exactly. One doesn't simply walk into Mordor.