Sick of FPO? My answer to it.

[Smakman]

Most scenario games require FPO, which makes sense as they are trying to keep that profit center for themselves. I have never had a problem with that. Planning and running a scenario of any size is a lot of work, so the more profit that a host can make (without screwing his customers) the better. On the other hand, I have some empathy for those who still have that 1/2 case of paint left at home in the closet getting old or who need a different type or size than the field will be selling. Here is what I propose to do for my scenario games. A choice! The registration fee will be $25 if you will buy at least 500 rounds of field paint. If you want to bring your own paint, it will be $35. If you pre-register, the fee will be $20 if you will buy at least 500 rounds of field paint. If you want to bring your own paint, it will be $30. That way, rather than spending another $30 or $60 on new paint, when you still have paint left from the last game you played, you can use your old paint up, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Oh yeah, CO2, HPA, and lunch are always included in my fee.

[Killer Kat]

That sounds great, Problem is convincing owners to adopt it! Let's face it, they're in business to make money and paint is where it's at! I always ask can I bring this paint (what's left over) back and use it next time I play. The other thing is we (the group of guys I hang with) always buy in bulk, which often saves ya in the long run! So we'll always ask for even better deals because of the volume we buy at. Try it, nothing to loose and money to be saved. Hey all they can say is no!

[MuckRaker]

The field I play at charges you $10 to bring your own paint. They don't normally charge the folk who play their regularly.

[WVprankster]

that's cheap, man. in a few hours i'm going to pay 18 to do the same thing.

[VeNoM]

i think the problem that some fields (and i dont really like it either) when some kid brings his paint that has been under his bed for a year and it doesnt break! just hurts like hell . . . but for the most part, ya thats cool.

[Smakman]

Incoming paint would have to be checked of course. But then I have tried some off brand paint that felt like getting hit with marbles too. It is a plan that I am going to try eventually.

[uzer_errors]

Problem there is the sick morons who variate Russian Roullette by including 10 marbles in a round of 1,000. Than they see who loses. Maybe BYOP only if it is still factory sealed.

[Lavahead]

I wouldn't have a problem with FPO, but the fields near me only sell one kind of paint at the field, usually the basic PMI or worse, and then like $100+/case. I can get cases of Marbs, Proball, whatever, online for like $60 apiece. So I only play at the 2 BYOP fields nearby. With a paint fee, they're both $30/day to play. Places should either charge a fee, or at least have different kinds of paint available at reasonable prices.

[CrazyB]

I think field paint should be $10 bucks above retails. I mean I can PMI Premiums for $65 a case at a store(so it's more ex*****ve then online) and i would have no problem spending $75 for a case of it at a field, but the field that uses PMI Premiums as field paint charges $100 per case. Now if we look at the profit margin a store makes a decent profit off $65 a case or they wouldn't sell it so the field is making an addition $35 profit due to mark ups, that is insane. One day of paintballing probably sells 15 cases, that's $525 in just mark up charges! You gotta say that a field like the one i'm talking about grosses over $600 a day, pays probably $7 an hour to 2 or 3 refs for 8 hours of work which is only $168, owners usually do the airsmithing and refills, so with $10 walk on fee for 60 people and air all day these people are raking in over $700 just in profit for 8 hours of work. Obviously cost of field reduces it substainaly, but what the hell am i doing for not being a field owner, they make mad cash off the paint

[Creek]

Well the fields I play at . I use to have to paid fees but I started just helping out etc. Helping people with there markers etc. Getting to know the owners. Now my money is no good there. Some times I have to buy there paint on slow days but still its 60 bucks for a case and thats marbs so I am still making out.
They also sell my drops there for me. One field i play on sundays since its open that day only I help make up a few fields built bunkers cost me zip to play use my own paint etc. Plus the store has a deal buy a case there and field fees are 5 bucks. 60 bucks a case at the store. the field is 15 bucks use there pain 80 bucks a case or 20 bucks use your paint.

[Lavahead]

Even if places do allow walk-on paint, they will still sell plenty of their own. Most private and lots of open gamers rent gear, and while most fields include some paint with the rental, it doesn't go all that far. So these folks are buying it up by 100 or 200 round bags, which adds up to far more than by-the-case. Plus by charging folks who bring their own, they make money while not actually selling any product. How many other businesses are there where you give them money and they give you nothing back? Seems like a win-win situation for all.

[Deep Sixx]

Originally posted by MuckRaker
The field I play at charges you $10 to bring your own paint. They don't normally charge the folk who play their regularly.

That's a great idea... I wish fields around here were like that. Personally I hate FPO. I wouldn't have quite as big a problem with it if the FPO fields at least had some variety of paint. But nope... one field is ALL Zap (1 or 2 kinds) and another is ALL Diablo Midnight (I actually really like Diablo... but I'd prefer Blaze).

Is a little bit of choice really too much to ask?

D6

[Super 3]

I had a discussion about this with the field owner of the place i play and he said that if it's a scenario game or a big game and some company donates prizes then the company tells them that it it's FPO. Personaly i'd rather be able to bring my own paint than the vague chance i might win a squeegie.