gunshopfaq Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Hello, first post here :-) I work for a gunshop in the south east (UK) and we often get asked about airsoft, we currently only sell shotguns and air weapons (as an RFD) but I would like to prove to the management that airsoft is a hugely popular sport and something we should look in to. So...... you guys are the best people to enlighten a complete noob. Can you give me an idea of the sort of equipment you would like to see a shop stock? what frustrates you about your existing store? please be as honest and as descriptive as possible. You guys are the experts, I have very little knowledge other than the UK legal side of things. Your advice is massively appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormhall Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I live in the South East!!! Anyway I'd think we'd like to see AEGs (Automatic Electric Guns) manufactured by G&G, SRC, Tokyo Marui and all the other well known quality brands of AEGs as well as GBB (Gas Blowback) pistols and rifles. My existing store in Eastbourne is Modelzone and they only sell a small selection of cheap and crappy springer "softair" (they can't call them airsoft because they are really bad) guns. And it would be nice if the two-tone service was free. It'd also be nice if you guys stocked up on some camo clothing and some protective equipment like goggles and facemasks as well as chest rigs, plate carriers and other things like scopes, sights, suppressors, spare batteries and other things. I suggest you look at other airsoft retailers like ZeroOne airsoft or Wolf Armouries to get a good idea of what I'm talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunshopfaq Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Thank you Stormhall, this is exactly the sort of thing I need to be armed with, where in the south east do you shoot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormhall Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Thank you Stormhall, this is exactly the sort of thing I need to be armed with, where in the south east do you shoot? No problem I'm just helping you help me. I don't skirmish in the south east because the only skirmish site in the south east charges £50 for two hours of play. Instead I go up to London and pay £20 (plus another £40 to get there) and I can play the whole day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunshopfaq Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Are you and your buddies UKARA registered or do you just buy two tones? is the two tone service a must? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike636 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Two toning can be very important especially for younger players who have to be gifted IFs if their parents don't have a defence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters jcheeseright Posted June 24, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 24, 2013 from my perspective I'd like to see more availability of high-end real gear in the UK, I'm thinking Blue Force Gear, LBT, Eagle Industries (good luck with that one!), Crye, First Spear, HSGI etc. Getting anything from those companies often involves importing it from the states which means mega postage costs and then getting stung for customs charges on top, being able to buy in the UK would be preferable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheriffHD Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Im south east kent player too. If there was a store that was local to me, the one thing I would want is AMMO. Buying ammo online and paying the same price as the ammo in shipping means that if I had a shop near me that sold proper quality ammo Id save money. As mentioned int he post above, specialist gear is rather sort after in the sport as not any places will stock the gear and people dont like the headache of dealing with importing. Plus it is a 100% safe way to practice rifle drills, stance, and any all the other good stuff. Plus they are fun as hell to shoot friends with, with out the added worry of, well, you know.....Not killing people.....I guess :Syeah, I dont think I was very helpful.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Ian_Gere Posted June 25, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 25, 2013 Pyrotechnics. I'm not in the SE, but buying pyros online is a pain in the arse because some carriers won't ship them. A good selection of bangs, smoke, multi-bang, and dried pea shrapnel grenades would be a definite seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose87 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Im from the southeast as well, theres about 4+ Sites in kent, i would say a good selection of ammo is a starter as i hate to pay postage just from ammo. wheres your store btw?? Safety goggles and masks so people can try before they buy to see what suits them. i would say theres hundreds of airsofters in kent alone. oh and the frustrating thing about my nearest store is its friggin london! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheriffHD Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Only store in kent that I know of is Platoon stores up in medway.Perfect for people who play the 3 sites in that area like apoc airsoft/UCAP/Cool under fire as they are all around the medway area but for the guys who play around the dover area its either spend £20 on train to get to the store or the up to £15 chage for shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose87 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 yer its in rochester which is basically london lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remus Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 what you probably want is a selection of weapons of the different comanys so that people can try the out, see the quality difference etc in them. but you will likely find it hard to stock all you want so having an ability t order extra different things for customers would be great, specially if you can like my local get it the following week. if you could team up with a local site and do offers with them/ increase bulk, decrease cost at the same time... (if yous dont want the hassle of setting up + running a site on top of the current buisness) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike636 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I was going to suggest contacting your local sites, even play a game or two yourself and get a feel for it and speak to the regulars about what they like, would want and their ideas as locals will be your best customers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunshopfaq Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 You have all been really helpful guys, some excellent ideas and feed back, much appreciated!! We are based on the surrey/Hants borders so we are south/ south-east. I need to do as much research as possible to convince the powers above. As with every shop at the moment I don't think we will be able to stock everything but it seems like a good selection of weapons, ammo, pyro and safety gear are top of your lists. I know we already have accounts with ASG and Umarex, whats the general thinking on theses brands? I don't want to stock stuff that the experts think is plop! Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters M_P Posted June 25, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 25, 2013 from my perspective I'd like to see more availability of high-end real gear in the UK, I'm thinking Blue Force Gear, LBT, Eagle Industries (good luck with that one!), Crye, First Spear, HSGI etc. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose87 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 from what i have heard and seen ASG and Umarex are pretty low end in the airsoft market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters sp00n Posted June 25, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 25, 2013 from what i have heard and seen ASG and Umarex are pretty low end in the airsoft market ASG make blasters, one of the best bb's Everything I have bought which is ASG has been great. That said ASG do rebrand some CYMA guns etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose87 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Ok. I was under the impression they were a standard brand. I didnt say bad but low end as their stuff is the cheaper side. I may be wrong and if i am then im sorry its just my impression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters sp00n Posted June 25, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 25, 2013 maybe with there rebranded stuff, it isn't that epic, but there own stuff is very good (from my experience), and being cheap isn't always a bad thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters TPI Posted June 25, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 25, 2013 They Re-Brand only they DO NOT make anything for Airsoft, Also ASG ReBrand KWA Pistol's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 maybe with there rebranded stuff, it isn't that epic, but there own stuff is very good (from my experience), and being cheap isn't always a bad thing I didnt think ASG made any of there own stuff, Arent they just a rebrander? edit: nevermind, answered above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Ian_Gere Posted June 25, 2013 Supporters Share Posted June 25, 2013 Nothing wrong with CYMA guns, unless you take them apart a lot. In fact, since CYMA clone from very successful guns, they shoot very well, it's just that the materials are perhaps cheaper so they get damaged more quickly if you keep disassembling/reassembling them. Umarex is a licensing company and guns with their brand are made by a variety of manufacturers. For eg the Umarex G36 range is made by Ares, however despite Ares' reputation (with which I concur) for excellent looks but dodgy innards, the Umarex blowback G36's seem to be pretty robust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan's Ark Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Hello, first post here :-) I work for a gunshop in the south east (UK) and we often get asked about airsoft, we currently only sell shotguns and air weapons (as an RFD) but I would like to prove to the management that airsoft is a hugely popular sport and something we should look in to. So...... you guys are the best people to enlighten a complete noob. Can you give me an idea of the sort of equipment you would like to see a shop stock? what frustrates you about your existing store? please be as honest and as descriptive as possible. You guys are the experts, I have very little knowledge other than the UK legal side of things. Your advice is massively appreciated! If you're planning on selling some airsoft weapons, do you fancy a move up north near Middlesbrough? Got nothing up here in terms of airsoft shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shinobi Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 +1 To what Storm said ;DAlso, maybe stock some of the more unique stuff that's hard to come across in the UK. Like KWA (You can get, but quite expensive and not much), maybe some more Magpul stuff, and if you stock the unique stuff, people will have to come to you for it ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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