Is airsoft getting too expensive ?

[skarra333]

10 hours ago, Lozart said:

Indeed but it's not a valid one.

 

I don't know that airsoft has EVER tried to be cheaper than paintball. My personal experience is that it never has been, the appeal lies elsewhere. If you want to do it on a budget you most certainly can. If you want to play paintball in full tactical gear and spend £1,400 on a marker you can do that too.

 

Yes it is. The thread is titled "Is Airsoft getting..." When you look at the way prices for Airsoft have increased some reflection and a 'back in my day' are quite acceptable thank you.

I've just looked and a days Paintball for own gunners at the site I used to attend is £65 which gets you 2000 balls, game fee and air refills. That is exactly the same as it was when I stopped. The Airsoft games that run on this site now charge £30 per day, and £9 for ammo. While still cheaper than a days Paintball, they are now approaching double what it was when I started. I reflect on this, bobbies being on the beat, pothole free roads and wonder...

 

And Airsoft has indeed tried to be cheaper than Paintball. The folks running Fireball Squadron as well as players in attendance there, and at Hilton Park said as much to me my first few games. Plus, JD Airsoft (or part of Airsoft Armoury as it was then) used this as a pitch when I got my first toys. Maybe they were the only 3 places in the whole wide world who peddled such notions then, but I bet you 1 X Bic ballpoint that they weren't.

And then there's the fact that UKAPU, First and Only's and Airborne Airsoft are 3 websites that still cite airsoft's being cheaper than paintball as a selling point - I bet you a further 1 X Bic ballpoint these aren't the only ones still doing it either. 

 

 

 

[Lozart]

2 minutes ago, skarra333 said:

 

Yes it is. The thread is titled "Is Airsoft getting..." When you look at the way prices for Airsoft have increased some reflection and a 'back in my day' are quite acceptable thank you.

I've just looked and a days Paintball for own gunners at the site I used to attend is £65 which gets you 2000 balls, game fee and air refills. That is exactly the same as it was when I stopped. The Airsoft games that run on this site now charge £30 per day, and £9 for ammo. While still cheaper than a days Paintball, they are now approaching double what it was when I started. I reflect on this, bobbies being on the beat, pothole free roads and wonder...

 

And Airsoft has indeed tried to be cheaper than Paintball. The folks running Fireball Squadron as well as players in attendance there, and at Hilton Park said as much to me my first few games. Plus, JD Airsoft (or part of Airsoft Armoury as it was then) used this as a pitch when I got my first toys. Maybe they were the only 3 places in the whole wide world who peddled such notions then, but I bet you 1 X Bic ballpoint that they weren't.

And then there's the fact that UKAPU, First and Only's and Airborne Airsoft are 3 websites that still cite airsoft's being cheaper than paintball as a selling point - I bet you a further 1 X Bic ballpoint these aren't the only ones still doing it either. 

 

 

I would personally say that if someone is promoting airsoft as cheaper then they're talking about game day costs - as you say a days paintball is circa £65 and if you need more ammo it is expensive (doing the standard buy an extra 100 rounds onsite at a stupid price). As a Total Cost of Ownership exercise, I would argue that saying airsoft is cheaper is misleading at best. 

 

Thing is - it costs what it costs. I've never seen airsoft as a cheap hobby, certainly not with my rampant case of G.A.S (Gun Acquisition Syndrome) and for me I'm of the opinion that if you can't afford it, go find something cheaper to play. Yes, some may say that I have it relatively easy - well paid job, no kids etc but you cut your pattern according to the cloth you have, right?

[Sacarathe]

On 27/03/2017 at 10:00 PM, sniperslucky said:

Just noticed whilst looking for a site in florida USA most site other there are a lot cheaper to walk on. So why does it cost so much over here ( although it is relatively a cheap day out ) but still sites in UK are over twice the price of of walk on in USA.

 

Prob the amount of taxes?

 

The amount of vacant land.

[Sacarathe]

Well first of all, your have a very airsoft internalised perspective. The retailers peddle UKARA to make money and it does help them, go to any retailer and ask "should I get two tone CM16 or hire?"

 

If I could go around and start airsoft again I'd have picked the two tone gun. The way RIFs are glorified ensures, I would be willing to bet, that many persons which would otherwise have hired one game and walked away, will stick around at least until the 2nd game and then decided whether to quit or wait for the 3rd game and ukara. I suspect very few people quit after one game.

 

 

[jcheeseright]

Airsoft can absolutely be cheaper than paintball. £120 for a combat machine (less for a CYMA AK), £30 for some respectable eye protection, £20 on a battery/charger and you're good to go. Only cost from that point is game fees and ammo (which IS cheaper than paintball!).  We CHOOSE to make it more expensive; no one needs to have all matching camo, red dot sights, lasers, helmets, etc. None of those things improve the 'game', they're affectations and nothing more. 

[AshOnSnow]

My local walk-ons are either £20 or £25, I go once or twice a month.

 

The real money ends up coming from new gear. I got into airsoft around august/september time last year, since then I've gone through a P226, P09, 2 M4s and a pricey JG Bar-10. And of course you buy a gun, then there's the mags to go with it, holsters, pouches, rigs, optics, BDU, eye pro... it all adds up. Now I'm adding an action cam to my gear to film games, and it's all costing more and more - gotta get a helmet, NVG mount, spare battery, new protection case for the camera itself.

 

To be honest, if I could go back and do it all again from scratch, I'd probably just buy a lightweight rig, some spare M4 mags, decent eye pro and a budget BDU, and then just go with the hire kit. 3000rds of ammo and an M4, AK, G36 or RPK, £45, sorted for the day.

 

Of course with this whole UKARA debate, if you stick a £40 action camera on your head, you don't need it, because then your VCRA defence becomes film.

[sniperslucky]

This would not be my sons 1st gun, more like 3rd but he thought that when they stated £350:00ish that it wouldn't be an extra £100 how does the market research get it so wrong or are they just passing more charges on to the paying customer due to the lateness of this gun>

[jcheeseright]

2 hours ago, sniperslucky said:

This would not be my sons 1st gun, more like 3rd but he thought that when they stated £350:00ish that it wouldn't be an extra £100 how does the market research get it so wrong or are they just passing more charges on to the paying customer due to the lateness of this gun>

 

Are you sure this is the correct thread? 

[sniperslucky]

2 hours ago, jcheeseright said:

 

Are you sure this is the correct thread? 

Yes as long as it doesn't go anymore sideways. The point  i was trying to make is that i don't think the retailers help with the prices as as a sport gets more popular they put the prices up to make the most of it. And in the Vectors case they quoted £350 now due to delays i'm thinking that they are just covering their costs. So for a premium gun Yes i think its getting expensive.

[jcheeseright]

when were you quoted £350?

[Mike W]

I think compared to other hobbies airsoft is quite cheap. It only gets expensive if you let it . I go every week and would go more but I have to work lol. Plus my wife could my nuts off lmao. I think it starts to get expensive when you play it more and start to buy more gear. But as for initial setup costs I reckon its quite cheap to get into.

[TheFull9]

I'd imagine the question is more "are site organisers price gouging" and at the rate I've seen game day prices rise vs general inflation/cost of living, I wouldn't have said so.

 

If paintball days have not gone up in price across the board over the past 10 years or so... well that seems really odd and surprising.  But I'm not seeing airsoft site staff/owners rolling around in lambos that much is for sure.  BBs have gone up a few quid in a decade.. yeah, I mean what else would you expect?  Ammo wise this is a mega cheap game.  I use about 250 BBs in a day of CQB, maybe 6-7 hundred in woodland, I don't personally feel like I hold back on the trigger either I just only shoot at what I have a good chance of hitting.  Quite literally cannot remember the last time I had to buy BBs, it's been years.  A bag of 4k quality beebs lasts me ages personally, similar story with gas and shotgun primers.  I use a big can of colemans maybe once every 18 months and my 100 pack of primers will probably last me the next 5 years at this rate, I'm extremely wary about chucking something as heavy as my TRMR so it doesn't come out much for safety's sake.  I get this varies a lot person to person and I only play about 6 times a year on a good year because of work and logistical issues getting to games, just my take on things.

[tomo9992]

I would say airsofting is pretty cheap considering, well not cheap, but not over expensive either, aside from the initial outlay obviously, which is common for most hobbies/activities that anyone would engage in. Up here in Scotland its typically £20 green fee + £15 for hire for a full day. Compare that to go karting which is effectively £30 for 45mins total racing. Obviously that's one example, but I would say airsoft is probably on par, popularity wise, with go-karting, yet on a time to price basis much much cheaper.

[Sitting Duck]

Well it depends on your budget/wallet and all that

 

BUT sod buying this stuff - even if I won the lottery

over TWO GRAND on a toy gun ???

 

http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/GBB_Rifles_SMGs_Airsoft_Surgeon_Airsoft_Surgeon_Magpul_Metal_Man_AR.htm?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RedWolf Airsoft Specialist Ltd&utm_content=

 

Sorry but I'd be blowing that kinda of dosh on a lot better things than just one toy gun no matter how great it was made

Holiday, hookers, I could think of quite a few things I'd blow that amount on

[skillfulmmd]

On 3/31/2017 at 3:55 PM, jcheeseright said:

Airsoft can absolutely be cheaper than paintball. £120 for a combat machine (less for a CYMA AK), £30 for some respectable eye protection, £20 on a battery/charger and you're good to go. Only cost from that point is game fees and ammo (which IS cheaper than paintball!).  We CHOOSE to make it more expensive; no one needs to have all matching camo, red dot sights, lasers, helmets, etc. None of those things improve the 'game', they're affectations and nothing more. 

 

I agree to a point but I have found the more gear I get that fixes and issue allows me to focus on playing the game without worrying. A sling for instance so I can draw my pistol quickly or even just take the weight of the gun off my arms a bit, or a nice mag pouch that makes getting mags out quick and more efficient. Sure all that will add but I have found getting your gear perfect lets you focus on just having fun and shooting people and not worrying or feeling annoyed in certain situations. 

 

[warlord]

11 minutes ago, skillfulmmd said:

 

I agree to a point but I have found the more gear I get that fixes and issue allows me to focus on playing the game without worrying. A sling for instance so I can draw my pistol quickly or even just take the weight of the gun off my arms a bit, or a nice mag pouch that makes getting mags out quick and more efficient. Sure all that will add but I have found getting your gear perfect lets you focus on just having fun and shooting people and not worrying or feeling annoyed in certain situations. 

 

 

This, exactly. I'm a noob, not played a lot, but the best things I've done are cheap. Good set of eye pro for £9, face mask £15 and knee pads £15. Everything else was a bonus as once I had a gun with a high cap mag there wasn't any need to carry much else.

 

I added a plate carrier because I wanted to carry mid caps. That's the most expensive bit of kit I've bought. But now realise a belt may have been just as effective. The rest I've added out of personal taste, not practicality.

[skillfulmmd]

1 minute ago, warlord said:

 

This, exactly. I'm a noob, not played a lot, but the best things I've done are cheap. Good set of eye pro for £9, face mask £15 and knee pads £15. Everything else was a bonus as once I had a gun with a high cap mag there wasn't any need to carry much else.

 

I added a plate carrier because I wanted to carry mid caps. That's the most expensive bit of kit I've bought. But now realise a belt may have been just as effective. The rest I've added out of personal taste, not practicality.

 

I also think that people think you have to have it all at once and may even buy things that aren't that useful. My advice is start with the minimum amount keep playing and see what annoys you and then work on buying things that would resolve that issue. Rinse and repeat and till you are happy with what you have and you may have even saved some cash in the long run!

[Jedi_Master]

1 minute ago, skillfulmmd said:

 

I also think that people think you have to have it all at once and may even buy things that aren't that useful. My advice is start with the minimum amount keep playing and see what annoys you and then work on buying things that would resolve that issue. Rinse and repeat and till you are happy with what you have and you may have even saved some cash in the long run!

 

Some players will want to get everything at the start just because they see what others have.  There is so much kit out there to tempt you.  Most of us have bought things that are not useful or very good, although it is not until you own an item that you realise it is not what you need or good enough. We learn through experience. Buy cheap and buy twice; sometimes saving money by buying an item that has less quality is not cost effective in the long run.   There are items I have replaced when seeing a more Gucci piece of kit, not necessary just preference.

[warlord]

It's funny when you a noob and have "All the gear, but no idea"  I was fully kitted up in MTP for only my 3rd game and then some first timers were following me like I had a clue what I was doing.

 

If you have the $'s, buy whatever you want. But if you are having to save up a bit, don't buy anything. Play for a while to figure out what you like and make an educated choice on the load out you want to achieve. By then you'll realise you bought the right thing rather than just what you thought you needed.

[skillfulmmd]

1 hour ago, Jedi_Master said:

 

Some players will want to get everything at the start just because they see what others have.  There is so much kit out there to tempt you.  Most of us have bought things that are not useful or very good, although it is not until you own an item that you realise it is not what you need or good enough. We learn through experience. Buy cheap and buy twice; sometimes saving money by buying an item that has less quality is not cost effective in the long run.   There are items I have replaced when seeing a more Gucci piece of kit, not necessary just preference.

 

Yeah this is a great counter argument too. Maybe its the way I look at situations but when I played I decided to buy a nice gun and just went in tracksuit and decided to see what I needed. To this day I can't see the point in Camo for CQB sites for example which is where I tend to play all the time. I understand that certain players have a different idea of what a perfect load out and gear list is so its each to their own. I've seen players drop hundreds on a pair of trousers where as I'm happy to run Viper stuff for instance and put more money into my gun or glasses. 

 

I think this is the reason I enjoy Airsoft so much its not just the banter between players or the adrenaline when you get in sticky situations but the variety in gear, kits and play styles that make every time you go unique. The only thing I wish we as a sport could improve on is making sure new players are able to fit in quickly and don't feel scared to ask questions, making sure we keep new players coming back and enjoying the sport is critical to the future of the sport for sure!

[Jedi_Master]

Yes, I did spend rather a lot on clothing but I justified that by it being used in real world not just hobby time.  I was like you, spend most on a decent gun and quality eye-pro (often overlooked), and then other bits. Cheap starter kit then replaced with better products, i.e. eBay gloves to Mechanics.

 

To answer the original OP, no I do not think the hobby is getting more expensive except for the increase in fuel to travel to sites, and that is pretty incidental.  Of course, we could just blame it all on Brexit  

[Sacarathe]

2 hours ago, Jedi_Master said:

To answer the original OP, no I do not think the hobby is getting more expensive except for the increase in fuel to travel to sites, and that is pretty incidental.  Of course, we could just blame it all on Brexit

 

The pound losing value actually does affect us a lot as iirc 95% of airsoft produce or more is imported. But that would be brexit.

[TheFull9]

The GBP going from 1.4USD down to around 1.25 (last I paypal'd someone) has bumped prices up quite a lot.  I import my gear from the US and airsoft parts from Hong Kong, all shops I use charge in USD.  You can see the price differences in UK shops, I bought a certain AEG for around 330 a year ago and when I looked last month they were 390.

 

From my vague following of the graphs, the value was at its' lowest right after the announcement and has been slowly climbing back up since then.  That's obviously nothing to do with shops or sites gouging prices though that's global economics.  I spend about 40-60% of my salary annually in USD so I'm losing out massively but frankly I'm fine with it, though I won't turn this in to a politics thread.  When I got in to airsoft it was 2 dollars to the pound, that tanked right down to the 1.40-1.45 region as soon as the credit bubble burst in the late noughties.

[bladerunner168]

The original question posed by the OP is actually relative, in my view, Airsoft should be getting cheaper.

 

Let's assume that you start Airsofting whilst still in education or just started work.

You'll either be earning no money at all or your starting salary will be quite low.

 

As you progress in your career, you get more qualified, you get more responsibilities and you should get remunerated more.

 

Therefore, your Airsoft expenses should become smaller percentage of your net income, hence Airsoft become more affordable, relatively speaking.

 

This theory is only applicable until you take an arrow to the knee. 

[Samurai]

1 hour ago, bladerunner168 said:

This theory is only applicable until you take an arrow to the knee. 

Or get married...