Contacting Tim Firpo at PaintballTek

[lew]

Good luck. Tim fixed 2 guns for me (over a period of about half a year, which is normal, and I knew going in), and told me not to pay until I got them back in my possession. I got them back, and the cocker had a slight leak from the ram when the bolt stays back, so I contacted him and waited... and waited, and sent 3 more PMs. And I still haven't heard back.

I'm not going to just chase after him forever. I still haven't paid him, but I said "I'm not trying to stiff you, I'm just waiting for you to return these messages." and he still hasn't. It's been a whole year...

At that point, you've performed your due diligence and/or he doesn't want your money. If I have to chase you down to pay you, you ain't getting a damned thing from me. Ridiculous.

[Daltech]

Any movement on anything here? Any markers returned?

[Cunha]

The reason he has a rep as a good dude is because he’s a good dude.

Like the kinda guy who comes to a paintball event and brings scuba tanks and steaks and helps people out the whole time.

I’ve never had him fix anything for me though, dunno about the business, like others have said maybe just too slammed.

[netsurferdude2]

Any movement on anything here? Any markers returned?

Coyote reached out to Tim for me and my gun was returned.

[Daltech]

Coyote reached out to Tim for me and my gun was returned.

Thanks broski. I got a Pm on pbnation forum from a member trying to get his bob long rendition alias back from Tim. It’s up on YouTube. Its the clear/purple. Ugh, I’m not getting in the middle of this. Tim’s got my support and admiration. I’m guessing he’s just crazy busy, and has a life outside of the internet. I’m going to suggest the pbnation member continues to be patient and asks politely and if coyote wants his screen name I’ll provide. Thanks all.

[Mexichefempire]

Thanks broski. I got a Pm on pbnation forum from a member trying to get his bob long rendition alias back from Tim. It’s up on YouTube. Its the clear/purple. Ugh, I’m not getting in the middle of this. Tim’s got my support and admiration. I’m guessing he’s just crazy busy, and has a life outside of the internet. I’m going to suggest the pbnation member continues to be patient and asks politely and if coyote wants his screen name I’ll provide. Thanks all.

Thanks for posting brother. To shed some light. Bought the alias back in august if 2018 off pbnation. Shot a few hundred rounds and noticed something wasn’t quite right. Reached out to Tim and had a chance to send it in for some work. Been a struggle ever since to get some type of reply / update. I know he’s done with the marker since he posted a shooting video of it on his YouTube channel. It’s frustrating for sure and I’m torn because I know he has a good name for himself but at the same time. I just want my marker back so I can take it to the field finally.

[DocsMachine]

I have no dog in the Firpo kerfluffle, and have nothing but respect for his work.

One thing worth noting is the simple fact there is NO money in airsmithing and repairs.

Allow me to repeat that: There is NO money in this biz.

And when I say "no", I don't mean "you'll never make doctor or lawyer money", I mean "you won't even make 'part-time fry cook at a diner' money".

I've said before that that's what's put most of us over the years off the business- nobody likes going to work for eight hours at a day job, then coming home and doing another four or five hours' work in the evening, and for a small fraction of what you make at your regular job. Just today, I made a set of custom Nelson field-strip screws, probably made about $12 an hour, not counting materials and utilities. If I was a regular job-shop, that would have been a $120 job.

As for communication, I know that personally, I spend an easy two to four hours a day, all together, on emails, PMs and other messages. That time spent doesn't pay me a dime, and takes time away from the stuff that does. It leads to pay, yes, but on average, I figure about one in every twelve to fifteen or more conversations actually leads to a paying job. And often as not, that job is just a $50 part that should be $200, but no one's going to pay that, so...

Those of us that do this kind of thing, do so for the love of the game, not the money. But for all too many of us, that love only goes so far- eventually the hassles and headaches outweigh the fun, and you start asking yourself; I'm not even making $15 an hour. Why am I still doing this?

No, none of that is any kind of excuse for months or even year-long wait times, and yes, I find a lack of communication frustrating, myself. All I'm trying to say is, if you don't get an answer back right away, it's not that we're being lazy- chances are we're working as fast as we can without sacrificing family life or risking burnout.

Doc.

[Mexichefempire]

Anyone have any advice to get a hold of the mystical man? Haha