Paintball prices are, and always have been, insane.

[Brokeass_baller]

The fact that paint sales and entry fees keep coming up as the only ways a paintball field business can make money, reveals an intrinsic flaw in the paintball field business model: There are basically very few opportunities to sell add-on goods or services to the paintball customer once they are there.

if your entertainment is going out to the movies, you’re paying for your ticket. But you’re also buying snacks at pumped up prices, you’re playing in the arcade, and nowadays probably buying beers, and having your dinner there too! All this cash flowing, and they’ve only had you in there for 2hours!

If you’re a golfer, you’re paying for your green fee to play, but you’re likely renting a golf cart, you’re buying beers from the cart girl, and you’re probably hitting the clubhouse for lunch,, and then beers after the round as well!

all paintball can do is crank up paint prices, which another poster mentioned above creates a cyclical effect where higher costs mean less times out at that field playing, and spending!

So what you're saying is that paintball needs snacks and beer...? You might be on to something.

[Brokeass_baller]

Naw, man. Treat it like old school baseball. They used to give players that made it to third base a ladle-full of beer, or a hit of brandy. Make it so that whomever successfully captures the flag, or complete the objective, gets a "reward" for his bravery.

Sounds like a great time to me. Lol

[Siress]

I like that plan, Brokeass_baller. Non-optional, too... need something to slow those kiddos down.

[Brokeass_baller]

^^this guy gets it

[steed]

Price gauging at a field is one thing and is, unfortunately unavoidable. A lot of fields, major fields that I played at have had higher paint prices because of the costs of running their facilities. Most budget feeds or ones that are more flexible with their pricing operate on pre-owned land or as a side operation. The land is essentially "free use". With larger facilities, over the years you see where the money goes; bigger, better themed fields, better shops, food, plumbing... But some of these places have to pay to lease the land, it's why indoor fields typically struggle or don't last, the economics simply don't work. One from around me comes to mind where they wanted a "tournament" heaven. Regulation field outside, smaller field inside, good shop, expensive rentals, cheap paint... Took 3 months for them to convert the indoor field into a themed rental field to draw in more business, started another operation on the side and folded sometime after.

Paintball is a cost to play sport/hobby, I have never understood the bitching about costs. They weren't sprung on you, the prices have stayed flat for years. You accepted the costs when you started playing, continually bitching and griping about it is a shitty attitude to have.

[Chappy]

This whole thread pretends that regulars make most fields money and they therefore care about us. Most do not. They make their $ on the one timers/bachelor & birthday parties.
And it has been said many times by many field owners that higher paint prices are better for open play because the one timers still pay up and the regulars shoot less so they don't scare off the new players.
Whatever happened to Horizon? he was a field owner in Canada who used to post here and had a great perspective on this.

[ChoSanJuan]

Yes, and no. I'm a hardcore regular at my local field. They definitely make money on me. It's only because I am a member, plus I do our paintball-centric workout nights. I buy their concessions. I do my part to help keep the lights on even though I don't need to rent markers for walkon, or 50cal days, etc...

[Foster]

I would also note that when a field owner attracts and retains the right type of regulars, they create a reputation. Field reputation goes a long way, especially in a google review environment. So while regulars may still have paint from last month, own gear, pack a lunch or even get some “good guy” deals. They create the field culture & are regularly called on by field owners to help out.

[Chappy]

Very true, and that goes both ways. Regulars can easily create a toxic culture and scare off the new players. I've heard far more stories to the negative, but then you always here the bad stuff not the good. I don't have any hard numbers though so I guess Ill just keep my fool mouth shut.

[Bonjwa]

First is the first Canadian field I found (delta force) on a google search. Second is the first random field I found (lone wolf) in Michigan on a google search. Delta force prices DO NOT include entry. Lone wolf is three hours away and not due south so I'm assuming our weather is very similar.

[Bonjwa]

This is completely off the rails and hurts the entire sport/industry and also ME specifically. Enough with the apologists for exorbitant field prices, give me hard numbers. Fields make their money on bachelor parties? No shit. No one can afford to play regularly. Kind of a self fulfilling prophecy isn't it.

[ATBen]

I play regularly... 200 to 500 a month on entry and paint. It's not that bad when compared to what my inlaws pay for golfing. They pay about 500 a month from April to October.

[gabe]

That's the thing, very few can afford to play regularly. That's why the fields make money off the one-timers like bachelor parties and such. The regular players still pay a decent portion of the field's bills just because we generally shoot way more paint than renters but the renters are the lions share of people that go to fields to play. I don't think they gouge anyone it's just the way the numbers work out.

But yeah it's a very expensive sport and I feel for you guys in Canada paying those paint prices. I would assume there are also some fees that field owners/operators pay in Canada that we don't have to deal with here in the US like health insurance for employees and a higher minimum wage and such. The minimum wage is a big deal for fields that in the US would pay refs just $7 an hour plus a discount on paint but in Canada it's $15 an hour to have a 16y/o kid blow the horn and call people out. Probably don't get a better level of reffing in Canada than the US for that money I'd wager.

[Bonjwa]

Look at restaurant prices. Almost exactly the same here as the states (probably about 10% more expensive which with conversion is 0%) and higher taxes, minimum wage, all that stuff still applies. By this logic a burger at a diner should be $30 and it just isn't. I don't buy it.

[gabe]

Buy it or don't it's definitely a factor. How much is your gas up there? Over double what it is in the US? How many other things can I think of that are twice as expensive in Canada besides food? Seems like you're cherry picking commodities to compare.

[Bonjwa]

Our gas is basically the same price. I think most things will end up being pretty similar. How many things are actually anywhere near double the price? Genuinely, not many. A huge percentage of paintballs are produced in Canada, why would they be more expensive here?

[Toestr]

First is the first Canadian field I found (delta force) on a google search. Second is the first random field I found (lone wolf) in Michigan on a google search. Delta force prices DO NOT include entry. Lone wolf is three hours away and not due south so I'm assuming our weather is very similar.

Delta Force is a chain that operates in Commonwealth countries. It is basically a scam where they sell tickets at malls and conventions with ticket packs that mislead people to think they can play for some ridiculously low price, which excludes the cost of paint. Then they spring their surprise when you get to one of their (crappy) fields and you have to buy a minimum amount of paint per person.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[ATBen]

FYI, when you compare the quality of fields, refs, and products, I'd say it's about the same value either side of the border.

Adrenaline Paintball
$40 entry, balls start at 3 cents.

DMZ Paintball
$10 entry, balls start at 4.5 cents

Ultimate Paintball
$20 entry, balls start at 8 cents

Combat Pursuit
$30 entry, balls start at 6.5 cents

Wasaga Paintball
$22 entry, cases start at 8 cents

Hell Survivors (converted to CAD)
$25.83 entry, balls start at cents 4.9 cents.

Sherwood Forest (converted to CAD)
$25.83 entry, balls start at 4.8 cents.

[Bonjwa]

So how is adrenaline able to do entry + a case for 80 CAD? Black magic? Are they business geniuses? Memberships get that down to $60. I'd love to play there and if I were in any way local I'd be there frequently. There is nothing close to that price (literally double) near me so I guess I just need to move?..

[ATBen]

Depending on where you live, yes, moving is recommended. It worked well for me to gtfo of the GTA, and being 20 minutes from Adrenaline was a deciding factor, not gunna lie. Where are you located? Also, their membership is good at Wasaga and Marked, which mostly me save on big game entries.

And no black magic that I'm aware of, they just have a good relationship with GI. It's $60 a case for GI 3 star, which is fine for their Fliptop rentals and most HP blowbacks, but I prefer my paint to break on my target. I opt for the $80 cases of Graffiti or Berserker personally.

[Meleager7]

I might have to check out dmz, liking those prices!

[Agglet]

This is completely off the rails and hurts the entire sport/industry and also ME specifically. Enough with the apologists for exorbitant field prices, give me hard numbers. Fields make their money on bachelor parties? No shit. No one can afford to play regularly. Kind of a self fulfilling prophecy isn't it.

You want hard numbers? Go and ask them yourself. The fact that so many fields come and go is the hard data you need to see that paintball fields are rarely a gold mine. They don't just need to cover their costs they also need to make enough money to make it worth their time and fields are a ton of work. You have to repair structures, cut the grass, clean and maintain a fleet of markers and masks...it's more work than it seems. Then when that's all done you have to deal with guys that come in with their own gear (not renting yours) and also want to say your paint prices are too high and they want to bring in their own. Essentially saying "I love your field and think I should be able to play for free". If you think you can do it better go and build your own field and I wish you luck.

[anson]

Well said Agglet

[gabe]

Yeah well said. This thread went from "why is paintball expensive" to "I deserve cheaper paint at the one local field I go to" real fast.

[Casualwarrior]

I Don’t think anyone actually said “I deserve cheaper paint at the one local field I go to”. Seems like those who are accustom to paying high paint prices are trying to justify it. Here fields and shops have been in business 20+ Years. Last time I bought paint this past month for $30, no one seemed to be upset I was paying to little. I’ve actually had workers tell me they try to keep prices affordable to have the sport grow. But as mentioned, out here it’s different so it can’t always be compared to others, my region consist of 20+ million people, and countless field/shop choices. Business in larger volume works for our area and helps keep the sport affordable for the young generations to try.

At the end of the day a commodity is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If we are all okay paying whatever it is we pay, that’s great. Let’s all just enjoy the sport together and have fun and continue to hope that our fields/shops and the sport in general thrive.

[Siress]

I wonder if paint became so expensive because the industry wanted to lower field fees in order to discourage outlaw fields... I can see the logic behind it. It only works if the good paint is expensive everywhere, though. Which is pretty much accurate these days. Meanwhile, there's no way that ~20 people playing ~$20/ea 4-8 times a month for field fee AND unlimited HPA is covering the costs of property ownership and operation. Field fees should be much higher.

I can also see the argument for good paint being very expensive - not due to the cost of goods sold, but the cost of packaging, shipping, and handling that maintains the quality product. Not only does paint need tight temperature and humidity control, it needs to be handled with care so as not to cause breaks in the bag. Oversized, heavy duty cardboard boxes with cardboard dividers, fully sealed plastic bags with too much desiccant, pallets that aren't over-packed, environmentally controlled trucks direct from the factory, and strict adherence to handling with care... that costs a lot to do properly. Growing up, this is what I remember Nelson doing and it was why their paint was so damn good. The last time I walked into Boston Paintball's woodsball field I noticed they stored pallets of GI paint inside of an uninsulated metal storage shed out in this crazy New England weather. The boxes are thinner, the bags are thinner and ventilated so they can compact them, there's no desiccant pack, and there are no dividers. It's no wonder it shoots like crap. (going off an old memory here as I'm practically a pb retiree...)