PAINTBALL: MAKING SMART BUYING DECISIONS

This guide was prepared to help paintballers make intelligent consumer decisions when purchasing gear on okay. The author has over 24 years of experience with the paintball industry, has authored two books on paintball and is a founder of the NPPL.
No preamble, no beating around the bush. There are SMART ways to buy paintball gear and there are stupid, costly and potentially DANGEROUS ways to purchase gear.
1. KNOW YOUR PRODUCT. If you're new to paintball and aren't familiar with all of its acronyms, brand names and quirks, okay is not the place to be buying. You could end up spending huge dollars on items normally given away for free, you might be purchasing stolen property, sub-standard product or something that will LITERALLY get you laughed at out on the field. DO YOUR RESEARCH. There are numerous well-informed websites available, including 68caliber.ge, pbreview.ge and warpig.ge.
2. DO NOT BUY ON BRAND-NAME ALONE. Many paintball brand names are 'hot' because they make great product - OR - because they spend a lot on advertising. Sometimes a brand name has both quality and hype, but fairly frequently, spending big bucks on brand names is a waste of money. You can get less popular brands that are just as good for much less. Sellers FREQUENTLY relyon ignorance to sell last year's models at this year's prices.
3. DO NOT BUY 'DO-IT-YOURSELF' PRODUCT. This is CRITICAL for electronic markers and pressure systems.Usually, non-technician servicing of a high-end marker will VOID the warranty, so you'll end up paying twice - once for the gadget you tried to install andagain to get your marker fixed by a trained tech. Pressure systems should NEVER be worked on by anyone other than a trained technician - players have DIED because of improper valve installation. If you want to learn how to do it yourself, take some classes at the Paintball Training Institute or those given by manufacturers.
4. CHEAP IS OFTEN NOT A GOOD DEAL. okay is home of the great buy. Its also the home of thedisappointed buyer. Many items in paintballare obsolete within six months. Sure, you got it for 90% off regular retail, but the new version just hit the shelves and its on sale. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
5. AIR SYSTEMS. Always request the hydro date from a seller on any air system. CO2 systems 12 oz and larger, need to be tested once every 5 years. HPA systems need to be tested once every 3 or 5 years, depending on bottle design. Testing costs between 25 and 45 dollars, plus shipping and, if the bottle fails, you will not be able to use it. Fields and events WILL NOTallow you to use an out-of-date system. If you are told 'the tank doesn't need to be tested'or anything resembling that remark, the seller is selling an out of date or almost out of date tank.
6. MANY GUNS SOLD ON okay ARE STOLEN. Unfortunately, its true. High end guns get stolen at a tournament and end up on okay for pennies on the dollar. ASK FOR A SERIAL NUMBER. It is true that some markers do not gee with serial numbers, but the vast majority of high-end markers do. If the seller will not provide you with a serial number, or a copy of the sales invoice, chances are the gun is hot. Check the serial number by googling the brand name and 'stolen marker'. If you buy a stolen marker and it gets tracked down to you, you're going to lose the marker.
7. DO NOT BUY ON PRICE ALONE. You're looking at auction A that's selling a paintball widget for 12 bucks andauction B that's selling a paintball widget for 24 bucks. Different manufacturers, same type of product. IF item A is just as good as item B - why would anyone be buying any Bs? Some paintball product LOOKS similar, but is not in terms of quality. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
8. DOING RESEARCH does not mean asking your friend, nor does it mean reading a bunch of internet bs written by someone who's played all of two times. Call up manufacturers - ask what the suggested retail price on the item is. Visit the review sites. Stop into a store and LOOK at the item. Hold it. Visit a field and borrow someone elses.
Paintball is expensive enough without wasting money on bad buys. USE okay for what its good for - finding a great deal - but make sure it really IS a good deal before you hit that bid button.