British Airsoft Club?

I imagine the smaller retailers will jump at the opportunity, the bigger ones are likely to be slower. However if enough people ended up with back or P:L then the larger ones would be daft not to accept it, it would cost them nothing and they'd risk potentially missing out on sales.

I think 20% (though i believe more would be likely to sign up) of the airsofters in the UK is a large enough number to need to accept it, that could be 20% of sales.

I do have my doubts as to whether there's room for both new systems though. I'd expect one to take over enough people for them not to need to bother with the other.

 
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I suspect its more complicated than that.

Hypothetically, if the bigger retailers wanted to prevent smaller retailers coming online to undercut them and there is already a yearly fee with UKARA to deter them, all they need to do is not sign up to the alternative schemes.

The new schemes wont be able to take off and will founder, leaving just UKARA, no smaller competitors and a status quo.

I would query if 20% of the nations airsofters is enough to support three scheme infrastructures.

Accepting the two newcomers could well mean the end of UKARA.

Would the retailers want their defence to be in the hands of the players ?

There is already talk of retailers sitting on the panel at BAC !

 
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Baz JJ said:
I suspect its more complicated than that.

Hypothetically, if the bigger retailers wanted to prevent smaller retailers coming online to undercut them and there is already a yearly fee with UKARA to deter them, all they need to do is not sign up to the alternative schemes.

The new schemes wont be able to take off and will founder, leaving just UKARA, no smaller competitors and a status quo.

I would query if 20% of the nations airsofters is enough to support three scheme infrastructures.

Accepting the two newcomers could well mean the end of UKARA.

Would the retailers want their defence to be in the hands of the players ?

There is already talk of retailers sitting on the panel at BAC !
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Well, considering how the people who founded the BAC are themselves retailers (in the 'small man' sense), I would be surprised if there weren't any retailers sitting on the board.

 
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Well in fairness to them, they are creating a panel of interested parties including players and sites. The magic question is which retailers will sit on the panel - very political.

I am already seeing signs of UKARA retailers sitting on the fence regarding alternative schemes.

Its a bit chicken and egg. If the retailers say we will see i.e depends on how many of our customers have a particular scheme as their only defence and it might affect our sales. The players, those that are prepared to pay for this, are saying well it depends on how many retailers sign up, otherwise its pointless.

There are two parts to this:

1. Constructing a suitable scheme

2. Getting people to adopt it. Saying its free for sites and retailers isn't all you have to do.

 
player registration going active on March 1st. Quite a few retailers and sites seem to have signed up.

I know my main local site has and the retailer where I bought my last RIF has confirmed to me they will accept BAC next time I want to order from them.

 
It seems that the other two sites where I play have now signed up and BAC are issuing photo ID cards so thats all my boxes ticked.

 
Subscription has now opened today for players and they have published a list of participating sites on their website.

 
I am loving your dedication to keeping us informed about what's going on with the BAC Baz.

 
Hmmm. No big retailer sites have joined.

 
How do you know ? Ive yet to see a list as they havent published it yet - another week apparently which suggests the list is immature.

I believe Airsoft World might have pulled out because they didnt like the fact that its being run by another retailer.

Land warrior told me they would accept it.

Other than that, Ive no idea yet.

Personally, if I were a retailer selling Airsoft guns, I would join all of the schemes. Why exclude yourself from possible business.

 
I mean their actual skirmish sites, not web stores.

I don't see why retailers' sites wouldn't use it if the retail part of the business would.

I have a feeling being associated with a Red Alert Airsoft may be putting some retailers off it.

 
Ah I see. The skirmish sites list didn't seem too bad. Certainly my three sites are on there.

Again, cant see why they shouldn't sign especially as you don't log every game, so it doesnt overload the sites workload.

 
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My local's on there too- Ill likely sign up, just depends on the retailer support (though I mainly order from abroad anyway).

I still think project Luther looks to have more potential. but there's no indication as to when it'll even be ready- BAC has some substance to it so a safer bet right at the moment :lol:

I've always felt that the one to get off the ground fastest would be the more successful and BAC looks nearly finished.

 
Baz are you sure you dont work for these guys as you seem Uber keen on it all.

 
No I don't work for them or have any financial interest in them succeeding.

Nor do I know the people who have set it up.

However, I don't like monopolies or bullies.

Whichever way you look at it, UKARA is a monopoly and I feel its good to have a choice and a bit of competition.

I probably know a bit more about the behind the scenes than the average player reading this and feel its an interesting business case.

Things are rarely what they seem, so I would urge people to think for themselves and not fall prey to mob rule e.g burn the witch. Rather than question my motives, I would suggest you consider the motives of the three parties involved. Do you really believe people are going to put in huge amounts of time and personal risk in running a non profit company just for the love of Airsoft ?

Do you think UKARA are just going to sit back and watch all those £300 memberships disappear ?

Do you really think the big retailers are going to stay on the fence if a large chunk of airsofters sign up to the new schemes ?

By the way, if you still think Im unreasonably pro BAC, I haven't paid any money yet so am not convinced enough to invest in any of the schemes yet. There are a few promises on the table that I want to see materialise first.

Where is Project Luther in this ? Contrary to the opinion of a lot of you doubters, I have an open mind, but Im still waiting for them to commit and answer the basic questions that would qualify them as contenders in my mind. Theres an awful lot of, we could do this or that and whatever we do, we are going to be better than BAC !

 
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Everyone is still waiting for the published list of signed up retailers which has been promised by next weekend.

They had a members vote for the choice of logo and democracy has picked a design - I don't like it but you'll never keep everybody happy and thats democracy for you.

The next milestone is the provision of ID cards which has been promised within a month.

Anybody on here also signed up ? - I understand if you don't want to admit it publicly !

Quite a few on the different Facebook groups seem to have joined judging from the various conversations Ive seen.

 
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I have.

Not a fan of the logo either, doesn'took very professional imo, and won't look very good on patches I don't think.

 
Agree on the logo, it looks very cartoonish and gimicky, and I am holding back on signing up until I see the retail list.

 
I've signed up but haven't paid anything, and won't be unless I feel it's worth while. If they don't get any decent retailers then it's going to be pretty much obsolete.

 
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