What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

[Teufelhunden]

Hi guys,

(mods if this is against the rules then feel free to delete)

ive been thinking, what is it you look for in a airsoft retailers shop, im not going to be specific,with names,

1: You have places with very cheap prices, and wack you on postage,

2: High Prices but very cheap P&P

3: Fair Prices, OK P&P but take forever to get here

now i know it would be a dream, but if there was a shop that was to set up , with more than fair prices, but VERY cheap and quick P&P ?

now bear in mind, when i say set up, its in early stages, would you shop there ?

i for sure would,

now dont get me wrong Zer0one is brilliant, it was a conversation that sparked up between a mate and me,

Semper

[B.E.N.]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

One that I can go to and talk about stuff.

[Gaffa]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

now i know it would be a dream, but if there was a shop that was to set up , with more than fair prices, but VERY cheap and quick P&P ?

Hmmm, check us out in the near future when we're all set up, might just be able to offer that! [4 months or so] > How does £30 posted for a pair of boots sound; brand new; cheapest on the internet is £35...

For me, the priority is customer service... I've privately ran a small business from the confines of the house and serving customers, both before and after sales is my priority, as it's something so many companies and business lack...

[Sci Fi Steve]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

Guns

[Gaffa]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

^ Couldn't agree more.

Being based in the North West, there's not many airsoft shops within 150miles, and so I'd like to be able to walk into a shop and test a rifle on a shooting range in the back.

[Teufelhunden]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

B.E.N- ok and the shop really knows what there on about

And there only intrest would be the customers satisfcation

[Kingwell]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

Staff who actually know what they're talking about....

and the shop not pushing ONE specific brand over everything else because thats what's getting them the biggest profit... (wonder who that could be)

[Fizzy]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

One that I can go to and talk about stuff.

^^This! Ok, I know it's not practical as you're not going to be able to please everyone (location), but if I could go to a shop and discuss upgrades, have a look/feel/test of new weapons\kit then that would be great

[Abbadon101]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

Guns

I have to agree but say LOTS OF FRICKIN GUNS!!!!!! :D

[Teufelhunden]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

sorry i dont mean a walk in shop, an online retailer!

[Renni 95]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

sorry i dont mean a walk in shop, an online retailer!

Prices that include the postage! like a certain banned shop :D

[Vladraken]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

1: A shop that you can go into and have a finger f**K of all the guns and gear without the staff thinking your about to nick the whole lot.

2: Staff who give you the time of day, regardless of anything else. Be it by email, phone or in person.

3: Staff who will go out of their way to make sure you the customer are satisfied with your product, and experience of buying it. Aftersales should also be included in this.

4: A guarantee that all of your RIFs sold are within UK site limits. And if they are not, then you must either sell them separately at that specific fps or run them in/ downgrade the spring.

5: A customer promise that should a customer have an issue with any product you will pick up half if not all the postage. This is a big thing I get annoyed at with companies if their product is faulty; I still end up out of pocket having to send things back to them.

6: If you are going to have a website, please, please, please, use a real time stock system. Link your website with your stock database so there is no confusion of what is in or out of stock. Also on this point try and give an estimate of when an item will be coming back in stock.

7: Regular updates on new and upcoming products with dates and prices as well.

8: A shop that stocks a wide range of manufacturers, some places like to specialise in only one or two manufacturers, personally i think that is a stupid business model to follow.

9: Consistency. I cant over stress this point. You must always be consistent in your business practices. Its no good being great for half of the week when you have an extra pair of hands and crap the rest of the time. You must keep your standards high and keep them consistent.

10: Read through all of the above again, write them down and work out on paper how exactly you could implement these things/ make them better/ make them suit your needs. Nothing more saddening than a great idea getting binned because of lack of forethought.

I think that about covers it, but as to point 10 feel free to use/adapt/improve as your see fit.

Edit: spent so long writing that i missed your last post. As its not a walk in shop ignore point 1.

[Teufelhunden]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

8: A shop that stocks a wide range of manufacturers, some places like to specialise in only one or two manufacturers, personally i think that is a stupid business model to follow.

Thanks for that, thats a very good post,
but regarding point number 8

when buying stock from certain manufacturers, most have a min quantity
like TM you have to order a min QTY of $10,000 to stock there stuff, now if a buisness is starting out, would you not agree 10,000 is a bit much for there first or secound batch of products for just one company ?

bearing in mind you want to stock other products and manufacturers too ?

but that was a post that gave me alot of food for thought :D

[HuntR]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

If you want it to be successful you need alot of capital to start out with.

[Vladraken]

Re: What do you look For in a Airsoft Shop ?

Yea I can understand that there are minimum spend orders etc in this sort of business, but there are ways around them. As I am sure you will find out. Once you have made contacts, make a few business trips of two and really build up a rapport with your suppliers they will start doing you favours.

I think the point that I was trying to make with #8 was to be competitive in this industry you need to be offering more than your competitors. But not just in terms of total manufactures stocked, you need to hold a full range of products and parts. I think that in the uk airsoft industry the majority of sales specifically for spare parts goes outside the country, as small parts are considered not worth carrying in a shops range. And I think that if you could work that ethos into your business "we carry what others wont" could give you an advantage.

Also on point 8 I understand that you will have to start small but you need to have a focused long term plan for your business. A model that it has to follow, and to continue to grow and expand you cannot limit yourselves to only stocking a few manufactures. Say after 5 years i would expect a business such as you are proposing to have expanded year on year and by year 5 be carrying the majority of mainstream manufactures.

Also another point, flexible postage to reflect the actual weight of the item. I don’t want to pay £7 for a bloody hop rubber.