Retailers

Prefer the independant stance myself .

Kris @ AAA seems keen on doing something. The question is, what can we do for them and what can they do for us?

Let's look at the 6Mil card. Worth precisely jack shit because points take so long to accrue, people don't bother with them. What *is* worth more is a discount card - and I have no problems with that, as long as they don't try and make it exclusive. If the card is only made available to CiA members, then its seen as a benefit of the scheme, and possibly another draw for people to sign up.

What could we do for them in return?

Well - and i'm just brainstorming here - give em a retailers section (like NM and M-Net have) for the SOLE purpose of ww2 shooters? Banner advertising, sponsorship of a section - fuck knows, im just grasping at straws here. I'm just a scientist, not a marketing bod lol

PS - they can bloody well afford a decent discount. I know what their markups are

10% of A2C games for Cia members

The question is, what can we do for them and what can they do for us?

Yes, I would think a slot in the Retailers section would be good. Agree on WW2 stuff only (+ consumables obviously).

How would CiA benefit?
Additional forum service to forum users
More forum traffic (the more people that use the forum, the wider the WW2 word spreads by word of mouth).
Establish link with retailer that accepts reenacting defence sales.
Might be able to invite retailer to events.

How would forum user benefit?
Possible additional benefit to CiA card holders.
Notification of special offers.

How would retailer benefit?
Direct contact with a niche market (I noticed AA changed a full page ad in AI to WW2 guns - bet they didn't get any extra sales)

What would it cost CiA?
Nothing

What would it cost forum user?
Nothing

What would it cost retailer?
Nothing, costs would be covered by additional sales

I don't think it would be worthwhile for a retailer to pay for advertising or offer a discount card - this niche market is to small for direct costs.
However, it's not to say they can't offer a discount to card holders (6mm do to Phoenix players for instance) or have special offers on items from time to time (5% off 1911's, P38's and lugers, say) or something else such as free shipping or a free speed loader etc etc.

While CiA won't benefit directly we will by association - helping players/forum users helps us.

Action Hobbys are proactive, have a good relationship with AFRA, are strong on ACM kit and are small (therefore keen)
AA are big hitters and I suspect we might be 'small fry' and so might lose interest

Hell, we could have both (as long as they are both aware) - they do have different approaches and it would prevent accusation of favouring a supplier.

What does it cost us

1 Could be a lot ....we get seen as being linked to commercial interests (what are CiA getting out of this ?) We've worked hard to stay neutral, lets keep our whiter than white image if we can

2 First time someone has a problem with the supplier we could take flak by association (we'll CiA recommended them and they were shit because etc)

The idea of just a discount card linked to membership I like and can live with, us actively promoting a supplier I'm not so happy with .
Plus it's still cheaper to buy from RSOV , although a discount on consumables might be handy .

Not saying no, just need to pitch this carefully.

We don't endorse NM or NM and wouldn't endorse any other supplier - agree with the independent angle, it's worked fine for the past year.
We wouldn't actively promote a supplier, just as with 6mm, it's up to them to do promoting!
RSOV importing is questionable on value terms these days, as has been proved with Anthony - a UK supplier is often a better bet.

It would be nice to get some value to the punter from the CiA card. If I were the retailer I would work on something free - by example, a bottle of BB's. The value to the punter is £5, the cost to the supplier is just £2.50. Discounts, even if small, get expensive to retailers as the order value rises. Anyway, this is for discussion with the retailer...

Key for me would be a retailer that has a good reputation and is friendly to AFRA as well as UKARA schemes and sympathetic to what we are doing and the WW2 scene.

I have had no experience of action hobbys at all , in fact his ignorance/ ignoring of the UKARA DB makes me a little dubious that he would be percieved as a quality supplier by airsofters. I'm happy to be convinced otherwise by those who have dealt with him though.
AA I have used a lot , service was a bit shite at times but otherwise ok . Fire Support I would also be happy to recommend, as also Zero One .

PS just bought another 1911 from RSOV , import rocks !

in fact his ignorance/ ignoring of the UKARA DB

Odd statement. Action Hobbys are in UKARA. It was AH & Frenchie's trip to China that instigated manufacture of two-tones esp for the UK market. That and AH's awareness of reenactors defence makes them on the ball and on top of VCRA ramifications IMHO!

I have only bought a P38 from them before (but will be ordering a replacement MP40 shortly). I haven't used AA since the split (6mm is local-ish and has a tie-up with Phoenix, so that's easier) and if I have a 'favoured' supplier it's Firesupport (not the cheapest but very good service).

Anyhoo, I suppose it comes down to who is interested / has something to offer / stocks WW2 kit / is an OK supplier