Tippmann Terminates Distribution through American Paintball Supply and Archon Paintball Supply

Tippmann Sports, the world-leading manufacturer of high performance paintball markers and related accessories, announced today that it is terminating distribution of all Tippmann products through American Paintball Supply and Archon Paintball Supply.

“We truly appreciate the support dealers and fields in the paintball industry have demonstrated to Tippmann for over 20 years,” said Patrick Ehren, vice president of sales and marketing for Tippmann Sports. “And, we are committed to assuring that our customers will have an uninterrupted supply of Tippmann product moving forward.” Dealers and fields located in the U.S. can continue to order Tippmann products directly through Tippmann or through Procaps Direct. Call the company at 1-800-533-4831 for more information.

For more than 20 years, Tippmann Sports has been dedicated to quality manufacturing and the pursuit of cutting-edge technology and design. The company serves the paintball industry from its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Tippmann Sports’ complete line of paintball markers and related accessories can be found at paintball stores and fields as well as mass retail and sporting goods outlets throughout the world.

Additional information about Tippmann Sports can be obtained by calling 1-800-533-4831 or by visiting the company’s Web site, Tippmann.

Tide of things to come?

I don't take my meds
because I like being ANGRY!

hmmmm

Around six or so months ago, if my old brain cells are correct, they pulled it from (then) National Paintball Supply. If it's a trend, it's been going for a while. KEEG could probably give us the exact date. Greg? (And are you going to Atlanta?)

I think that had something to do with the whole BT thing....

so ProCaps direct is the sole distributor unless you go straight to Tippmann now huh....

That's it... Leave it to Pev to hang on tight...

Archon still has stuff. We got some guns this week. How long they'll have stock is anyone's guess... It's actually too bad about Archon. They got us stuff fast when we didn't need to make a big Tippmann order.

Now thats a bummer, now I have to wait up to nine days for ground orders out of Indiana. UPS works like snails from that side of the US. I don't think customers from the west coast are going to like this.

I hate to say it, but this looks like an opportunity for Smart Parts in recball land. Ill bet that little SP1 marker with the right small field distribution model is going to be big.

You're right, Saluda. It was the BT deal that prompted all of that, according to what was released.

The West Coast may be better serviced by ProCaps as far as shipping. I don't know as I am in LA. It should be interesting to see how it pans out and if Thumper's observation comes to be... I will have my ears open wide in Atlanta.

A few things here:

It was more than just BT going over there. There were significant financial obligations that were not being met by "certain" wholesellers. This prompted Tippmann to increase their own internal sales staff, which would make a middle man like NPS/KEE/PMI/Archon redundant and not a "value added" service. Another significant point to consider is that Tippmann, as a company, would maintain tighter controls of their product line, as in dealing with only vendors they consider "worthy". IIRC, all of the big wholesellers were offering MANY on-line options, including free retail accounts to anyone with a computer. This was diminishing the value of the product line, and negating their ability to enforce a MAP or to ensure proper representation of the product.

PS: An industry driven by paintball players, for paintball players, is better than an industry driven by non-paintball players for dollars.