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Real Action Paintball and
Tacamo want to protect you from gray-market Mag Fed Conversion Kits that
are of sub-standard quality, and can potentially break your power tube
or other critical components. RAP4 and Tacamo quality control measures
ensure that you get safe, reliable, top-end products when purchasing
directly from RAP4.com, RAP4 retail locations, and official RAP4
dealers. But, a recent development suggests there are out-of-spec gray
market Tacamo Mag Fed Conversion Kits circulating through peer-to-peer
distribution and some shady sources. Here's what's going on, and how to
protect yourself from out-of-specification gray market products.
Our quality control engineers recently inspected a batch of Tacamo Mag
Fed Conversion Kits that were manufactured offsite. They were not up to
our strict quality control standards, with problems including deep
gouges, scratches, blemishes in the finish, and dimensions that were out
of specification - sometimes, to the point where internal parts can be
damaged. This is unacceptable, so we sent them back to be inventoried
and destroyed while we sought proper replacement units to fill
backorders.
But we've learned that several thousands of those units were not
destroyed, and are now surfacing through unlicensed sources, in peer to
peer trades, and the like. Here's what you can do to protect yourself
from these defective units, as well as other grey market products in
general.
The simplest measure is to buy directly from the source: RAP4.com, RAP4
retail locations, and RAP4-authorized dealers. Look for their "RAP4
Dealer" certification, banners, etc. Products we sell directly, and
distribute to our trusted retailers, pass through the kind of strict
quality control that weeds out problems like those found in these gray
market kits. Also, these retailers and factory showrooms can service
your markers, repair them, and assist you in other critical ways.
When buying used RAP4 and Tacamo gear, like from strangers at a field,
from eBay.com, or from peer to peer forums, insist on the seller
providing you his or her original RAP4 or Tacamo order number - it'll be
on the invoice or receipt they received when purchasing the gear. Send
us the order number, and we can verify if the conversion kit, marker, or
other gear in question came through us, or if its origins are
suspicious. We'll be happy to help you authenticate our gear!
When you inspect gear, looking especially carefully at mag-fed
conversion kits, look for the aforementioned flaws - deep gouges,
scratches, obvious problems with the finish, etc. Also look to see if
any serial numbers, model numbers, or manufacturer information was
machined off and over-printed - such as a brand name you've not heard of
appearing on what is obviously a RAP4 product. That's a clear warning
sign!
Play safe this season, and stay safe in purchasing your gear! Keep your
wits about you, buy directly from authorized RAP4 and Tacamo sources,
and work with us to authenticate gear before you buy it.
Real Action Paintball - As Real as it Gets! |
