The question: to paint or not to paint. . . pay more to paint?

Hi guys,
K here. A recent question has been posed to us that makes us wonder how we should go about it. It's a problem that I'm not proud of, but really gets my knickers in a twist.

The problem is paint,
While we only guarantee ugly paint jobs as in our FAQ http://https://www.rangerabbit.com/pages/about-us this has come up once or twice a year as an issue. Especially as its our busy season and we are trying to get orders out the door sometimes the paint is done the day of shipping in order to keep up with orders. This includes our stands etc.

My mindset is that this target will be shot at and you (the customer) is buying the functional target or stand of which we are happy to replace or modify should an issue of functionality come up. most targets and stands will have the paint shot off of. We keep our prices low in some ways because we aren't investing in a premium of 'looks' department. Especially with Covid prices have gone wonky and we are trying to keep things affordable as best we can.

The reality is our options are:


So poll time: What do you guys want from us?

Since you guys like free stuff I'll include a 6" gong freebie for the discourse randomly chosen to settle the 'issue' as it stands. (clairification: poll and comment to be entered into the draw)

Raw Dawg steel. Don't waste time and money on paint, it doesn't last.

Keep the occasional ugly paint job, people are just whiners.

Raw Dawg steel. Don't waste time and money on paint, it doesn't last.

Click to expand...

That's my instinct, but I guess we will see. It would save a little shop like ours a lot of time and BS!
K.

Thanks.

Maybe just find a way to keep up with orders while painting the day before.

Super Mario said:

Maybe just find a way to keep up with orders while painting the day before.

Click to expand...

We do our best, but we are a one (A is tech only) person shop and while we do our best to order before hand only so much can be done ahead of time while we stay 'afloat' so to speak. We try not to make excuses which is why were upfront about the paint being potentially ugly.

I would recommend skipping the paint as you have rightly mentioned, it just gets shot off anyway.
If anything, make your final sanding a grit that is easily paintable by the consumer so they can paint and repaint to their hearts content.

I’m gonna black or orange Spray the target anyway!

Wow people are painful if how the target looks is they’re problem.

I say leave it bare metal. The paint's just going to get shot off, and then I'm going to rattle can it whatever bright color was on sale at Cambodian tire. If not painting makes it cheaper, I'm all for that.

Paint goes on sale here pretty cheap. Keeps em from rusting if not going to be used right away. I say keep the paint.

Paint goes on sale here pretty cheap. Keeps em from rusting if not going to be used right away. I say keep the paint.

Click to expand...

Even left out to rust our targets (edit: and stands) will last a lifetime , A is running a fun experiment leaving some 3/16 in lye for a few months just to see how the wear and tear goes.

I don’t really care much about the targets cause like you said it’s going to get shot off anyway and need to be repainted after the first outing. But I think the stands should come painted since they will take less abuse.

I don’t really care much about the targets cause like you said it’s going to get shot off anyway and need to be repainted after the first outing. But I think the stands should come painted since they will take less abuse.

Click to expand...

Noted, definitely depends on the target and frequency of use. Most people carry around a can to touch up before they leave off if its left rough outside.

Raw dog for sure. ANYONE who buys this product will have some spray paint kicking around, because they have to.

An added bonus is the whiners won't have anything to whine about.

PS. the targets I bought earlier this year have been great!

Target can be raw while I would like to have painted stands.

Offer a discount option for no paint and let people choose.

I have bought from you before and actually haven't used the plates yet but bare is fine.

I voted for unpainted metal.

I've seen some suppliers that sell unpainted metal targets also offer spray paint or "paint kits" that work well with their targets as part of their product line. Not sure how profitable this would be, but may be something to try offering (assuming you haven't thought of or tried this already).

Lima Alpha Delta said:

I voted for unpainted metal.

I've seen some suppliers that sell unpainted metal targets also offer spray paint or "paint kits" that work well with their targets as part of their product line. Not sure how profitable this would be, but may be something to try offering (assuming you haven't thought of or tried this already).

Click to expand...

Interesting idea, thanks!

B-N said:

Raw dog for sure. ANYONE who buys this product will have some spray paint kicking around, because they have to.

An added bonus is the whiners won't have anything to whine about.

PS. the targets I bought earlier this year have been great!

Click to expand...

Thanks man! That's what I think. Now if something goes out ugly its not like were proud of it, but the thing can take a damn beating which is what we make it for.

Your going to shoot it... Im confused on who who complains about paint on a target... I get it you need a good shot for your Instagram picture but it looks a lot better when its shot up. Shows you can actually shoot! Lol
Raw dog it, save yourself the time and effort and the consumer and extra buck or so.