Technician needed for a very busy and highly reputable vendor in Caboolture.
Most preferably seeking someone with prior experience in servicing/repairing blasters of all types - AEGs, GBBs, HPAs, Manual Springers etc. Alternatively those with a technical background that have relevant transferable technical skills (ie electronics) and have a genuine, keen interest in the gel blaster industry/community are highly considered.
Prior customer experience also highly regarded.
Most importantly, only considering those who are serious and willing to commit to the role on a longer-term basis.
You might want to pass on to the store their website needs a lot of work, categories appear all out of whack, the only way to see everything is to hit the store, can’t sort by low to high, a few other issues
Dunno if anyone else has these issues but I’m definitely experiencing issues browsing their website
Haven’t thoroughly explored the site, it was the only valid link to the store as the other (linked to Google listing) was merely just a solo page - albeit a rudimentary one.
There has been issues with the setup and maintenance in past months. Unfortunately a professional hosting was not financially viable, esp given all their clients purchase in store with very little shipped outside - apart from returning faulty wholesaler equipment which is more common than not (given time and out of pocket $ too).
However I’ll fwd your aforementioned just as a reminder to them when I see them next.
In the meantime, if you want general updates and news, best to check out their FB page.
As for free gels, well we do have an instore give away of Possum Eyes after the supplier went the way of …no free Frosties though
Lol all good mate I was just teasing… still haven’t tried the ihobby blues I bought a while ago, seems to be cheaper prices for their other gels than ihobby, just a pity the stores a bit far away and any savings would be lost on postage, but cheers
eh… you couldn’t pay me to take them!
J/K!
Seriously though, they are the only ihobby hard gel that I would recommend if ihobby gels are the only option.
My friendly advice here is to expand the horizons beyond exclusive use of ihobby as the only supplier, diversification is going to be key over the next while in the industry.
Please, don’t get me wrong. I am not having a dig, and I do like ihobby; I have been in contact with them and they are good people.
But there are many other good people in the industry too.
One of their major issues with their supply is they had the most, and from their original expectations they would have plenty and last until 2027 statement (unofficial) is that they did not expect that nearly EVERY retailer would run off their supply suddenly as their imports ground to a halt.
I know that loyalty is a good thing, but I want every existing retailer to survive and carry on, the hobby and sport needs you guys!
I do know that many importing retailers have been in communication with each other to keep imports flowing, but they are looking limited to non-automatic replicas and pistols. And the process is longer winded than it was before with more work and effort on China’s and our behalf. So for right now, it is slow. Hopefully by end of the year and into next year there is a supply of blasters flowing again.
GBB was always a big seller in my experience, so the supply of them is a good key to the bread and butter of the industry and hopefully keeps it going, alongside tech work keeping the AEGs going I suspect will be the two main factors of the future for now until we get a definitive yes or no with the rest.
As for wholesalers, who else apart from iHobby and WAT supply large volume? WAT were even in more limbo with stock shortage than iHob.
Replicas would be very touch and go, only ones I’ve seen are the smoke shop variety from with poor quality material at exorbitant prices. Can’t speak on behalf of any chinese made though, however certainly not enough to fill the void of those who want to go out and shoot and not just have it sitting there as wall art.
The other major issue our retailer is facing (and we’re not the only ones) is finding techs - esp those that are committed to staying on. Brent (who is no longer running the shop due to health) spent a good amount of time training up one potential at home, only for him to piss off and throw the towel in. Another that was promising to come in for a trial recently at the store was a complete no show with not even the decency to call or text back.
On the upside, the shop is surprisingly doing extremely well with sales, with figures exceeding $1K per day (sometimes double). Yesterday in the last hour alone before closing was nearly $1K. Whether this is part in due to FOMO after the restrictions or just the natural ebb and flow cycle, can’t say .
“I’ve done a bit of casual tech work for OG&T in the past, home based. Great people to work for”
This at your home or their original home shed business? They since moved house back in Apr, and yet facing the prospect of moving again soon as the owner sold the property.
Shell has really transformed the business big time - the profit turnover reflects that alone, not to mention the bookkeeping and store presentation…frankly the old graffiti level work out front made it look like a crackhouse (her words too ).
The backlog of repairs is raising now - no thanks to aforementioned potentials not committing. Unfortunately Brent’s health has put him out of even doing simple repairs, although he can verbally guide someone what to do as was done previously. It’s pretty much at present.
As for the gels, generally I run Ihob Ultras or Dragon Balls - the Possums I’ll do up for my manual VP9 - can’t pass up a freebie anyway despite Ron quality softness
Most gel blasters are regarded as replicas for importing, because most are.
X-Force may also sell B2B, they used to at least, not sure now with the import restrictions as they may be holding on to what they have. Just get in contact and ask the other vendors if they can B2B, worst they can say is no.
Good to hear it is going well there, I would say as other stores lack techs is a factor. My experience is sales do make a fair bit of the income but parts and tech work cream it up nicely.
Hope you find someone good soon mate. If I was closer and had spare time I would love to help out, but I have snowed myself under as it is. Wish them the best of luck and hope they find the right person/people needed soon.
I’ve known Brent and bought from him since the early days when he was running the business from his shed.
When he moved to the shop OG&T became my local… I was helping out with the repairs working from my own home. Pick three or four up, fix, drop them back. Problem was, whatever I got paid got spent instore pretty much straight away.
I know Shelley’s doing a great job of running the shop, I do drop in occasionally and say hi, but I’ve backed off the hobby a fair bit lately so no new purchases recently. I hope they find a good fulltime tech to handle their repairs, because if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this crazy hobby of ours it’s that they always need fettling eventually.
Can’t speak too much or speculate about X-Force, but given they reported issues with stock shortages across many of their items - at least back 3 months ago in line with their last video upload to YT, I’d say they’re probably trying to stockpile as much from anywhere and everywhere. Furthermore, they apparently don’t have a tech anymore (TBC?)
Vas said he’d probably be relocating the HO elsewhere, which may end up similar to Tac Edge - closing down North Lakes and consolidating the two into one central location. Only makes sense, esp if NL office gets to the point of not generating enough revenue, not to mention reducing unnecessary overheads.
At the end of the day, despite the support amongst the gel community, businesses are businesses and ultimately have to put themselves first - classic case of survival of the fittest.
When I had my car I occasionally used to source stock from them if OG&T couldn’t, plus saved me hassles ordering online paying for p&h, when Scott could pickup from HO and drop off to his store instead.
Another indicator of low volume was changes to their layby system - required a 50% deposit. Again they might have scrapped lay-bys altogether given the overall state of affairs. Still it was very handy to use back ages ago and pay it off - something no other gel store does/did.
…no free Frosties though 
smoke shop variety from 
with poor quality material at exorbitant prices. Can’t speak on behalf of any chinese made though, however certainly not enough to fill the void of those who want to go out and shoot and not just have it sitting there as wall art.
owner sold the property.
at present.
