Themes and the Evolution of Water Guns -by ZOCCOZ - The Influenece of Marketing on Retail

[ZOCCOZ]

I really like what ZoCCoZ has said in the article. The shift away from power in recent years is due to the fact that there is no way to "demonstrate" the power of a weapon while it is still inside the package. The true marketing flaw of guns such as the 1200 and 1000 is the fact that although these guns are excellent on the inside, one cannot tell what they are truly capable of unless one is already familiar with them. That's where the gimmicks come in. When a 9 year old sees that the Arctic Shock shoots "freezing cold water" they immediately think "WHOA!!!! mommy, I want one!", because the freezing water feature is much more easily imagined in the mind of an inerperienced consumer than "shoots up to 40 feet with a 7X stream" That is why I believe that the age of gimmicks first started when the Monster line came out. Although the age of gimmicks is characterized by low power and output (a characteristic not applicable to the mosters, obviously), the whole idea behind making the mosters f***ing huge was to make it easy for consumers to imagine what they are capable of. Seeing a 1200 dosen't suggest that it is far more powerful than a gun of comparable size (such as the XP 310), but seeing the sheer size of a MOnster XL does suggest , even to the most inexperienced consumer, that that thing is a beast.

Its always tricky when an age ends and begins, since they always blend in. Now having said that, traditionaly large soakers where usualy equated with power. The SS300 was nicknamed "The Big One" during promoting it. The size of the mosters to me was an atempt to make the monsters seem more powerfull than they where. So that why I personaly still see them part of the age of power.

Power and size limits as of now, are restricted by retailers... and probably also manufacturers playing it safe to not piss of retailers. The "Special features" marketing has adapted and blossomed to the retailers wants and needs.

Where are you getting this reason from? Did you uncover some secret documents at Hasbro saying 'we can get away with less powered soakers since all consumers care about are looks and gimmicks'?

Its all speculations at the moment, but I would not be very suprised if many of todays soakers are a result of SS's marketing team going for the "flashy eye candy" angle. It wouldn't be the first time a product line went for it. But its not just SS, but also WW with the electronic meter. Why else spend extra manufacturing costs on electronics, if the flashy blinking thing on a soaker would not attract consumers. Now I would not say that power is being abandoned mainly because special features are more profitable, but that special features is now the only thing that really sells since great power and size has been restricted and marketing had to find something else to milk efficiently.



Edited By ZOCCOZ on 1147753018

[isoaker]

WW Scorpion vs CPS1000

Output level, the Scorpion is just shy of the CPS1000 (185 vs 195 mL/sec). I haven't had a chance to do range testing on the Scorpion, yet, but I'd imagine by the stream that it'd behave on par with the CPS1000. It is heavier, likely due to the battery and motor, and has a smaller reservoir, but the Scorpion is also overall smaller than the CPS1000, yet pushing out similar streams. I should note the power from the Scorpion comes from its PC as the motor is only strong enough to maintain a ~1x stream and is really primarily meant for filling the PC, not generating the true stream.

The newer Blazer also appears to have similar powered streams (though I haven't tested the 2005 model which sports a larger 'big' nozzle on the nozzle selector). The original Blazer still performs quite well with ranges equal to what the CPS1000 pushes.

WW Blazer VS CPS1000

The original Blazer's output is less (in part due to its smaller nozzle) and holds a little less in the reservoir, but also has a larger PC than the CPS1000.

For blasters of the same size, I really cannot say that has been a particular drop in power or that power is sacrificed for some gimmick like an electronic power gauge or motorized pumping. Heck, the Scorpion's numbers so far even suggests that CPS1000-level power can be produced by a smaller-framed soaker.

Are the gimmicks what are selling these soakers? I don't quite agree with that either. While Super Soakers still sell well (thanks to wider distribution and well-known brand recognition), Water Warriors soakers are catching up and selling more. Do you think that Water Warriors are gaining popularity simply from sporting the electronic power gauge? Are Water Warrior blaster 'gimmicks' better than Super Soaker 'gimmicks'?

Not sure about all people, but at a store, when faced with the option of spending $20 on a Flash Flood or $20 on a WW Blazer, the larger Blazer tends to catch one's eye as more for the same amount of cash. Buzz Bee Toys, being a smaller company, currently has an advantage over Hasbro in that some of its costs appear lower, thus are able to sell blasters for less without cutting into their needed profits in order to achieve growth in their company. I'd lean towards consumers feeling it's a better value per dollar as opposed to which soaker has the better 'gimmick'.

[Hannibal]

WW Scorpion vs CPS1000

Output level, the Scorpion is just shy of the CPS1000 (185 vs 195 mL/sec). I haven't had a chance to do range testing on the Scorpion, yet, but I'd imagine by the stream that it'd behave on par with the CPS1000. It is heavier, likely due to the battery and motor, and has a smaller reservoir, but the Scorpion is also overall smaller than the CPS1000, yet pushing out similar streams. I should note the power from the Scorpion comes from its PC as the motor is only strong enough to maintain a ~1x stream and is really primarily meant for filling the PC, not generating the true stream.

The newer Blazer also appears to have similar powered streams (though I haven't tested the 2005 model which sports a larger 'big' nozzle on the nozzle selector). The original Blazer still performs quite well with ranges equal to what the CPS1000 pushes.

WW Blazer VS CPS1000

The original Blazer's output is less (in part due to its smaller nozzle) and holds a little less in the reservoir, but also has a larger PC than the CPS1000.

For blasters of the same size, I really cannot say that has been a particular drop in power or that power is sacrificed for some gimmick like an electronic power gauge or motorized pumping. Heck, the Scorpion's numbers so far even suggests that CPS1000-level power can be produced by a smaller-framed soaker.

Are the gimmicks what are selling these soakers? I don't quite agree with that either. While Super Soakers still sell well (thanks to wider distribution and well-known brand recognition), Water Warriors soakers are catching up and selling more. Do you think that Water Warriors are gaining popularity simply from sporting the electronic power gauge? Are Water Warrior blaster 'gimmicks' better than Super Soaker 'gimmicks'?

Not sure about all people, but at a store, when faced with the option of spending $20 on a Flash Flood or $20 on a WW Blazer, the larger Blazer tends to catch one's eye as more for the same amount of cash. Buzz Bee Toys, being a smaller company, currently has an advantage over Hasbro in that some of its costs appear lower, thus are able to sell blasters for less without cutting into their needed profits in order to achieve growth in their company. I'd lean towards consumers feeling it's a better value per dollar as opposed to which soaker has the better 'gimmick'.

Hey, interesting post there, iSoaker. I've compared the CPS 1000 to the Blazer before, and they have come out equal. Nice that the Scorpion does as well, though it appears the Scorpion could use a little more water!

I have to say though, that there's no reason to use a battery-powered gauge when an analog one is just as good, more reliable, cheaper to produce, and, sometimes, even easier to tell how much you have in the PC. The battery-powered gauge must be either "cool" or a marketing tool, or both.

The newer (2005-2006) Blazer's output of the large nozzle is a 4-7x, somewhere in there. But it gets poorer range.

I've got to agree about costs as well. Super Soaker (IMO) charges twice as much for their guns as they should, in comparison to BBT. A Blazer holds twice as much water, twice as large a PC, and five nozzle settings, for the same price as a FF. Either Super Soaker overcharges, BB undercharges, or BB has cheaper costs.

I believe that a CPS 1000 could be produced and sold today for $20 at a profit. The materials (and plastic ) used in the Overload could have been directed toward a CPS 1500 or even maybe a 2500. So there must be different reasons than costs to poduce the actual soaker.

[isoaker]

The battery-powered gauge must be either "cool" or a marketing tool, or both.

I have a feeling it is more about patent issues and getting around them as opposed to simply a marketing tool, but that's my speculation. I would also have preferred either no gauge or mechanical gauges instead of electronic ones, though they may not necessarily cost much more. If you think about it, a lot of electronics are really cheap!

I believe that a CPS 1000 could be produced and sold today for $20 at a profit. The materials (and plastic ) used in the Overload could have been directed toward a CPS 1500 or even maybe a 2500. So there must be different reasons than costs to poduce the actual soaker.

Uh, the amount of plastic in a CPS1500 or 2500 is much more than in the Overload, even if you factor in the backpack. Plastic costs more, rubber for CPS chambers cost more, shipping costs more (especially due to increased gas prices; this affects plastic costs, too), then you need to add in the fact that retailers tag on their own prices (and this doesn't include packaging costs and advertising costs, not to mention tooling costs for the new moulds, employee costs, etc.).

On top of all this, there just is a present size and cost barrier in the soaker market. This is not some random barrier, but rather based on sales trends over the past few years. On the bright side, there is some signs the market may be open to having larger (more powerful) soakers in the future.

[Maddermadcat]

The Gimmick age so far has been a mixed blessing... You have the completely stupid and useless Arctic Blast, Helix and Oozinator, and then you have guns that have some kind of benefit, eg.: the Flash Flood, Aquapack Overload, and the Defender. I think that using the word "Gimmick" makes it sound a lot more negative than it is.
Just out of curiosity, anybody else think that the Helix is pointless?

[ZOCCOZ]

The Gimmick age so far has been a mixed blessing... You have the completely stupid and useless Arctic Blast, Helix and Oozinator, and then you have guns that have some kind of benefit, eg.: the Flash Flood, Aquapack Overload, and the Defender. I think that using the word "Gimmick" makes it sound a lot more negative than it is.
Just out of curiosity, anybody else think that the Helix is pointless?

Personaly I rather go with an X-Stream than with the Helix.

What does the Flash Flood, Aquapack Overload, and the Defender offer in performance that the 90s CPS blasters don't, that would qualify them as an upside over the 90s models (other than the interchangable backpack)? Unless you mean mixed benefits for the current situation where the special feature upgraded the lines abit from SoakerTag to Max-Infusion.



Edited By ZOCCOZ on 1148877249

[isoaker]

anybody else think that the Helix is pointless?

IMO, the Helix is actually rather good at coating areas, but only at closer ranges. I'd consider it more of a shot-gun-type soaker than a typical general-purpose soaker.

However, I'm glad someone also agrees with the idea that 'gimmick' holds a little too much negativity to it for what some of the soaker developments are.

[Maddermadcat]

Really, though... You have to admit the gimmick is stupid. Whopee, my stream of water looks like a DNA structure...

[isoaker]

Really, though... You have to admit the gimmick is stupid. Whopee, my stream of water looks like a DNA structure...

The advertising is bad. I'll agree on that.

However, from first-hand experience, I have actually enjoyed using the Helix against others using soakers like the XP310, Max-D6000, Flash Flood, and Piranha. Sure, it lacks range, but its closer area coverage even beats fan-streams. I get a functional range of 20'-25' using it. My main complaint on the Helix is that it sucked through water very quickly. Hooking up an Aquapack on the new MI model would help it out.

[Stencil]

Hey!



The Helix is an okay gun/side arm.
It fires out a good deal of water with one pump.
Enough to get someone quite wet.

Anyway do you own the Arctic "Blast" or Helix?

shot-gun-type soaker

I Agree.



Edited By Stencil on 1149013628