VIPAirsoft Arena & Proshop - Phoenix — Local services in Phoenix

This review is exclusively for the pro-shop, not the arena.

I've been out of airsoft for at least a decade, but wanted to get a pair of GBB pistols for my girlfriend and I do to dry fire drills in the house from concealment.

She carries a Steyr and I swap between a 2011 and G34 so we were looking for those options in a realistic weight that could support both lights and rmrs so they would fit in our existing carry holsters.

VIPAirsoft's website showed a Steyr in stock at the Phoenix location, so we brought our holsters and lights and left with the intention of buying everything that day.

The lobby looked empty with a larger hispanic man behind the counter who seemed upset we interrupted whatever he was doing. I asked who I should talk to if I needed help at the ProShop when I wasn't greeted and he grumbled something about how I should look around and see if I needed something. I told him I was interested in purchasing a few handguns for dry fire practice, giving the models of what I was interested in and he slowly wandered in behind me, pointing where the 2011s and Glock-clones were. I asked specifically about the Steyr since every other place would have the others and it was unusual to stock the Steyr and he, without looking, told me they didn't have any and it was probably at the Gilbert store and told me they had a cheap $100 P-10 if all I wanted was Dry Fire practice - completely ignoring my entire explaination why we were there.

I looked in the glass counters for a few minutes before I saw the Steyr on the top row and pointed at it, asking if we could see it. He got it out and my girlfriend played with it, saying it felt similar enough in weight to be useful. We set it down and he immediately put it back in the glass so we could no longer see or touch it. I asked if it was green gas or CO2, what it came with and all the usual questions - especially since the man seemed to be charging us by the number of words he spoke and didn't volunteer any of this information. I then asked how he would best arrest the last round slide lock feature, if it was a tab on the magazine that could be cut off or removed since we were uninterested completely in it shooting BBs. He told me he had no idea and suggested cutting off the slide stop on the frame of the gun instead.

I then asked what the options were for a red dot mounted 2011 or Glock that was instock and he told me they only had one, the Taran Sand Viper 2011 for $280. I asked if it was possible to mount an rmr via a sight plate or dove-tail mount on any of the other 2011s or Glocks they had and he told me no, because the optic would add more weight to the slide and cause it to not function.

I asked if the Glock MOS plate had the same hole pattern as a real MOS plate including RMR/Doctor or Delta Point footprints and he said they did not, that they were a proprietary hole pattern I would have to get "from someone else" with no further explaination what that meant. I asked to see the plate, pulled the part number and manufacturer, did a 5 second google search and found it was, indeed, the real RMR footprint pattern and told him that as I handed it back, asking again, if he had anything instock that would take that mountplate since I could use my existing red dots if they didn't have any. He again told me the weight of the optic meant the gun wouldn't cycle or function.

I told him we were interested in the Steyr and would need CO2 to make it work, without another word, he went into the back and got a new Steyr. I asked him for some CO2 cans and he silently moved to the register where he began scanning our two products with no further question or suggestions.

Seeing as we were clearly wasting his time, we checked out, left with our purchases and began calling other competing airsoft retailers in the city to complete our goal for the day before we got to the car.

I pains me to admit to even giving my business for the Steyr to this place that treated us as if we an imposition for walking in.

Edit: I went elsewhere for a 34 and 2011, they cycle...

VIP Airsoft in Phoenix is worth the drive to play there.

This location is a converted bowling alley, and is quite large - perfect for airsoft. It opened in June, 2017. There is another VIP airsoft located in Gilbert, Arizona. The Gilbert location is much smaller and the player's experience will be quite different than the one in Phoenix. Due to the size and the layout of the Phoenix location, it is much more amenable for longer-distance engagements with rifles, although handgun players will also have a lot of fun playing. Consequently, the "bang-bang" or "surrender" rule is rarely applied. The field is broken up into 3 separate arenas: "CQB", "Camelot", and "Shantytown". Game play can be carried out in 1, 2, or all 3 of the fields concurrently. This allows for more entertaining engagements adjustable to the number and skill of the players present.

The arena is well-lit. Low-light games are sometimes hosted, and is also quite fun.

The location is empathetic to the parents who decide to wait for their children playing there by providing power outlets at each of the tables in the large staging area. The WiFi offered at the location allows the parents to be productive while waiting for a 4-hour play session. Some of the parents do drop off their children to play at the field and leave. It just depends on your own comfort factor in doing so. I initially waited for my child. After the constant nagging to get me to play, I relented. So now we play together. It's a great bonding experience and quite a workout. You are never too old to spend time with your kids in a worthwhile activity away from the screen.

The game play is supervised by numerous referees. Cursing is discouraged, as well as unsafe airsoft weapon handling / use. I appreciate both being enforced. Airsoft is an honor sport, and most players play by the rules. Those who are non-compliant are either warned or kicked off the field.

VIP Phoenix allows both AEG (airsoft electric gun) and HPA (high-pressured air / electro-pneumatic) to be used. AEGs' muzzle velocity is limited to 350 ft/s, while the HPAs are limited to 300 ft/s. Each gun brought to the field is chronographed and tagged at each session to make sure everyone is compliant.

You will have to purchase the 0.20 gram "house BBs". You cannot bring your own BBs to play there. Due to the layout of the arena, consider getting the 3,000 BB pack / deal. You will go through a lot of BBs at the Phoenix location. You should also consider bringing an extra battery for your AEG, because the courtesy charging offered on-site may be completely full.

The location is well-equipped. There is a pro shop that sells airsoft guns and accessories. A repair shop is also available. Well-stocked concession stand sells snacks and drinks. Bathrooms are clean (at least on the men's side - I cannot comment on the women's side).

Considering the cost per hour to play, all the amenities, and being able to play airsoft in an air conditioned building during the hot Arizona summers, playing there is a no-brainer even if it takes us 45 minutes to get there. It allows for A LOT of trigger time in a safe, fun, and controlled...

I just want to say this before my review but normally I am not one to complain or give any type of feedback at all but in all honesty I cannot be more truly disappointed in the way I was treated at this place. This review is exclusively for the VIP techs and management/staff at this arena as there should be no reason why I went in for my Hi capa 5.1 pistol to get parts installed on January 3rd to then only receive it on March 8th with it not working and unfinished which was in all 65 days total so 2 months and 4 days. When I originally dropped it off I waited 2 weeks before I ever went in to check on the guns progress but was then urged to come back the following week instead due to it being a new year and holiday orders were still being worked on. I came in the following week to then be told that my gun was being worked on and that I would receive my gun the following week. To my surprise the following week I came in and they told me that there was a mistake in the tech room and that all my old parts were then installed onto my Hi Capa instead of the new. A little annoyed I understood that mistakes are made and that it wasn't a big deal as I was then told and promised that my gun would be worked on over the week and be completed as that was what the front deskman told me which then created this cycle of me coming in every week and being told my gun was going to be finished. I mean I tried everything with this place but in the end I truly felt defeated as every week I would come in and just be turned away every time. I was never rude to any of the staff but this lack of urgency just showed me that my order was never prioritized at all even in the end around the 2 month mark. Even on March 8th I came in and was told to come back in an hour for it not being done after 2 months to which I finally just decided to ask for my gun back and leave, then to finish it off as the tech was handing me my pistol back he proceeded to carelessly drop it on the floor right in front of me along with my other parts that I kept in a box. I truly do believe that there is no excuse that could be given to me why my gun was held for so long and to still be unfinished as it doesn't even shoot. The staff always seemed extremely unpleased to see me there, they were never helpful in anyway and it almost seemed like I was being avoided at times due to me coming back every week. Now with much money spent and a Hi Capa that doesn't work I am left wondering where to go as I need to build to get finished, I waited 2 months and you guys proved to be unreliable. My ticket number was #PHX-RA00007819 received an email 1:11PM on January 3, 2025 and was never...