I made it through an entire day without hearing 'Shield' so there is hope!

[Lost Lake]

I'm kind of new here so I'm not sure if this reaction to a gun is normal.... Shield hysteria on the boards is just unbelievable!

I have to scroll way down to find something about Gen 3 guns or anything non-Shield.

I should have bought one right away. I feel like I'm missing the prom!

 

[mlk18]

It's funny how a few weeks back when people were theorizing it was going to be an ultra-slim 9mm there were a number of posts like "The market is already saturated with slim 9mm's... No one is going to care... S&W is late to the market with this one...". Then whamo everyone went nuts for the Shield. Seems like the marketing machine at S&W is getting the job done right.

And yes, you should have bought one right away. They are pretty awesome!

 

[kris7047th]

"I made it through an entire day without hearing 'Shield' so there is hope!"

Ooops .. I thought you said *wearing* Shield

 

[kris7047th]

It's funny how a few weeks back when people were theorizing it was going to be an ultra-slim 9mm there were a number of posts like "The market is already saturated with slim 9mm's... No one is going to care... S&W is late to the market with this one...". Then whamo everyone went nuts for the Shield. Seems like the marketing machine at S&W is getting the job done right.

And yes, you should have bought one right away. They are pretty awesome!

And they are selling like HOT CAKES !! The gun sells itself because it is such a nice shooter in a smaller package. Just about every buyer who has reported back after shooting it is in love with the Shield. I have yet to read a bad report/review on any of the gun boards that I am on.

 

[Fat B]

Small single stack 9mm only slightly appealed to me before The Shield hysteria set in. Now I find myself trying to justify why I should by one!

Gun owners are usually a fairly picky bunch with their own preferences. The Glock snobs, the 1911 crowd, the AR15 enthusiasts, etc... So when I hear alot people from various sources saying great things about the Shield I take notice.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Well I don't like the shield so there!

 

[MIST]

Gun owners are usually a fairly picky bunch with their own preferences. The Glock snobs, the 1911 crowd, the AR15 enthusiasts, etc...

Agreed. I fit two of those categories (I don't currently own a Glock and only carry one as a duty weapon because that's what's issued). I became impressed with the M&P line after the purchase of a 40C. Shortly thereafter followed a 9C and 45C. So far my Shield seems to be upholding the M&P tradition of quality and reliability.

 

[g_conway]

New Toy== New Exitement

Leave them alone and let them be happy

 

[Maximumbob54]

I think I felt the same over M&P mania. I admit that now that I finally have one that I like it a lot, but I don't get what the mania was about. There was nothing but M&P mania when they were new.

 

[Sprefix]

I know I'm on the fast track to Hell after this post, but I have very little time for a Smith if it doesn't have a cylinder in it. Smith generally says quality, but the one thing no-one does better is wheel-guns. Go with your strengths................JMO-------------Oh yeah, I held one of these plastiguns and was underwhelmed just like with all the others. I think it is new and fits right in with the minute by minute mentality of newer generations. They work and have a following, but they are not my cup of stuff..................Blessings

 

[Arizona Gunner]

Fast track to Hell? Nah, a covered wagon doesn't travel that fast!

Seriously, I agree Smith's revolvers are as good as they get... if you enjoy them, go for it!

But... boy, do the M&P (autos) shoot!

 

[crracer_712]

You made it through the entire day without hearing about it, but apparently it was on your mind!!!

 

[GaryS]

I think Smith did a very good job building "buzz" for the introduction. That's not all that difficult to do, especially with all the tools available on Al Gore's Internet. Between Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and of course forums such as this, it's pretty easy.

The genius part, if you want to call it that, was having product in many dealers vaults the day the Shield was released. If they announced it and then it wasn't available for two months (as in MA), then it would have been just another ho hum product announcement.

I have do doubt that other manufacturers are going to follow suit with their new gun releases.

 

[K1500]

You're not missing the prom, you're missing the after-prom party!

 

[catcus-jack]

If I carry anything single stack it will be a 1911 in 45 acp.

 

[Tommato]

The launch of the Shield will probably be a case study in college Marketing programs of how to properly launch a product:
- Use the internet to generate some buzz a few weeks in advance - not months in advance
- Use NDAs to get holster and accessory makers going and get inventory ready before launch
- Build up a significant inventory of the product and have them on dealers shelves on announcement day
- Ship significant numbers of product on announcement day, and have enough inventory to supply the early market demand
- The product had better be good. Do what you say it will do and be utterly reliable
- Bring out a product that you key competition does not have. I consider the key competition to be Glock and Springfield, not Ruger. Think "proven polymer handgun family with LE/Military/Civilian sales, full size, compact, and competition models"

Smith did all of this, and did it well. For an example of a less impressive launch, see the Springfield XDS. Hyped like crazy, unveiled at SHOT, magazine reviews, and still not shipping with no announced ship date.

Tommato

 

[TAROMAN]

Holey moley, and I thought all this chatter was about "THE SHIELD"!

 

[ladder13]

the word for today



SHIELD

 

[Moonman]

You do have to commend S&W for a very successful new product launch of the SHIELD. Well done S&W.

Other manufacturers should take notice of how to launch a product with amazing success.

 

[Lost Lake]

You made it through the entire day without hearing about it, but apparently it was on your mind!!!

Dang it!!

Yes you are right.

I WILL WAIT until the LE version comes out.....

I WILL WAIT!

I can do this! I can wait. I have other guns. I don't need to look every day and see if I can find one.....

If I keep telling myself this I may be able to hold off.....