Paintball Explosion Retail Store

This is a review of the retail store in Skokie.
I have noticed a few people reviewing the field so I just wanted to make myself clear. BTW the field is awesome!!!
I go to PBE in Skokie at least once a month for my paintball needs. The staff is very knowledgeable and quick to answer any questions. If something is not in stock it can be ordered.
Most of the store staff are refs at the field and I see them out there slinging paint when they are not refereeing. Their opinions and recommendations for products is top notch as they play with the products they recommend.
Come out to the Skokie store. You will not be disappointed by the service or selection.

Great store. Helpful behind the counter and over the phone. Gun tech turns around repairs quickly and like the others who work here, very patient with customers. They offer a full warrantee on any marker purchase. Looking forward to playing on their field up north this month. I was told the pro shop up there has even more inventory. Good to hear but the customer service is what will keep us coming back.

I visited this place with 5 friends in Oct ’11. I, along with most my crew, have been playing paintball for over 10 years now. We have played at numerous locations throughout NY, NJ, PA, MA and IL. Paintball Explosion is easily the best place we have ever played at.
Staff — Knowledgable, Friendly, Eager to help.
Facilities — INCREDIBLE! A former amusment park transformed into numerous themed paintball fields. Clean. Well layed out and organized. Extremely creative. Plus they have an indoor speedball field.
Set-​up — Everyone is required to watch a short 10 min safety video before playing. Experienced players and return visitors get to bypass this usually. Games, for walk-​ons, are split into 2 types; Beginner and Advanced Players.
Games — Time between games was VERY short. One reviewer here said there was too much standing around inbetween. That possibly true if you are someone who is frequently eliminated in the early part of games. You will have to stand around and wait for the game to end before the next one starts. But for those of us who last till the end and/​or win, the time of one game ending to another game beginning was less then 10 minutes, if even that long. We frequently found ourselves rushing to re-​fill our pods and get back to the meeting spot for the next game.
Pro-​Shop — WELL STOCKED. Pretty much anything you may need including the latest high end gear.
Food — Decent. Not the best but you go for paintball not fine dining.
My friends and I drove over 12 hours from NY to visit this place. We are doing it again in June so we can play two days. Not the kind of trip you make for someplace thats anything less then 4 stars.
The other reviews of 1 Star because the shop closed early… smh. Don’t pay attention to stuff like that. This place is Top Notch!
***And they are building more fields***

Good people and place, Very poorly organized, way to much standing around to divide teams. They NEVER check gun velocity

The Paintball Explosion field is AMAZING! I just got into paintball about a year ago, which I am now addicted to, and it’s all thanks to these guys! I have frequented their Skokie store for quite some time now, and when I heard about their field in East Dundee, I just had to check it out. Simply put — I’M HOOKED.
The fields are sick!!! Being a recreational paintballer, the option of playing the themed fields, or indoor speedball field, is exactly what I’m looking for when I decide to suit up and take out some aggression on my buddies. lol
Everyone from the staff/​refs/​players are super helpful and friendly, so I’ll def be back!

This store is awesome! Everytime I go in, it’s either full of people or it’s completely dead and then full of people by the time I leave which somehow doesn’t phase anyone there because the workers are so incredibly knowledgable and efficient that everyone gets taken care of quickly.
I would classify the workers here as Paintball Gurus. They know every gun inside and out, literally. I’m pretty sure they could field strip a marker hanging upside down from a tree blindfolded in the middle of a forest, that’s how impressed I was. I’ve had my tipmann and Ego serviced here and both times they could diagnose the problems within seconds. When I needed my Ego ready that same day, they were nice enough to get wrenching on it immediately, thankfully they had the time and parts but that was awesome. I can’t believe how nice everyone is working here and that they even remembered my name although I’m not exactly a regular. I play 3 times a year if I’m lucky and these guys save me so much time and stress when I need anything.
They always have specials on paint and accessories when I’ve been there and (not that I have ever needed to) but i think that they also do price matching which is sweet.
I feel very fortunate to have this place so close to me, coming from lincolnwood, because I absolutely hated Bad Boyz Toys, but thats neither her nor there.
These guys also opened up their own field out by Santas Village and it’s absolutely REDONKULOUS! The fields are unbelievable. Well groomed and maintained, the layouts are so unbelievably fluid and easy to navigate through, that even though it was my first time I never felt lost and could find great vantage points at both ends of each field. I absolutely can not wait to play here all season long come nice weather. I would take this field over CPX any day and the drive from «Chicago» to East dundee is definitely less daunting than Joliet which was really nice after a long exhausting day. I recommend everyone I know to this store and field, as far as customer service quality, location and prices, there is truly no equal. As I’m writing this I’m getting all hyped to go paintballing now, damn you WORK! And thank you PBX, you’re the bomb! Haha I just got that

What do I need to play? What’s this doohicky do? Price match?
From explaining what functions a certain paintball gun does, apparel, paint balls, even places to go paintball, these guys definitely know what there talking about. I am pretty sure most of the workers there are on a paintball team and they proudly boast there trophies from various tournaments right on the counter.
As for the place itself it is quite small, and easy to feel cluster phobic. They even do trades, buy, and I’m not sure if I heard right if they re-​hydro (re-​test an old tank). All in all, this is a great place to go, knowledgable/​nice staff that is always willing to help in anyway.

I’m a recreational paint ball-​er. You can walk into this store with no prior knowledge of paintball and walk out with all the tools necessary. The guys here know their shit but aren’t conceited and cocky about sharing their knowledge. They also don’t throw items at you just to sell them. Being a woman and walking into a hobby shop/​auto shop/​anything male dominated, makes me nervous. I always think that the guys are trying to oversell me or rip me off. MOST DEF not the case at pb explosion.