Bought my TX wheel on Dec 11 through an eBay seller, item was listed as NEW (unopened, unused) and saved about $40 off regular price. Item arrived, had not been opened, was truly new. Used it from that day until Feb 16 when it decided to stop working and the base had a burning smell coming from it.
I contacted Thrustmaster tech support via e-mail immediately, which was the same day (Feb 16). They got back to me on Feb 17 requesting copies of my original invoice/PayPal invoice/etc. (proof of purchase).
Today (Feb 21) they replied stating that because the wheel was not purchased through an “official retailer” that they will not be honoring the warranty for the product. They also said that they would try and find another solution for me (most likely being me paying for repairs/shipping/whatever).
I then checked Thrustmaster’s website to find out if this information was reasonably available. I checked their TX product page. The “Where To Buy” page where retailers are listed. And then checked every single one of those retailer’s TX product pages. None of them state that information.
I completely understand their policy on this. However, I was not made aware of this until I had spoken to someone at Thrustmaster tech support when calling about the wheel not working. I was not made aware of this before making my purchase and that information is not reasonably available to a potential customer. If I would have known, I would have purchased from an “official retailer.” Now it seems I am stuck with a non-functioning wheel base and Thrustmaster doesn’t want to stand behind it’s product.
Hope this helps anyone that hasn’t purchased a wheel yet but was considering the TX.
Someone posted on here a few days ago with the exact same set of circumstances, and as nasty as this will sound, its the risk associated from using any auction site to by an electrical based gadget. The product you buy, although new and potentially unopened, is essentially a second hand product when purchased from websites the likes of Ebay.
Read the very last line in that pic you posted, aka “THIS WARRANTY IS NONTRANSFERABLE”. What that means is this, the warranty stays with the original purchaser of the product; in this case that is the Ebay seller you bought it from. So Thrustmaster have very clearly stated that you are not covered by their warranty program.
Buying the Thrustmaster TX via eBay means you have purchased second hand, even though it was sold as “new and unopened”.
Edit: Also, the line above “THIS WARRANTY IS NONTRANSFERABLE”, it also clearly states the product is not covered via Thrustmaster warranty program “IF THE PRODUCT WAS SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION”. eBay is considered as an online public auction site, regardless of the “buy now” feature.
Edit 2: The information regarding the warranty for the Thrustmaster TX is publicly available via Thrustmaster Support site, which is accessible from their main website with easy. http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=12&fid=83&pid=366&cid=6. The manual for the wheel is available on there for all to see and read through, it contains the usual safety and usage information, along with full details on the products warranty and what potentially will void said warranty.
Like I said I wasn’t trying to be nasty, but I never buy any electrical based item from Ebay or sites like it. Its far too risky, and pretty much left with no recourse if the worst happen. If you need to order online, keep an eye on Amazon. I picked up the TX from Amazon uk for £270, the wheel retails at £350 in the uk.
Well I just got off the phone with TM support again and they agreed that the information regarding the warranty pertaining to this situation is not easily available prior to purchasing the unit, from an authorized retailer or otherwise. There may be hope, but I have a feeling the best they can do is offer to repair the base at my expense. I’m not getting my hopes up for a replacement at their expense at this point, they seem adamant about avoiding that resolution. If they come back saying I will have to pay for it to be repaired I’ll just file a claim with eBay/PayPal.
Cheaper than ebay which I never buy eletrical goods from, and Amazon. They are a reputable online PC component site so I assumed that they would be an authorised reseller. They sell other THrustmaster products as well including the wheel add-ons.
So what are you going to do with the wheel you’ve ordered from Amazon? I’ve heard of multiple screens, but you would have the first multi-wheel rig, that I’ve ever heard of. LOL
This company seems to do business in the US without a corporate presence in the US. I’m not sure that’s legal. Wonder what the Justice Department thinks. I guess I’ll just have to mail the service of process to Montreal and sue here, then try and collect from both the retailer and the manufacturer, who are both technically on the hook.