General / Off-Topic My Thrustmaster Hotas has gone back, faulty.

[tafkabb]

This is just some info for anyone else who is or may be affected in the future.
I got mine from Alza - the only stockist other than Thrustmaster at the time.
It developed a fault on the yaw; it drifts to the left and shakes, no matter how much of a dead zone I use. Flying was awkward, galaxy map was difficult and external screenshots were impossible.
I emailed Thrustmaster and they said contact the seller (sigh) so I entered the product details in the Alza website and they declined to accept a return.
Wrote back to Thrustmaster, who were furious and said they have a two year warranty on all of their products, and they also have a returns agreement with Alza, so contact them again and forward all correspondence to Thrustmaster.

I rang Alza this time. Very helpful chap, even on a Saturday, and it was picked up by a courier for free and on its way back to the Czech Republic on Monday morning.

If you're reading this and thinking of getting one, get one. It changes the game completely (for the better) and if it does develop a fault, it will be fixed or replaced, no quibbles at all (but ring them, don't use the website)

 

[Shadowdancer]

Wouldn't you be covered by EU vendor warranty in the Czech Republic anyway, putting your retailer on very shaky grounds?

 

[tafkabb]

I think I'd have been covered by UK consumer law anyway.

 

[nathanc213]

I'm on my second one already. The main wire on the first one had broke so it would randomly disconnect.

Thrustmaster support took way too long to respond but it did get returned and replaced for free.

 

[tafkabb]

That was pretty quick. Alza have processed a refund.

 

[Requiem Mortis]

I'm in the process of diagnosis with Thrustmaster support with exactly the symptoms you describe. I gave them the results of the calibration.exe and they said return to vendor giving this support call reference. When I told them it was bought direct they asked for the invoice number, all I had was the FedEx details gave them those and now they want video evidence of the drift, and a screenshot of the box with the unit serial number shown.

 

[tafkabb]

I had to do all that. Someone on Facebook is going through the same thing. They do make you jump through hoops when it's their manufacturing at fault

 

[Requiem Mortis]

This is a bizare turn up.

Thrustmaster have asked me to take a pair of scissor to my HOTAS One and cut the cable off then send them a picture !

 

[tafkabb]

This is a bizare turn up.

Thrustmaster have asked me to take a pair of scissor to my HOTAS One and cut the cable off then send them a picture !

lulwut

 

[Requiem Mortis]

So clarified with them they were serious and have done as asked.

"We like to inform you that an order has been placed with our logistics department to have a new unit shipped out to you.

Order number - 1207829 (2018-06-01).

The date in parenthesis represents the ETA for the new part."

Guess they just don't want the old one back and need it in a state no one else would want it either.

 

[Faded Glory]

So clarified with them they were serious and have done as asked.

"We like to inform you that an order has been placed with our logistics department to have a new unit shipped out to you.

Order number - 1207829 (2018-06-01).

The date in parenthesis represents the ETA for the new part."

Guess they just don't want the old one back and need it in a state no one else would want it either.

I had the same thing. As you say, they don't want the old one back, and cutting the wire just prevents people from claiming it's bust to get a second one for free.

Not sure which model you guys had, but mine was the T16000M (part of the HOTAS set), and the drifting yaw, caused by a cheap potentiometer (I think that's the right word) that fails is a known issue. Hopefully fixed in the replacements. Certainly my new one is still working Ok.

 

[Requiem Mortis]

So new one arrived today a day ahead of schedule. Thanks go to Thrustmaster support for offering the replacement without too much hassle, I'm pleased with the service I've received and hope this one lasts longer than the 6 month's the first one managed.

B. T. W. Anyone know if the warranty period gets reset to two years too. ?

Edit :

Response from Thrustmaster Support
"Regarding the warranty this will not get reset. The new unit is supplied as a replacement within the initial two years warranty started with the first acquisition."

 

[tafkabb]

Fair enough

 

[tafkabb]

Actually that doesn't apply in my case; I got a refund and bought a new one, so I have a new warranty

 

[Brian of Earth]

For those living in Trumpistan, it's a one year warranty, and, since they never have any units in stock they issue you a refund which is ONLY provided via PayPal. Luckily the wife has an account. So, took that money and bought another one from Amazon, arrives Saturday.

The new XBOX ONE X arrives tomorrow. Can't wait to try it out..

 

[tafkabb]

So what do you think, Brian? I'd love an X but I can't justify the expense of the same games with better graphics

 

[Brian of Earth]

So what do you think, Brian? I'd love an X but I can't justify the expense of the same games with better graphics

Hard to say just yet, new stick just came Saturday but was on a conference bridge most of the weekend on an upgrade so didn't get to do a whole lot but set it up and get some games loaded up. Spent a couple hours in a HIGH RES (mission near Alioth) in my Chieftan and it was real smooth (no wait, no hitch, no lag). Sadly no 4K monitor yet, BUT no brick and it seems to run cooler. Set up was a breeze (backed everything up to an external drive). Looks sleek and is smaller. So far so happy.. Can't wait to see it with a 4K..

 

[monogenetic]

Mine is doing the same thing. It's getting really annoying. I guess ED is bugged even right down to controls designed for it. I guess it's just as well since I'll make the switch to No Man's Sky next week and put my ED fleet to the boneyards.

 

[Armholeeio]

How do you adjust the settings, it’s starting to develop a intermittent drift to the left

 

[LordJim47]

I to had the infamous drift, but resetting the USB port seemed to resolve my issue. Have been drift free for over 2 months now. Did make me nervous though, but it was an intermittent drift with no fixed interval that I could determine. My guess is it was not the same kind of drift associated with a failing internal component. Good to know my experience with Thrustmaster customer support was not a fluke, they were superbly responsive and helpful via email. Good luck, hope your resolution is quick and easy. o7 Cmdr.