Another Fanatec wheel arrives!

[UK-Gamer]

I've been readings this forum for the past week so I made the descision to sign up for it. I hope my contributions are useful.

Paul, for you your best option is depending on when you want your wheel, you should wait, see if Fanatec do anything. If they do, then the obvious option will be to buy the wheel, however if your looking to get the wheel earlier, your best bet would be to get the Logitech G27.

There isn't a world of a difference, for half the price, the G27 has great pedals (not as good as Clubsports) and a shifter that by the looks of it, is better than the Fanatec because it clunks instead of the loud click. The wheel, I'm not sure of however.

If they are direct competitors then in Australia the G27 runs circles around the GT3RSV2.

 

[Mars Attacks]

Drilling template:

http://www.fanatec.de/html/index.php?id=3116&lang=en


Measurements and weights:

wheel - diameter: 30 cm
wheel base - width and depth: 23 x 16 cm
pedals - width, height and depth: 35 x 15 x 27 cm
wheel - weight: ~ 2.5kg
pedals - weight: ~ 1.5 kg

I asked about the ClubSport Pedals measurements, those you provided me seams to be from the standard ones...

Anyway I think I found the wright measurements here and they are:

width: 340 mm
depth: 320 mm
height: 200 mm
weight: ~ 4.9 kg

 

[Chapman2424]

I think most people here are all in the same boat - when I bought my Logitech G27 - it was $300 CDN - taxes, shipping & unit. When I ordered my Fanatec it was in excess of $600 - conversion, duty,taxes,shipping, and unit. You have to understand that Logitech is the big boy on the market and they build more than just racing wheels - hence they have a larger logitical chain and can build more units - thus offering a lower price to be competitive. Fanatec is a smaller company and deals with limited production runs on their wheels ( Turbo S was 10,000 units). Don't expect Logitech logistics and prices from the under dog. Fanatecs cost more because they are more exclusive - if you want a $350 wheel - buy a logitech. Don't blame Fanatec for their business practices in this economic climate.

If you want a wheel that not everyone has - expect to pay more for it. I did.

Chapman

 

[UK-Gamer]

I know Chapman that Fanatec are smaller company and more exclusive because they mke less units. Saying that they let down the Australian market with their prices is untrue, hiowever, the wheels are overpriced. There is no denying that, I coverted Euros to Australian dollars and it came to 320 euros = $452 so a $510 price would be fair IMO.

 

[versapak]

blah blah blah blabbity blah

They are manufactured in China.

They do not have a distribution center in China.


They have 2 distribution centers. One is in Germany, and the other is in the USA.


It sucks that you are stuck paying such a premium, but it isn't as easy as just shipping you a wheel from China.

 

[Sphinx]

versapak,
If you wish to quote another members comments, then please quote them correctly.

 

[versapak]

versapak,
If you wish to quote another members comments, then please quote them correctly.

Sorry. It was a big quote and I wanted it to take less space. Admittedly I was a jerk about it though, so again...

Sorry.

 

[Ustasa]

I know Chapman that Fanatec are smaller company and more exclusive because they mke less units. Saying that they let down the Australian market with their prices is untrue, hiowever, the wheels are overpriced. There is no denying that, I coverted Euros to Australian dollars and it came to 320 euros = $452 so a $510 price would be fair IMO.

We do not pay the excessive VAT taxes Europe does so your conversion is not correct I am not flying in the dark here I have done my research the U.S. price would be more accurate !

And as for letting the Australian market down it could not be more true as the sole importer from the wholesale price (lets say roughly $200 Aus whole sale) is utterly milking it for what it is worth roughly 3.5 times is utterly shameful and Fanatec should have a responsibility to control such rogue and glutenous actions as they have done in Europe and the U.S./Canada
by standardizing the price

I am positive if lets say in London the wheel cost 340 pounds and over in Dublin it cost 260 pounds you would be saying hey wait a minute this is not right (Same scenario for the U.S/and Canada) we pay less than Europe because we do not have VAT taxes so we would pay a price similar to the U.S. of $319 for the CS pack so you should be converting from $319 U.S. to Australian dollars which is roughly $350 Australian I think it is only fair Australia does not pay European VAT if we do not live in Europe would you guys not agree .

I am asking for the same considerations as the whole of Europe and the U.S./Canada and not drag the Australians by the nose saying for now over a year and half that Australia will be a web option only to settle for a glutenous importer that only see's $$$$ and not supporting a sim racing community as Fanatec has done for both Europe and the U.S./Canada ( I cannot say I have ever seen any discount coupons reserved for Australia ?) .

So it is easy for you guys when the product is available on your side of the globe also the standard wage in U.S. dollars and the European pound to the Australian dollar and what it can buy is something you guys clearly do not understand paying $700+ dollars is like you guys buying a Frex wheel over there like virtually unobtainable unless you were an utter nutter totally I need a fix junky sim racer .

It is easy making comments when the comments are coming from countries that actually have Fanatec's standardized pricing from official actual Fanatec distributors as has prior been stated coming from Germany and the U.S. /Canada that has been specifically catered for by Fanatec of which Australia has been just a casual after thought our standard pricing is let's see how much we can bleed the public (it is Fanatec's responsibility to regulate pricing in Australia as it was their responsibility to do so on their web store for the U.S/Canada and Europe) (if you look at their web store there is only one Euro price for all of Europe as there is there is only one price for all of U.S./Canada) for this is not looking after the Australian consumer this you have it so count your self lucky as I have made a five minute call and confirmed a distributor I know nothing about so as I can say Australia has not been forgotten (which if you search you can read on this actual website straight from Thomas's keypad) why cannot Australia have the consideration and time spent on pricing as have the U.S./Canada and Europe ?.

Regards Paul

 

[UK-Gamer]

Australian prices of the wheel is too high, agree?
Thomas said that it's because the distributor wanted a bigger profit or something right?

Well I think it's time for Thomas to change distributor, at the start, Fanatec were a pretty small company, not known and all. Standards need to be raised. They are becoming more popular.

For Australia $319 okay actually, my first one was off the top of my head, I've worked it out know and well $319 is fine, stretching to $350.

 

[Ustasa]

I think most people here are all in the same boat - when I bought my Logitech G27 - it was $300 CDN - taxes, shipping & unit. When I ordered my Fanatec it was in excess of $600 - conversion, duty,taxes,shipping, and unit. You have to understand that Logitech is the big boy on the market and they build more than just racing wheels - hence they have a larger logitical chain and can build more units - thus offering a lower price to be competitive. Fanatec is a smaller company and deals with limited production runs on their wheels ( Turbo S was 10,000 units). Don't expect Logitech logistics and prices from the under dog. Fanatecs cost more because they are more exclusive - if you want a $350 wheel - buy a logitech. Don't blame Fanatec for their business practices in this economic climate.

If you want a wheel that not everyone has - expect to pay more for it. I did.

Chapman

So you are trying to tell me that from the U.S. distributor to your doorstep somewhere in between it cost you another $300 somehow this does not fly
?

You are trying to tell me that taxes and postage to your house cost the same as the purchase price of the wheel totally unbelievable

You also have to understand that when a new competitor comes in it charges less for it's product until it is established and has label notoriety/reinforcement and trust with its consumers of it's product's you cannot just go charging what ever you want and expect people to pay it .

And for a wheel that is available at the press of an internet web store button throughout the whole of U.S./Canada and Europe I would not call it exclusive .

As for the exclusive run of Turbo S wheels anybody and everybody knows that Fanatec as Fanatec themselves stated the difficulties in acquiring a multi platform license due to Microsoft's renowned difficulty of being dealt with (can you name any other quality gaming wheels that can run all three platforms apart from of course the Turbo S wheel?) and wanting to corner every market (that is why the Xbox 360 has that rubbish Microsoft wireless wheel and no good wheels to support a few good games they have apart from of course the Turbo S wheel) this is why it is so easy to get a Sony license as it is open and why Fanatec have GT5 and Sony compatibility with the rest of their wheels . This is why there was a limited run of 10.000 not exclusivity .

You definitely have it around the wrong way Logitech do not have to be competitive as they have the market Fanatec does not so Fanatec have to be competitive "in this economic climate" with pricing .

I also think if Fanatec wants to promote/advertise the wheel as direct competition to the Logitech G27 they should price accordingly and not make the price over 2.5 times higher in Australia as it is false promotion/advertising .

You really sound like a Fanatec narc

Edit - maybe Fanboy would be more appropriate and hopefully not considered name calling .

Regards Paul

 

[Chapman2424]

Not a narc - just a satisfied owner.

 

[Ustasa]

Australian prices of the wheel is too high, agree?
Thomas said that it's because the distributor wanted a bigger profit or something right?

Well I think it's time for Thomas to change distributor, at the start, Fanatec were a pretty small company, not known and all. Standards need to be raised. They are becoming more popular.

For Australia $319 okay actually, my first one was off the top of my head, I've worked it out know and well $319 is fine, stretching to $350.

Hey finally some positive reinforcement now if only Thomas would take in these suggestions it would be great so as to make it fair for Australians and pricing as I have stated many many times before to Thomas I just want a fair price not an unrealistic one (or glutenous one) and Australians to be considered as have the U.S/Canada and Europe and not as a casual after thought as Australia has been treated

Quote - Thomas said that it's because the distributor wanted a bigger profit or something right? - Quote

Yes along the lines of the above and it is wrong as he did not settle for this in the U.S./Canada or Europe he looked after his customers and standardized prices and did not let distributors charge outrageous glutenous prices as he has been allowed in Australia which as you rightly noted Thomas has virtually admitted to on this thread .

So this is showing his contempt and casual non professional attitude towards Australia kinda makes me feel like I live in some Russian Gulag where I have not seen the light of day very disappointing .

Regards Paul

 

[Ustasa]

Not a narc - just a satisfied owner.

So being a satisfied owner does this mean you have to alter truths and not let other people enjoy the same satisfaction of owning such a wheel in other countries because you are a satisfied owner ?

Regards Paul

 

[Ustasa]

versapak,
If you wish to quote another members comments, then please quote them correctly.

Thank you

 

[crazedmodder]

Now I am not saying that Australia should not get the wheels for less than they are now but it is not as easy as you make it out to be.

So you are trying to tell me that from the U.S. distributor to your doorstep somewhere in between it cost you another $300 somehow this does not fly
?

You are trying to tell me that taxes and postage to your house cost the same as the purchase price of the wheel totally unbelievable

Things are not that simple. We do not know what he purchased from Fanatec.
- A GT3RSV2 Clubsport edition with shifters and shipping would have been $394.90USD and a Turbo S would have been quite a bit more
- There is the currency conversion, our dollar does well sometimes but it is not always so good
- There is gouging by UPS, once I ordered a subwoofer from the US which was $200CAD with shipping and UPS charged me $70 at the door. Tax would have been MAX $30, probably closer to $15.

It is really not unbelievable that his package cost $600.

You also have to understand that when a new competitor comes in it charges less for it's product until it is established and has label notoriety/reinforcement and trust with its consumers of it's product's you cannot just go charging what ever you want and expect people to pay it.

You are right, many times a smaller company comes into the market they try to undercut their large competitor but this does not always work. Large companies have a much easier time bringing products into more markets because they normally have distribution setup already in those markets. Logitech already has so many peripherals and they sell so many units that I am sure it does not cost them a lot to produce their products nor to get them into the market.

Fanatec is a low volume company and just because it seems like they sell a lot from our point of view does not mean they sell a lot from a company's point of view. A distributor will likely take a larger cut for selling a low volume product because things are cheaper in larger volumes.

Regardless of what the price of the G27 is in Australia, the Fanatec GT3RS and Turbo S will always be more expensive because they are more expensive in every other region.

I also think if Fanatec wants to promote/advertise the wheel as direct competition to the Logitech G27 they should price accordingly and not make the price over 2.5 times higher in Australia as it is false promotion/advertising .

Unfortunately it is the distributor who sets the price, not Fanatec.

You really sound like a Fanatec narc

Regards Paul

You don't have to call anyone names to get your points across.

Anyways, a narc is a slang term which refers to a narcotics officer or a snitch.

 

[Chapman2424]

Things are not that simple. We do not know what he purchased from Fanatec.
- A GT3RSV2 Clubsport edition with shifters and shipping would have been $394.90USD and a Turbo S would have been quite a bit more
- There is the currency conversion, our dollar does well sometimes but it is not always so good
- There is gouging by UPS, once I ordered a subwoofer from the US which was $200CAD with shipping and UPS charged me $70 at the door. Tax would have been MAX $30, probably closer to $15.

It is really not unbelievable that his package cost $600.

I ordered a Porsche Turbo S Wheel Ultimate Edition (which came with Clubsport Pedals) @ $399.90USD
I also added the following :
Shifter Set @ $49.95USD
PS3 Wireless Dongle @$29.95USD
Clubsport Shifter Paddles @$19.95USD
Fanatec charged me a baseline $25.00USD charge for shipping.

That came to a total of $524.75USD
upon conversion from USD to Canadian dollars this came to $545.28CDN.

Upon delivery I was hit with a further duty/brokerage fee of $57.80CDN

To leave me with a grand total of $603.08.

This is what I had expected to be the neighbourhood to get this wheel in through my door. Expensive? yes. In excess of 600 bones? yes.

Chapman

 

[versapak]

Fanatec have distribution centers in Germany and in the USA. Fanatec does not have a distribution center in Australia.

They have at least set up some way for you to buy it in Australia despite that. If they didn't at least do that, then your option would be to pay even more by importing it from Europe or North America yourself. You do have the option to buy something else instead.

You act like setting up distribution there would cost them nothing. You are wrong, and Fanatec is not a big company. Logitech is.

 

[UK-Gamer]

They have at least set up some way for you to buy it in Australia despite that.

That's the thing, it's like me making a product like an Obutto with slight advantages, but charging $800 for it... oh well at least I'm getting it to your country...

Fanatec is not a big company. Logitech is.

Well Fanatec are becoming bigger, they have become well-known now because of their Porsche wheels, they need to adapt to the fact that the demand for their products are more, as I said they are evolving and IMO, right now when looking for a new wheel to buy, I'll look to Logitech or Fanatec.

 

[versapak]

That's the thing, it's like me making a product like an Obutto with slight advantages, but charging $800 for it... oh well at least I'm getting it to your country...



Well Fanatec are becoming bigger, they have become well-known now because of their Porsche wheels, they need to adapt to the fact that the demand for their products are more, as I said they are evolving and IMO, right now when looking for a new wheel to buy, I'll look to Logitech or Fanatec.

Bigger does not at all mean big.

They are still very much a small company.

 

[Gabkicks]

can someone give me an amazon.com link to the screw i need to open my PWTS? the fan has been noisy for a while, and tech support hasn't responded to me for a month.

 

[UK-Gamer]

Bigger does not at all mean big.

They are still very much a small company.

In terms of staffing and all, however I know loads of people who'll want the Fanatec wheels as I said
"the demand for their products are more"

At first they were really small and not many people outside of Germany knew about them... (some people don't know that they made PS2 wheels) Now people in Australia (which is very far from Germany) know about them. They are becoming bigger and bigger... they need to adapt.

I'm not having a rant at Fanatec because as I've said, they make great products and have a huge following because it was coincidental that I first noticed Fanatec when they made the first Porsche wheel. They are getting bigger and bigger and it's a shame that they can't give good service to Australia.

 

[Ibonibo]

still under warrenty??

i think stega has a vid in his thread about opening it if i remember correctly

mine is also noisy. Apparently is normal. Try to down the FFB (if on max.) a bit that could help

 

[UK-Gamer]

can someone give me an amazon.com link to the screw i need to open my PWTS? the fan has been noisy for a while, and tech support hasn't responded to me for a month.

What part?

 

[Reims_]

Ustasa I don't get what you're trying to accomplish here. They aren't/can't change the price of the wheel because of your rant. Fanatic's posts summed it up perfectly. If you have an issue take it up with the office of fair trading, who will do nothing.

This is why I asked if you were new to Australia. It's like you've never noticed we get over charged for everything. Open your eyes and spread your legs like the rest of Australian public. This is perfectly normal pricing.

 

[UK-Gamer]

This is why I asked if you were new to Australia. It's like you've never noticed we get over charged for everything. Open your eyes and spread your legs like the rest of Australian public. This is perfectly normal pricing.

So you know that you get overpriced for everything and your ok with it? That's bassicaly saying "I know it's wrong but oh well let it pass"

You Aussies don't have to pay tax on items less than $1000 right? so do this - Look at the EU price, 320€ then divide by 100 and times by 19 (EU tax is 19% right?) take that away from 320€ and see what you get, convert that into AUD.

Do you still think that you are getting a good price?

 

[fishfash]

can someone give me an amazon.com link to the screw i need to open my PWTS? the fan has been noisy for a while, and tech support hasn't responded to me for a month.

Hi,

You will need a Hex 2.5mm and 3.0mm key to open the hex screws from the underside, there are 5 in total, however the handles of the hex key need to be longer than standard metric size.

You will also require a phillips type screwdriver to open the 3 screws under the porsche badge.

Something like this is what you need, sorry only a UK link:-

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=30599

EDIT:- Are you based in the US ? I think these will do the job, providing the handles are long enough, if you are able to visit the shop to check the length of the handles first.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[Reims_]

It's never going to change. Profiteering in this country is disgusting. When the F1 is in Melbourne some hotels want $1000 a night instead of the usual $140.

No I'm not ok with it, but our politicians are ****. This isn't a new theory in Australian economics. It's always been like this. Like I said in a previous post, Do you know why they overcharge here? Because they can.


@ UK_Gamer..

 

[Gabkicks]

Hi,

You will need a Hex 2.5mm and 3.0mm key to open the hex screws from the underside, there are 5 in total, however the handles of the hex key need to be longer than standard metric size.

You will also require a phillips type screwdriver to open the 3 screws under the porsche badge.

Something like this is what you need, sorry only a UK link:-

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=30599

EDIT:- Are you based in the US ? I think these will do the job, providing the handles are long enough, if you are able to visit the shop to check the length of the handles first.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

thx for the links!
Yeah that's the problem, i bought some hex keys a few months ago, and none of em are long enough :/

 

[Ustasa]

Fanatec have distribution centers in Germany and in the USA. Fanatec does not have a distribution center in Australia.

They have at least set up some way for you to buy it in Australia despite that. If they didn't at least do that, then your option would be to pay even more by importing it from Europe or North America yourself. You do have the option to buy something else instead .

You act like setting up distribution there would cost them nothing. You are wrong, and Fanatec is not a big company. Logitech is.

Again it is easy for some one to say this that has the option to purchase direct from Fanatec U.S./Canada ! (please first try living here and purchasing a wheel at this price then state insignificant comments)

It is also not my fault that you pay such an excessive price on shipping/postal fee's and taxes as we do not in Australia so why should Australian's be penalized by your large shipping/postal fee's and taxes so as you can feel justified by voicing these incorrect assumptions on Australian pricing?

And it would actually cost less for me to import from the U.S. (so then you see that at least setting up some way to buy in Australia is no advantage as you have tried to make it out be) than purchase in Australia (as a friend of mine has purchased a wheel in the U.S. this is how I got interested in the Fnanatec wheel) also as I have mentioned before I have purchased from a U.S. owned company direct from the Chinese manufacturing plant that was distributed/Shipped direct to my doorstep and I was not charged any taxes or levies what so ever (As I have been stating repetitively on this forum) as any company can do and any Chinese dispatcher/distributor is more than willing to do as a service also as anybody would know saves money this is why the American owned company Sayabas does this (It would be cheaper in all facets of distribution to setup in China so I am sorry you are wrong ! "this is not a "act" but a fact")

You do also have the option of researching before you enter a thread and make comments you seem to know nothing of

Fanantec is an expanding company due to it's slowly gaining popularity in it's products and such things as standardizing prices is to be expected in fair trade ! (you cannot charge one price in one country then another in the other country this again if you look on Fanatecs web store all
U.S/Canada and European prices are fixed in all countries)

I am sure if the shoe was on the other foot you would not be so callas in you comments ! You have eaten the entire pie and still wish to pass judgment ?

Please read all the thread more thoroughly so as I do not have to constantly repeat my self

Regards Paul

It's never going to change. Profiteering in this country is disgusting. When the F1 is in Melbourne some hotels want $1000 a night instead of the usual $140.

No I'm not ok with it, but our politicians are ****. This isn't a new theory in Australian economics. It's always been like this. Like I said in a previous post, Do you know why they overcharge here? Because they can.


@ UK_Gamer..

I wholly agree with you ! But it is sad to see you do not feel you can make a difference ?

But if we have this make do with it attitude things will just get worse if you just let it slide (it might be an over exaggeration but if the internet prices quadrupled over night would you still have that make do with it attitude and let it slide , I think it would be better voicing your opinion than just say there is nothing we can do about it , with that attitude we would end up being owned and working for the state) .

They over charge because you allow it with make do with it attitude politicians are cowards they make irrational decisions because they know they have absolutely no real opposition and rely on people not voicing their opinion if you do not see this reality maybe you should take this in and empower yourself and see you can make a difference

As for the F1 they do not call it the Circus for nothing (or should I say Syndicate/Racket ) this is why I prefer to watch it on TV it's more comfortable drinks are free as is entry for how much longer I do not know

Regards Paul

 

[bumer]

(you cannot charge one price in one country then another in the other country this again if you look on Fanatecs web store all
U.S/Canada and European prices are fixed in all countries)

Of course prices are the same for all European countries or for all the states in America, but we in Europe pay more than in America due to the taxes.