Thrustmaster = cheap shit

Hi I've had FIVE faulty Thrustmaster Grand Prix 1 steering wheel controllers. The throttle or brake control becomes erratic (the potentiometer, i think) after a while. It's not my PC since each one was demonstrated back on the shop as faulty. If you have also had these problems PLEASE let me know so i can forward them to Thrustmaster. PS. I received a replacement wheel for them a few days after i asked for help. Their service and support is GREAT, but the product is CRAP. -- Jason Ingram

R: You need to go to the Shack and buy TV Tuner Cleaner Lubricant. Squirt a tad into the pot that is giving you troubles and your off and running. Yep it's a must for the GP1's and really is no big deal as it works fine afterwards. Q.B.M.

The first T1 a bought at the store I had to bring back because it was broken out of the box. The one I got now is working but I know the springs are getting loose. Kind of shitty as I have only had the thing for 2 months. Look on the bottom of the T1.......MADE IN CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Junk. Just looked at the bottom of my CH stuff. MADE IN USA. Love supporting Communism and Military Dictatorships Thrustmaster? 10 year old kids building your shit for pennies a day??? In the shit hole city Kawasaki. then sell it for 300% above cost to us. Good business I guess, eh? Like Many other companies. Food for thought my friends. Mr Bill

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> Hi I've had FIVE faulty Thrustmaster Grand Prix 1 steering wheel > controllers. The throttle or brake control becomes erratic (the > potentiometer, i think) after a while. It's not my PC since each one was > demonstrated back on the shop as faulty. > If you have also had these problems PLEASE let me know so i can forward > them to Thrustmaster. > PS. I received a replacement wheel for them a few days after i asked for > help. Their service and support is GREAT, but the product is CRAP. > -- > Jason Ingram

'Mr Bill' has been known to post flame-bait in the past, so I wouldn't get too worked up over it. --

First things first. I work for ThrustMaster. These are my opinions, not the opinions of ThrustMaster, Inc. Some of the information stated here is based on knowledge I have gained from working at ThrustMaster, but still in no way constitutes an official opinion of ThrustMaster, Inc. Now that I have that out of the way. If you have a T1 it was made in the United States. No T1's were ever made outside of the United States. So if you have a ThrustMaster driving wheel that has a Made In China sticker you either have a GP1 or a T2. Just so people understand what we are talking about. Yes we do manufacture products in China. In factories that exist in part due to our government's blessing of China with Most Favored Nation status. For the record, Kawasaki is a city in the Kanagawa prefecture in Japan. Not China. China is the big country above and to the left of Japan. Look at a map. Do you know where CH is? Right on the US/Mexican border. What do you think the chances are that every single CH employee is an American citizen. I'll take that bet. The factories that we use are not sweat shops, they do not employ 10 year old children. That is a myth perpetuated by paranoid rednecks. McCarthyism died with McCarthy. Look into it. If you have a problem with the They will gladly send you a new set of springs. However, you seem like you don't really like our products so I would recommend that you return your ThrustMaster product and buy the CH driving wheel. Oh wait, they don't make one. Thanks for listening. Steven T.A. Carter

ET. One thing I have noticed about you aside from your EGO Is that you are quite a Suckhole, Mr Cool. You have had more flamewars than most others in this particular group. What I said Is not "Flamebait" It is fact. I know people from China, ( MY best friend ) And he and his Dad can name a very large list of companies there for obvious reasons. They have told me of all the shit that goes on there. Many times over the years. My mother has a PhD in Anthropology, She knows David Suzuki from UBC among many other respected doctors and experts in their fields. We have had many debates and chats on the subject. And all these people have said, studied, documented, filmed, reserched, and have been to China for field studies. etc, etc, etc. And all of them..for years, have all documented how bad it is there. Read a book besides the N2 manuel for a change. We are talking Human rights here bud. Not to be taken lighty. But hey, a guy from Thrustmaster, or any other company would never bullshit us, Heavens no. Mr Cool. There........flamebait. Mr Bill > 'Mr Bill' has been known to post flame-bait in the past, so I wouldn't get

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> too worked up over it. > -- > >First things first. I work for ThrustMaster. These are my opinions, not > the > >opinions of ThrustMaster, Inc.

Well, you sure have a real love of the company. -Kawasaki is in Japan. My mistake but you got the point. Petty comeback. -Mexico is a democracy, for the most part. Slight differance from China. -Rednecks are people who enjoy Cars, Trucks, Driving games, and steering wheels. Everyone on this group I guess. Define Rednck for me..Everyone seems to have a different view of Redneck. -Thanks for the geography lesson. Petty comeback. -According to CH, they have taken 60% of your business away in the last 3 years. That must hurt.....why are they taking away your customers? you tell me. -In my city we are hard pressed to find TM stuff now. Mainly CH. -I have the GP1, It is built cheap. IMO. -I have no love of CH stuff or TM, I could care less about any large company, just sell me quality stuff at good prices. Made in USA, UK, or Canada. Thats all. Oh..read the post I wrote to ET....He needs a job. Mr Bill you > don't really like our products so I would recommend that you return your > ThrustMaster product and buy the CH driving wheel. Oh wait, they don't make

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> one. > Thanks for listening. > Steven T.A. Carter > >The first T1 a bought at the store I had to bring back because it was > >broken out of the box. The one I got now is working but I know the

springs > >are getting loose. > >Kind of shitty as I have only had the thing for 2 months. > >Look on the bottom of the T1.......MADE IN CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Junk. > >Just looked at the bottom of my CH stuff. MADE IN USA. > >Love supporting Communism and Military Dictatorships Thrustmaster? > >10 year old kids building your shit for pennies a day??? In the shit hole > >city Kawasaki. then sell it for 300% above cost to us. > >Good business I guess, eh? Like Many other companies. > >Food for thought my friends. > >Mr Bill

Mr. Bill. amen brother! Buy Made in the USA! "IF WE CONTINUE TO BUY IMPORTS WHERE WILL OUR CHILDREN WORK? UnionMan a>...

What does China have to do with .............never mind!??

You always seem facinated by my employment status (usually you're taking pot shots at me for 'spending daddy's money' or something similar, but your restraint here is quite a feat). If you must know, I have been employed by a local ISP since finishing grad school. As a result I spend most of the day on-line, it's part of the job. If you were to post your e-mail address I would have told you there, but instead you continue to hide behind 'Mr Bill'. -- a>...

Blah, blah, blah.... Could you perhaps ask one of your esteemed friends to describe for you the difference between China and Japan? That minor detail seems to have escaped you. "Shithole" Kawasaki indeed....

Same disclaimer as before. These opinions are mine and mine alone and in no way the opinions of ThrustMaster, Inc. Blah, blah, blah. If you don't like the way China runs their country, don't go there. Don't buy products made there. Try that. Try NOT buying a Chinese single Chinese made product for the rest of your life. Good luck. The factories ThrustMaster uses are all in Economic Free Zones. People travel from across China to get a job in the factories ThrustMaster uses. They are clean, workers get a place to live and better meals than other places in China. You are confusing a lower standard of living with oppression. This forum is supposed to be about driving simulations and related topics. This isn't related at all. If you want to post about business practices you don't like, go to the rec.IliketowhineabouttopicsIknownothing.about. They would love to hear your diatribe. Or should I say tripe instead. Flame on. Steve Carter PS. Why don't you get your *** back from your mother and post your real email address. If you feel soooo strongly about a subject it seems you would want people to be able to have an intelligent dialog offline.

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>ET. One thing I have noticed about you aside from your EGO >Is that you are quite a Suckhole, Mr Cool. >You have had more flamewars than most others in this particular group. >What I said Is not "Flamebait" It is fact. >I know people from China, ( MY best friend ) And he and his Dad can name a >very large list of companies there for obvious reasons. They have told me >of all the shit that goes on there. Many times over the years. >My mother has a PhD in Anthropology, She knows David Suzuki from UBC among >many other respected doctors and experts in their fields. We have had many >debates and chats on the subject. And all these people have said, studied, >documented, filmed, reserched, and have been to China for field studies. >etc, etc, etc. And all of them..for years, have all documented how bad it >is there. Read a book besides the N2 manuel for a change. We are talking >Human rights here bud. Not to be taken lighty. >But hey, a guy from Thrustmaster, or any other company would never bullshit >us, Heavens no. >Mr Cool. There........flamebait. >Mr Bill

Whatever Eric, And I work for Microsoft. But you seem to Flame bait just like anyone. And I do not post my Email because I have got viruses and bombed in the past. And I do not need email from you, thanks anyway. My problem is with the TM guy and TM itself. I do not have a problem with you. You Flame bait yourself, So I flamed you with the Facts. So mind your own. Now lets Kiss and Make up OK. Peace. Mr Bill > You always seem facinated by my employment status (usually you're taking > pot shots at me for 'spending daddy's money' or something similar, but your > restraint here is quite a feat). If you must know, I have been employed by > a local ISP since finishing grad school. As a result I spend most of the > day on-line, it's part of the job. If you were to post your e-mail address

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> I would have told you there, but instead you continue to hide behind 'Mr > Bill'. > -- > Mr Bill wrote in article

<HTML><BODY> <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>Mr. Bill. amen brother! Buy Made in the USA!&nbsp; <BR> <BR>&quot;IF WE CONTINUE TO BUY IMPORTS WHERE WILL OUR CHILDREN WORK?&nbsp; <BR>UnionMan&nbsp; <BR> <BR>a&gt;...&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;The first T1 a bought at the store I had to bring back because it was</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;broken out of the box. The one I got now is working but I know the</I>&nbsp; <BR>springs&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;are getting loose.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Kind of shitty as I have only had the thing for 2 months.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Look on the bottom of the T1.......MADE IN CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Junk.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Just looked at the bottom of my CH stuff. MADE IN USA.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Love supporting Communism and Military Dictatorships Thrustmaster?</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;10 year old kids building your shit for pennies a day??? In the shit hole</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;city Kawasaki. then sell it for 300% above cost to us.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Good business I guess, eh?&nbsp; Like Many other companies.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Food for thought my friends.</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;Mr Bill</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;</I>&nbsp; <BR><I>&gt;</I>&nbsp; </BLOCKQUOTE> &nbsp;&nbsp; Mabye thats why they can afford the free replacement parts!&nbsp; :)&nbsp; <BR> <BR> </BODY> </HTML>

I must say again that the customer service has been GREAT. But I must also say that I've always had two problems with the T2... The first was the pots... they would always go after a month or two. The second was that I was afraid to "hammer" the pedal down... whether it was an incident ahead of something of my own doing.... BOOM, the springs would break. I've gotten the new pedal springs and I must say that I haven't broken them yet (only two weeks) and they look/feel solid. But the potentiometers are another problem in itself. Others may have never had problems and I applaud you. I'm not that fortunate and haven't been. -- Take Care, Charlie

Why they'll work in a Japanese company of course, and if it's not a Japanese company it will probably be in a Japanese building or one made by Japanese equipment. It's a bit late now to be shouting about "USA" when Japan has already bought up almost everything worth having. Don't blame Japan, they just did a better job and bought what other countries were happy to sell. As for "that shit-hole Kawasaki", it's actually a very nice city in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan. Certainly cleaner than anywhere I've been in the U.S., not to mention being a LOT more expensive to make anything in. If Thrustmaster were making their products there they would be a lot more expensive. Japan ain't no sweat shop... Enough of this jingoism please.... Cheers! John

Could you perhaps ask one of your esteemed friends to describe for you the difference between China and Japan? That minor detail seems to have escaped you. "Shithole" Kawasaki indeed.... Already been down that road John..My mistake. My "Esteemed" friends and I Put up the whit flag. We know nothing about the subject. There is No differance between China And Japan. Peace. Mr Bill

Nothing left to say Steve. You are right, You win, You are much more educated than most. You know all. I will not get my *** back because it would seem you are incapable of intellegent dialog. Read your own post...... -IliketowhineabouttopicsIknownothing.about..... -Why don't you get your *** back from your mother....... -Blah, blah, blah. If you don't like the way China runs their country, don't go there. Don't buy products made there. Try that. Try NOT buying a Chinese single Chinese made product for the rest of your life. Good luck. I put up the white flag. I loose. Peace. Mr Bill > Same disclaimer as before. These opinions are mine and mine alone and in no > way the opinions of ThrustMaster, Inc. > Blah, blah, blah. If you don't like the way China runs their country, don't go > there. Don't buy products made there. Try that. Try NOT buying a Chinese > single Chinese made product for the rest of your life. Good luck. The > factories ThrustMaster uses are all in Economic Free Zones. People travel from > across China to get a job in the factories ThrustMaster uses. They are clean, > workers get a place to live and better meals than other places in China. You > are confusing a lower standard of living with oppression. This forum is > supposed to be about driving simulations and related topics. This isn't > related at all. If you want to post about business practices you don't like, > go to the rec.IliketowhineabouttopicsIknownothing.about. They would love to

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> hear your diatribe. Or should I say tripe instead. > Flame on. > Steve Carter > PS. Why don't you get your *** back from your mother and post your

real > email address. If you feel soooo strongly about a subject it seems you would > want people to be able to have an intelligent dialog offline.

There is a BIG difference between China and Japan, as any Japanese or Chinese person will angrily inform anyone making this mistake :) Sounds good. Cheers! John PS - I'm "Senna_McNailz" on QuakeWorld, from the McNailz clan. Have a look for me sometime. I'm in the UK so probably ping will be too high. I'm usually to be found on 129.215.140.38 which is our own server.

Mr. Bill. I would love to take this conversation offline. Why don't you email me directly so we can have an intelligent discussion without pissing everyone off. I won't spam you. I have plenty to do without wasting time annoying someone. Here is my email once again. Drop me a line, we will have a discussion about standard business practices. Thanks Steve Carter PS. I have to answer one of the points in your post. How could CH take 60% of our business in the last three years if we have almost tripled in size in that same time period. I can just as easily say we took 100% of their driving wheel business from them. This is completely true because they have never had a driving wheel. Didn't 60% seem a little too large? It is.

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>Well, you sure have a real love of the company. >-Kawasaki is in Japan. My mistake but you got the point. Petty comeback. >-Mexico is a democracy, for the most part. Slight differance from China. >-Rednecks are people who enjoy Cars, Trucks, Driving games, and steering >wheels. >Everyone on this group I guess. >Define Rednck for me..Everyone seems to have a different view of Redneck. >-Thanks for the geography lesson. Petty comeback. >-According to CH, they have taken 60% of your business away in the last 3 >years. >That must hurt.....why are they taking away your customers? you tell me. >-In my city we are hard pressed to find TM stuff now. Mainly CH. >-I have the GP1, It is built cheap. IMO. >-I have no love of CH stuff or TM, I could care less about any large >company, just sell me quality stuff at good prices. Made in USA, UK, or >Canada. >Thats all. Oh..read the post I wrote to ET....He needs a job. >Mr Bill

> Mr. Bill. amen brother! Buy Made in the USA! > "IF WE CONTINUE TO BUY IMPORTS WHERE WILL OUR CHILDREN > WORK? > UnionMan Would you like paper or plastic?