Virpil you should really do something to increase your stock

[Ifikratis]

Just four hours after the restock time and the desk mounts and adapters I wanted to order are again out of stock.

 

This is the way that Virpil customers have to shop? Pressing F5 every second on the announced restock time and hope to be lucky? People have jobs and other things that have priority in life that can't be over a computer the announced time. These have no luck to purchase?

 

Virpil you should do something for your stock. Hire more employees, buy more machines, I don't know, you have to figure what. But this situation is not working for customers.

Edited February 27, 2019 by Ifikratis

[hazzer]

Don't be so entitled. They don't owe you anything

[Ifikratis]

Don't be so entitled. They don't owe you anything

 

I didn't said they own me something. Its a public forum where I can express my opinion. My opinion is that they have to increase their stock. I was waiting and I am mad I will have to wait to the end of March to get an opportunity to order again. If its so intimidating for you that I said that, I can rephrase:

 

- Virpil, can you do something to increase your stock?

 

 

Better?

Edited February 27, 2019 by Ifikratis

[panzerd18]

Normally what happens if demand outstrips supply, the price is increased. Be thankful this is not the case.

[backstab]

They do owe me something. Respect. The basic respect that exists between customer and seller. I expect Virippil to be organized and honest. I expect their product to work. I expect them to be professional. People are waiting to get a stick from them. They hold off purchases to pledge their money to Virpil instead of getting another companies product like TM or VKB.

 

This is garbage business practice. I am assuming they immediately ran out of stock. I was trying to pay for my stick within 4 minutes of the site coming back up and it failed. Out of stock.

 

If we all can agree that no one has any respect and owes nobody anything then maybe I spend my time polluting the internet with all the issued I am having with their throttle, stick and customer service. I can cause 10's of thousands of dollars worth of lost revenue by simply telling the truth. I don't do that for a number of reasons of which one is basic respect. Something I owe them. Also its something Im not seeing a lot of in return.

[some1]

"Ramp up production" is usually easier said than done. And from the past history, they don't want to create large queues on preorders, because then people are bitching anyway.

[Ifikratis]

I am satisfied with their product, not satisfied with their strategy and low stock.

 

Take for example the new throttle. In just 6 months from its initial release they have released another version and no upgrade path to the previous customers. I am not saying that the new version is better, maybe I prefer the 4way hats over the 5. But I find it disrespectful after so many preorders to say to all these people "We don't care, you can stay with the old design" and give them no path to upgrade.

[dburne]

I am satisfied with their product, not satisfied with their strategy and low stock.

 

Take for example the new throttle. In just 6 months from its initial release they have released another version and no upgrade path to the previous customers. I am not saying that the new version is better, maybe I prefer the 4way hats over the 5. But I find it disrespectful after so many preorders to say to all these people "We don't care, you can stay with the old design" and give them no path to upgrade.

 

Well they did the same with the T-50 base.

After about a year it was no more.

And it was what "brung em to the party".

Edited February 27, 2019 by dburne

[Fri13]

Just four hours after the restock time and the desk mounts and adapters I wanted to order are again out of stock.

 

These original manufacturers like Virpil and VKB really has a challenging business because they are working in the largest money business (gaming industry IIRC is larger than the movie industry) you can really get to, but they are as well working in a very niche market in that, a flight simulators and there they go for high quality products = high prices = less buyers.

 

There are more cheap simulator players gaming with Elite Dangerous etc, but are not ready to put a 100€ for other than a cheap joystick, than there are those who are ready to drop 500-600€ for a complete HOTAS setup.

 

Then add there those who are ready to put 1000-1500€ for a PC and another 400-600€ for a VR or 150€ for TrackIR and good 500-600€ monitor.

 

Suddenly you are fighting with a great HOTAS system in totally another league than 350€ Logitech X65 etc.

 

And that meaning, you want to run business (money to feed you and your family etc) so you need to have business plan for 1-2 years a head. And how you get the sales going there, you are balancing the prices and product availability. As one can't just hire 10 person to assemble new joysticks as you have no money to pay 10 workers for one week work, like you can pay for one worker for ten week work.

 

Sure we customers can be demanding sometimes, but I have been waiting now the VKB MCG Pro for over 14 months. First to get a change to order one, and then now half a year just waiting to get to pay it and get shipping information.

 

Meanwhile I purchased a CH stick just to get couple features needed, that still lacked few that I wanted, and I am very much waiting my new stick to appear.

 

But every time I am starting to feel frustrated, I remind myself about the Russian Tsar order of porcelain ("white gold") set from China, that took 14 years to deliver a table set.

And if you want to know more about the challenge for the work: http://www.russianamericancompany.com/russian-porcelain-info/

 

So 1/14th going here... but when I know that I do not get a Saitek/Thrustmaster level of quality but much much better, I can wait... As DCS World is not just a one year popular game either, it is a dedicated hobby. So what you put money to it, you get back in your experience that you can't get for the price anywhere else by any time, as you would need to put millions out for dedicated simulator and even then just with one aircraft.

 

So think the ordering periods and money in a context that what you would do and get if Virpil and VKB wouldn't exist?

 

No matter how much does the Thrustmaster fame get hyped, they do not reach the level that Virpil and VKB are doing. And that IMHO is the VKB strength that they are not restricted to Thrustmaster bases at all, and what I would like Virpil to do, to move away from that as Thrustmaster is controlling what Virpil can and can't do. That is called Vendor Lock-In situation.

 

I was almost decided to choose Virpil because faster delivery time and cheaper price, but only that Thrustmaster limitation was that put me to elsewhere. I would be otherwise already enjoyed Virpil product for long period now....

 

All the good comes with their own time... You just can't buy them to come sooner.

[dburne]

Yeah I had a new VKB Gunfighter Pro stick sitting here in a box for about a year unused just waiting on an opportunity to get the new MCG Pro grip for it.

I can say though it was well worth the wait and glad I did.

 

These "boutique" sticks like Virpil and VKB are very high quality but the wait can certainly get very frustrating. Once you have it though you soon forget about all the waiting you did to get one.

[mdee]

Yeah I had a new VKB Gunfighter Pro stick sitting here in a box for about a year unused just waiting on an opportunity to get the new MCG Pro grip for it.

I can say though it was well worth the wait and glad I did.

 

These "boutique" sticks like Virpil and VKB are very high quality but the wait can certainly get very frustrating. Once you have it though you soon forget about all the waiting you did to get one.

 

I didn't forget and I still think it was and is unacceptable, despite being rather happy with the products. I have people over trying the setup and while the quality of it is very good, I always make sure that people know what they are getting into when trying to buy it.

Problem is Virpil have monopoly and it is a niche market. Virpil has improved a bit, market is slowly but surely saturating for them, so availability is a bit better, but considering the history, they will keep pushing "upgrades", have "restocks" lasting 10 minutes etc.

 

 

I still want CM2 grip obviously, but won't be waking up again at 5 am to get it after today's fiasco.

Edited February 27, 2019 by mdee

[Wolf8312]

My experience with Virpil went without any hitch whatsoever. Don't know if I was lucky or because I wasn't ordering to america. The online shop I ordered from though always seems to have product in stock. My VKB pedals took like half a year (or maybe I am remembering that as longer than it actually was) and it was a pain in the backside, as I didn't realize until after I ordered them (third party seller though) how long it was going to take. Was worth the wait eventually as they are very good pedals, nice and compact, as well as very precise and sturdy. Really at the end of the day, at the time the choice was a long wait, or some crappy plastic saitek pedals!

 

Its annoying but as I am commited to this hobby I'd rather wait and get a higher end product, than aqquire an inferior one instantly. Put your name on the list and eventually you will get it, but if you dont buy a ticket you won't win the raffle! Buying virpil was a very smooth experience with great customer service for me as well.

 

And I may take her for granted these days but I have to say, fly sensitive modules like the spitfire, and the precision and sensitivity of the stick actually compliments, and improves your ability to fly in a way my warthog just cannot compete. You really are comparing a sleek mongoose with a clumsy lumbering old warthog.

Edited March 3, 2019 by Wolf8312