Continue selling Rift (CV1) cables
Rift CV1 owners are concerned at the recent decision to stop selling the Rift CV1 accessories only 6 months after the sale of the last headset. Of particular concern is the lack headset cable which is probably the most fragile component. The expectation that we should buy a whole new headset if this $50 part fails is a major concern.
Many circumstances can occur outside of warranty conditions like
- pets can chew this cable
- accidental twisting over time fatigues the cable
- accidental falls can pull the cable from the PC
All these circumstances are not Oculus' fault and should not be handled under warranty. However the end user do have the expectation that they can repair a commonly failing part for their headset.
Consumer rights in the USA are very weak and favour companies over consumers. However in the EU, Australia and New Zealand the laws state that spare parts should be available for a reasonable amount of time after the product is discontinued. 6 months is not very reasonable considering that most users have an expectation that PC components should last between 3-5 years.
Ref: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/products-and-services/problems-with-a-product/cannot-be-repaired
A survey of 250 Oculus users seems to suggest that most Rift owners expect to get approximately 4-5 years from their headset
Source of results can be found in comments for above image.
Many of us understand that this cable was possibly being made by a third party who has made the decision to no longer supply them to you. However you made the design decision to go with a proprietary cable so unfortunately the onus is on you to abide by consumer laws and will have to either make freely available design specifications and connector patents so a 3rd party can make them or source a new supplier for this cable so you can sell it yourself.
Your quality end user support compared to other VR headset vendors has earned you a great reputation in the VR community in recent years. This quality support has definitely helped accelerate the growth of your marketshare with as Oculus owners recommend your headset to family and friends based on how good your after market support is. Please don't tarnish this reputation and abandon the early adopters that have helped to grow your ecosystem. We want to remain Oculus customers but it becomes the standard that headsets (including the Rift-S) will be abandoned 6 months after the product is discontinued from sale many of us will have second thoughts about buying future Oculus products as well as using the Oculus store.
More voices here - https://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/cynbei/for_those_who_need_a_replacement_oculus_rift/
and here - https://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/cyfsk3/rift_cable_no_longer_for_sale_i_need_a/
phoenixdigital
shared this idea
266 comments
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Anonymous
commented
The original cable was of a faulty design, using too small of a gauge wire for the stresses the cable would undoubtedly face during use. This isn't just a matter of replacements for cables worn by use, but of a product that should have been recalled shortly after launch. It's no surprise that Oculus changed the cable spec for the Rift S. That was tacit acknowledgement of the issue.
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Otavio Oliveira Bopp commented
The fact that Oculus is blocking a very simple repair for a very expensive computer part that's still cutting edge for most people is why I will never buy another oculus product. Facebook, you can make me buy a new headset, but I will not be buying anything from you.
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Fell
commented
I looks like I will have to buy an entirely new headset, just because the cable made with wires as thin as human hair broke for the second time.
It's a shame that a part that's subject to normal wear and tear is not offered as a replacement anymore for reasons unknown.
Me and my girlfriend love VR, but Oculus is continuing to disappoint us. I will have to buy a new headset and it's not going to be an Oculus product. I can tell you that.
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Dominik
commented
Perfectly fine hardware merely 2 years old ready to be thrown in the trash because of ****** proprietary cables and no available replacements.
With a mindset like that, it really is no surprise that the planet is drowning in garbabe.
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Ethan Householder
commented
The fact that the company is trying to make me buy an entirely new system instead of letting me buy cables for my old cv1 headset is ridiculous. You basically said ********* to all of your existing fanbase. I hate losing my oculus games but I WILL NOT EVER BUY AN OCULUS PRODUCT AGAIN. Why should I? So that you can make me pay for a new system when you decide to stop supporting your old one? No way. I will continue to tell this to every tech minded and gamer person that I know. This is borderline extortion. "nice game library you have there... be a shame if you couldn't use it." Sell cables to power existing platforms or at the very least release the patent so a third party user can manufacture them and keep an existing userbase alive. Its much easier to keep old customers than get new ones. If the situation remains as is, then I am sad to say today you have lost me and anyone I can influence.
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Michael ٿ Šubák commented
So this is hyenism. In order to stop making cables and we were forced to go to a new headset for a broken cable.
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Sean Smith commented
Please start selling the cables again. I bought the CV1 on pre order before it was ever available. I've been with Oculus since the beginning. I don't want to change from my CV1. The only other option is a valve index or other brand. Current Oculus options are junk right now. I bought a Quest 2 a few days ago and I am returning it for a number of reasons. The VR community needs these cables to be made again. PLEASE!!
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Hussell USA
commented
"Please continue selling Rift CV1 spares for a reasonable time"
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DaLester
commented
I have been very happy with my Rift, touch controllers, and sensors, but my cable has gone out from use. Looking at either the Quest 2 or the Rift S, they are downgrades in more ways than I am willing to accept, and I would love to keep using the platform that I have invested over $700 in hardware and who knows how much in software. If Oculus is unwilling to keep manufacturing the cables, than please release the specks so that some other company can produce them and keep us in the Oculus family. When I was a kid, MadCatz or whoever would have had this cable on the market like 5 minutes after the problem showed itself.
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Alex
commented
The only thing i would buy from oculus would be a cable (well, depending on the price, i don't want an overpriced cable, if that would be the case i would just go to some other brand of HMDs).
I kinda repaired my sensor (though it still fails a lot), it could be opened "easily" but the only way i found was to totally break the outer shell, so i did print a new one. (for anyone wondering, the front lens it glued, the body should just slide out from the front, the stand can be pulled out with some force, then it should just slide out without a problem)
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Brian
commented
I have 2 rifts that have now had their cables fail. I have 6 sensors, and 2 sets of touch controllers, and the failure of 2 chords has rendered my 2 separate VR systems useless. The fact that these cables can no longer be replaced doesn't come as much of a surprise since you can no longer get any of the parts for the CV1 and it was pretty much abandoned the second Facbook took over. I will not be investing Oculus anything going forward. IS there anyway at all to fix these wires? does anyone offer a refurbishing service?
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Ramón
commented
Same thing here: cable seems to be the reason for discconections that makes impossible to have a gaming session.
Oculus support simply states that there are no cables. Not beign able to acquire a replacement seems a concious decision to abandon users.
Not feeling like buying an Oculus device any more.
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Az
commented
Please sell! i really want my original rift back! the wire got twisted by use of many people daily, and i was really sad when i couldnt see anything in vr!
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Joshua Figueroa
commented
Still even at this time, oculus still hasn't decided to sell these cables? My god, I am sorry oculus, but I am pretty damned sure its not my laptop, it was working perfectly fine before. Yet you give me false info. Sorry Oculus, I feel cheated.
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Rorypetts@live.com
commented
Been through one new cable and two refurb replacement cables (two refurbs of which came from oculus broken and useless). I bought the CV1 at full price but was unable to use it for two years as my PC wasn't good enough. This CV1 was the most expensive single thing I had ever bought outside of PC's over the years. I simply cannot believe that oculus thinks I could recommend their headsets to others after seeing them release bi yearly products and failing to support old ones. it makes you feel like they are manipulating you into buying the new products by tying your hands only to discontinue them too!
Say I get an oculus rift s. bet you cant get replacement cables for that. Say I get a oculus quest 2. bet you wont support that in a few years when you bring out the one you need an ID card to use.
Disgusting company policy.
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Anonymous
commented
Hey Everyone,
G R E A T N E W S !!!
We are currently Producing Cv1 Replacement Cables!!
We're working with Spectra 7 currently and would like to know if you'd be interested in purchasing our products.Please take a look here:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/virtual-reality-cables-virtual-link-rift-rift-s/x/25363745#/I would like to provide accessory support for your VR Systems.
Let me know what you think!
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Jason Sobrati
commented
*********. Honestly, Facebook must know the cable has a manufacturing flaw - since a large sample fail at the same position. Rather than fix the issue, it was just cheaper to minimize impact, get them off the shelves.
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glenn
commented
can someone at oculus listen??? Thousands of your customers need access to the cv1 headset cable.
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Henry Borreli
commented
adding my 2 cents here.. these cables are soo fragile.. please keep selling!
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Anonymous
commented
Why not selling this **** cable ?!! Such a shame !!!
I am a DK1 and DK2 owner, and i think CV1 will be my last Oculus product ! Every move you make, like the obligatory Facebook account makes you lose the battle.
Even when i supported DK2, i was disguted to know just few weeks later, than you bought Oculus !!
EVERY MOVE.