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/forthosewhoneedareplacementoculusrift/
and here - https://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/cyfsk3/riftcablenolongerforsaleineed_a/
phoenixdigital
shared this idea
259 comments
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Adam VanLoon commented
argh! I was near the end of Half life Alyx when it's obvious I got too "active" with the cable and it crapped out on me in the middle of playing. now i come to found out i cant get one anywhere except from people that sell it for practically half the price of the headset itself?? Please help! i've only had it for a little over a year and dont want to buy a new headset already
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MXK
commented
When was the full set released first time? 2016? Then all the accessories need to be available for at least 7 years from that date until something like 2023. Preferably 7 years after discontinuing, but if they're already unwilling to manufacture it, something like 6 months after discontinuing, then they definitely not doing that.
I have a/c unit that's been working for almost 30 years now (in SFL!!)! Just recently a cap failed. Was still able to find it and make it work! Talking about craftsmanship. Now it's all about almighty buck!
This is a **** move that will not help grow loyal followers. -
Anonymous
commented
Do the right thing and allow this cable to be made I don't think it would be hard to outsource a contract to develop this cable for 2 more years. Sell the cable at 80 percent above its value and people will still buy it because the CV1 is not a bad device or even close to a bad device yet.
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Nic V.
commented
I really want to ask in person, this is ridiculous. We need an internet personality to cause a PR nightmare before this gets fixed, one can only hope though.
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Róbert Bánhegyi commented
This is unacceptable, the headset is hardly 4 years old. And your proprietary cable, a vital and fragile component of it's funciton is already made unavailable.
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Jeremy Johnson commented
My Rift CV1 cable died, and now I’m left with an expensive and useless headset.
Oculus, if you burn people like this (your early adopters no less) they aren’t going to upgrade. You aren’t forcing us to purchase the next generation of your product, you’re convincing us to switch to HTC and Valve. You’re making lifelong advocates who will tell all their friends and family to never buy anything from you. Please, make cables available!
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James
commented
My Rift CV1 today (purchased 2017) developed a fault where the screen randomly blanks out and sometimes exhibits TV static. I have come to the conclusion that I need a replacement cable as it was seemingly responding to me moving the cable around. Please provide replacement cables as I cannot justify buying a brand new headset as I do not feel there are enough technological improvements/features in newer headsets to warrant upgrading it.
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Tom Mc
commented
Continue support please
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Josie Martinez
commented
mine broke so i had to buy a new one for 100, then the new one broke... all avaliable ones are about 200 what is the point anymore??? why would i spend more than what i bought the entire thing for? im so sad and idk what to do :(((
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Mariano Alioto commented
We need the support that we expected to have, when we bought your product..
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Jason Siniosoglou
commented
I was very sad when I found out that my headset which I had so much fun with is just rubbish at this point because one cable doesn't work anymore... I was really thinking about whether I should upgrade or replace the cable first and when I decided to wait until the next upgrade i saw that still using my oculus rift is not possible anymore. Had very high expectations in these products..
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Anonymous
commented
My dog put his teeth right through the cable.
If this isn't a servicable part, it looks like Oculus has forever lost my business. What a terrible customer service decision. I had been looking to upgrade as well.I know that one person's experience and threats to take their business elsewhere is of little consequence, but seriously, I see 1300 votes that are likely pretty miffed at Oculus right now.
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Aapo Kersalu commented
Oculus, now it is time to support your customers who supported you, believed in you, the customers who bought the original Oculus Rift. By not providing the cable perfectly working headsets are going to be useless and people feel robbed, cheated on. My cable is going soon, I take good care of it, untangle it, etc but it seems to be not enough. If you want to keep your integrity, provide your customers the solution they expect and deserve. Depending on your actions how you handle this people will decide if they will ever buy an Oculus product again.
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Ángel
commented
Oculus nunca más!! Es una vergüenza que traten así al consumidor, por un simple cable ya no puedo utilizar mi visor desde hace 8 meses, por ley, al menos en España, están obligados a suministrar repuestos durante los 5 años siguientes dese la fecha de lanzamiento del producto. Incluso lo querían ampliar a 7 años (no se si se habrá aprobado ya). Visto el tiempo que ha pasado dese que reclamé un cable nuevo dudo que vayan a sacar una solución, así que las Vive están reservadas. Lo vuelvo a decir: OCULUS NUNCA MÁS!!
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Anonymous
commented
i have a CV1, very happy with it, and would feel better knowing such an easily damaged component will still be available for purchase down the line. Please continue making these cables available.
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Ronald
commented
Come on! Just make the **** CV1 cable!! A product like this should be repared by it's users!
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Vince Malzahn
commented
The cords are only lasting me about a year. It's easy to pull on them too much. THESE NOT BEING AVAILABLE IS RIDICULOUS!
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Stephen Nguyen
commented
My wire's kinked and out of warranty, and oculus' solution? Buy a new headset since they choose not to sell anymore cables. Hmmm I don't appreciate a company telling me to unnecessarily fork over more money for a new headset when the obvious cheaper solution would be to just let me buy a new cable. It also makes me question whether I should even buy anymore oculus products after this. We, the customers, are the reason why you guys are able to even continue bringing out new products. Without us, you wouldn't have the money to keep moving forward. So why leave CV1 users in the cold? Start selling CV1 cables again and all will be forgiven.
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Taylor Rosevear commented
I bought a vive the first time around, and I'm glad I did. I recently got a cheap laptop for traveling, that is someone gaming capable its listed as VR ready, because it supports the Vive and CV1, my partner recently upgraded to the Rift S but without a DP I am unable to use that, however, we were planning to replace his CV1 cord and use it with my laptop on our vacation.. Come to find the cord isn't available anymore despite seeing advertisements for the regular Rift CV1 less than a year ago. He bought the original beta prototype and the CV1 as they were available, and its insane that they're dropping support for something that's not "old tech" I strongly doubt he'll buy another Occulus product, and I will certainly be sticking with my Vive. I guess Ill just take my base stations down for our trip and put them back up when I get home!
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Alexander Becker
commented
I'm watching this request now since the beginning. My oculus is stil working (i bought it in december 2018), but this issue really kills the fun of it. Knowing that the cable can break so easily and there is no way to replace it.
I will use it as long as possbile but this issue is the deciding factor if I will buy any oculus product ever egain.