GC3 without software

[bubbtubbs]

I have no firsthand experience with this so don't take my word as fact, but there have been several people on WRX who have claimed you can purchase a GC3 without FSX package for $4K through a rep. Sort of a "hidden menu" kind of thing.

Anybody else heard about this?

[Gresh12]

Not sure if you meant to put this in the Foresight section instead of Flighscope but I’ll add some here say.

I heard in late 2021 the plan was to sell the GC3 in 2022 when supply was better without FSX. However this is intended to be for people that have FSX currently and have already bought it. I think intent is support GC2 owners who want to upgrade without having to rebuy $3k software they already own. I do not think they intend people to get the hardware and use it without either buying FSX outright or subscribing for Launch Pro.

It’s not impossible people figure out how to get around the FSX requirement but I don’t think Foresight is intending people to have a useable device for $4k and no subscription.

[pcascio]

IMO, it's much better to have the Mevo+. Flightscope was willing to offer affordable launch monitors that are within reach of more golfers. I respect that. It's a good product at a relatively reasonable price.

Foresight, OTOH, seems too worried about it's high-end market. The GC3 would have been a huge hit, and very profitable, at $2,000. Instead, they decided to market it like a Vacation Time Share -- fractional ownership, a purchase that you'll continue to pay for, and probably end up regretting. I was excited, and ready to buy the Bushnell version of the GC3, until the price was announced at 50% more than I was expecting. At that point, I decided I'd rather reward the company that's trying make launch monitors and golf sim more affordable. For me, that's Flightscope. My Skytrak was good, the Garmin I owned briefly was okay, and the Mevo+ is better than either of those.

[christopherknoop]

Correct me if I am wrong but, isn't the GC3 without the FSX software just like purchasing the Bushnell Launch Pro and not purchasing the yearly subscription...

[Jnc10]

it really is not,. Gc3 is unlocked for everything without a sub, the Lp is not unlocked for anything unless you subscribe
to gold

[bubbtubbs]

I can't answer that, unfortunately. The only way to know for certain will be when they manage to bypass FSX for the third-party software options. Right now you have to run it in the background, if I understand the process correctly, so there isn't a way to test if the club data is showing up since all the units are either the platinum package BLP or unlocked GC3.

[christopherknoop]

Ah ok, you are more talking about getting the data from the GC3 to another Sim product without FSX?

Because I can just turn my unit on and start hitting balls and my data shows up without the use of any software.

[dusterbuster]

FYI, I reached out to Foresight to inquire about purchasing the GC3 hardware unit by itself, and then separately purchasing a software license. This has a big impact on the sales tax treatment in California, which doesn't charge sales/use tax for software downloads/licenses. The sales rep said the software license purchase was required with the hardware purchase, and issued a draft invoice that showed a $4,999 price for the GC3 unit, and $2,000 sale price ($3,000 normal price) for the FSX software license. The sales tax on the invoice was calculated solely on the $4,999 hardware unit, not the software license. Interestingly, if you order from the Foresight website, they calculate California sales tax on the entire $6,999 price for the essentials bundle. So if you're in California, you'll reduce the sales tax if you work with a sales representative who will issue a purchase order that separately breaks out the cost of the hardware unit versus the software license.

However, I believe the best deal for California residents would be to order the Launch Pro from Bushnell for $3,000, in which case you are only charged tax on the $3,000 hardware unit (plus you get free shipping, unlike the $95 shipping charge by Foresight). Assuming Bushnell calculates the sales tax correctly for the $3,995 Gold software unlock, they shouldn't charge any California sales tax for the software purchase. Overall, it's almost a $500 cash savings for California residents to go the Bushnell route, versus ordering the $6,999 GC3 essentials bundle from the Foresight website.