I'm pretty sure Foresight is a terrible company that has a poor business model.

[bm11]

Strong words around here I know, but hear me out on this-

I bought a used one on Ebay a couple weeks ago and it happens to need a battery. I called today to order one ($60) and was told I needed to speak to a salesman, which there were none of available. I got a call back about four hours later and spoke to Tim. Tim was very polite but informed me that as I bought the unit second hand, I'd need to pay a $500 registration transfer fee before I'd be able to buy a battery. In addition, he really recommend I send the unit in to get checked out, to the tune of $3000.

Now as you might imagine, I was pretty floored by this. I bought a used GC2 at a very slight savings- about $1600 below what their current sale price is, but I did it because they are a reputable product with strong resale. I wasn't 100% confident it was for me, but I did it because they hold their value well and I knew that if I changed my mind, I could resell it and not sustain much loss.

Knowing what I know now, I'd have a really tough time making the decision to purchase, as any company that tells second owners of their product that they'd need to pay a $500 fee to be considered a customer has serious problems. It means that they don't back their product. Any time you are dealing with a product approaching $10k new, resale is a concern and refusing to sell maintenance items to second owners without paying a ridiculous fee will effect resale and ultimately the long term viability of the company.

Again- I'm not complaining about having to pay for maintenance. That is a given, the battery is a wear and tear item. But it is completely foolish to have to pay a fee to buy that item.

Rant over, and I only felt it necessary to put this here because I hadn't read anything about it before and it certainly would have effected my decision to buy.

Buyer beware.

-Bob

[Sledge0001]

Play nice kiddies...

I would be concerned as well if someone tried to charge me 500 bucks to be eligible to then order a battery. That's terrible customer engagement.

[Misike]

Pretty bad customer service there. Hopefully just one ignorant salesperson, and not company wide.

[cspin]

If FS has implemented a $500 transfer fee it's a BS move. It impacts original unit owners, and also those who previously purchased second-hand units without the fee. Seems to me that they would not be able to do this without proper disclosures and making it known to those who buy the units new (i.e. that when/if they ever decide to sell there will be a transfer fee). I bought a new unit from FS and there was no such policy in place at the time. I had a good experience with FS when I bought the unit.

The $3,000 can't be right.

bm311, let us all know how this gets sorted out.

[bm11]

If FS has implemented a $500 transfer fee it's a BS move. It impacts original unit owners, and also those who previously purchased second-hand units without the fee. Seems to me that they would not be able to do this without proper disclosures and making it known to those who buy the units new (i.e. that when/if they ever decide to sell there will be a transfer fee). I bought a new unit from FS and there was no such policy in place at the time. I had a good experience with FS when I bought the unit.

The $3,000 can't be right.

bm311, let us all know how this gets sorted out.

This guy gets it. It DOES impact original unit owners- if there is a $500 transfer fee it there is a pretty significant impact to the resale value of everyone's investments.

Buying second hand I didn't expect to get free support, nor was I trying to. But I certainly didn't expect to have to pay $500 just to be eligible to order replacement parts for a product that I am the rightful owner of.

[Mxwoodman]

I guess FS needs to give everyone that bought a new GC2 a $500 rebate or get everyone that has a bought a new GC2 to start a class action suit against them since this has now decreased the resale value and was not part of the service agreement when purchasing a new GC2 from them.

[cspin]

FS lawyers are way ahead of you...

C. You agree that the U.S. Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this provision, and that you and Foresight Sports are each waiving the right to a trial by jury and the right to participate in a class or multi-party action. This arbitration provision shall survive termination of these Agreements and the termination of your Foresight Sports account. The arbitration will be governed by the Commercial Arbitration Rules and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA Rules”), as modified by these Agreements, and as administered by the AAA. You and Foresight Sports agree that these Agreements involve interstate commerce and are subject to the Federal Arbitration Act.

[Mxwoodman]

Not way ahead of me at any point. they can do what ever they want but will they still have a business after gouging every customer they have, this is just a joke by a very small company and think that no one else will every compete with them, This is bad business no matter how you look at it and if this is how you want to be treated then there are way more bad businesses that will take your money, it's crazy that is ok by anyone, their lucky right now its a small high end market without any or much competition yet in 5 years what will be the LM you have? Someone gouging on consumables doubt it. So I bought a GC2 directly from FS and they have been great to me, but they don't seem to care about their customers and I really want to upgrade to FSX and add on the HMT but all this BS is holding me back and I don't think it's worth reinvesting back into FS with all this crazy gouging and I just don't trust them anymore. I'll wait until there's a better option and move on and in less FS changes their tactics I will no longer invest in their products or their company and I'm not at all worried about resale of the GC2 since it's very easy to give away or take it to the dump.

[kaaayelll]

The salesman I spoke with today (not the same guy) told me the same story and could not have tried harder to dissuade me from buying a used unit.

[Ronsc1985]

To re iterate- I called and tried to order a battery... Which I would pay for. They wanted $500 to be considered a customer eligible for paying for a battery. And you call my post "moaning and groaning."

I think my post is pretty legit. And I think yours is pretty "fan boy."

Again there are numerous posts here about how to get a new battery pack for 60 bucks or less. Instead of posting BS complaints try reading a little.

I'm also always amused when people start telling a company how they should run their business. Unless you are a part owner or have shares of stock you have no voice in anything. Anyone with a lick of business sense has to realize when you are dealing with a single source situation you have exposure to the whims of the company. Your example of Toyota is irrelevant. I cannot swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Toyota dealership, parts or repair business.

Maybe you can write another letter to Foresight and they will give you a complimentary wad of play dough or a puppy to sooth your hurt feelings.

[Thinman]

lol, I have $6500 voices that will not be speaking to foresight as a result of this.

[Thinman]

i hate the golf industry so much. is there any other consumer segment that gouges it's customers more?

ProTee United Keep up the good work. You are the exception to a sad rule in the industry. if i had a perm indoor location available to me, i'd be looking your direction for sure.

[bm11]

Again there are numerous posts here about how to get a new battery pack for 60 bucks or less. Instead of posting BS complaints try reading a little.

I'm also always amused when people start telling a company how they should run their business. Unless you are a part owner or have shares of stock you have no voice in anything. Anyone with a lick of business sense has to realize when you are dealing with a single source situation you have exposure to the whims of the company. Your example of Toyota is irrelevant. I cannot swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Toyota dealership, parts or repair business.

Maybe you can write another letter to Foresight and they will give you a complimentary wad of play dough or a puppy to sooth your hurt feelings.

You are right. I should just keep my mouth shut and take it.

OR maybe I'll keep doing what I'm doing here. Because people need to know. Yeah that's what I'll do!

[Jasonstanley]

I think it's good you posted this, sounds like they're a bunch of crooks, I certainly won't have anything to do with foresight after reading thus

[wbond]

I agree. If people don't post things like this, then many more would get blindsided like this as well.

[ShootingLow]

Ha. The vitriol is hot!

Doesn't the company provide a full suite of service and support to direct clients for free?

And take another major player in the game in Trackman. Purchase a 5 yr old TM. Would there be an annual cost associated with updating and servicing your unit?

[bm11]

Doesn't the company provide a full suite of service and support to direct clients for free?

Not as far as I know. They want $65 plus labor= about $200 to replace the battery, they want $200 or so to replace the front leg, in my case because I'm a second class citizen they suggest I spend $3000 to have them go through the unit from front to back. I'm not sure what service they provide for free, but again I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A FREE HANDOUT. I AM LOOKING TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR SERVICES. I REFUSE TO PAY A $500 FEE THAT WAS ENACTED THIS WEEK TO BE CONSIDERED A "REAL" CUSTOMER WHO CAN THEN SPEND MONEY FOR PARTS AND SERVICES.

Business is the exchange of currency for products or services. For $500 I am getting neither, it just allows me to then do business with them. $500 gets literally nothing.