Pimax Alters Payment Model to Lower Flagship Prices with Limited Refund Options

Pimax has been making waves with the latest tweaks to their PC VR headset series, introducing a fresh financing plan for the Crystal Super and Crystal Light models. This new plan aims to make these premium headsets more budget-friendly, but the changes in payment terms and return policies might cause some to take a second look.

Back in April, Pimax unveiled the Crystal Super, which promises to be their next crown jewel in the PC VR headset arena. This base 57 PPD model boasts impressive QLED panels delivering a jaw-dropping resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye, accompanied by a 120-degree field-of-view. It also features glass aspheric lenses with 99% light transmission, making it a tech marvel.

The Crystal Super doesn’t stop there; it comes loaded with eye-tracking, dynamic foveated rendering, and inside-out tracking. It also sports swappable optical engines, and the redesign focuses on improved ergonomics. It’s mainly geared toward VR enthusiasts with high-end GPUs. The much-anticipated 57 PPD version is slated for release in Q1 2025.

Moreover, additional optical engines are expected to roll out in due course, including a micro-OLED engine priced at $699, and a 50 PPD QLED engine with a wider 135-degree FOV for $399. These nifty upgrades will be up for pre-order early next year.

With the full specs and pre-orders for the Crystal Super on the horizon, Pimax also shook things up with a pricing overhaul that affects both the Crystal Super and the earlier Crystal Light. The changes bring prices down but also introduce some eyebrow-raising modifications to their payment and return procedures.

The base price of the Crystal Super is seeing a drop from the initially announced $1,800 to $1,695. Meanwhile, the Crystal Light is getting a reduction from $899 to $858. Significantly, both pricing tiers now include controllers, but, as with most things Pimax, there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Pimax has rolled out a new financing program called ‘Pimax Prime,’ which is not optional. This scheme lets buyers snag the Crystal Super for $999 upfront, while the Crystal Light is available for $599 upfront.

Continuing from their earlier Trial Payment system for Crystal Light, Pimax provides a trial period to test the waters. Once that period wraps up, you’ll need to either opt for a payment plan to keep the headset’s software functional or return the headset for a full refund.

For the Crystal Super, you’re looking at a choice between a one-off payment of $696 or a $33 per month for two years plan, which totals $792, to maintain access to the vital Pimax Play software. As for the Crystal Light, the one-off payment is $259, or you can go for a $12 monthly payment over two years, equating to $288. Miss a payment, and they halt your software access.

Once you’ve completed your Prime payments, access to Pimax Play is free for the specific headset, which is good news if everything sails smoothly, whether you’re content with your purchase or decide it’s not for you and seek a refund within the trial period.

Yet, Pimax Prime spices things up with perks like early access to software features, invites to members-only events, and priority support, though it’s worth noting it also brings significant changes to return policies. For some customers, these changes might mean less flexibility despite overall lower pricing.

Previously, under the Trial Payment scheme, users had a 15-day window for risk-free returns, if undamaged, and 30 days if there was transit damage. Now, the return period shrinks to 10 days in both instances, locking users into a payment plan post-trial, regardless.

Though the U.S. lacks federal consumer protection laws regarding such purchases, the EU and UK provide a 14-day right of return on physical items, along with a two-year guarantee against faulty products—excluding usual suspects like user errors or accidental damages.

The contentious part here is pointed out by a keen Reddit user, ‘TotalWarspammer,’ who highlights that Prime is essentially non-refundable post-10-day period, barring Pimax’s discretion. If you’re at day 10 and decide to commit to a one-time payment, changing your mind shortly after could leave your refund fate in Pimax’s hands, including the Prime subscription cost.

It is also key to mention Pimax’s 12-month warranty does not cover any software, whether developed by Pimax or others, even if tagged for the product’s use.

Whether this bold move by Pimax pays off is still up for debate. It could detract from the quality hardware they offer at competitive prices, or it might give you just the window you need to assess the Pimax headset’s worth. But the notion of paying for access to software, which arguably should be complimentary, may not sit well with everyone, regardless of the reasoning provided.

Pimax also mentions that this Prime membership scheme will extend to future VR headsets, beyond just the Crystal series. As always, time will tell how this strategy will play out and whether it becomes a permanent fixture.

Update (November 26th, 2024): An early FAQ stated Pimax Prime was non-refundable beyond the 10-day trial, but that’s not entirely accurate—it is refundable within the trial, and potentially after, at Pimax’s discretion, as per Jaap Grolleman, Director of Overseas Marketing Operations. Both the base price and Prime cost would be refunded if the headset is returned within the stipulated period. Also, updated information on the limited 12-month warranty has been added to the above content.