Pimax Adjusts Payment Model to Lower Flagship Prices with Reduced Refund Options

In a bid to shake things up a bit, Pimax has not only updated its lineup of PC VR headsets but also introduced a fresh financing scheme for both the Crystal Super and Crystal Light models. This move aims to make these PC VR headsets more affordable, though the changes in payment structure and return policies might catch some off-guard.

The Crystal Super, which was first announced in April, is Pimax’s next major release in the world of PC VR headsets. This top-tier device promises an impressive 57 PPD, featuring QLED panels that deliver a jaw-dropping resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye. It’s equipped with a 120-degree field-of-view (FOV), and the glass aspheric lenses used are said to offer 99% light transmission.

There’s more to the Crystal Super, though. It comes packed with eye-tracking, dynamic foveated rendering, and inside-out tracking capabilities. With swappable optical engines and a compact redesign to enhance ergonomics, it’s tailored for VR enthusiasts with high-end GPUs. The 57 PPD variant will make its debut in the first quarter of 2025 and it seems to tick all the right boxes for the VR simulator community.

If that wasn’t enough, Pimax plans to release additional optical engines. There’s talk of a $699 micro-OLED engine and a more affordable 50 PPD QLED engine with a 135-degree FOV priced at $399. Expect pre-orders for these upgrades to roll out early next year.

Simultaneously, Pimax has rolled out an updated pricing strategy for both the Crystal Super and its earlier model, the Crystal Light. This update results in lower prices but introduces a more complex payment system and changes to the return policy. While a slick promotional video from Pimax outlines the marketing highlights, we delved deeper to see how this impacts users.

At a glance, the Crystal Super’s price is dropping slightly from its original $1,800 to $1,695, and the Crystal Light is adjusting from $899 to $858, with both prices including controllers. However, with Pimax, things are rarely as straightforward as they seem.

Enter ‘Pimax Prime,’ a newly launched mandatory financing and membership program. This allows buyers to snag the Crystal Super for an upfront cost of $999, while the Crystal Light is available for $599.

Drawing parallels to the Trial Payment option announced for Crystal Light in May, Pimax is introducing a trial phase. After the trial, you have to pick one of two payment plans. If you opt not to keep the headset, you can return it to Pimax for a full refund.

For Crystal Super users, the choice is between a one-time payment of $696 or splitting it into a $33 monthly fee over two years, rounding out to $792, to maintain access to their Pimax Play software. For those with Crystal Light, the one-time fee is $259, or $12 a month over two years, totaling $288. Missing a payment means losing software access until it’s sorted out.

Once the payments are completed, Pimax Play access becomes free for the headset you’ve purchased—a relief if everything goes according to plan, or if you decide it’s not your cup of tea and want to return it during the trial period.

While Pimax Prime appears to offer extra perks like sneak peeks at new software features, exclusive event invites, and priority tech support, this new approach does change the ground rules for refunds, giving some users fewer options than before while offering lower prices overall.

Originally, Pimax’s Trial Payment plan for Crystal Light included a 15-day trial return policy for any reason, provided it wasn’t damaged by the user, plus a 30-day return in transit-related cases. The new plan now gives a 10-day window, after which you’re tied to a payment plan.

In the U.S., where there aren’t rigid consumer protection laws concerning refunds, this situation differs from the EU and UK, where you can return goods within 14 days without a cause, along with a two-year security against faulty items (excluding user damage and natural deterioration).

A keen-eyed Redditor might have noticed that Prime becomes non-refundable past day 10 unless Pimax decides otherwise. If you hit the 10-day mark and wish to backtrack on the one-time payment, Pimax will decide on refunding you fully, including the Prime subscription.

Moreover, the Pimax 12-month limited warranty excludes “any software whatsoever, whether from PIMAX or third-party, even if made for the Product.”

It remains to be seen if this strategic move by Pimax will sit well with users or overshadow the promising hardware offered at such competitive prices. The flexibility of the program means potential customers should take note of the timeline, especially the trial period’s terms. Paying extra for software that arguably should be bundled with the device is undoubtedly a sticking point for some buyers.

Pimax ensures us that the Prime membership will eventually expand beyond the Crystal line, encompassing upcoming VR models too. We’ll have to see how well this strategy resonates with the community and if it’s here to stay.

Update (November 26th, 2024): Initially, it seemed Pimax Prime was non-refundable based on the headsets’ FAQ, but that’s not the full picture—it’s refundable within the trial period or at Pimax’s discretion afterward. As Jaap Grolleman, Director of Overseas Marketing Operations, clarified, should you return the headset within those 10 days, the base and Prime prices are refunded. This clarification has been added to our text, alongside details about the 12-month warranty.