Here’s the problem with gadgets made of tiny pieces of plastic: tiny pieces of plastic break. They fall off and disappear. Their absence means that those gadgets no longer work Nikeros owns the Logitech G-27 racing wheel, a cool-looking gaming accessory that
currently retails for more than $200. A small part of the wheel broke, rendering the whole thing unusable. Figuring that the part would be easily replaced, he checked with Logitech for a parts list. There are no extra parts for sale to consumers: it’s buy a new wheel, or nothing.

It was said that for want of a nail the shoe, then the horse and subsequently the war was lost. For me a $2 piece of plastic was lost, and now I have a perfectly good Logitech G-27 gaming wheel that will not function. A small plastic disk which attaches the wheel to the driving unit mechanism broke, so I went to the Logitech website hoping to find a parts list. Wrong! No such list exists.

I then called tech support and after waiting on hold for 45 minutes the tech rep came on and in the typical corporate tone (do all corporations operate from the same script written by a failed TV Soap writer?) informed me that they don’t have any parts for the wheel. Yes, they still manufacture the wheel, but they won’t sell me the part.

Then, in a tone of voice suggesting that he was referring to the passing of my mother, he asked me if there was anything else the company could do to ease my pain. I had a few ideas on the subject, but I refrained from vocalizing them. So now I’m left with a useless piece of junk. Maybe I can fashion a horseshoe out of it.

That would only work for playing an incredibly boring PC game about horseshoes that doesn’t require a functional controller. You could always use the wheel to train backseat drivers (see: Simpson, Maggie.) Which isn’t very fun. The reason why this story caught our attention is that when a story about Logitech shows up in the Consumerist mailbox, it’s positive. Calling to inquire about replacement parts or out-of-warranty repair usually earns customers a free replacement thingy from Logitech. Let’s reminisce:

• Trying To Order Replacement Part For Logitech Keyboard Gets Me Brand New Keyboard For Free
• Emailing Logitech VP Gets Out-Of-Warranty Remote Fixed
• Logitech Miraculously Sends You A New Remote When Yours Dies
• Logitech Helps You Out Just Because They Feel Like It

Granted, it’s not always sunshine and puppies when dealing with Logitech. One reader’s replacement remote came only after launching an executive e-mail carpet bomb, but the item was well out of warranty. Another used Twitter to catch the company’s attention while the product was still in warranty.

Nikeros didn’t say how old his wheel is, or its warranty status. The product has been on the market for a few years now, so his could be well out of warranty. Check likely forums to see whether other customers have experienced the same problem and found clever solutions to it. Otherwise, the EECB and Twitter methods mentioned in the last paragraph are a good place to start.

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