After years of being exclusively a direct to consumer business, Fanatec has quietly opened the doors to third-party retailers.
As of this week, you can drop a Gran Turismo DD Pro bundle into your Amazon cart or pre-order a McLaren GT3 V2 rim from CaseKing, Overclockers, or Sweden’s Inet. It’s the biggest distribution shake-up for the German outfit since Corsair acquired a majority stake last September. The move seems to be squarely targeting their rivals such as Moza and Thrustmaster, which have already been heavily pushing their products on third-party retailers.
What’s Actually Available?
On Amazon, there are six products right now, the Gran Turismo DD Pro bundle, the McLaren GT3 Rim, the CSL Elite Pedals, the CSL Elite WRC rim, the CSL BMW wheel and the 5Nm CSL DD.
Over in Germany, CaseKing lists a broader range that mirrors the Amazon lineup; however, everything is marked “pre-order.” The same story plays out on its UK subsidiary, Overclockers, and Swedish retailer Inet.
Why the sudden change of heart?
Fanatec has spent the past decade selling exclusively through its own site, a move that kept margins high but limited impulse buys, but also made for sometimes unpredictable shipping times. Under Corsair’s umbrella, the strategy is shifting: more eyes on the product means more volume, which offsets the brand’s recent MSRP hikes. Refurbished units and an extended three-year warranty were the first signs of that pivot; mainstream retail is the next logical step.
What remains exclusive?
So far it seems that Fanatec’s Podium-series and Certified Refurbished stock will stay locked to the official website. In other words, the DD2, DD1, and refurb deals on CSL or ClubSport gear won’t pop up on Amazon anytime soon. Everything else is fair game, so long as the retailers can secure inventory.
Warranty and returns
If you order a wheel through Amazon, you still get Fanatec’s full warranty; the difference is who handles the box. Amazon manages shipping and returns, while Fanatec services any warranty claims. We expect the same will remain true for the other retailers carrying Fanatec equipment. This new process could shave weeks off the dreaded RMA loop for customers in regions where Fanatec’s logistics are slow.
What it means for sim racers
If you’ve been sitting on an Amazon gift card, or prefer the retailer’s no-questions return policy, Fanatec gear just became a lot easier to justify. More importantly, mainstream shelf space legitimizes the brand’s entry-level line against Thrustmaster’s readily available T128 and T818 bundles, as well as Moza’s excellent offerings. Tack on Fanatec’s refurbished store’s aggressive pricing, and Fanatec suddenly looks like the value leader again—something we haven’t said in a few years.”