rec.autos.simulators

I just wanted to point out, for those who don't know, that the site to check
out for info and ordering TSW products is http://www.racesimcentral.net/~thomas/

This is the site of Thomas Enterprises, who actually makes the product.  The
site "spammed" so often here, with the negative advertising etc., is
www.tsw2.com, and this is run by a distributor, Bob Hawkins, who doesn't
make it terribly clear that he isn't affiliated with Thomas Enterprises, and
doesn't even provide a link to the official website.

Just keep seeing the spamming of any post regarding wheels with Mr. Hawkins
negativity and official-sounding domain name, and wanted to make sure that
the link to the actual manafacturer was made known.

Although I don't own a TSW, they have gotten great press here in RAS, and
those who've been around a while know Trevor Thomas that he's as class an
act as his products.  I'd advise anyone interested to go "straight to the
horse's mouth".

Ken

And to have that attitude "Put that in your little THRUSTMASTER pipe and
smoke it BOY" - to a POTENTIAL customer, is absurd.  Well, thanks for making
sure I will NEVER buy anything from you.

Come on guy, you're selling TSW stuff, but have cheesy banner ads totally
unrelated to Simracing, and have a big banner on the site for Thomas
Enterprises, that however DOESN'T link to the site.  No class.  And I have
money that could have been used to buy from you, so you're pretty damn
stupid to slam me, and hopefully anyone else will take notice of this kind
of attitude, and not do business with Mr. Hawkins.  You apparently aren't
"THE" distributor for TSW if I can buy directly from them, right?  You are a
reseller.

And, Bob, please tell me, WHY is there an advantage to buying from you?  If
it's the same price, and you get the same support, I can't see why one
wouldn't buy directly from Thomas Enterprises.  And WHY is there no direct
link to them, or any link on THEIR site to yours?

Seems to me you're just a bit upset that someone may bypass you and go
directly to Trev's site.  And I for one certainly hope that Trev doesn't
take kindly to your "business" practices.  If so, then TM will get ALL of my
future business, as well as that which they have already received.  And, NO,
I do not work for them, to assume because I have a positive impression of
them that I am an employee is pretty assinine.  I can think of, oh, TWO
posts from me about TM stuff lately, directly in response to someone asking
directly about TM stuff, unlike the spamming you do whenever someone
requests info on how to resolve a problem with a TM product, and telling
them to toss it and buy TSW.  By your logic everytime my car needed new
spark plugs I'd toss it and buy a Lexus.  And, please find ONE post where
I've disparaged TSW *products*, nope, can't do it.  I just find you to be a
sad example of a businessman, that's all.

Ken

P.S.  I may not know what I "speek", but I can damn sure spell it.

thanks

Kerry Grant

Ok, I got it, I must work for Creative Labs, Gateway, Gravis, CH,
Thrustmaster, Sierra, Janes, Ubisoft, etc. since I use and like their stuff.
Damn hard working that much, but look at all the neat computer stuff I've
got.

Sounds to me like instead of answering any of my valid arguments, and prove
that you might have some shred of class, you want to avoid the issues
entirely.  What are you hiding, Bob?  Most "businessmen" would welcome the
opportunity to show to me, and other potential customers that you have class
and would be good to do business with, instead of hurling childish insults
at customers and whining that if they like the competitors product, they
must work for them.

Huh?  If I work for Thrustmaster, how in the hell can I sell TSW2's?  And
why will you send me money?  What?  Ok, send me money, that part I can live
with.

But when someone says they have a problem with calibrating a TM GP1 or
something, that has NOTHING to do with TSW or you.

Ken

Thats great Bob, but I think knocking the competition is counterproductive and the insults don't help much either. Possibly Trevor could help you with your online etiquite. If not, Thrustmaster may be looking for a spokesman. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Mike Grandy

Powered By ECCI driving controls http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/

    KEN
    I will not lower myself to talk with a THRUSTMASTER employee, like you, you
    can run your mouth as much as you want , of course I will still send you
    your money for the TSW2"s that you sell THANKS AGAIN
    Bob Hawkins

    >

    >>HIYA ALL you to KEN,
    >> First for all you know little of what you speek, I am the distributor of
    >>the TSW2 , I like the product so much that I sell them the THOMAS
    >>ENTERPRISES FOLKS and they are some of the best that you will ever talk
    to.
    >>Second I do not SPAM anyone if a question about a wheel is asked I try to
    >>answer it to the best of my ability. Third you must work for Thurstmaster
    >>because you always talk about them and their and their stuff, but I don't
    >>hold that against YOU. Fourth THOMAS ENTERPRISES SPONSORS My race team
    TSW2
    >>NASCAR RACING TEAM, so I would be up here to work on you even if I was not
    >a
    >>distributor for the TSW2, also THOMAS ENTERPRISES backs all the products
    >>that I sell you get the same from me that you get from them, so put that
    in
    >>your little THRUSTMASTER pipe and smoke it BOY.
    >>Bob Hawkins

    >> P.S. Trev and everyone at THOMAS know and approve of my web site, you are
    >>the only one that does not.
    >
    >
    >Sorry dude - when someone asks a question about a TM wheel, that is NOT
    >asking for you to spam your product.
    >
    >And to have that attitude "Put that in your little THRUSTMASTER pipe and
    >smoke it BOY" - to a POTENTIAL customer, is absurd.  Well, thanks for
    making
    >sure I will NEVER buy anything from you.
    >
    >Come on guy, you're selling TSW stuff, but have cheesy banner ads totally
    >unrelated to Simracing, and have a big banner on the site for Thomas
    >Enterprises, that however DOESN'T link to the site.  No class.  And I have
    >money that could have been used to buy from you, so you're pretty damn
    >stupid to slam me, and hopefully anyone else will take notice of this kind
    >of attitude, and not do business with Mr. Hawkins.  You apparently aren't
    >"THE" distributor for TSW if I can buy directly from them, right?  You are
    a
    >reseller.
    >
    >And, Bob, please tell me, WHY is there an advantage to buying from you?  If
    >it's the same price, and you get the same support, I can't see why one
    >wouldn't buy directly from Thomas Enterprises.  And WHY is there no direct
    >link to them, or any link on THEIR site to yours?
    >
    >Seems to me you're just a bit upset that someone may bypass you and go
    >directly to Trev's site.  And I for one certainly hope that Trev doesn't
    >take kindly to your "business" practices.  If so, then TM will get ALL of
    my
    >future business, as well as that which they have already received.  And,
    NO,
    >I do not work for them, to assume because I have a positive impression of
    >them that I am an employee is pretty assinine.  I can think of, oh, TWO
    >posts from me about TM stuff lately, directly in response to someone asking
    >directly about TM stuff, unlike the spamming you do whenever someone
    >requests info on how to resolve a problem with a TM product, and telling
    >them to toss it and buy TSW.  By your logic everytime my car needed new
    >spark plugs I'd toss it and buy a Lexus.  And, please find ONE post where
    >I've disparaged TSW *products*, nope, can't do it.  I just find you to be a
    >sad example of a businessman, that's all.
    >
    >Ken
    >
    >
    >P.S.  I may not know what I "speek", but I can damn sure spell it.
    >
    >

This was easy for me.  After I read Mr. Hawkins first post, I made
sure I wasn't pointing to his site, made sure I had Trevor's at
http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/
My dissatisfaction with his reply will be reflected in his pocketbook.
:)

Just out of interest Bob, how come you can't answer any of Ken's
questions? What if I ask them instead? Will you lower yourself to
answer legitimate questions about your site and any advantages to
buying a TSW2 through yourself as opposed to going to the Thomas
Enterprises site?

I wonder if Thomas Enterprises still wants to be affiliated with you?

Regards,

Rick Carlson  

replace SPAMKILL with "greatlakes" to respond

As long as Bob keeps the negative advertising down to a minimum, I can
honestly say I'd have no problem buying from him in the future.  Tempers
flared as they can on the Internet, and some things were taken personally
that weren't meant to be, but after a heart-to-heart we came to an
understanding.

So I'll vote for giving the guy a chance, forgive anything that is past and
judge him on future performance, and hope others do too.  And no, I didn't
get a free TSW or anything to influence my thinking hehe :-)

Ken