Garmin Stinks

[GameHauler]

Well my Garmin GPS stoped working.

When I tried to power up my GPS last Friday it said (Upload Not Present)

I tried to call Garmin and was told the wait time was apx. 45 minutes to talk to a real person

So i figured I would just email the info and they would get back to me.

It took them 5 days to get back to me

And the email said please call use at the # I tried before

So I turned on the speaker phone and waited 15 Minutes.

The jerk I got on the line didn't know s&!t

They have a $59.00 Flat rate to repair my unit.

I told him that they had just replaced the unit less than a year ago and the responce to that was

"90 day waranty on repairs"

I told him to take their customer service and put it where only a Proctologest would find it

The Bad part of all this is that there were about 250 way points on it and I have all the goodies to go with it

SO I am in the market for a new GPS and would love any input you have to make a good choice.

It has to be able to hook up to my lap top so I can Draw back roads and trails onto my mapping program as I drive them.

Thanks, Mike

[Ron G.]

What model gps died on you, twice??? Hope it isn't the same one I have...

[DesertBull]

http://www8.garmin.com/support/blosp.jsp

 

Reload the GPS software. It fixed mine when I had the same error message.

I didn't lose any waypoints either.

 

You can also save backups of all your waypoints with most mapping software.

[CouesWhitetail]

Sorry to hear about your customer service issue. Hope DB's advice fixes your problem. Personally I think Garmin products are awesome, but then I have never had a failure with one. And that is despite leaving one baking in the sun for a couple days in the desert in the summer (eventually found it and it was working) and also despite running my GPS over (unintentionally!) with my jeep.

 

Amanda

[GameHauler]

http://www8.garmin.com/support/blosp.jsp

 

Reload the GPS software. It fixed mine when I had the same error message.

I didn't lose any waypoints either.

 

You can also save backups of all your waypoints with most mapping software.

Thanks DB but been there, Done that

Maybe I am doing something wrong

The problem I see is that my computer does no see the GPS

I went into (My Computer) and does not show it hooked up

Any Ideas

BTW it is a GPS12

Thanks Mike

[kwp]

That is interesting. I have the etrex vista and last Saturday it shut off and will no longer turn on at all. I have tried new batteries and also tried with it connected to the car cigarette adapter. I haven't gotten around to contacting Garmin but your experience doesn't make me very optimistic. My unit wasn't dropped, didn't get wet, no abnormal use/abuse. The only thing that I can think of is that at the time I was near the base camp for the Mt Hopkins observatory. Anybody have and ideas if the instruments at the observatory could have interfered with my unit.

 

I really like the unit so far and have not had any issues. Unfortunately I am about 3 months past my one year warranty.

[AZP&Y]

I sent my Garmin back and they replaced it no questions asked for $89.00 - new (refurb) unit. I was exchanging back from 2001 and got 5 solid years out of it.

 

If I was going to get another GPS it would be the Bushnell Onix 400.

Real time satellite over lay maps. XM radio built into the unit. Full color graphics. Quick acquiring transmission (how many times have you waited for the garmin to acquire satellites in thick cover). More than 20 minutes a couple of times.

Also full XM weather satellite that will pinpoint your location, the severity of the storm (via xm weather map transmission).

 

Read on - It's cutting edge and makes the garmin look like a dinosaur...

 

http://www.bushnell.com/gps/gps.cfm

 

AzP&Y

[GameHauler]

Thanks for the input.

I got it back up and running.

That does not change their POOR service.

If I would have gotten someone on the phone that knew something

they could have told me what to do

40 minutes wait on the phone and 5 days to return a email is BS

I will be looking in a new one

Mike

[azsagebrush]

That is interesting. I have the etrex vista and last Saturday it shut off and will no longer turn on at all. I have tried new batteries and also tried with it connected to the car cigarette adapter. I haven't gotten around to contacting Garmin but your experience doesn't make me very optimistic. My unit wasn't dropped, didn't get wet, no abnormal use/abuse. The only thing that I can think of is that at the time I was near the base camp for the Mt Hopkins observatory. Anybody have and ideas if the instruments at the observatory could have interfered with my unit.

 

I really like the unit so far and have not had any issues. Unfortunately I am about 3 months past my one year warranty.

 

KWP,

 

if you get yours up and running please send me a PM, i have the same unit and it won't power up with new batteries. i threw it in a drawer and bought a new one, i have about 200+ waypoints, some i would would like to get back.

 

thanks,

Azsagebrush

[Kelney]

I also would be curious what you did as I have a Garmin that does not power up. My customer service experience was about the same as yours and just decided to buy a new hand held as they are priced fairly reasonable for what I use it for. It is also unfortunate as I really like my Garmin products as I have purchased a number of them that I depend on for my boats as well as my land unit.

[Arizona Griz]

I believe that unit is pretty dated. It might be wise to move on to a more user friendly unit.

[Diamondbackaz]

My brother who is an obsessed mountain biker had one go out after two years of good service. He took it back to REI where he got it and got a refund towards a new one. He tells me that they stand behind the products they sell. I'm getting one soon myself.

[kwp]

That is interesting. I have the etrex vista and last Saturday it shut off and will no longer turn on at all. I have tried new batteries and also tried with it connected to the car cigarette adapter. I haven't gotten around to contacting Garmin but your experience doesn't make me very optimistic. My unit wasn't dropped, didn't get wet, no abnormal use/abuse. The only thing that I can think of is that at the time I was near the base camp for the Mt Hopkins observatory. Anybody have and ideas if the instruments at the observatory could have interfered with my unit.

 

I really like the unit so far and have not had any issues. Unfortunately I am about 3 months past my one year warranty.

 

 

Update on my GPS. I contacted Garmin about 3 weeks ago and was told that they could fix it for $65 so I sent it in (cheaper than buying a new one and I have been very pleased with it) I got a package from them yesterday and they replaced my unit. No explanation as to what the problem was but I got a new unit. They did state that any waypoints, etc. could not be transferred from the old GPS but I have them all on my computer anyways.

 

I'd have to say that I am very happy with the customer service that I received.

[Switchback]

sorry to hear about their customer service, but their stock sure has done great