A big thank you to Garmin

GED · 20 March 2006, 19:34

I bought a garmin street pilot 14 mnths ago, last week when I came to use it, it was bust

and out of warrantee. Got in touch with Maplin who said only Garmin will fix it.....Rang Garmin and told them it was bust and out of warrantee.. they said just send it to them and they would look at it..1 day later they ring me to say ' its f****d and not cost effective to repair, but fax over my receipt and they.ll see what Garmin can do. 2 days later a brand new garmin arrives in the post with all the bits........

NOW THATS WHAT I CALL SERVICE

GED · 06 April 2006, 20:15

As a result of this good service im now looking to put a 3010 on my new rib..does any one have any experience with this unit. Im told the new 3010 is out now with g2 ready! ive also heared g2 charts dont come out till next Jan....

codprawn · 06 April 2006, 21:47

Funnily enough loads of other people say the same thing - nice to find someone who realises that keeping customers happy is good for business!!!

Pete7 · 07 April 2006, 08:25

Ged, you could inform Garmin of this thread, would be good to have someone from Garmin on Ribnet offering advice like that very nice Sir Jon from Icom

Pete

benc · 07 April 2006, 13:26

Woo!

After the winter my garmin 238 started to deterioate and last weekend, half of the screen was no longer working.

I called Garmin, who said it would be a maximum charge of £146 to repair, or if need be, replace the device and it would take 5-8 days to get back to me. I thought this was an excellent price considering the unit it 3 years out of warranty and the cost of a replacement device is about 800quid.

So on monday this week I packed it up and sent it off... and called them yesterday as I hadnt heard anything... they told me the device was on its way back to me, but without a little bit of hassle to find a copy the engineers report couldnt tell me what had been done... I also mentioned the fact that I haven't been told how much it had cost to repair.... he also told me that it had been put in the post yesterday, and should be with me today.

Low and behold 30 mins ago, the device arrived... it is a replacement unit and has been done "under warranty".... absolutely no charge!

I had visions of Garmin calling me and because my unit isn't made anymore I would have to pay a surcharge to upgrade to another device as its out of warranty also.

All I can say is

to Garmin, I believe this must be the best electronic suppliers I have ever dealt with. Thank you Garmin!

ADS · 08 April 2006, 10:25

Had the same experience with a Garmin 128 fixed gps, now have a 152 and an etrex, I wouldn't consider anyone else, because the customer service is excellent and the products are very good.

Alex

Millermob · 08 April 2006, 11:23

we had a similar story with our usb card reader, had bought it from a web site, rang them up and said it won't work, one arrived next day free of charge. Fantastic service. A guy from work also had a problem with his garmin car navigation thing like tom tom, dropped it and the screen cracked, sent it off with a cheque for £25 like they said came back two days later all fixed with the cheque still in the envelope. It is unbeatable.

GED · 16 August 2006, 20:40

Out at the weekend giving it stick!!! and broke a weld on my a frame taking gps antenna clean off to the bottom of the sea. Rang nautiquipe, new antenna on my desk before 9am next day

Lostboy · 17 August 2006, 14:26

We have Garmin plotters on the yacht, and they see some serious damp and handling "issues" with sails going up and down (one is on the binnacle, the other on the chart table) and they have been superb. Their technical support was top drawer when it came to linking it all in to our Tacktick instrumentation and a previous suppliers (cough) aerial. Big thanks to Rich Thoroughgood and the Garmin peeps.

I have a 72 handheld and 120 fishfinder on the rib and they are the dogs, looking at a plotter now and will definitely stick with them.

Downhilldai · 21 August 2006, 11:02

So how do you lot manage to get hold of Garmin by phone? I've just been on hold for over half an hour and gave up. My three month old chartplotter has packed up and I'd like to see if they live up to this outstanding customer service everyone raves about.
Have also sent them an e-mail, so we'll see if anything comes of that.

Jeff · 21 August 2006, 11:13

Ah ....... not enough patience

I sent an e-mail two weeks ago and in the absence of a reply rang them on Thursday last week - two and a half hours pressing 1 and 4 on their auto tel exchange.
When it was answered ( after an hour I just daren't give up !) they were very polite and efficient and I got an RMA number to send my 320C back with an anti-reflective coating fault.
Will let you know how quick they can turn it around.

Jeff

Downhilldai · 21 August 2006, 17:43

No reply to an e-mail after a fortnight and 2.5 HOURS on hold is just taking the pi$$. Can't believe everyone sings the praises of the customer service they get from this outfit.

The Garfish · 22 August 2006, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

2.5 HOURS on hold is just taking the pi$$.

yus. espeshully az itts a preemium rait nummber dat.

letts sea. 150 minits @ £1 pownd a minit = £150

yew cud av bort a noo GSP forr dat yew welch nobbur

Downhilldai · 22 August 2006, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Garfish

yus. espeshully az itts a preemium rait nummber dat.

letts sea. 150 minits @ £1 pownd a minit = £150

yew cud av bort a noo GSP forr dat yew welch nobbur

#

Reed thur powsts yew fishy bellennd.
I only tolerated half an hour before giving up. Jeff was the one who spent £150 (2.5 hours) on hold.

Tried again today and got through after 30 seconds - spent the next ten minutes recovering from the shock and bollocking them for wasting my time the previous day. The very helpful Garmin lady then said she'll send me a software upgrade and a new power lead to see if that works. I'll decide on whether to join the Garmin fan club after trying this new stuff on the GSP.

Mollers · 23 August 2006, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

#

Reed thur powsts yew fishy bellennd.
I only tolerated half an hour before giving up. Jeff was the one who spent £150 (2.5 hours) on hold.

Tried again today and got through after 30 seconds - spent the next ten minutes recovering from the shock and bollocking them for wasting my time the previous day. The very helpful Garmin lady then said she'll send me a software upgrade and a new power lead to see if that works. I'll decide on whether to join the Garmin fan club after trying this new stuff on the GSP.

Spose that might work a little better than the Cornish repair kit, a wire brush and a tub a Vaseline.

jwalker · 23 August 2006, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

... a wire brush and a tub a Vaseline.

I bet that hurts!

Jeff · 23 August 2006, 09:10

ah ........ so that where the worlds supply of vaseline gets to !

..... I now feel a right eeh aww for not realising I was on a premium number !!!

Thanks fishy fiend for pointing this oooot

jeff

Hugh Jardon · 23 August 2006, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Garfish

yus. espeshully az itts a preemium rait nummber dat.

letts sea. 150 minits @ £1 pownd a minit = £150

yew cud av bort a noo GSP forr dat yew welch nobbur

wot u talking bout u knobbers

since wen as the following numbers been premium rate!!!!!

0870-8501242 (within U.K.)
- +44-1794-519944 (outside U.K.)

The Garfish · 23 August 2006, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

since wen as the following numbers been premium rate!!!!!

orl rite. orl rite. i woz jus seain ifn yew ribnobburs woz onn de fkin borl. i mite av nowen dat a skinn flinnt lyke yew wud spott de deliburit misstaik

gaRf

Hugh Jardon · 23 August 2006, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Garfish

orl rite. orl rite. i woz jus seain ifn yew ribnobburs woz onn de fkin borl. i mite av nowen dat a skinn flinnt lyke yew wud spott de deliburit misstaik

gaRf

better in my pocket rather than someones elses!

ps i do owe you a beer for that taxi ride sir..