Any Experiences With Lowrance

SteveHall · 30 October 2013, 11:00

Has anyone had any experience with Lowrance support?

I have the typical Ballistic setup with the X102c and the 3500c.

When I got the RIB the X102c had a fault with the backlight flashing, and from trying to resolve this myself it turned out to be the button that was faulty, and shorting out and continuously pressing. If the keypad was disconnected it worked fine.

I attempted to dry it out, re-seal it, all sorts - but after a slight bit of moisture it would do the same again. I attempted to get support from Lowrance but it was limited due to the age of the unit. So I replaced the unit with another X102c as I wanted to keep the standard look - and had limited funds.

On my last trip out the 3500c has the same fault!

I sent Lowrance a quick mail as I wasn't impressed that both units failed, and my reply was along the lines of send it in and we will have a look at it - but we don't do component level repair. The cost of service exchange is very attractive - sounds to me like they want my unit back and then will say its 5+years old and discontinued and if I give them £££££ they will send me a new one.

jambo · 30 October 2013, 11:06

I had similar fault with my 3500 and got the same response. So I sent it to local marine electronics firm who fixed it no problem. Although I like Lowrance equipment I think their after sales is not up to par IMHO.

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Trimix · 30 October 2013, 11:44

A lot of component manufactures only make their margin selling new product. They are probably unlikley to have staff spare to repair things and as such they will push for you to have the latest model.

Sadly this is the way it seems to go. At best you may end up buying a new one at a discount.

I used to do the finances for an electronics firm - in the end we outsourced all our labour and sub components and ended up just putting circut boards in boxes in order to compete with cheap Far East manufactures. No way could they afford to fix / repair anything. I left before they went bust !

Its a shame that they wont stand by their products and its a shame that companys dont justify a higher price by offering a lifetime warranty

But we are all quick to look for a bargin. Everytime we want to buy something we google it to find the lowest price - so we are partly to blame for the constant lowering of price / service.

SteveHall · 21 November 2013, 18:59

Well managed to get some replacement units, at what I think is a good price.

Gone for the HDS 5x Gen2 & HDS 5m Gen 2 - In hindsight I should have gone for 2 of the HDS 5 Gen 2

willk · 21 November 2013, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHall

Gone for the HDS 5x Gen2 & HDS 5m Gen 2 - In hindsight I should have gone for 2 of the HDS 5 Gen 2

Why not one of each as you did?

SteveHall · 21 November 2013, 20:19

The cost difference vs the redundancy.

But excited and happy with the purchase

willk · 21 November 2013, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHall

The cost difference vs the redundancy.

But excited and happy with the purchase

IMO, you bought well. A second sounder unit means a second transducer and all the crap that goes with it. I'm not sure about running a pair of identical sounders on the same hull?? Anyone? As it is, I think the head units can share the data from the transducer, possibly in depth only format?

If I had a choice of losing my plotter or my sounder, I'd keep the plotter.