Free stuff from Garmin

[stolzy]

Can't quite believe my luck

I had to buy a refurbished Zumo 550 due to failure of the previous unit. £110 seemed a bit of a rip off at the time, but it came with updated maps (2010 vintage) which was a bit of a bonus.

Unfortunately , the 2010 maps are not available for download to my computer to use in BaseCamp. I complain to Garmin and they give me 2012 maps

Nice one.

 

[Bumpkin]

Result

 

[Roberto]

Result indeed

Can I ask was your Zumo a very long way out of warranty?

It seems to me that Garmin are top notch when it comes to repairs and goodwill replacements. Never needed, touch wood, but all very good to hear..

 

[stolzy]

Can I ask was your Zumo a very long way out of warranty?

IIRC I bought it in 2008

It seems to me that Garmin are top notch when it comes to repairs and goodwill replacements.

IMHO they need to be. The quality of their stuff is very poor.
This is my second replacement 550 and the 2610 I had previously was replaced 3 times (twice in warranty and once after).

My experience of travelling in groups suggests that at any one time around 25% of 550/660 are u/s.

And don't even get me started on the quality of their software (even their support staff are embaressed to talk about BaseCamp).

 

[Bumpkin]

IMHO they need to be. The quality of their stuff is very poor.
This is my second replacement 550 and the 2610 I had previously was replaced 3 times (twice in warranty and once after).

Odd that... I've just ordered my 5th Garmin (StreetPilot 3i, Quest, StreetPilot 2720, Nuvi 765T and now Zumo 660). The 660 has yet to arrive but the previous four haven't had any issues that required a return to Garmin, all running fine last I heard, the SP2720 and Nuvi I still have.

My experience of travelling in groups suggests that at any one time around 25% of 550/660 are u/s.

That doesn't bode well for my soon to arrive 660 though those I've ridden with who have Zumos haven't reported failures in those proportions, in fact I don't recall anyone with a Zumo going U/S on a ride.

And don't even get me started on the quality of their software (even their support staff are embaressed to talk about BaseCamp).

From what little exposure I've had to support staff, and it sounds like you've had considerably more, they've tried to be helpful but with the odd exception don't know the product as well as I do which isn't exactly reassuring. They used to be a lot better with greater knowledge of the product. I suspect that they have now either outsourced their support or have had to recruit less experienced people

 

[stolzy]

Actually I think their support is quite good - on the other hand, it needs to be.

Next significant trip I make will see me carrying on of these as a backup for my 550.

 

[NLC]

I've had three 660s since 2010. The staff in the UK are useless. The staff in the USA are top notch. Best to avoid UK and go direct to US technical support. I use Basecamp and whenever I have had a problem they are quick to fix (eg the head programmer came on the phone when there was a bug that I found). Last unit I have got has worked fine for the last year knock on wood. The last upgrade to Basecamp seems to me like they are taking the Mac more seriously than before.

 

[Ash]

Sent my Nuvi 2350 LT back to Garmin Saturday,as she would not speak to me anymore.
Replacement arrived today and downloading latest mapping FOC as i type.

 

[beemerboy9]

Odd that... I've just ordered my 5th Garmin (StreetPilot 3i, Quest, StreetPilot 2720, Nuvi 765T and now Zumo 660). The 660 has yet to arrive but the previous four haven't had any issues that required a return to Garmin, all running fine last I heard, the SP2720 and Nuvi I still have.

Go on Bumpkin,

What made you succumb to the charms of the 660 when you have been singing the praises of the 765 for a while?

John

 

[Bumpkin]

Go on Bumpkin,

What made you succumb to the charms of the 660 when you have been singing the praises of the 765 for a while?

The Nuvi 765 is a damn good Zumo substitute and will be kept for car duty by SWMBO and as a back-up (not that I'm saying the 660 is going to be unreliable ). However, there are a few annoyances that I'd like to resolve; the main one is steaming up of my Akkron case in poor weather, the heat of an operating GPS and moist air make the display pretty unreadable as the window in the case mists up. I've tried descant but that isn't effective. Then there's phone connectivity, not that I use it much. Convenience of mounting dismounting plus a few other minor niggles. The fact that a 660 can now be had for £322 delivered was the final trigger, I was tempted by £380 so being directed from this site to Pixmania who are selling them at the lower price saw me giving in to temptation.