Garmin is shite. Get it off your chest here.

[Arsey]

You two know the rules of UKGSER. You NEVER use Google. ALWAYS come on here asking instead.

I foolishly looked within the Garmin website for answers. Don’t think I’d tried Google !
When their own staff on the chat function said it couldn’t be done I gave up , assuming they might know, being a Garmin employee !

 

[Nutty]

I foolishly looked within the Garmin website for answers. Don’t think I’d tried Google !
When their own staff on the chat function said it couldn’t be done I gave up , assuming they might know, being a Garmin employee !

Don’t worry, we won’t mention this again

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

I must admit I'd have been on the bandwagon of "Garmin is shite" if I hadn't invested the time to play around and really learn the Nav6 and BaseCamp. I'm by no means an expert in either. I have to admit that as someone who's worked in IT for over 20 years and considers himself very tech savvy my initial impressions of the Nav6 and BaseCamp were not particularly complimentary. I find the UI/UX of the Nav6 and BaseCamp extremely old fashioned and not intuitive at all. Some may say thats because you have gotten used to using a TomTom Rider for years and I'll admit that is a factor, however, in my job I have to adapt to quite a broad spectrum of tech devices and software which means learning new interfaces frequently and for me the Garmin experience is not what I'd call ideal. I also have a Garmin Fenix 5S fitness watch and I've found the app for that clunky and several times Garmn have made a royal cock up in software updates.

But, alot of the above is more opinion and subjective rather than fact. I think personally alot of less tech savvy people will get easily frustrated with the Garmin and especially BaseCamp. They have neither the time or the inclination to learn a piece of software which has quite a detailed feature set which is to some degree their fault, but also some people simply can't get their head around the UI and the array of options.

In my humble opinion, Garmin could do well to make BaseCamp a more web based affair, with perhaps Basic/Pro options to cut down the UI to make it more user friendly to people who aren't as tech savvy. I've found even some of the more basic things difficult to find let alone use in both BC and the Nav itself, which for me is a rarity.

Having said all that, now that I've taken the time to learn the limitiations of the device and software, 2 things I can't influence, I've found if you ignore personal preference it works just fine and does exactly what its supposed to do.

I tried a route yesterday to go visit my parents, going via Mam Tor. I used MyRouteApp to make the route as I find it much quicker to build a route, then imported it into the Nav6. Unfortunately the route the Nav6 decided upon was not the route I'd plotted and also missed out the stop at Mam Tor.

Initially I was p*ssed off, however, having imported the route into BC, playing around with the routing profile/avoidances, largely it was to do with the routing algorithm the Nav6 uses, and also the amount of waypoints I'd input into MRA before I exported.

A couple of carefully placed shaping points in BC, or added to MRA before hand and the route turned out exactly as I'd hoped.

I'm not quite sure what my intended point is, but I think if you ignore the somewhat outdated UI, if you bother to invest the time into learning the device, it'll do exactly what you want, and in most cases when it doesn't, it's user error.

(And my TomTom had it issues too, I'm not a TomTom fanboy, I've had my fair share of it routing down single track farm roads for no logical reason whatsoever).

 

[er-minio]

But, alot of the above is more opinion and subjective rather than fact. I think personally alot of less tech savvy people will get easily frustrated with the Garmin and especially BaseCamp. They have neither the time or the inclination to learn a piece of software which has quite a detailed feature set which is to some degree their fault, but also some people simply can't get their head around the UI and the array of options.

Agree 100%.
Same impression as you, and I work in software development (design side)


I took the time to learn Basecamp, and a lot of it was thanks to Wapping's tips here, and I'm now happy with the result. The sat nav does what I want it to do (98% of the times).
I also use a couple of other Garmin products for Cycling (Edge) and one of their fitness bands. You can see the difference it makes when a products comes out of another Garmin division.


I guess most of the piss-boiling (at least in my case) is that Garmin products are generally very good and you get to like them... but they always have to introduce one massive fuck-up, hardware or software-wise (software being the most affected part generally) and it gets you... and you get very upset. :lol:
Sadly, this is a by-product of a big company like Garmin, that will be slower, more bureaucratic internally and more resistant to change than others. So the product sometimes suffers.

In reality I think one of the problems is that Basecamp is marketed as a consumer product, but it has a steep learning curve and they introduced a lot of features to make it user friendly... but those features don't make any sense and are poorly designed.

 

[Wapping]

I think it’s a great benefit to know nothing about IT and not to expect too much of it. Then BaseCamp and MapSource work just fine. A big screen and a Mac also helps. But that being said, Mapsource on a tiny laptop was OK too, providing I used a separate mouse, not a touchpad or buttons.

People rave on about MapSource, which I used for years. I can’t see a huge difference between it and BaseCamp, for most of the day-to-day stuff. BaseCamp is just more powerful, I guess?

 

[er-minio]

BaseCamp is just more powerful, I guess?

I never used MapSource, can't tell.

Keep in mind the lock-in phenomenon in computer software.
People get used to their systems and it is more complex to make them change.

In the desktop publishing & print world, where people tend to stick to their safe routines, Quark Xpress was the standard typesetting/layout program. Blazing fast, pretty limited in functionality, ridiculously expensive.
Adobe started pushing InDesign, that was superior in almost every way (after a few releases, of course) just slower as it had much more functionality and better previews/file handling.
Yet, it took AGES for people (me included at the time) to Switch to InDesign...

end of storytime

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

I think it’s a great benefit to know nothing about IT and not to expect too much of it.

That statement couldn’t be more accurate! I have the benefit of years in IT, however what I can’t switch off is the expectation or assumption that comes with it. Sometimes I need to switch off that part of my brain and often I can’t. Then I’m over critical of the product because that’s not “how I would have done it”.

I must admit some of the links you’ve shared were brilliant in forcing me to forget how I WANT it to work and get to the bottom of how it DOES work.

I’ve realised what I was doing before that gave inconsistent results so I’m hoping moving forward it’ll be much easier.

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

I never used MapSource, can't tell.

Keep in mind the lock-in phenomenon in computer software.
People get used to their systems and it is more complex to make them change.

In the desktop publishing & print world, where people tend to stick to their safe routines, Quark Xpress was the standard typesetting/layout program. Blazing fast, pretty limited in functionality, ridiculously expensive.
Adobe started pushing InDesign, that was superior in almost every way (after a few releases, of course) just slower as it had much more functionality and better previews/file handling.
Yet, it took AGES for people (me included at the time) to Switch to InDesign...

end of storytime

I work in software dev too and currently our biggest in house financial package looks like it was built to run on Windows 95 yet the business won’t let go of their “but we are familiar with it” mentality. They ignore the fact it is in fact, shit lol

 

[Ash]

Nightmare with Garmin UK..

The Bluetooth on my new XT was u/s.
So rang them & returned it.

My first problem with a Garmin sat nav in nearly 20 yrs..

I took the nearly a week to notify me they had received it.
I was expecting a delay due to covid.
But nearly a week ...

I left it a couple of days & rang them.
I was informed - no stock.
But would contact me the next day.

Surprise surprise nothing.

I ring them & explained how long I've used Garmin units.
( she could see on my account details.
She said they would contact me the next day.

Surprise surprise nothing.

I ring then again & a nice guy finds me a replacement & would dispatch it that day.
Last Wednesday & I would receive an email.

Surprise surprise nothing.

This game went on until yesterday.
When I finally spoke to a manager.
Who promised to sort it out 4 me.

At last I received dispatch details from Garmin & UPS.

A nice new boxed unit arrived this morning.
Brand new unit; complete with all the fixings etc.
Not just a refurbed unit I was expecting..
( refurbed units are there standard replacements )

Nice to get more than I expected; but what a complete ball ache, to get it sorted.
After many hours of speaking for Garmin & waiting to ring me back, as they operate a - call back system.
And call drop outs, we're the fone went dead..

 

[Ash]

8th July
They sent me this email after finding me a unit..
But nothing was dispatched until yesterday & I got a new unit.
Not the original one they said they had found for me

 

[Ash]

Finally a response as promised from yesterday & my response to it.
( at the top of picture )

 

[casbar]

Yes what an absolutely shit service, took a bit more time than you thought, you had to make some calls, but they then sent you a new unit and exceeded your expectations. Stay away at all costs.

 

[Ash]

Yes what an absolutely shit service, took a bit more time than you thought, you had to make some calls, but they then sent you a new unit and exceeded your expectations. Stay away at all costs.

I sent them back a new faulty unit.
So got back a new unit.

But had they not of fecked up I wouldn't of.


If you think 2 weeks of nonsense & piss poor service us ok.
I don't.
End of ...

 

[er-minio]

I think with Garmin is a bit of a russian roulette when you contact after sales services.
I had the XT mount replaced. Chatted with them, shipped the day after, got it in a few extra days.

I know some people that waited ages to get the same part, and we all contacted Garmin roughly at the same time (matter of days).

 

[Ash]

I think with Garmin is a bit of a russian roulette when you contact after sales services.
I had the XT mount replaced. Chatted with them, shipped the day after, got it in a few extra days.

I know some people that waited ages to get the same part, and we all contacted Garmin roughly at the same time (matter of days).

They told me they had stock,had allocated me a replacement & was a simple quick turnaround.
Only to be told later - no stock.
Then no dispatch & no reason why.
Then I finally get to speak to a manager who couldn't apologise enough.
And what I was told was the delay with dispatch wasn't the case.
And when I received the unit today.
It wasn't the one allocated.

Now I'm most grateful to get a new unit rather than a NOH.
But I did send them a unit that had only been used a few times & was as new..

 

[casbar]

They told me they had stock,had allocated me a replacement & was a simple quick turnaround.
Only to be told later - no stock.
Then no dispatch & no reason why.
Then I finally get to speak to s manager who couldn't apologise enough.
And what I was told was the delay with dispatch wasn't the case.
And when I received the unit today.
It wasn't the one allocated.

Now I'm most grateful to get a new unit rather than a NOH.
But I did send them a unit that had only been used a few times & was as new..

As an aside, if you buy a Garmin, isn't the warranty with the supplier, so the company you bought it off, or is going direct another option. Can't you just take it back to the supplier and they just give you a new one, like they do with the BMW Navs.

 

[Ash]

As an aside, if you buy a Garmin, isn't the warranty with the supplier, so the company you bought it off, or is going direct another option. Can't you just take it back to the supplier and they just give you a new one, like they do with the BMW Navs.

I went online to try to find if the fault was recognised & was there an easy cure.
Master reset etc & was advised to call Garmin customer services.

As infinity motorcycles were / are out of stock..

 

[wessie]

As an aside, if you buy a Garmin, isn't the warranty with the supplier, so the company you bought it off, or is going direct another option. Can't you just take it back to the supplier and they just give you a new one, like they do with the BMW Navs.

You have statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act - these are with the retailer and possibly S75 cover with the credit card company. This speaks of the item being of merchantable quality and having durability.

A warranty is a totally different matter and given by the maker in addition to statutory rights. You have a choice which to use but in reality, most retailers would just send the unit back to Garmin for repair. They do not have to offer a refund or replacement to begin with. As there is no stock of the XT anywhere right now, getting a replacement is tricky so the OP was fortunate.

 

[crumbles]

My Xt.....
I bought from Helmet city,would'nt charge,rang them,no probs,
Replaced with a brand new boxed unit,..
Exellent service...

 

[Ash]

Now I have no problem with Garmin being out of stock due to COVID-19.
I'm more than aware of hundreds of thousands of families are grieving the loss of loved ones..

And if poor old Ash hasn't got his Garmin XT when he wants to go out to play, is hardly a hardship at this present time in the world.
( as I have a Zumo 395LM as a spare )

What I will take offence to is piss poor service & being lied to.
And I always will...

For example.
I was told my parcel might be between Garmin / UPS warehouse & they might not know for 48 hours where it is..

So Garmin are dispatching goods with no assignment notification or details. ( Yeh rite )

Every package that goes via carriers has to have as assignment number / label otherwise how the feck would anybody know where its going.
Modern carriers have route numbers, van numbers, drop numbers & customer details etc on the labels
Let alone think of the value of goods that can't be accounted for at anyone time if its not associated with a customer / company..

So how could they dispatch my unit without doing the above..


Bear in mind I had an email to say I would receive dispatch details.
That I finally got yesterday from Garmin & UPS once they had shipped my unit.

PS
I spent most of my working life in transport including being operations manager for Interflora Flowers.
That included being transport manager & during that time helped set up UK wide distribution of flowers on overnight carriers..

So I never came up on yesterdays banana boat..