GPS's on Ebay

[Gremlin]

Having looked on Ebay i have found Garmins at very low prices, looks like they come fom China, as i'm new to this GPS thing I would appreciate thoughts on if this would be a big mistake buying one. cheers.

 

[Pukmeister]

If you mean the cheap 2610 units by Garmin advertised, avoid at all costs, they are scammers. These units are never sold cheap because everyone knows the going rate. Look at the sellers feedback comments, all spoofs and not written in very good english.

Caveat Emptor.

 

[Fanum]

Yep, don't touch'em.

Even if you can find a genuine unit for sale, chances are the base map will be wrong, or the unlock codes will haev been used.

If it looks too cheap to be true, it is.

Quests are under 200 quid at the moment from Dixons group (if you cna find one).

 

[Greg Masters]

Buying a GPS, you generally need to make sure of a few points:

• You'll need to ensure that you can get the unit registered by serial number with Garmin. If the unit has already been registered, you will probably need the registered owner's full cooperation to get it reregistered in your name.
• If the unit is not registered in your name, you may not be able to buy mapping upgrades and you will not be able to download maps you legitimately have.
• Make sure that the unit has the basemap you want - for Europe we are generally speaking of the 'Atlantic' basemap. Not even Garmin can alter the basemap.
• Garmin and their authorised dealers do not sell GPSRs in one continent that are mapped for another. Ask yourself how a guy in the Far East is selling a unit with European mapping.
• Usual eBay warnings apply. Don't send money that you can't afford to throw away.

Greg

 

[rowbo99]

I was following one of these ebay 2610's out of interest

Sold for £83 - Bargain!! - Before the supposed buyer had paid and left the sellers FIRST feedback, the seller was no longer registered with ebay.

I looked at some others and the feedback of 10 all came from people with a score of ZERO and as Pukmeister says, the text wasn't evan legible.

BID ON THESE AND THIS IS WHERE YOUR HARD EARNED READIES WILL END UP :flush

 

[RAM-man]

Buying a GPS, you generally need to make sure of a few points:

• You'll need to ensure that you can get the unit registered by serial number with Garmin. If the unit has already been registered, you will probably need the registered owner's full cooperation to get it re-registered in your name.
  
  Greg makes a very valid point. All serial numbers are recorded and if something happens in the distribution channel and ends up getting sold .. at a boot sale or on ebay - the next unsuspecting user may be unwittingly caught up, as it can also be a fast track route to the Police.
  
  Over the past five years I can say, been there and taken the calls - it does happen !.
  
  RAM-man

 

[Pukmeister]

Just a thought, but why not try Garmin in Romsey and ask them if they sell 'refurbed' GPSR's. They must have a few repaired items now and then, you might get lucky and save a few pennies to boot. You can find their UK number on their website. And I quote:

GARMIN SERVICE IS HANDLED DIRECTLY BY GARMIN:
To obtain warranty service an original or copy of the sales receipt from the original retailer is required. GARMIN will not replace missing components from any package purchased through an online auction.
Warranty and contact support is centralized at:
HTTP:// WWW.GARMIN.COM/contactus/index.htm Contact can be made direct with Garmin UK at Garmin Europe Ltd, Unit 5 The Quadrangle, Abbey Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9AQ
Telephone +44 01794 519 944

I purchased my BWM Nav2 (same as 2610) on eBay from a used car audio guy and had a bit of a verbal battle with Garmin to get it re-registered with my details as owner, even though it originally came from a German owner and had a returns authorization number sticker (warranty repair) on it. Eventually I got lucky and they graciously transferred ownership to me and replaced the missing software CD's but they told me it is not their policy to do so (see above).

 

[Gremlin]

Ebay Garmins

Thanks guys, all your comments have been noted and i shall heed your advice, thanks for your time.

 

[PanEuropean]

Good points made by everyone here.

Another big issue that needs to be considered is this: Even if the eBay seller that is offering the GPSR is Mother Theresa, and you have no worries of any kind about the integrity of the seller, you still need to have an above-average knowledge of cartography versions, licencing issues, and so forth if you are buying used GPSRs. Most folks who are buying their very first GPSR don't have this knowledge.

This means that if Mother Theresa offers her SP III with CityNavigator Europe version 4 on eBay, you buy it, it arrives by post the next day, and you later find out that the cartography is 6 years old and the GPSR is slower than molasses in January - there's really squat-all you can do about it.

Michael

 

[Kritou]

This means that if Mother Theresa offers her SP III with CityNavigator Europe version 4 on eBay, you buy it, it arrives by post the next day, and you later find out that the cartography is 6 years old and the GPSR is slower than molasses in January - there's really squat-all you can do about it.

......... nun whatsoever ............

 

[Yellow Peril]

All the above taken on board but if you do your research and now your prices you can get some bargains, I bought a BMW NavII with city version 6 for the princely sum of £195. I am have a whale of a time playing with it, mainly in the car at the moment but it is all good practice.

 

[PanEuropean]

...if you do your research and know your prices...

Those are very much the key words. You need to do a lot of research, and know quite a bit about the product line you are looking at before you even consider making a bid. But, if you do know the product well, there can be some good buys to be had on eBay.

Michael

 

[captain_dangerous]

I got a Garmin Quest at PC World, Chester (last one) £199.99 . Tip, go to Dixons and they can locate stock in local area (the search includes PC World); they may even do it over the phone.