Costco selling Garmin 2009 map updates

Looks pretty cheap. I wonder if the stores carry it.

I was in Best Buy today and they only had the 2008 map updates, marked $73.95. I wonder how many unsuspecting people will buy that thinking that 2008 is "current"?

i need a 2009 im not able to gt one for free from garmin

Wal-Mart has the 2009 maps for < $70.00

I bought my 2009 update through Amazon - The actual dealer was ANTOnline. Price was $54, no tax, and shipping was $4. I ordered online on a Sunday and had it by Tuesday.

i got a free 2009 update threw Garmin.. downloaded it for free of the site.. was able to update my nuvi 350 and 750

It's tempting, but there haven't been enough changes yet for my purposes.

When I feel it's time to update the maps, I'll probably end up buying a new unit, since the prices have dropped dramatically. (You can buy a StreetPilot 7500 at Costco.com for $499.99!!!)

-Dave

I went to the Garmin site, into my account, and they wanted $69.99 for the 2009 map, even in the download section. If you got it free, you are the man..

Just bought a Nuvi 260 with 2009 map.

I got it free but i just bought my gps. ha

Are you guys finding any compelling reason to upgrade? I was following another thread which made it sound like more trouble than it was worth. This would have to be a paid upgrade for me unfortunately.

The only compelling reason, in my opinion, is if you have found that your unit has not been able to locate addresses at all, locations are wrong, *AND* that you have verified that those same locations are now present or fixed in the 2009 update.

On the other hand, if you are like the majority of us, who haven't really found or go to places that are problems in the 2008 (or older) maps, then there probably isn't really a great reason to update.

Cheers,
PT

But they still may not be current. I have gone for years without updating my maps and have gotten along just fine. I really think it's a waste of money to upgrade every time a new map comes out. I went from vers 4 to ver 8 without a problem...

Why do you suppose they have shipping and handling when they aren't shipping anything ( you are picking it up ) and they aren't handling anything ( you go to the aisle and get it using your own hands ). Do you suppose they've begun to charge you for your own labor?

That's great info - appreciate the posting of the information

I have paid for the last two upgrades, and the road changes in the areas I go have been minimal. Despite filling out forms and submitting them to Navteq, they are often way behind on adding and changing roads. There is, however, no easy way of seeing how many changes there have been to the database for stores, restaurants, etc.

over here in the Inland Empire. there was a brand newly constructed section of the 210 freeway that in the 2008 maps. would show me driving over land and green grass as i was on the new freeway.. after i updated the 2009 maps it showed me driving on the new freeway lol i love driving on the road

Freddie40 - gerrydrake said he found the update on costco.com (website)- not in the stores. They are shipping the product if you buy it on line.

Oh I see, I missed that. I guess it makes sense then.

Amazon had 2009NT yesterday for $58 and change with free shipping !
Wasn't going to update my C340 but .............. !

I'd be interested in knowing if the new I-355 southern extension has been added yet. It isn't exactly rocket science to figure out which way to go (just keep going south per the signs) but I guess if you're using routing then the map needs to be up to date.

Go to the Garmin site and look at the new maps and check.

PT

do you have a link to where on the garmin site u can actually look at the maps?

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/citynavnt.jsp#
Click in the upper right corner "mapsource map viewer" and go from there..

Just curious how long it takes for changes to appear after they've been reported to navteq?

Doesn't seem to me to have been significant enough changes in the last year to be worth the money to me.

I reported an error regarding the street I live on 5 or 6 years ago, it was just corrected in the 2009 version...

The error wasn't a new street addition, it showed a street where there wasn't and never had been one...

I have the 2009 update, and yes, the new I-355 extension is now on the map. I live west of I-355 in Aurora and work in Oak Brook, and I can confirm that there have been MANY map updates in the western suburbs. Haven't been into Chicago itself yet, but the 2009 update is well worth it just for the updates that I have seen so far.

NAVTEQ wrote to me this past week to let me they included the south portion of I-355, which was missing from earlier updates. In March this year, I had reported on their site the absence of this portion of the road. In this sense, the 2009 update may be worth it. I am not sure of other stuff. I have been having trouble lately with the internal POI listed on my Nuvi 680 - with 2008 update. Some are so out of date to the point of embarrassment. Some of the downloaded POI are not faring better. Maybe this update would help correct some of the problems of the internal POI.

Often, I've been flying over empty fields on my Nuvi 350 ever since the I355 southern extension was opened. Now, I'm finally back on pavement after upgrading to the 2009 Map. Often, I'd have to stop routing, take I355 to the closest exit to where I was going, then turn routing back on, otherwise, I'd get the hilarious "recalculating... recalculating... recalculating..." For many in the Chicago western and northwestern suburbs that often wander south, I'd say the map update is really worth it. I've also found that a number of annoying routing quirks along I55 have been fixed.

I am on I-355 South a lot so it is now a must buy, but I admit I had a few chuckles over flying through space.

Just opened up a new nuvi 750, and see that it's got the old 2008 map. Has anyone been able to get a FREE update to 2009?

If you just purchased the 750 recently you will be eligible to receive the 2009 map download for free. Or you can purchase the disc for $10 (I think). Just register your GPSr on the Garmin site.

The free 2009 map update via Garmin.. I bought the 260w for my daughter and got a free update and I bought a NUVI 760 for myself and got the free update..

You need to register the unit first. Also included is the Mapsource program but it's embedded in the 2009 download file and needs to be extracted.

is the best - I'm skipping 2009, but expect to buy 2010 next year and will keep an eye on Costco as the place to buy. thanks

Last year when the update was released I checked several new roads that had been added in the past 6 months and found they were already on my version that was over a year old. I guess in some cases they get early information and in other cases it takes longer.

Thanks, GadgetGuy. I registered, and the Garmin site was going to charge me if I ordered the update there. I'll followup with tech support and see if I have better luck there.

Thanks for sharing, not a bad price!

The update should be free if you recently purchased the 750. I purchased a 750 last month and was able to get the 2009 update for free. And others have confirmed in other threads that they were able to get the update for free also.

Speaking with tech support should do the trick. Garmin has some of the best customer service I have ever encountered.

I bought a 350 and updated the maps to 2009. I noticed the new map looked more 3D-like, —the freeways were shaded rather than a flat color. I also noticed some changes in it's navigation. Some of the freeway on/offramps were more concise. It now stated the offramp number in addition the freeway number and direction. I liked the updates but in the end, the 350 went back...bad touch screen.

Hope the next one is better.

I bought 2008 and figure I'll skip 2009 and wait until 2010 comes out. I can always find great POI files here anyway.

I have 2008 map update. will wait for 2010 update. next year

Why anybody would want to update at a cost is beyond me! These updates are at least two years out of date. Just checked a new area that I have worked in for the past TWO years and it is still not listed. Not worth the time/cost/effort!
Like one poster mentioned earlier; the old maps will get you were you want to go. Probably the Poi's are the only items that are actually updated that is worth mentioning. $60.00; I don't think so. I'll wait for three years and get a new more improved unit with the so called new maps!

Just one man's opinion.

Sounds like the best idea to me.

Just another man's opinion.... The 2009 Update has new roads in my area that are less than a year old. What is the usefulness of a GPS that takes me miles out of my way intead of routing me on a brand spanking new expressway that is far shorter and faster just because it doesn't know it's there?

For some of us, the new roads and updates are worth every penny. For others, there's nothing new in their area.

Wasn't it nice of Garmin to provide a free map preview tool so that we can decide for ourselves if the update has value for us or not?

Yep, spoke with customer service, and no hassle, they set me up for a free update download. Did it last night.

I just got a Costco membership for the first time. Are their GPS prices usually lower than most?

Currently the lifetime map updates are priced at $94.07 on Amazon. Perhaps there might be other places that are cheaper.

Why not spend a little bit more for the lifetime updates versus the single year update?

I got my lifetime from amazon for $79. Even though it is a cheap price for 2009 maps I would spring the extra $$$ for the lifetime map update