Garmin Business Model=Epic Failure

I suppose someone pays the full $700 for a brand spanking new unit. But I didn't, nor would I. I purchased my Nuvi 760 this past summer $350 and I'm very pleased with it.

I definitely hope it lasts me more than a couple of years, I will be highly disappointed. I generally only get a 1 or 2 years out of my cell phones, but they are abused much more than my Nuvi. Temperature extremes aside, it is down right babied.

As far as you other points, is Garmin really that far out of line from the 'others'?

Another reason I chose Garmin is that it is mac friendly. Something I expect the others to catch up on as time goes by.

Bear

This is a bigger problem than just Garmin. They feed the masses what they want. When everybody wants a new gizmo every 3-4 months - then that is what companies produce. They charge a premium for it because they know they can get it.

It is when we stop buying the "trash" that isn't built to last that companies will again produce quality products. I am afraid that those days may be too far gone....

Daniel

I agree with your comments, and if enough reply, perhaps they will change for the better. Look at Turbo Tax...web comments caused major changes in this last month!!!

However $800 each for a 680 last Christmas that both died on me in less than a year. Then Garmin asks to pay shipping fees......and if it had been longer than 12 months the repair fees.....its not worth it.
I rather pay a few hundred dollars and pay $10 a month for subscription that will cover the hardware and content. Somewhat like a MSFT business model will serve them well.

I've had my Nuvi 260 for a year now, and I expect to have it for the foreseeable future. It does everything I bought it for and I don't expect that to change. I don't need anything but dependable navigation and it does that wonderfully. It's been rock solid to this point.

Sounds like a win-win approach.

I probably would end up spending more money (Garmin's win!) and be happier with newer features being added constantly (my win!)

I have only had my 660 and 360 for about a year, but the garmin III Plus I purchased 8 or 9 years ago is still working and a well engineered product.

I believe that what we are seeing in the GPS market today is similar to what we see in the computer market some years ago before standardization came into play.

Not long ago you could only find Magellan and Garmin GPS systems. Then Tom Tom came along and today there is no less than 15 manufacturers of GPS systems. Each tries to grab their market share buy selling bells and whistles. Eventually there will be three or four companies that survive, and fewer model changes.

I am thinking in a few years, GPS will follow the cell phone model.
Sign up a 2 yr contract and free unit.

yeah..and no one will buy em.
cellphones have a contract only because voice calls use up network bandwidth and cell infrastructure to connect.
i use about $20 every 6 months on my cell phone (prepaid, no contract at&t go). Rest of my calls are made using skype and my phone connects wirelessly with my home wifi to skype or at the office to my office wifi. i have no data plan. on the road i use my prepaid minutes (rarely) or let the call go to voicemail. skype also does SMS.

The solution is simple.

This is America and Americans vote with their money.

Just buy the products you like.

Over time, any issue will be self resolving.

I sincerely believe Garmin will be in there when the dust settles.

Your absolutely correct, Americans do vote with Greenbacks. And it you spend or spent more than $200.00 for a GPSr this Christmas season you got more than a GPSr.

With CES happening as I write this you can bet, what you over paid for last month will plummet in price the next few.

At least I can say Garmin hasn't as of yet left their customers high and dry as they obsolete units faster than I change my underwear, and at least keep firmware updates coming for units going way back.

Now if you want to put a stop to units becoming obsolete so fast you can't even take a trip with one before it does. Refuse to buy them, hold your older technology till it craps out.

Older streetpilots III had it all, only lacking memory. From that point on Garmin began to strip features and make different models of it, and haven't stopped all the way through the Nuvi series.