Lifetime Maps, read the fine print....

I agree with you, but unfortunately this happens a lot. Many times upgrades to a new version of software, etc. that you have to pay for should have been a downloadable free update. Not a whole lot that I see we can do about it though.

Hehe....as far as if Garmin and MS had designed a unit together, it would probably crash every other time you turned it on.

"so why should we pay for an update to the mapping software that simply fixes problems within the maps such as missing road and streets that have been around for two or more years. Or POI's that are way outdated,"

I can't agree with some of the thoughts here. I do agree fixes to firmware or map problems should be free, from my time owning Garmins they generally have been. I received an update to my I5 after it was discontinued for instance. I also think Garmin, by having a search function such as intersections should find a way for it to work it there is a problem, and if it is because of the way the map is made, Garmin should change their hardware to account for that.

But expecting general free map updates because roads were missing (even if they existed) at the time you got your map is no way to stay in business. Garmin pays alot for those maps/updates. They do not make the content. Some people don't care about the few new roads they might encounter one two or three years later. Others do, and will pay for the most up-to-date map. Same for POI's - you just can't expect Garmin to give you free updates because POI's in the mapping data have changed when Garmin pays for those updates,unless you want the GPS and original map to cost more at purchase.

Here is what I think you need to do, Read the Fine print Carefully, then you won't have the mis-understanding you are experiencing.
Hey theres always TomTom and a few others if you think their any better. But I would read their fine print as well.

It is a case of sandbagging. Looks like they're trying to run off the competition. Whatever works.

You're not getting the point I'm trying to make. Why do we have to pay for bug fixes, etc. I reported the map problems that I found to Garmin, but they never sent me a free update. I bet when you buy a product that has a defect, you return it or get it fixed/ replaced for free.

Couldnt it be consider False Advertisement???

*

'Cause they ain't bug fixes. Errors and omissions in the database have always been there, and are always going to be there. Even paper maps have errors, some are even deliberate.

Software has bugs. Databases, (which is what a map update is), have information that is updated. Mapping database errors and ommisions aren't defects. They don't stop the unit from doing it's designed purpose, which is to display a map.

Most owners are going to keep their units for 2 to 3 years before they take advantage of new features and improvements based on the technology curve and buy a new one.

That being said, I am one of those so the lifetime buy is not worth it to me. There are websites that sell the one time installation for as low as 59.00.

Garmin has the lifetime map offering priced in their favor (rightfully so as any business should to make money) IMHO: it is all marketing fluff when you truly look at their "perceived value" to the customer. It is the real value that one has to decide for themselves.

There is one argument to extending the "lifetime" subscription beyond a particular unit, and that is to create a captive market.

I'm a relatively recent entrant to the world of GPS but I'm aware of, and have considered, more than Garmin units as an option. Tomtom, Magellan, Mio, Navigon are just some of the names that I recall and I'm sure there are many others. If I decide to change/upgrade the unit I have or if it gets stolen, which appears to be common, then I'll look for a replacement which suits me best at that time based on what is available at an acceptable price point. An acceptable price point would also consider the "Total Cost of Ownership" for the product.

If I had a offer from Garmin which offered me a deal on map upgrades, say a 50% reduction in the price of a replacement lifetime subscription, if I replaced my old unit with a new Garmin, then that would weigh in the calculation. If they just tell me I'm SOL on my previous lifetime subscription and have to pay in full again for a new one then they lose any leverage they may have out of my being an existing customer and could lose me as a customer entirely if I consider a competitor's product a better deal.

Any marketing/targeting person will tell you it's a lot more difficult, and expensive, to gain a new customer than retain an existing one. Plus the best, and cheapest, advertising is word of mouth referrals from existing satisfied customers. It seems to me there's a real opportunity here to create a customer base that is tied to their product but they're not using that to gain any advantage.

Of course this is all predicated on Garmin being able to deliver a 760 firmware that works properly before the end of March!

I used Delorme Street Atlas on a laptop instead, and as you say above, I would love to get those features on a pocket unit. Of course, the very best feature was a 15" Widescreen display with simultaneous zoomed out street view and zoomed in turn views side by side. And the zoom level of each window could be set independently.

If they ever figure out how to get that to fit into my shirt pocket or the compartment in my dash, plus reduce the boot up time from 5 minutes to 20 seconds, I'm jumping ship!

I have the lifetime on my Blackberry only because I carry it with me all the time. I have spoken to Garmin and if it is damaged or lost the tech said they will replace it one time. After that I need to re purchase it. That is o.k., because in the 10+ years I have had a cell phone I have not lost one yet. And the BB will be with me till 2011. As far as my Zumo is concerned, I don't update every year, only every 2 years. So I will just keep the maps the way it is, I don't travel but once a year outside the few states that surround me. And not much changes..

I use a Delorme GPSr Receiver and Street Atlas software every time I go in a motor home, because we have the room for a laptop.

And I am with you, I would shelf every thing I have to have a Delorme Squeezed downed into a Nuvi sized unit. Of course is all in the software that makes it a stand out. Because todays Delorme GPS receivers Lock pretty fast.

Some excellent thoughts there. Garmin, you reading these comments?

I'm going to throw out a few thoughts on this subject:

1. Why buy a map update, either one time or life time? The update costs $xxx.xx and a new GPS costs $xxx.xx + $50.00, a new GPS with a new map for $50.00 sounds like a good deal to me.

2. Why update the map every year? Existing roads and streets don't change very often. It would seem that updating every 5 years would be often enough for most people.

3. Why pay for a map update when my 2009 map still doesn't show streets that are over 3 years old?

4. My wife and I traveled back to the Indianapolis, Indiana area to visit family a few weeks ago. We stopped at a rest area on I-69 and I was browsing the brochures on display while waiting for my wife. I found brand new 2008 road maps of Indiana for free. Yes, they are outdated but they still work and they replaced some 2003 maps we had that still worked. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Jack j

An interesting thought! If I give my GPS to my sister and that GPS has a map update that I paid for, am I committing fraud? Is it like a computer where I have to remove software that I bought before I give it away? In short, are you buying the map or are you buying a license to use the map?

Jack j

As with most software, you are purchasing a license.

I still say that one of the biggest arguements in favor of the "Lifetime" maps, is that it is MORE than just an annual update.... it "may" be as frequent as quarterly.

To me, that's a plus. And even If I only keep my unit for two more years, it becomes a wash as far as the cost of buying the one time annual update, which I always do.

Tim

Tim,
The important thing here is, if it's right for you.
And it seems like you have exactly what you want to do in mind. If you always buy the update anyways, then by all means it's a move for you.

Now for me, I only them every two years. So not so good of an idea.

Tim, you seem to place a lot of faith in that the quarterly updates are going to make a significant difference.

In my experience, that does not hold true.

I still have the NT 7.0 North America maps on my C320, and as far as I can tell, there is virtually no difference between those old maps (from 2005) to the newer NT 2009 NA maps on the latest Nuvis that I have used (Nuvi 750 / 200 / 205 / 350).

I noticed a number of areas in map roads and entire subdivisions added here in Tucson. Many POI's have been added or corrected in just the Tucson area alone going from the 2009 map version to the 2009.11 version.

You just hit the lucky lady partner, it was due. you would have seen it in April anyway. maps are still going to be two years behind, then down to 1 3/4 and thats if you even get quarterly updates to start with, Garmin isn't saying that to be true.

Obviously the did more then add some new streets. They must have tried to fix something and caused other problems. ref. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/20585

Because some people want a more expensive unit with Bluetooth, traffic, multidestination routing, etc.

No need to, but if road and POI updates are important to you, you may want to update the maps more than every 5 years, especially if you live in an area where they're doing a lot of new construction.

Because the new maps are more likely to have the updated streets.

Paper maps are fine and good to carry, but a free road map of Indiana is only going to show major highways and some main streets in the big cities. It's not going to have all the side streets and residential streets that a GPS has.

was thinking about getting the lifetime program but now i don't know....thanks for the tip.....i would never have known

Sell your nuvi with the lifetime maps.

I work for a software company, and you have understand that they full well know that many of the terms they put in there are either truly unenforceable, unlikely to be enforced, or even likely to be struck down by a court. They still put them in there anyway. That's what lawyers do. Most of what they write is bluster.

Booksellers used to try to prevent you from selling a book, saying you didn't have "license" to do so. When challenged, courts came up with the "first sale doctrine". I am no lawyer, but I'd bet that if you sold your nuvi with lifetime maps to someone else, the Garmin Gestapo will not come down on you.

Now, they don't have to make it *convenient* for you to transfer the account, as they clearly don't want to. But I highly doubt that can, either physically or legally, stop you.

If it bugs you, permanently "lease" your nuvi to someone else for the same price as you want to sell it. Problem solved. Laywers love to play games like this, so you can too.

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As for "roads don't change that often", maybe one road doesn't change often, but taken in total they change REALLY fast. Don't forget POIs, too. I have already run into plenty of outdated roads and POIs already after only using the the nuvi for a year. I travel around to a bunch of places I've never been to before. The chance of hitting a map error actually quite high based on my driving habits.

Gramin's POI is really outdated. I went to FW downtown and look for near by restaurants. The first two I went was long gone and that was 2009 map. The street near my house was completed 4 years ago and it still showed on the GPS as land. I would not bother with their yearly upgrade period.

How about to keep the cost down they offer map updates for only certain regions. I live in AZ and rarely take the Nuvi out of the state. I would pay $20 for just and AZ update. They should look into that.

im sure all of you know that when u sign up for a lifetime subscription for Garmin nuvis. the unlock codes are specific for the unit that u got the subscription for. but out on the net there are map unlock key generators. even if someone bought a new nuvi they can just download the map updates for the old nuvi and generate a code for the new nuvi. isnt any big secret on this issue.

Please do not discuss illegal activity here. Thanks.

for the braggin' rights. I got the 2010 and you don't. Nah, nah, nah, nannny nah.

Those that got money
walk up and buy,
Those that don't
stand back and cry.

I had the garmin conquest on my motorcycle and had problems with it, had to send it to garmin and they in turn replaced it with the Quest2 model and I still get the lifetime maps with the new Quest2..

it'll get worse in this economy?

Just bought the lifetime upgrade for my i5.

I hate to see this little thing becoming obsolete. Hoping it can run for at least another 2 years 'cause that's how much annual one-time updates would have costed me.

On the other hand, maybe one day it will become the Ferrari 250 of GPS! A collector's item.

Since newer units have more functionality than your previous unit and could be cheaper as well; getting a new unit is the way to go.

How much change is there in a one or two year map up grade? I got my gps in April 2008 and got a new 2009 map up grade after I got the unit. The cost is coming down for the gps, so it may be better to just get a new gps every two or three years with the new map in it. I don't know how long the units last, so I guess it's had to say one way or another.

ohwogo nuvi 750

I found a big difference between 09 and the current 2010.1. In the areas that I travel several hwy improvements (bypasses were added) and I have found that the routing in general improved alot. Buying a lifetime subscription vs buying a new GPS every couple of years simple might depend on how much you depend on your GPS. If you do a lot of traveling then current map info is very helpful. If you just travel the same old routes then probably lifetime is not worth it.

Just remember the fine print.

I have a Street Pilot 2720. This offer is great for me as I usually wait every 2 years to update the maps. People always want everything for free. I don't expect Garmin to give me free updates on the maps for all the Garmin GPS's units that I will eventually buy from them.

Come on the people that make the maps and garmin need to make some money. The research and development is expensive I would believe to keep the maps updated.

I like the idea of being able to keep my maps updated 4 times a year for the life of the unit. Now I hope my unit doesn't die now. . The life time maps for your unit will pay for itself in less than 2 years providing your GPS doesnt break or get stolen.

2 years? less then that,mine will be paid for and i'll be a head with one more(2nd) update.

As everybody has seen the past few years, electronics have dropped in price by leaps and bounds. By the time you get one or maybe two map updates, you would have been able to buy a newer device with more features at a cheaper cost.
You almost have to follow the 'extended' warranty rule. (don't get it )

IF....more features is what one is after OR needs,my 350 is all i'll ever need/use for features.

Has anyone here actually purchased the lifetime update from Garmin? If so, what do you think? Was it worth it? Would you do it again?

From what I have read, both Garmin and NavTeq have submission forms for you to submit updates to make the maps more accurate.
I just received my Nuvi last week, so I am haven't tried either one. Have you?

Garmin: http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/errorForm.html

NavTeq: http://mapreporter.navteq.com/dur-web-external/

I have a 755T purchased in Oct. '08 and plan to keep it for at least 2 or 3 years. I purchased the lifetime update when it first became available. I have received 2 updates and expect the next one soon. Although maps are never perfect, I have found several corrections and new roads in each version.

Usually I agree about extended warranties but there are exceptions. AppleCare is one of them. I've had an optical drive and Logic board replaced under one Apple Care Agreement. Well worth the price.

Garmin has never charged for firmware updates. Garmin has always charged for map updates.

In the 'old days', people kept their navigators for several years. These days the navigators get tossed. When you buy a new one you get new maps. They include the 'blades' with the 'razors'.

I have NEVER heard of an update program or service agreement that referenced a piece of hardware that was tied to the person . . . the term 'lifetime service' means for the lifetime of the 'thing'. Always has, always will.

As to what happens if your navigator is stolen? If you have insurance, they'll replace the navigator and the update service. if you don't, then too bad.

Sorry if you don't agree. But that's the way it is.

I suspect, however that in some jurisdictions Garmin will get themselves into hot water by limiting the definition of 'lifetime' to that of 'in the hands of the original owner'.

I KNOW that in Quebec (which is where I live) they WILL eventually get hauled into court because it is the law that warranties and service contracts be transferred to subsequent owners and there can be no administration charge for doing this.

Having said this, paying $129 for 4 updates a year is probably better than paying $75 for a single update, making this an improvement over what was available before.

And I would venture a guess that if they DID get hauled to court in Quebec and if they lost, they would just stop selling the Lifetime Map updates in that province or in the entire country.

Indeed. There are lots of things not available here because 'we' are too lazy (or stupid) to learn English and/or to accept responsability for our actions.

However anyone who had purchased the plan before they pulled out of the province would presumably get free tansfers . . .