Lifetime Updates Sent To Canada

Try WWW.GPSCITY.CA
I understand they are reliable.

When you buy from Amazon or another reseller, you are buying a card that gives you a pin number to download the update from Garmin. Amazon does not have the updates.

Buying from Garmin, you download direct from Garmin and there is no card or pin number involved.

Yes, the Lifetime Update will update your 2008 maps just fine. The actual software is the same as if you had just bought the single update. The only difference is that if you buy the single update then Garmin will send you a CD and you will have to pay shipping and possibly the VAT or Customs or whatever it is that CA charges.

The Lifetime Update is download only, no CD or DVD will be involved. For you Canadians, buying direct from Garmin may be your only choice.

I have not bought updates from retailers but I have bought hardware from both GPS City and GPS Central. I received excellent service from both. One is Canadian I believe while the other is a Canadian outlet of the US company. Both are in Calgary so their shipment to me in Ontario included GST but not Ontario PST.

I assume the same would apply for any "card" you might buy even though you actually get delivery of the map or update from Garmin. If you bought software from a US supplier (like Garmin) that was 'download only' and therefore no shipment was involved, then neither GST or PST would be charged. You are suppose to present yourself at the appropriate government office and voluntarily pay these taxes.

If a shipment is involved, you will not be charged these taxes by the supplier but you may face these charges, plus duty and handling, when they clear Customs - depending on how they are shipped and the value.

I am not sure where you are located in Canada ... but do you know Joe?

Anyway, in Ontario, an authorized Garmin dealer is RadioWorld.ca. I have ordered from them in the past both online and I have been to their store front. They are a very good company to deal with. I have friends in Edmonton, Alberta who deal with Radioworld.

I haven't looked to see if they have an a price for the online map updates, but when I ordered a map update CD from them in the past, I had it in my snail-mail box the next day.

I ordered my MSN Direct Cable from them. Delivery was fast, with tracking.

No problems at all for me. I would not hesitate to order from them.

Dom

I checked out all of these suggested Canadian sources. GPS City had the best price at $119 Cdn. and their shipping costs were lower than GPS Central.

I will likely order from them.

I feel more comfortable with a Canadian source and this is less than it would be for a download from Garmin at $119 US.

Now we can only hope that Jim Balsillie eventually gets the Coyotes moved to Hamilton, from Phoenix.

You are a person of great faith ordering lifetime maps for a Garmin's oldest hand held automotive GPS.

That's a good point.

You do realize that the lifetime maps are for the life of your unit, not you, and it is not transferable to a new GPS in the future?

I purchased the Lifetime Maps for my nuvi 370 at $150 for both North America & Europe map. At that price, I think it is a bargain compared to buying the single updates individually for both regions.

Mariner,

When you bought the numaps lifetime for NA & Europe did you buy it from Garmin directly ? So far, that is the only place I have found the lifetime Transatlantic update.

And did Garmin (or whoever) send you a card with the codes on it or just give you update codes via email or "mygarmin" ?

I have a nuvi775 with both NA & European maps preloaded and want to get the lifetime for it.

Thanks

Yes, I didn't find any other place that sells the Transatlantic update. I didn't get any card for the codes. Every time there's an update available, the unlock code will come up on the screen and you have the option of sending it to email. So far, I got the following updates since I purchased it:
CNNA NT 2010.10
CNE NT 2010.10
CNNA NT 2010.20

You'll see all your unlock codes in myGarmin -> Manage Maps

I will try.

Mariner,

Thanks for the info.

So it looks like there is not a 2010.20 update for the European Maps yet, only 2010.10 ?

Yes, CNE NT 2010.10 is the only Europe updatte that is available since I bought the lifetime update last month.

Mariner,

Thanks again for the info.

I wonder how much of a time lag there is between the North American version releasew and the European ?

There are a myriad of choices in ordering the lifetime subscription from the US. Several retailers will just e-mail you the PIN from the card and no shipping fees.

Almost all are cheaper than buying Direct from Garmin.

I rarely get charged any PST/GST and the lifetime sub is duty free (NAFTA) even if you get the card shipped. It comes in an envelope not a box.

I live in Canada and just purchased mine from Garmin directly. Why?

Garmin

$US 119.99 + GST + Exchange
Came to exactly $138.33 on my credit card

GPSCity.ca

$C 119.99 + $11.77 shipping + GST
Shopping cart comes to $138.31
plus I have to wait for the code to arrive in the mail.

For two cents, I got mine directly from Garmin and didn't have to wait for the little $12 card to arrive in the mail.

I have the new maps on my GPS right now and should I have any future issues, I can deal directly with Garmin and not worry about going through a 3rd party. For 2 cents, I would rather just deal with Garmin, but this works only as long as the exchange rates are not outrageous.

I am surprised though that Garmin charged me about $6 in GST (same as GPSCity). However, that $6 might be because I may have done the transaction through Garmin Canada, and that six bucks may save some hassles with duty charges, etc. Who knows?

I followed your suggestion and ordered direct from Garmin. When you consider the shipping costs, the difference (if any) is minimal, once you convert to Canadian $.

It took just over and hour to download and probably about 2-3 hours to extract and install.

No hassle, no mess and a flawless install.

I purchased the Lifetime Update card from GPSCity on Friday, and installed it over the weekend. I live about 150 km from Calgary, so I picked it up from their shop rather than ordering on-line. Nice people, very helpful and pleasant to deal with.

The installation went smoothly, although it took a long time to download and install. The upgrade web address (www.garmin.com/activatenumaps) is in REALLY small print on the card ... I now have it listed in my Favorites, so I don't have to squint!

The upgrade does have the new freeway in Edmonton, and the subdivision in Red Deer where I work - so I'm good to go. But I don't think I'll be spending that much time four time per year installing upgrades!