Garmin Gripes

POI Factory should give Garmin a complimentary subscription to this site so that the company can keep posted on the dissatisfaction of many Garmin users and their frustration with the inability of the company to control its quality and promptly address the problems the users identify here. Garmin tech support claims to be ignorant of many of them when contacted. Case in point, the fix to firmware 3.90 that is plaguing the 765t unit.

They are probably fully aware of the issues but under order not to acknowledge them to the customer. Better to have you go through all the self-check nonsense or have you return the unit for an exchange than acknowledge a problem with the code that would effect everyone.

Garmin is probably aware of the issues before the firmware is even released. They just don't include a "read me first" file..... which should be the boot up screen.

I think that on a couple of occasions Garmin Tech Support has actually posted on the website here; it's been a while but I wouldn't be surprised if they're not monitoring it closely. This is a pretty visible (and vocal) user group and can sway opinions about what GPS to buy.

This is actually a good thing that Garmin can work on. When a company feels that it has a strong hold on the market or it for the most part doesn't have any competition to deal with, it tends to be laid back as though it has nothing to worry about. This can help Garmin focus on areas obviously that it needs to improve on, also, it magnifies what they do well so it can continue it.

There used to be a user named Hautedawg that identified himself as a Garmin employee and posted here regularly. He was laid off from Garmin over a year ago and I haven't seen any posts by him recently. You can probably find some of his old posts if you search.

I can guess that Garmin frowns on their employees identifying themselves and making "unofficial" statements in forums.

Why? They certainly seem to encourage this sort of communication from their people on the help lines and in their e-mail support.
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I just had to . . .

I'd bet 10 to 1 they monitor these sites. But I bet they don't do anything about the info they get unless its 'officially' called in to tech support.

Not even then

LOVE IT

Sometimes I think they like to sit back and laugh at some of our problems.

I've seen Garmin's quality control drop steadily ever since the nuvi line was released with each following unit having more and more issues. It's really too bad. I'm really looking forward to the newest 37xx series and hope they can turn this downward trend around for the sake of all of us.

I do hope you are right and that Garmin reverses the trend. We may come back and repeat these same comments long after the 37xx series are discarded for another line.

Garmin = Titanic of GPS's...

When I purchased my Garmin I was given a free traffic receiver but I have had considerable difficulty putting my unit ID number in to register the device
Is this not a free service if I have to pay for a subscription it was given to me under false pretences??????

Garmin has convinced me to buy someone else's product. I have had nothing but problems since day 1.

There, I feel better!!!

You don't say what unit you have. If it is a model with a "t" after its number, you have a free subscription. There are some models that come with a free receiver but you have to pay $50-$60 (lifetime) for a subscription to a traffic service.

I currently own a Nuvi 350, which I like, but I must admit that when I look for a more modern unit, I will consider other brands. The things I've read here about the widespread problems with their newer units, their reaction to software development & implementation,& the final results leave me with the distinct worry that they've lost the ability to build & update good units, as they did in the early units.

Fred

Garmin has a number of interesting positions open. If you have the right skills, you can help us all out by relocating and working for Garmin. Check their website and find the Employment Opportunities link.

There are positions open in many locations.

I am waiting for an RMA to send back my 765T replacement for my original 765T, the second one had the same problem as the first, but with dead pixels also a overall screen problem I haven't been able to duplicate yet. I will try the new unit for a while but if it has the same problems it will be time to change makers, the 765t is my fourth garmin (legend, legendC, nuvi 205w, nuvi 765T)