How to purchase off Garmin in Zimbabwe or is Piracy the option?
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13 years
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Well it's a simple problem really. I am British born and moved to Zimbabwe, Southern Africa for work purposes. I have a Garmin 205W bought in UK with the UK Maps and it's always been great. So I looked on Garmin.com for a supplier in Zimbabwe before I left thinking great I can get the Zim maps there. Low and behold they had a retailer called Feredays. I e-mailed Garmin customer services in UK and they told me "all official retailers have access to all Garmin maps and you'll be able to buy there". Great I thought, one less thing to think about before leaving - I'll get it when there.
Went to Feredays - "oh Garmin can't supply us with official maps because the internet connection here is so bad and they refuse to send the SD card maps to us unless it's bought with a Unit".
Back to Garmin - I really want to buy the SA Streetmaps 2010 which includes Zimbabwe. I have moved to Zim already, your official retailer has said they can't provide when I was told by Garmin UK they could - what can I do?
Answer - You'll have to buy a new 205W with maps from retailer at a whopping US$320!!! This when my original one cost equivalent of US$150 and Garmin sell the maps for US$130!!!!! Seems a tad unfair as really I'd be quite happy to pay the $130, get the maps and could have done in the UK had I got a proper response.
So what to do? The internet connection here is good enough to go to Torrent sites and get a pirate version - I am saying I want to pay garmin yet they seem to be making it much harder to pay them for something which is much preferred for me rather than get for free.
Anyone else in a similar situation in another 3rd World Country that you found a way out of?
Thanks in advance.
no direct help
But have you tried for a distributor in J'burg or Pretoria?
Illiterate? Write for free help.
Would you want to try this
So what to do? The internet connection here is good enough to go to Torrent sites and get a pirate version - I am saying I want to pay garmin yet they seem to be making it much harder to pay them for something which is much preferred for me rather than get for free.
You said your internet connection is good enough to use a torrent site, is it good enough for a software download from Garmin Site.
I found this webpage for South Africa
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/buymaps.do
And this is the software $99 USD
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=15535&pvID=30146
re: How to purchase off Garmin in Zimbabwe or is Piracy the opti
Sometimes being honest is more work than being dishonest. And though you have been naturally honest in contacting Garmin, they delivered a pile of garbage... buy another unit, they say. I'd be inclined to take the shortcut and download an illegal copy and say, "To hell with you, all!"
A lock is designed to keep an honest man honest. Garmin seems more interested in sales than customer relations.
Good luck with your honesty.
Piracy Option
You tried to do it the right way with integrity, however, there is only so much one can stand. Rafaeldrc, I could not have put it any better myself.
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