60 Day Free "nuMaps Guarantee": When the Clock Starts Ticking: CAUTION

Both of the GPS units I have are running 2011.20. One is a new 3790T that came with 2011.1 that I updated free. The other is a 755T with lifetime maps.

Hey Perpster.

Agreed that I'd want to be able to take advantage of the guarantee too, but you do in fact have the most current map. The way I've always understood the guarantee is that if you have a mapset installed on your new purchase that is one or more revs old, Garmin allows you to update to the most recent rev. You may still be able to get the next version if it comes out in under 60 days since your 1490T got it's first satellite lock, so don't worry just yet.

I would encourage you to actually USE your unit instead of letting it sit in it's box. If the next update comes out before the 60 days are up, you get the next update. If not, you;ll get two months of use out of your unit instead of having it sit in its box waiting for you to use it for those two months.

You've turned it on, you've acquired a satellite lock, therefor your 60 days is in motion. If you wanted it to start later, it should have stayed in the box and registered later. I don't see the issue here.

I think the NuMaps Guarantee is a way to make sure you have the newest map at the time you buy the unit. It's possible to get a GPS that has been on a shelf for several months and the maps have updated versions available. The 60 days gives you time to get the update done.
However, I also think it would be nice to be able to get something "extra" that doesn't SEEM to cost the supplier. When I got my Nuvi 760 there weren't any updates available for almost 9 months. I guess I could be glad that I had data that was the most current for such a long time. But I also had a slight feeling that the free update was wasted.
Anyway, my maps are "City Navigator North America NT 2009". I haven't had any trouble (yet) where I was trying to get to a street that isn't on the map. On the other hand, a few POI's have led me to closed restaurants or stores.
I hope you enjoy your GPS as much as I have enjoyed all of mine.

I can understand "perpster's" question and concern here. With the sentence saying "And Driving" it clearly indicates and defines under what "TWO" conditions the free map is given.

If Garmin had just wanted the "ONE" condition for a free map to be: "register within 60 days of 'acquiring satellites', they would have specifically said that only.

I think "perpster" has a good case and Garmin has left themselves open for a broad interpretation. Of course, the question that should be asked is: "How would Garmin know whether or not the unit was used under "Driving" conditions.. or if it's been sitting on the dining room table all this time?

Nuvi1300WTGPS

I thought Garmin had changed this (we had a thread here somewhere on this...), whereby you actually had to hit a certain speed before it started the clock? It was to avoid sat locks at dealers during demos.

Anyone remember this?

Yes, that is how my Nuvi 765T worked. I fired it up and played with it on Saturday and Sunday after I received it, but I did not actually drive with it until the Monday morning commute. Upon examining the value for "Ifix" in GarminDevice.xml, I found the timestamp was indeed when I first drove with the device. Perhaps they have gone back to first satellite acquisition.

From Garmin web site.

Guarantee applies to one Garmin nüvi or zūmo unit. Not transferable to any other person or product. You will qualify for the free map update only if (i) you register your nüvi or zūmo online at http://my.garmin.com within 60 days of first acquiring satellites while driving with your device, and (ii) a newer version of the map data was or becomes available for purchase from Garmin’s website at any time up to 60 days after first acquiring satellites while driving with your device. You will not qualify for the free map update if you register your nüvi or zūmo with Garmin by telephone or more than 60 days after first acquiring satellites while driving with your device. Limit of one free map update per unit.

You purchased the unit for a reason...

Use it before Garmin puts it on the discontinued list.

The latest map is 2011.20, you are only one update back so if I was you I would wait until the last 3 days
check here or at Garmin and then get your update.

Why buy a new unit and let it sit in a box (2 months)only to get a MINOR update.

Updates are needed ONLY if you travel a lot as I do or you live in or around a LARGE METROPLEX as I do.

I just updated to the latest map and I already found a new area out in Flower Mound, Texas not on the latest update. My Samsung Epic 4G saved me again.

"ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP IN MY LINE OF WORK!"

Welcome to the POI Factory... if I can be of farther help, just say so and it shall be done.

Just buy the unit, turn it on, let it lock on and perform the map update. I had zero trouble doing this although the map update took an astounding 2.5 hours! I started the map update, went and took a shower, ate lunch, took a nap and the update had still not finished. (Garmin did warn me of the time it would take though.)

This is a non-issue.

Don't try to hold off registering thinking that it will get you an extra map update, it may do the opposite.

First of all, to determine when the GPS first saw the satellites and qualify for the update, you must register with it on-line, with the GPS connected by the USB cable that Garmin likely didn't bother to include (at least they didn't when I got mine).

If for any reason Garmin wasn't able to get your correct first satellite view date or you dispute the date (mine was a couple of months before I bought the GPS!), then Garmin will start the clock based on when you bought the GPS, as long as you jump through hoops and fax them a copy of the receipt. But that may give you even less than a full 60 day window, particularly if you bought the device mail-order.

Your best bet is to not try to get away with something and delay your registration, otherwise when you finally do register you should find out that you completely missed your 60 day window.

They may have changed it then...

Because 'back in the day' when I got my 350 and 660(both still working great) I held off for over 6 months before registering so I could get the latest maps.
And it worked...

Ouch! I'm not trying to "get away with anything". I'm taking Garmin at THEIR word on THEIR offer on THEIR product packaging/instructions. I bought the unit when I did because it was on sale at Costco until 9/12. It so happens that my work schedule for the last two weeks of September are such that I will not be driving anywhere besides local errands and the train station. I think I can find my way without the GPS (unless senior monments set in while driving).

Here is Garmin's emailed response below. I must say that the email reply came on the first or second business day after I sent my email. Notice that the first sentence of the quote below does NOT match what the materials in the box say!

"Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I apologize, the free map update starts and is available at time of registration. To access your account I changed your password to: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

To update maps on your device, please login at weblink:

https://my.garmin.com/mygarmin/customers/myGarminHome.faces

Once signed in, you will see a yellow triangle pop up above myProducts, click on blue button to begin map update process.

The nuMaps Guarantee1 program allows customers who have purchased a new* nuvi or a new zumo device to update the map in the unit free of charge if:

1. The unit is registered at http://my.garmin.com within 60 days from the unit's first use (this is based on the first time the unit has acquired satellites)
2. A newer map than the preloaded map in the unit is available, or a newer map is released within 60 days from the unit's first satellite acquisition. (See notes for exclusions or limitations.)

Notes:
* Limit one free map update per eligible nuvi or eligible zumo
* This offer is non-transferable
* Customer will not qualify for the free map update if the unit is registered with Garmin by telephone or more than 60 days from the unit's first satellite acquisition
* The nuMaps Guarantee is only applicable to preloaded maps for North America and Europe

*Refurbished or newly overhauled devices may also be applicable. To check if an update is available, visit the nuMaps Guarantee page and enter your device serial number.

¹Guarantee applies to one Garmin nüvi or zumo unit. Not transferable to any other person or product. You will qualify for the free map update only if (i) you register your nüvi or zumo online at http://my.garmin.com within 60 days of first acquiring satellites while driving with your device, and (ii) a newer version of the map data was or becomes available for purchase from Garmin’s website at any time up to 60 days after first acquiring satellites while driving with your device. You will not qualify for the free map update if you register your nüvi or zumo with Garmin by telephone or more than 60 days after first acquiring satellites while driving with your device. Limit of one free map update per unit.

Should you have further questions please contact Garmin Product Support by replying to this email or contact our Consumer Support Line at 800-800-1020 Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm and Fridays 8am-5pm CST.

With Best Regards,
Russell B
Product Support Specialist
Automotive Team
Garmin International
913-397-8200
800-800-1020
913-440-8280 (fax) Att: Russell B, Associate #5795
www.garmin.com

This is important when they are in between map updates.

I thought I could update multiple times within the 60 days. Make sure you wait till the last day to update to ensure you have the latest map.

Garmin's response to you failed to mention one of their other limitations to receive a current map update under the guarantee. After I purchased a bundled 1390T this is what happened... (pasted from a previous post)
The website under My Garmin said there was an update available but under downloads it said there was not. I contacted Garmin because it would not allow me to download the one free Numap update. I wanted to do this because the retailer said I had 30 days to evaluate the GPS but if I activated the Lifetime Maps I would not be able to return it. The Garmin tech initially opened a problem ticket but then a couple of days later responded that it is not available for my unit because it came bundled with the Lifetime Map card

I bought a 765T about 8 weeks ago that came bundled with a lifetime maps card, but I also got 1 free update.

I know this to be true because I updated my new 765T with the one free update and activated and used the lifetime card for 255W which had a 2 year old map version on it.

The 60 day period is consumer un-friendly. Garmin should just give one free map update to be used *WHEN EVER*. That way, you can update the map at your leisure without worrying about 60 days.

That's like airline miles . . . they would have to carry the liability for the potential for downloading new maps (they pay royalties to Navteq) on their books forever.

Limiting you to 2 months limits the potential financial risk to them.

Besides; It is too big a deal. They don't build roads all that quickly.

As to dood's comment on his older units; They didn;t used to send in the TTFF (Time Ti First Fix) data on registration because they didn;t HAVE a webupdater. You had to download the update and then send it to your unit.

But too many people were doing as you did and they made the change - so you can't delay forever anymore.

That's right they have no way of knowing if you turned it on and didnt move or actually drove with it.

I don't know whether Garmin can capture the first moving fix or not. My beef is that the materials packaged with the unit (which was obviously packaged within the last few months based on the firmware on the unit when it came out of the box) say what they say. They say "within 60 days of acquiring satellites and driving with your nuvi." Those words are as clear as the 5" display, and Garmin should honor its word.

As I posted earlier, the initial fix that Garmin is looking for can be obtained with a little work. You do not need to register with Garmin to find it out. Connect your device to your computer and open GarminDevice.xml in your browser (I have tested both Internet Explorer and Firefox and they work). Search through the page for the tag . There will be a number after that tag. In the case of my 765T, it is 638113083. That is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1990 and the time the GPS met the initial fix conditions for starting the two month map update countdown.

For anyone experienced with "C" library time functions, converting it to a human readable date and time is trivial. The number I provided above translates to 2010-03-22 13:38:03UTC

I cannot grasp what you have a beef about. Garmin has given you 60 days which runs until 11/10/10 to download the new maps. There is a newer map version available now then what your unit has so why not go ahead and update it or wait till the last minute and see if they release another update before November 10th?

More of an annoyance and disappointment than a "beef". When I give my word I stick to it. Apparently Garmin does not feel the same way about its word.

Why am I arbitrarily cut off from my one free map ugrade on 11/10/10? If they release a new map on 11/11/10 I am SOL, all because I had the audacity to turn the unit on when I took it out of the box and charged it up. I wasn't really concerned with where my living room window was going, as it tends to remain stationary. Having read Garmin's rather clear terms of offer for the free map, clearly printed on their product materials. Shame on me.

As it so happens that I do not need to use the GPS in a moving conveyance for nearly a month, I would have had access to new maps released in December this year or possibly January 2011 had they said what they meant and meant what they said.

In essence, I guess the "beef" is that Garmin picked the start date and end date of my 60 day period. They had no right to do that, given the clear and unambiguous language of their own unsolicited offer terms.

Hey Perpster.

I do see your point. If the box states one thing, that the clock doesn't start until you get a lock and DRIVE with the unit, and this was a factor in the purchase, then you have a point and Garmin should honor their own statement. If there is a disclaimer on the box that the details are subject to change without notice, they they've changed and you are out of luck.

Alternatively, if it means that much to you, and it seems it does, you can always call Garmin CS and ask to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. If you get no satisfaction that way, you probably need to have you lawyer write them a letter explaining the problem, what you want in renumeration and threaten them with legal action if it isn't resolved to your satisfaction.

You're time and legal costs may end up being greater than the value of the GPS, (several in fact) and lifetime map updates for them all, but I guess its the principle here and not the value of the map update.

Thanks Rocknicehunter. I agree with you and probably won't waste much time on it, but the principle of the thing irks me.

Use the following converter http://www.epochconverter.com/
and remember that 1990-03-22 13:38:03 UTC is in fact 2010-03-22 13:38:03 UTC

It is perfectly consumer friendly. It's intention is to insure that when you buy the unit (and shortly thereafter) that you have a current map, even if the GPS was made many months ago and has been sitting in inventory since then. The intention is not to have the customer wait years and then get an update without paying.

I don't particularly agree with Garmin's update pricing, it seems extremely excessive to me. But the 60 policy is perfectly reasonable for what they are trying to do.

Interesting web site, I had never seen it before. You will need to add the Garmin epoch of 631152000 to whatever your Ifix value is in order to get the correct date from that web site. In my case, I add 631152000 to 638113083 and get 1269265083. I plug that value into the "Timestamp to Human Date" field in http://www.epochconverter.com/ and I get back:

GMT: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:38:03 GMT
Your timezone: Monday, March 22, 2010 9:38:03 AM

I had thrown together a little Perl script to do the conversion earlier this year but this web site will allow the non-programmers to do the same thing. Thanks!

Yes, the UTC time never changes for daylight time. The funny thing is when I correct the UTC time to EDT as does the web site, minus four hours, I get 9:38:03AM EDT but in reality I had just started driving at 8:38:03AM and that would have been when I was moving at over 20kPh. I was already at the office at 9:38:03AM! I am not exactly sure why the 765T has a UTC value of an hour later. Regardless, it is the date that Garmin is concerned about for map updates, not the time.

Also, in my earlier note, the tag did not appear. It is <Ifix>. I forgot that the BB software filters out angle brackets at they appear to be HTML. Duh!

Well, my original post in this thread was not unfounded. Registered with Garmin on 11/10 but did not USE it until weeks later. Map update comes out 11/11. Missed it by ONE DAY.

Box and manual say 60 days start when first acquire satellites while driving, NOT on registration date.

Went to myGarmin and my account shows map updates available only for purchase, not free update. Sent an email to Garmin. We'll see.

Hopefully Garmin will come through for you since you missed it by only one day. Most people have better success with Garmin customer service with phone conversation (talk nice ) instead of e-mail. So I would call them if I was you. Make sure you have your sales receipt handy ... they might ask you to fax it.

You are not the first person who has been "burned" by playing the waiting game on the nuMaps guarantee. I know when I got my 855, I turned it on to play with it, but didn't use it in the car for 2 or 3 weeks. The original acquisition date showed up as the date I turned it on ... not the date I registered it or first used it on the road. I had already decided to get the Lifetime map subscription, so missing the free download didn't really matter. But if and when I get my next Garmin, I will download the free update right away.

Well, he played a game and lost the bet - Garmin might come through for him but if they don;t he has no one to blame but himself, since he announced his intention on day 1.

Then again, so little changes from one map to the enxt that if they refuse him it certainly won;t be the end of the world.

I fail to see how taking a company at their published word is "playing a game". Thank you very much for your interpretation of my "intention".

Guarantee applies to one covered Garmin product. Not transferable to any other person or product. You will qualify for the free map update(s) only if you register your product online at http://my.garmin.com either (i) prior to first using your device, or (ii) within 60 days of first acquiring satellites while driving with your device (the "First Satellite Fix"). If you qualify under one of these two conditions, then you will be entitled to receive one or more free map update during the 60-day period following the date you registered the product or the First Satellite Fix date, which ever is earlier, if and when map updates are available for purchase on Garmin’s website during such period. You will not qualify for free map updates if you register your product with Garmin by telephone or more than 60 days after the First Satellite Fix.

While MM and I don't often see eye to eye, in this case we seem to agree. You have no 'case'.

So. You bought it on the 10th of September and registered it on the 11th - that means you needed to update by the 10th of November.

Computers enforce the limits and you went past the ones that applied to you.

In any case, you had what was then the latest mapping.

So what are you complaining about? There was no update in the qualifying period, so you weren't entitled to anything anyway. Do you think they delayed the release just to somehow 'get' you?

You then came back here indicating that you 'missed it by one day' and wanted Garmin to give you the update anyway . . . . .

They have lived up to their published word.

What do you expect?

Reading earlier posts, if the OP unit came with 2011.1, he had 60 days to update to 2011.2.

It appears that that airplane has taken off, and the OP would like another flight.

Since he had 60 days to catch the plane, he may be out of luck. But it is only one day, and he did contact Customer Service in a fairly timely manner, so I would not be surprised if he gets an update.

I would also not be surprised if he does NOT get an update.

I am still wondering what had happened here...
My Nuvi 1490T was purchased On Oct 12 and acquired a satellite fix a few days later. On Oct 28 I registered the device and was informed that I was eligible to a free map update (the device was indeed at one level below the then current map version). So I took the offer and received a message similar to this one (actually this is the message which was also delivered via email):

Thank you for ordering the nüMaps Onetime™ City Navigator® North America NT 2011* for your nüvi® 1490T ().
Your order is now available for download at: https://my.garmin.com/mygarmin/customers/myMapsHome.htm
Your product key is: xxxxxxxx

Notice that I have done all the above mentioned steps without actually downloading the update yet. Whenever I bring up the above 'my.garmin/myMapsHome.htm' page, it states that my onetime nuMaps privilege is valid until Oct 27, 2011. i.e. I am given a full year to download it. Looks like the free offer must be claimed within 60 days - but one is allowed 365 days to obtain it.

Now I wonder: when I do claim my download right sometime in 2011, which version will I receive? The Oct 28 2010, or the then current version?

You will get the version you were offered. Even if it is ten months out. I had a similar situation with a C330. I qualified for the download but I did not actually download until almost a year later. I was still offered the version I had been offered originally.

The sooner you download it, the less likely it is that a screw up at Garmin will make in unavailable.

Besides, there's nothing to be gained by waiting.

If Garmin INTENTIONALLY / DELIBERATELY writes the following:

You will qualify for the free map update(s) only if you register your product online at http://my.garmin.com either (i) prior to first using your device, or (ii) within 60 days of first acquiring satellites while driving with your device (the "First Satellite Fix")

It's up to Garmin to have the available technology to know when someone first aquired a satellite fix and when they first aquired a satellite fix while driving .

If Garmin didn't write while driving then the clock automatically starts from the first satellite reception BUT because they clearly wrote while driving , the countdown should start when you actually use it on the road.

If Garmin isn't able to determine via their IFIX date or whatever other means they have concerning both differences then they should honor their map update guarantee or very simply take away the words "while driving".

The reason that the "while driving" phrase was added was to eliminate the scenario of the device being turned on in the store and acquiring the satellites and having THAT DATE be the "First Satellite Fix" date.

As is states, it's "which ever is earlier".

So if you register the device, the clock starts ticking even if you haven't "been driving" with your device.

I am pleased to report to the POI Factory Community that Garmin emailed the following response:

"Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

I have requested that a map update be added to your account. Please login to your my Garmin account and you will see a pop up telling that a map is available."

*a brain fart*

Very good, in spite of many comments, including some of mine, in this thread, I'm glad Garmin did this for you. If I had been your CSR I would have offered a one time update extension, good for a week, to let you "catch up".

I understand what Garmin is trying to do about "the scenario of the device being turned on in the store and acquiring the satellites and having THAT DATE be the "First Satellite Fix" date."

But since it is stated "while driving" consumers would think that it meant "while driving."

There is no problem. There was no problem. The OP was simply unhappy that an update was released after his right to afree update expired.

Had he not registered it and had his TTFF been later, he would have been able to get the update, but I have no dea what his TTFF was - perhaps it was on the day he registered the unit. Who is to day and it never entered into the discussion, because the OP DID register his device.

Once registered you have 60 days to claim a map update IF ONE IS MADE AVAILABLE DURING THE PERIOD.

If you use the unit 'while driving' before registering it, you have 60 days from that point to register and claim your update IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.

The rules are unambiguous and the OP clearly stated that he registered the unit and the offer expired before any update was released.

As luck would have it Garmin released an update on the following day. By rights the OP had no claim.

However Garmin went the extra mile and agreed to extend the period as a goodwill gesture because the OP complained, not because he had any right to the update.

Good for Garmin.

1- You buy your unit on Jan 1st, go home and register the device, the clock starts ticking immediately.

2- You buy your unit on Jan 1st, install it on your windshield and start DRIVING around with it, the clock starts ticking immediately.

3- You buy the unit on Jan 1st, go home and turn it on to see if the new toy actually works and then put it away till Feb 1st.

On Feb 1st you either register the unit or start driving around with it, the clock then starts ticking at that point of time.

It's not the buyers fault Garmin stated in writing " within 60 days of first acquiring satellites while driving with your device (the "First Satellite Fix")".

Garmin should have the technology to know if their customer simply turned it on or actually used it while driving. If they can't, they should therefore honor their guarantee because they're the ones that wrote"while driving".

For their nüMaps Lifetime they clearly wrote "We’re constantly gathering new map data, and a new update is available up to 4 times per year."

Next year if they have 1 map update I may be mad, disappointed etc but they did write "up to 4 times per year" and not 4 times per year.

All the words, commas, periods used are done so with care and great importance.I shouldn't have to guess that "while driving" was to eliminate the scenario of the device being turned on in the store. I don't like guessing I like working with facts and the words "while driving" means exactly that.

Congrats perpster, I'm happy it worked out for you.

Moving on...

But the OP did not wait to register the device. There is a fourth scenario.

4. You buy the unit on September 10, go home and turn it on to see if the new toy actually works, you register the device on September 11, and then put it away till whenever. The clock starts ticking on September 11 (as it rightly should).

He admits that he registered the device immediately to "avoid having the license user agreements come up everytime I turn it on".

So the clock, but his own admission, would start ticking on that day. It specifically states "whichever is earlier".