Garmin Drops Prices By $50 - Auto Navigators

 

So it appears Garmin dropped the prices on the auto navigators by $50. Not sure how long ago they did this but does anyone know if this is a temporary reduction or now the new permanent pricing structure?

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Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

Dumping inventory?

It is possible they are trying to unload existing inventory before discontinuing these models. Or possibly there is a big batch of refurb's ready to hit the marketplace which would make the new devices harder to sell.

But who knows why? … only Garmin!

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

They have been down a week

They have been down a week or so. Noticed them last week.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Couple of weeks here

I noticed the price dropped a couple of weeks ago up here. Both Amazon and Costco had the Divesmart 55 and 65 on sale. I picked up the 55 at Costco for $249.99. They are on sale at Costco until 07/07/2019. Funny that they (Garmin?) discounted the brand new models and none of the older ones. I really don't think there is a market for standalone GPS's anymore.

cell phones

really cut into the GPS business, newer autos have a built in GPS, google maps, the competition is killing Garmin !

Bingo!

jackrabbit000 wrote:

I really don't think there is a market for standalone GPS's anymore.

geo334 wrote:

Cell phones really cut into the GPS business, newer autos have a built in GPS, google maps, the competition is killing Garmin !

Bingo!

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Politicians and Diapers must be changed often for the exact same reason...

Well

geo334 wrote:

really cut into the GPS business, newer autos have a built in GPS, google maps, the competition is killing Garmin !

Reading a map on your cell phone while driving is not the safest maneuver.. and will net you a hefty fine for distracted driving in some areas. For those that need a map where it is easily visible.. nothing beats a Garmin like device.

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Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

What?

Ralph6410 wrote:
geo334 wrote:

really cut into the GPS business, newer autos have a built in GPS, google maps, the competition is killing Garmin !

Reading a map on your cell phone while driving is not the safest maneuver.. and will net you a hefty fine for distracted driving in some areas. For those that need a map where it is easily visible.. nothing beats a Garmin like device.

Is reading a map on a cell phone any different than reading a map on a nav device like a Garmin?

I mount my iPhone in the car, the screen becomes the navigator. It could be any GPS device, but it is an iPhone running a GPS navigation app, doing the same as a standalone GPS device.

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When you are dead, you don’t know that you are dead. It is only difficult for the others. It is the same when you are stupid.

 

diesel wrote:
Ralph6410 wrote:
geo334 wrote:

really cut into the GPS business, newer autos have a built in GPS, google maps, the competition is killing Garmin !

Reading a map on your cell phone while driving is not the safest maneuver.. and will net you a hefty fine for distracted driving in some areas. For those that need a map where it is easily visible.. nothing beats a Garmin like device.

Is reading a map on a cell phone any different than reading a map on a nav device like a Garmin?

I mount my iPhone in the car, the screen becomes the navigator. It could be any GPS device, but it is an iPhone running a GPS navigation app, doing the same as a standalone GPS device.

Practically, probably not very much difference--although I find the big buttons on a Garmin Nuvi screen to be far easier to find and press than the ever-moving buttons on a cell phone application. Fat fingering errors are far less common for me on the Garmin too.

Legally, there can be a big difference, depending on what state you are in. In my state it is illegal to manipulate buttons on a cell phone while driving, except to answer/make a phone call. If you tell the officer that you were just navigating: ticket (ask us how we know....) If you tell the officer that you were making a phone call, that is the correct answer.

I like the real time warnings and traffic routing by Waze. But I really like the old school Garmin. Often I'll use Waze with the screen off for audio alerts and use the Garmin screen for situational awareness with its audio muted. Waze will also steer you on 10 mile detours to save 1-2 minutes....which often means a longer time since more new delays will occur along those 10 miles than Waze anticipated.

Some vehicles have huge 12" navigation screens

Ralph6410 wrote:

Reading a map on your cell phone while driving is not the safest maneuver.. and will net you a hefty fine for distracted driving in some areas. For those that need a map where it is easily visible.. nothing beats a Garmin like device.

Some vehicles have huge 12" navigation screens, which are much larger than a plugged-in, suctioned-cupped to the windshield standalone GPS device. I don't know of any built-in navigation screen that is smaller than the biggest Garmin screen.

https://st.motortrend.ca/uploads/sites/5/2017/06/2017-Lexus-...

https://www.lexus.com/cm-img/shared/technology/2017/GSF/Lexu...

https://www.lexus.com/cm-img/technology/2019/RC/Lexus-RC-nav...

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Politicians and Diapers must be changed often for the exact same reason...

I procrastinated enough

I procrastinated enough. I just ordered the 55 SmartDrive. $179. Don't think it's going to get any better.

I own one vehicle I own 4 Garmin's. Nuvi 2555,(last ditch spare), Nuvi 3597 (I sort of really like this the best), 61 SmartDrive, and now a 55 SmartDrive. It hasn't arrived yet.

The 61 and the 3597 use SmartLink. The 55 will use the newer Drive App. We'll have to see how that is.

The 3597 has always had problems connecting to Smartlink. Won't connect with out a restart of either the phone, GPS, or both. Won't stay connected. Won't reconnect when the GPS has only gone to sleep for a short time.

The 61 is a little funky about reconnects. You have to wake the phone up and bring Smartlink to the front, and it will connect right away.

On the 61, I thought I turned Trends off, but it keeps popping up the New Route suggestion at the top of the screen It's okay, but it gets annoying sometimes. Especially when it's inappropriate. It's hard to get off the screen.

55 SmartDrive critique coming tomorrow.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Drivesmart 55

Received mine last week and still haven’t had time to opened it yet. Still using my 1390T. lol

Phone vs Garmin

The phone does work but my problem is it seems that someone always calls just when I need the direction to go but when the call comes in, the directions will disappear for those few seconds and I miss my turn! (Murphy's law)

I like to use dedicated devices to do the job properly!

Just my choice.

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Bobkz - Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD/2455LMT/C530/C580- "Pain Is Fear Leaving The Body - Semper Fidelis"

DriveSmart 55 with Drive app.

phranc wrote:

I procrastinated enough. I just ordered the 55 SmartDrive. $179. Don't think it's going to get any better.

I own one vehicle I own 4 Garmin's. Nuvi 2555,(last ditch spare), Nuvi 3597 (I sort of really like this the best), 61 SmartDrive, and now a 55 SmartDrive. It hasn't arrived yet.

The 61 and the 3597 use SmartLink. The 55 will use the newer Drive App. We'll have to see how that is.

The 3597 has always had problems connecting to Smartlink. Won't connect with out a restart of either the phone, GPS, or both. Won't stay connected. Won't reconnect when the GPS has only gone to sleep for a short time.

The 61 is a little funky about reconnects. You have to wake the phone up and bring Smartlink to the front, and it will connect right away.

On the 61, I thought I turned Trends off, but it keeps popping up the New Route suggestion at the top of the screen It's okay, but it gets annoying sometimes. Especially when it's inappropriate. It's hard to get off the screen.

55 SmartDrive critique coming tomorrow.

I will be interested to hear about your experiences with the Drivesmart 55 and Drive app. Over on the GPS Review forum, there is a user that is reporting spontaneous reboots when using the Drive app on his 55. One report is not enough to conclude there is a problem, but let us know if you have any similar issues.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

I just wish they would make a 7XX Nuvi type again

so I could replace, upgrade my flip tray on my Nissan Frontier

Nice Discount

Could make a nice Father's Day gift.

I love my Garmin

My Garmin 3597 has a bigger screen than my iphone. I still prefer to use a stand alone GPS over a phone. I do not have a newer car and will probably never have one with built in GPS.

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Garmin Nuvi 3597, Garmin StreetPilot 2720, Garmin 76CSx (Hand Held), Iphone 6S Plus

lower is good!

There seems to have been a spike in prices a few years back.

Agree..."nothing beats a Garmin like device

Ralph6410 wrote:
geo334 wrote:

Reading a map on your cell phone while driving is not the safest maneuver.. and will net you a hefty fine for distracted driving in some areas. For those that need a map where it is easily visible.. nothing beats a Garmin like device.

I totally agree! On a recent trip from Philadelphia to Cleveland the wife's smartphone lost Google Maps through the area around State College PA. The Honda navigation system was OK but on a stop in State College could not find a Trader Joe's we wanted to stop at. It found lots of Trader Joe's just not the one in State College. Sorting by distance, nearest first gave me the 1st pick of San Diego. When I got to the Trader Joe's parking lot (I actually knew where it was) it then listed the desired location first.

When we take a long trip in the Honda we use the navigation system, but the Garmin 2689 is always with me.

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John from PA

55LMT-S

Just when you think they cant go lower in price

$169 at BestBuy June 21.

Replaced my partner's crashed 1490.

phranc wrote:

I procrastinated enough. I just ordered the 55 SmartDrive. $179. Don't think it's going to get any better.

I own one vehicle I own 4 Garmin's. Nuvi 2555,(last ditch spare), Nuvi 3597 (I sort of really like this the best), 61 SmartDrive, and now a 55 SmartDrive. It hasn't arrived yet.

The 61 and the 3597 use SmartLink. The 55 will use the newer Drive App. We'll have to see how that is.

The 3597 has always had problems connecting to Smartlink. Won't connect with out a restart of either the phone, GPS, or both. Won't stay connected. Won't reconnect when the GPS has only gone to sleep for a short time.

The 61 is a little funky about reconnects. You have to wake the phone up and bring Smartlink to the front, and it will connect right away.

On the 61, I thought I turned Trends off, but it keeps popping up the New Route suggestion at the top of the screen It's okay, but it gets annoying sometimes. Especially when it's inappropriate. It's hard to get off the screen.

55 SmartDrive critique coming tomorrow.