Free map updates - How did we fare?

I received the 2008 update via on line, at no charge, though my unit is more than four months old. I had the same experience with my former Garmin Quest and that unit was a year old. Both times I delayed registering the unit (lazy) and both times they made my warranty effective on the registration date.

I got my free update today. Last week they told me they were out of stock.

Don't know if you are still tracking these but having posted a few gripes about difficulties getting the upgrade, thought it only fair to mention it when Garmin came through...

Got the 2008 update 3-4 days ago (C330) -- installed the lower 48 without difficulty and one of these days may try to add the balance on an SD card.

Initial attempts to get the upgrade through Product Support all failed.

The last, successful attempt was through Technical Support, and that request was honored without any problems. Suggest going that route if you're having problems....

Thanks to all for their input -- I don't think I would have thought of trying the techsupport route if someone hadn't talked about how helpful Lori was.

I bought my C340 earlier in the year and registered it about 4-5 weeks ago. As part of the on line registration process, I followed the directions to order my free update. It arrived this week and I installed it a day ago.

The only downside for me was that updating your maps, also means that you will lose your favorites files.....unless you already have a copy on your pc where you can do a backup prior to updating.

mikewins44

I bought my C340 in April and waited until Sept 1 to register and unlock it on the "My Garmin" site and said that I bought it in Aug 28, 07 and 3 weeks later a new map update was in the box from UPS!
I updated it and an hour later it was done. I never lost the custom POI's or favorites.

I updated mine today and I didn't loose a thing. All POI's and Favorites are still there just as they were before the update.

http://www.bluewatersecurityprofessionals.com/Garmin_Streetp...

Is selling a C330 for $169

It does not say the version of the map but I guess you can get a free update if you purchased it now. Anybody with any ideas?

I think we should have an annual awards banquet and give out the GeePerS award to the most helpful support representative at each of the major GPS manufacturers. As people have contact with customer service, they should report who the rep. was and the quality of their support. After tallying the results, the awards would be announced. I envision the award for the BEST REP. to be a gold windshield mount. Accompanying the award would be the unlock code for the next five years of map updates for the GPS of their choice. For those with the lowest score, we would award an old Boy Scout Compass and a map of the original 13 colonies.

All in favor say AY.

Lots of software needs key/unlock codes to work. That's what keygens are for.

And, no, I haven't found one for 2008 yet...and I've looked. Now, if someone wants to email or PM me, I'm all ears!

Just spoke with Garmin support, they'll be a shipment of upgrade disk on 11/21 and will ship to customers via UPS.

I bought my c330 (a "Low End Unit") on "Black Friday" for a great deal...$139 at Wal-Mart. Of course, like all other owners, I realized right away that the maps were out-of-date. After reading all of these posts and almost giving up hope, I gave customer service a call. 800-800-1020. I was on hold for about 10 minutes.

When they finally picked up, I acted a little naive and asked simple questions to butter him up. I expressed how very excited I was to have my new Garmin, but disappointed in having the older maps. Customer service was helpful and patient...offered to send me a FREE DVD! They are on back order and mine will arrive in 2-3 weeks.

I am a bit confused, and I appreciate the posters on this forum to help me out.
I got a 660 in Mid August from Circuit City, and it stopped working and Garmin sent me a new one around Mid September. It has 2008 maps. I hope they are the latest.
My question is this: When do the new maps come out (I am guessing 2009) and what is the cut off date to be eligible for the next upgrade?
I am very happy with Garmin (the company), although the product could be improved. I do not want to be a freeloader, but would like to be informed if and when the new maps come out, should I expect to pay or am I due for a free upgrade.
BTW, I ordered another unit 680 for my wife today.

it was prob posted but what reason or what did you guys ask for the mapupdate?

did you just call the tech and ask can i have an update for my nuvi XXX?

Called them today, the rep said that I was right on the border date but that they would send the update out.

As a newbee I'd appreciate some info on Map Source. I purchased my Street Pilot C580 in September, so received the free map download. Of what benefit would the Map Source DVD be? I've seen posts about managing favorites, but have no idea what this means. Would really appreciate any info on the benefits of the MapSource disk.

Don't do what I did. Got a nuvi 200 as a gift, wife thought she'd be helpful and get me the Map update 2008 city navigator North America Nt as a gift. Opened it and tried to update..silly thing, tech support said i already have the latest update.So now i'm stuck with a usless cd.lol Do your homework first..i wonder if I can list it on ebay?..lol

matt taylor second shift . granted first request, sending me a copy gratus. i have a new nuvi 650 ( new map ). he made a comment about how great this site was .mine was email request.
mike

Got the map update. Last time I spoke with them, I was told that it would ship out in January and it showed up in my front door yesterday. This is after 8 weeks.

got a new zumo 450 from amazon, registered it and garmin said it was eligiable for a free map update. I already have 2008 NT installed. What is the update?

loushi,

Read your post about getting the Map update 2008 city navigator North America Nt from your wife with your nüvi 200 and how the Garmin tech support person said you already had it.

Well the model 200 does not include Canada or Alaska like the model 250 does. My understanding is your CD would give you everything effectively making your 200 a 250.

Now of course if you don't ever go to Alaska or Canada, then you won't gain anything by updating your Map with the CD. But your 200 does not have everything that is on that CD.

I emailed Garmin a few days back about getting Canada for my nüvi 200 but have yet to hear back from them.

PT

Registered my Nuvi 260 Xmas gift, then checked My Garmin and it says no new maps are available. How do I tell what version maps are installed?

Thanks.

Bought my nuvi within 2 months of the new 2008 maps and called in for an update with ease. Only problem is that the garmin phone service takes forever because I was on hold for 15 mins before I reached a CSR. I registered and got an update for my Dad's nuvi online taht took 2 mins.

Wrench/Settings > Map > Map Info

v2008 is the latest version

The last maps were released in mid summer. i would not expect 2009 maps until that time. It would be doubtful that the new maps would be free based on your unit being close to ayear old.

One thing that you should be aware of is that the updates will only work on a single unit. So any updates you buy will not work on both you and your wife's seperate units.

since mapes are not operating system updates, don't feel the need to update if one of the units is never seeing road changes where they travel. Just keep your sirmware updated.

how much disruption it causes for a callcenter rep's name to get posted in a public place.

I know the public generally doesn't care what happens to CSRs,but it really can cause problems with management, co-workers, call-queue routing and workload.

Example: sharing the name of "good CSRs" can cause their workload to double as people as for them by name while those perceived as "bad CSRs" twiddle their thumbs and slack. Quite aside from from causing quality of life issues for the CSR immediately, do you have any guesses on how this unintended feedback affects the good CSR's future behaviour?

That is an interesting point you brought up about CSR's. I guess the choice is to either call and ask for one by name that we know will give good service or keep making multiple calls into the call center until we reach someone that may give us good service. I suppose that will depend on an individual's level of empathy, patience and time they want to invest on multiple calls.

The rep said I would get the disk as soon as possible, but I'm beginning to wonder. It's been two weeks. I'm curious, was anyone else told Garmin was out of the disk?

My Nuvi 350 has the 2008 maps, but it does not say whatversion. Is 'version 8' something different than what I have?

c330/c550 1 month old
1st email-no response
2nd email-shot down
phone call-30 minute wait
asked for discount to update both (explained was only interested in lower 48-memory capacity issues)

Josh Moran cust. serv. rep.- He went to his supervisor, I didn't have to ask.
$60 for 2 updates- thats 1 and an 1/8th- updates for free. Josh was very helpful and professional.

Good luck to the rest of you.

Garmin CSRs always tells you that the disk are out of stock and will ship when they get it. Make sure you get an order #, when you're entitled to a free upgrade. It took 8 weeks before I received my update.

I got told 3 weeks, they were out stock.

I disagree with your argument. If the crappy people were doing a good job, and actually cared about their job, they may get a promotion out of the call center like the good CSR's are trying to do who CARE about not only their job, but the HUMAN BEINGS on the phone line. There is no excuse for being a prick.

I remember one time an AT&T CSR was on the phone with me eatching something and burping continuously into the phone. Do you think he deserves the same resepect as someone who is very helpful and friendly - someone who actually CARES about others peoples feelings and his job instead of meeting a quota? Who cares about his workload, he still gets to clock out at the same time because they wont pay him overtime! It should be a self-esteem booster for someone who truly cares, that they know they are doing a good job in a corporate world of CRAPPY CSR's!

Do you think that a company wants crappy people on the phones, or some who will help to build a GOOD reputation towards the company?

I think we should start a sticky post of good CSR names and extentions!

I'm hot about it.

I just recently purchased (March 12th, 2008) a refurbished unit (C330) from an authorized Garmin dealer and attempted to get the 2008 update to replace the v8 NT. I was informed they are no longer allowed to sell the 2008 because of the anticipated release of the 2009 maps. The representative I spoke with on the phone said that the maps that were installed on the "refurbished" unit were almost 5 years old. How can this be on a Factory Refurbished "Newly Overhauled" item? I didn't even ask for a free update, I was told they are not available at this time.

It seems I will have to wait until the end of April and purchase the software which is not yet available to the public; to replace the software which came on my unit only a month earlier (already way outdated) which should have been installed when overhauled.

Leaves a bad taste!!!

Well, the v8 NT maps are not almost 5 years old despite what the representative said. The v8 maps were released in the spring/summer of 2007.

If you were to purchase a brand new c330, it would have the same map version. The c330 was never sold with the v2008 maps and the entire v2008 map update will not fit on the c330's internal memory. I believe that the c3xx series will likely be officially discontinued by Garmin very soon as they are no longer manufacturing them.

I would think that by purchasing refurbished unit, the purchaser is accepting the fact that it is not a new unit and potentially may not be the newest model nor have the newest features.

Wait are you guy sayin you are getting free maps

if so i want some

I spoke with Garmin a few days ago and they are still not updating those of us who unfortunately bought the C330, even if it was just before Christmas. If anyone has ideas, let me know.

What ver are you trying to update from and to?

Yea, I would say so---

How come they won't allow me a free update for my C330 streetpilot

Probably it's not eligible for a free update because they stopped manufacturing it before the new maps were released.

im mad nuvi 780 in feb never thought to look to see what map it has its got 2008 maps called emailed to update to 2009 no luck ... my chevy gives me free updates for a year

Seems to me that only 6 month old Nuvi you should qualify for the download. Have you used webupdater? Have you registered your product?

As the Ry Cooder song says, "I got mine". No sweat, registered, ran webupdater and downloaded the update.

In order to be eligible for a free map update, you have to have purchased a GPS unit with the old maps AFTER the new maps were released.

I get a free up with a nuvi350 that I went online the first time yesterday. I had a hard time getting it to do the update, first I lost my maps completely.I was getting a communication error as it would finish the unzip part as it would finish the write to the gps. I had to do a firmware update and finally it took. The was after I did a google search for the problem, The update included Alaska, Hawaii,Puerto Rico and Alberta Canada. The download was 2gb and update took about 2 hours about I went to sleep and prayed for it to work after the 4th try. I am computer savy but this was a scarey update
The upgrade for firmware was in a traffic receiver
update with web updater
Mark

My 680 is less than a year old and Landon at Garmin told me to pay for my upgrade like everyone else does. I don't think that the answer was appropriate. I had asked very nice for an upgrade. I send another e-mail hoping to get a more courteous Garmin rep.

Asking nicely isn't going to get you a free map update for a nearly year old unit.

Typically, you will only be eligible for a free update if you purchase a unit with the old maps AFTER the new maps were released. (And I believe the current policy is that you must do it within 60 days of purchase.)

The official release date for the City Navigator North America v2009 maps was May 1, 2008. Units purchased after March 1, 2008 were typically eligible for a free map update. Units purchased prior to this typically are not.

The Garmin representative gave you the correct answer.

Don't you think that it would be good customer service to at least update the maps for 1 year. The maps that are on the unit when you purchase it are outdated from day 1. Right after I received my 680, I was showing one of my business associates how great it was. We hit an area that the construction had been completed at least a year before. The GPS took me the wrong direction. It was very embarrassing. I don't know of anything that you buy today that doesn't have at least a 1 year warranty. Even cars today have a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. To me, Garmin has become greedy. They want to squeeze every buck out of you that they can.

What you need to understand is that Navteq changed the way that it charges Garmin for the map data. Garmin must PAY Navteq for EACH unit license that they obtain. This significantly increased the costs that Garmin has to pay for the data.

Purchased Nuvi 760 in June. 2008 North American Map on GPS. Registered and then noticed 2009 maps were available! I called and talked with Caroline Foster. She requested a copy of the receipt, which I e-mailed. 1 week later I received the code for the update from her. No fuss and great service.