Garmin steps up

[Tim R.]

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 3206 that stopped working properly after a thunderstorm. Nothing else on the boat was affected. I emailed Garmin who said the unit has a 2 year warranty and to send it in. I have owned it for less than 2 years. They said if they found that the storm caused the damage it would be a flat $325(appr) fee to repair/replace.

I shipped it in June 5th using a USPS flat rate box from Portland, Maine to Olathe, Kansas. Today I received a completely refurbished unit via UPS Ground.

Although the initial email exchange took a few days, the repair service and turnaround time were excellent.

 

[Chuckbear]

Sometimes Garmin can be great and other times, not so much. I have sent them two emails now for clarification on an install and after over a week, have yet to hear back from them. I guess a call is now in order but they prefer you use email. But it doesn't help if they won't respond. Chuck

 

[betzhunter]

My garmin gpsmap541s went out year and a half after I purchased it. Since it only comes with a one year warranty I had to pay $150.00 for a refurb unit. I mailed it to them from Louisiana on Monday this week, they received it Wednesday same week and sent me another one today Thursday (same week). I guess that's not bad for a $600 unit.
Fast turnaround.

 

[Bob J.]

No charge, pretty cool Tim!

 

[Tim R.]

Chuck, the email exchanges leading up to the RMA issuance was painfully slow. I mean 1 email per day for a week. I would email Monday, they would respond Tuesday, I would respond pretty quickly and they would respond Wed.

It seems like they only read email once per day.

Unfortunately, their first level phone support is not what it used to be. I would always get a knowledgeable tech but now it is a crapshoot. Most of the time I get someone following a support flowchart.

 

[JRacer]

My 276's screen died. Called them on a Thursday and diagnosed the issue with the tech guys, out of warranty by a long shot so paid the flat rate and got an RMA , shipped it to them on Friday (Wichita KS to Olathe KS - 200 miles), got the refurb back on Monday - couldn't believe it.