(Rant) Garmin GPS Navigators - RIP-OFF!! !

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I've had my Garmin Nuvi GPS Navigator for a few years now, and recently noticed that the maps were not completely accurate. A map update costs almost as much as a new unit, and is incompatible with the unit I already have.

Then I noticed that the battery is on a recall list, so I went to the store to buy a new one. None of the stores I visited within a 20-mile radius sells new batteries for Garmin Nuvi GPS Navigators, even though they sell the Navigators themselves!

So I go back on-line and try to find some way to get a new battery without having to buy a whole 'nuther unit. No dice. Not only can it not be done, but Garmin's website is a convoluted mess - even if you find the right tab, the right category, and the right description, you must still fill out an unnecessarily detailed description of your situation. All I want is a freekin battery for my freekin Garmin product. I need it now, because I'm going on a road trip in a few hours, and I need to know how to get there!

Calling the nearest office resulted only in endless rounds of phone-tag and long waits on "Hold".

Needless to say, I am feeling a great deal of disappointment with the Garmin corporation.

https://my.garmin.com/rma/recallLanding.faces

If the battery has been recalled you should be able to contact Garmin--more than likely they will provide instructions for returning your Garmin for repair/replacement. I've had friends that are quite happy with how Garmin handled broken GPS receivers.

IMO, best GPS I've used is my smartphone with Google Maps. My Tom Tom isn't nearly as good compared to that. Tom Toms are free to update maps, though, I think...? Smartphones are getting cheap now, though. My phone is like 80 bucks used on ebay now. Just the only problem is Apple devices don't give you functionality without money really, and Android devices are buggy, bloated and crappily programmed. Oh, and they work terribly as phones. So yeah, smartphone is the best, if you don't mind it working like ass and dropping calls and having the phone app shut down when you receive phone calls.

Yep, I'd agree with that. It's very impressive.
No, they're not. I don't think they're outrageously expensive but when you have a neat and tidy smartphone with Google Maps there doesn't seem much point in using TomTom. Hah, so that's another bit of redundant kit I now own.

What, all of them?
Anyway, not in my experience they're not. Sure, the high gloss veneer (and cost, and handcuffs) of Apple isn't there but they're still very good. I've never once had a problem with calls I could attribute to an application or the phone itself.
Plus, you know when something's succeeding - Microsoft starts clubbing it about the head.

This sound surprising to me.

1. All GPS maps have limits. The 2010 maps is whatever map data was available when it was coded. It's never going to be 100% accurate due to lags in changes being reported and/or inadequacies in what is reported. You can go your lifetime without updating, but on the cheaper units, yeah, an update can cost as much as a new GPS. A lifetime update is about twice as much, but you never have to buy it again for that unit. If you buy one of the more expensive models (like I have), the map update isn't that big a deal if you just wait 3-5 years between buying updates.



The store isn't going to carry spare batteries. No $$$ in it for them. Garmin will sell you one or tell you how to send in your unit for in-warranty/recall servicing. You don't need to replace the battery before your trip. You'll probably do fine to leave it until you get back.

Normally, Garmin has the best customer service for products. Every time I've dealt with them, they took care of the matter with no hassle.