never buy a garmin

busumark · May 25, 2009, 15:15:00 CET

i have a garmin ff250 fishfinder which i bought 7 years ago from meddcomms. one pin from the harness of the unit broke and that pin is the one that receives the signal from the transducer so now the depth signal is not working. to-day i went at meddcoms and he told me that they dont make anymore that model and they dont have or manufacture anymore spareparts for it. apart from that model there are about 6 more models that are not manufactured anymore and so no more spareparts for them. i dont him than i am not going to buy a garmin again because if they dont make that model anymore there will be no spareparts. he said nothing. he told me if they have a broken unit he will phone me. now for a broken pin i have to throw away my fishfinder. DONT BUY A GARMIN BECAUSE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU

skip · May 25, 2009, 15:45:38 CET

Busu unfortunately this is common practice with many manufacturers.....once a unit goes end of line they make spare parts for a few years after and then that's it. What surprises me is that you cannot use a cable from a current unit as usually most manufacturers keep to the same type of connector and perhaps even pinouts.

Have you tried looking online for the spare part. I would also email Garmin UK and inform them accordingly.

placebo · May 25, 2009, 18:50:49 CET

mela Busu, maybe they are not getting in Malta and telling their customers so.

try searching online and write to the company. I think you'll get a better reply.

Tatanka · May 25, 2009, 19:17:47 CET

busu can you have a look at this link & let me know if this is what you are looking for https://www.pcmicrostore.com/PartDetail.aspx?q=p:1282163;b:1735;pl:1 On this site it is out of stock but if you can confirm it is the same one let me know via a PM or a reply & will look for you tomorrow in Scotland as I know there is a big shop over there with all marine equipment.

benri · May 25, 2009, 19:24:22 CET

If you don't find the part you require, you can also get a technician to bridge the connector for you. Obviously it will no longer be waterproofed, but you can still use the unit.

busumark · May 25, 2009, 20:53:26 CET

@ TATANKA no what i need is the harness of the unit it is at the back the one that has the pins. it has 13 pins. the cable they have in malta. BTW i only have the unit for 5 years not 7. thanks anyway

guido99 · May 25, 2009, 22:37:24 CET

Busu follow this link and you will see how Garmin will overhaul or replace with a reconditioned unit or a new unit for $79, you will also pay shipping charges to the U.S.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/outofwarranty.html

Buddhagrass · May 26, 2009, 08:13:24 CET

Quote from: busumark on May 25, 2009, 15:15:00 CET
i have a garmin ff250 fishfinder which i bought 7 years ago from meddcomms. one pin from the harness of the unit broke and that pin is the one that receives the signal from the transducer so now the depth signal is not working. to-day i went at meddcoms and he told me that they dont make anymore that model and they dont have or manufacture anymore spareparts for it. apart from that model there are about 6 more models that are not manufactured anymore and so no more spareparts for them. i dont him than i am not going to buy a garmin again because if they dont make that model anymore there will be no spareparts. he said nothing. he told me if they have a broken unit he will phone me. now for a broken pin i have to throw away my fishfinder. DONT BUY A GARMIN BECAUSE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU

Hey Busu .... please PM cause I know someone who might fix it for you

baghira · May 26, 2009, 10:06:58 CET

Not new issue for me.
I went to buy a gps for car usage, and I asked whether the battery pack was removable, (interchangeable), they replied that no it is not, but by the time the batteries lifespan is terminated, for sure that the GPS would be gone damaged much before the batteries?

What a reply huh??
Obviously I did not buy it.

busumark · May 26, 2009, 11:01:59 CET

@ guido 99 thanks for the link but if they offer that service in the USA why the local agent doesnt offer that service also? if he is the local agent i prentend to have the same services that are offered from agents in other countries

bigboy · May 26, 2009, 11:54:27 CET

The guy at medcomms kevin really puts off people, last time i went to him with our gpsmap 180 so as to change the internal battery for me. He told me it cannot be changed. Then i came back home and opened it myself and walla its a normal battery like you find in a computer, changed it and all is working perfect now

busumark · May 26, 2009, 17:49:23 CET

phoned gamin uk and they told me that they still have some units. what i have to do is or go to medcomms and give them my unit and they will send them another unit or send it directly to them and they will send me another unit. i just pay only for the shipping to uk they pay the shipping to malta. i told them how much it costs because the prices from meddcomms are double than those of UK. it costs 59 sterling plus shipping to uk. So meddcomms are not profesional not garmin.

bigboy · May 26, 2009, 18:15:07 CET

I hate the service at medcomms it is simply disgusting.

On the otherhand garmin is one of my preferred choices in marine electronics. Right now i am in the process of buying a GPSMAP 545cs. Garmin have great units and very user friendly.

ciappinu · May 26, 2009, 19:58:10 CET

I personally did not feel too comfortable buying from the Medcomms people either. However on a positive note, the product is great.

skip · May 26, 2009, 20:15:26 CET

The products are good, locally they have alot to learn about customer service in my opinion. They are too used to dealing with large contracts/vessels and don't care much about the man in the street.

never buy a garmin

bigboy

bigboy