[Az-Geocaching] Garmin Customer Service

[RopingThe Wind]

>----- Original Message -----
>From: <kenh199@cox.net>
>To: <listserv@azgeocaching.com>
>Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 12:55 AM
>Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Garmin Customer Service
>
>
> > A couple of weeks ago a posted a request on how to fix My Garmin Vista
>which was having a problem with the rubber trim coming off. The GPS is 
>about
>2 years old and was well over it's 1 year warranty period. I e-mailed 
>Garmin
>and explained the problem to them. To my surprise they gave me an RMA # and
>told me to send it in and they would fix it without charge. I sent the unit
>in and got it back exactly two weeks later.
> >
> > Upon receiving my GPS I noted that it looked BRAND NEW :) Upon reading 
>the
>service report I discovered that they noted that my trusty Vista was 
>looking
>a little well used. I have had the unit for about 2 years and with all the
>rock hopping and rattling around on my ATV have dropped it several times
>scratching the screen and case. Garmin replaced the Screen, Case, click
>stick and entirely refurbished it before sending it back to me. Total cost
>for out of warranty repair and unexpected total refurbishment $0.00!!!
> >
> > Garmin has just made me a life long customer.
> >
> > Ken
> > WhereRwee?

I have been using GPS for over 10 years now. I have had a few different 
units... 2 Magellans and 2 Garmins. I have always been impressed with my 
Garmin units (3+ and Etrex Legend). They acquire sattellites very quickly 
and thru harsh usage.. continue to function great. I have only delt with 
customer service once (Clark Howard calls this 'customer no service'!), and 
this is over 10 years of using Garmin,  and it was a good experience. Garmin 
is a major player in GPS and other technical gadgetry in the aviation 
industry. They not only make GPS units for outdoors use... they also make 
high dollar GPS panel mount units for aviation, as well as transponders, 
aicraft radios, panel mount weather/radar, etc. They are highly respected in 
the aviation industry. They manufacture complete avionics panels. Pilots 
demand top notch equiptment that will not break down on them when they need 
it most. I know if I flew fixed wing, I certainly wouldnt want any other 
name on my instrument panel but Garmin. With all that experience, then you 
know they can make a darn good simple outdoors handheld unit.

There are several manufacturers of GPS's.. Garmin, Magellan, Lowrence, etc 
and they all make nice units. It just depends on what use you need it for. 
When you are up there at 10,000', you need equiptment that will not fail on 
you. The difference can literally be life or death. Garmin is a most 
respected name in a very professional industry. Whether I am just out on a 
hike/geocaching or flying high... I rely on Garmin.

:)

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

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