Garmin chartplotter rip off

Not sure why you would update twice in a year if they only issue one update a year.I have E mailed Garmin with ref to this issue and had no reply so if anybody else wants to contact them then please post their reply.Would you buy a plotter at the London boat show now you know the charts would be out of date in a few weeks??
 
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jamesjeffrey said:
Answer is simple. They issued two updates.
Click to expand...

Quoting Bolty

"When I spoke to the Garmin help desk they told me a new chart update is released in January for the plotters and that it is updated once a year but there are 4 updates a year available for charts purchased on SD card."
 
bolty said:
Would you buy a plotter at the London boat show now you know the charts would be out of date in a few weeks??
Click to expand...

Yes because, even after the Boat Show the ones you probably will buy won't have updated charts as they will be from non up to date stock. There will always be this situation unless dealers can update your machine when you buy it - that is really what they and Garmin should organise.

I will always use an updated chart with a GPS and wouldn't rely on the GPS alone. I will use the GPS for position etc but still use the chart for detail so for me and others that have mentioned this the need to update so regularly isn't so much of an issue.

I do see your annoyance however and agree that the GPS units should be sold with the latest charts in the first place... The dealers need the ability to update their stock when you buy!
 
johnphilip said:
Quoting Bolty

"When I spoke to the Garmin help desk they told me a new chart update is released in January for the plotters and that it is updated once a year but there are 4 updates a year available for charts purchased on SD card."
Click to expand...

May be what they said - but doesn't match with what happened on my plotter.

I've double checked just to be sure. I've got invoices for 4 updates - September 2012, March 2012, May 2011, May 2010, I bought the plotter with a current chart in August 2009. I have a vague memory of deliberately skipping a second update in Late 2011 as I wasn't using the boat but I'm not sure. Because my device is registered on My Garmin I'm only prompted to buy an update when one becomes available - if my map is current the My Garmin site tells me so.
 
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Reply from Garmin

Did anybody ask about updates at the london boat show?

Please see the reply from Garmin.
Looks like there is hope after all

Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe.

I will be happy to help you.

Currently other then the £49.99 update fee there are no other methods of
being able to update a pre-loaded plotter. However, this has been looked
into by Garmin for sometime now and shortly (within the next month or
so) Garmin will be introducing an add-on to our BlueChart Guarantee
http://www.garmin.com/uk/maps/bluechart
to include free or discounted update for users with pre-loaded plotters.


Currently we have found that the charting being used on the pre-loaded
plotters are up to date for our user, however if in 6-12 months time you
feel the charts need to be updated then at present the £49.99 fee would
apply.

I appreciate your comments and opinions and have read the YBW threads
online and have made sure this information is passed onto the relevant
person.

If there is anything else I can help you with then please let me know.
Alternatively you can search for a solution here:
http://www.garmin.com/support
 
That's the trouble with a trade show - you never know whether you are talking to somebody who is informed or not. Answers are too often confident and inaccurate.
 
An incredible lack of product knowledge seems to be acceptable with all techy stuff! The whole industry seems to accept that you have to jump through hoops just to understand and operate the stuff. If the "salesmen" don't know about the product what hope do we have apart from having to spend a day trying to eventually get the correct answers!

They also bring the largely untested gear out so quickly now to get market share I don't think the manufactures fully know how it's products operate in the "field". Look at all the design clangers and bugs that come up with new kit (not so GPS thankfully!)
 
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As per usual with the Garmin web site you end up on a different page each time you use it and normally the USA web site. I know you have to keep changing the location to the UK but even when I am logged in it still keeps diverting to the USA and gives me a price in dollars to update the maps in my new plotter which is registered in the uk.
With reference to the London boat show please see the following reply from Garmin.
Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe.

The information that we were providing at the
boat show regarding free updates was for the current policy that allows
you to update the pre load chart cards free of charge. The process for
updating your pre loaded plotter as per the new map guarantee is not
something that is yet available.

The next update should be available next month. The cost for the update
at this time would be about £50
I have to be honest and say that the people on the Garmin help desk are very helpful but appear to be let down by Garmin management and a very poor web site.
So the bottom line is if your charts are out of date on a new plotter you currently have to pay £50 to update them.
 
UPDATE:
(Someone listens to you after all! :))

BlueChart® New Chart Guarantee, Now Available for Pre-loaded Plotters
Peace of Mind
Garmin is happy to announce that the popular New Chart Guarantee program is now available for all newly purchased pre-loaded Garmin plotters. This
guarantee program ensures customers that they will be able to access the most current charts available at the time of purchase. Customers who have recently
purchased a new preloaded chartplotter are entitled to one FREE update to the newest version of charts. Updated charts will be delivered for the same (or
equivalent2) region as the original purchase. Limited to one free update per eligible device. The New Chart Guarantee is valid within 6 months of purchase.

Methods to Update
Website Download
Go to www.garmin.com/mapupdates and enter serial number of chartplotter to determine eligibility for a free New Chart Guarantee.
 
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galadriel said:
What I cannot understand with these plotters which have preloaded charts, if they are not sold quickly the charts will date. Any decent chandler is going to have to buy quantity to get a sensible discount, a catch 22 situation.

So how difficult would it be for, say, Garmin to supply the plotter with some basic firmware but no charts and a code key which will allow you to plug the plotter into the USB port on your computer, visit their web site, register the product (they love that) then down load the latest version of the chart, a one off 'free' download.

Retailer can carry stock without worry of ageing, plotter manufacture has USP and customer is a happy chappy!
Click to expand...

Very much like I suggested.
 
That's good news, I was going to buy one today but my wife had my credit card (again :( ) but will order a new Garmin 551s tomorrow :) as well as PLB, lifejacket, lifeline, Tru-plug, Charts, anode, VHF and oops flowers! Hmm I wonder where her credit card is for a change ;)
 
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