WARNING- All Navman 3100 Instrument Users

[FullCircle]

ALL warranty for Navman 3100 is now being passed from Plastimo UK to Navico Uk.

Northstar have bought the Navman brand and are undertaking the warranty.

Plastimo informed me when I CALLED THEM that my units had been forwarded to Navixco, and that they were wahing their hands of the problem. Plastimo did not inform me that was the case.

So my units are packed off to Navico. 01794 510010.

Navico are sending out reciepts by snail mail giving a new RME retruns number.

They are able to confirm my units have been recieved, but they have not been look at.

Navico are unable to give me a date when they will be looked at, or how long the curren delay is before either looking at them or fixing them

on the positive side, if they are unable to fix them (and its the design/manufacturing LCD mounting failure) they will supply new replacement Northstar units which have that particular fault rectified (so I am told).

Navico UK warranty department do answer the phone, so thats good too.

A bit of a mess, as I first reported the issue to Plastimo back at the end of October.

SO, IF YOUR 3100 UNITS NEED WARRANTY ASSESSMENT, I SUGGEST YOU CONTACT NAVICO UK, AND THEN INFORM PLASTIMO. CUTOUT THE MIDDLE MAN.

 

[samwise]

The warranty work ( and any other inquiries about Navman spares etc) are being handled by Navimo UK, not Navico, although there is a rather complex link between them.

Essentially Plastimo no longer do Navman and Navimo are looking after the remaining warranty queries "out of goodwill."

The problem is that the internal design of the original 3100 Navman instrument series has changed so much ( especially with regard to the problem of the disappearing LCD displays) that spares are no longer available and parts used on later versions cannot be retrofitted.

In my case( my 3100s were out of warranty anyway) Navimo offered me replacement units to the upgraded spec at a discount. Short of ditching the whole Navman set up, I had no choice. However, if you have a Navman set, don't hold your breath in the expectation of long term product support.

I would recommend you to contact Mark Parkin at Navimo through the sales office at Tel 0870 751 4666

 

[smeaks]

all said and done i had a problem with my navman plotter and navico did not hesitate to help stating that plastimo may prove awkward. New software was sent with instructions etc - cured my prob and the unit was out of warranty! hats of to navico/navman what a good team

 

[FullCircle]

Sorry to disagree samwise, but....

I was definitely speaking to NAVICO warranty returns department, not Navimo.

Plastimo gave me the phone number, and it is certainly Navicos number, and NAVICO confirmed they are handling it.

 

[samwise]

Navico is an amalgamation of Simrad and Lowarance with a number of other brands in tow such as B&G, Eagle etc. Their European agents are Plastimo.

Navimo is part of the Plastimo empire and I have had extensive conversation and correspondence with them with reference to my own particular problem. Maybe you thought you talked to Navico but I'll bet they transferred the problem to Mark Parkin at Navimo (which operates inside the Plastimo UK umbrella) who is fielding these problems. As I write I have before me the invoice and delivery note from Navimo regarding my two duff instruments. If you really want to cut out the middle man( if indeed there is one) go direct to Mark. He is very helpful.

 

[FullCircle]

I dialled Navico direct, after having put down the phone to Plastimo, who I have dealt with for the last 3 years.

Google the ruddy phgone number above if you dont believe me.



They have passed it all to Navico, who are tied into Northstar.


I have had it up to the back teeth with Navman and Plastimo, and if it was Navimo I was passed to, I would have to wonder whether or not to commit hari kari.

 

[samwise]

Confusing or what? Do you think that if they continue to direct us in ever decreasing circles we will finally disappear?
All I can say is that Mark Parkin did the best he could for me, but then I did not have a legit warranty claim.
We have had no problems with the plotter ( touching wood here) but I think the instruments in the 3100 series ( especially the early ones) were a bit iffy. I know of two or three sailors who have become so exasperated, they have binned the lot and I suspect there are a lot more unhappy buyers out there. Even with the discount applied I have had to pay just under £350 to replace the two instruments that have failed. The replacements are coded with an additional letter s for example the wind instrument is the 3150s and the depth is the 3100s. My originals failed after only three years. When I bought the boat we decided to go for a whole suite of Navman stuff because it looked good and seemed good value. Ironically, the instruments we replaced were, yes you guessed it, Navico.
As I have said before, next time its Tacktick for me.
PM me if you need to compare any more notes

 

[neale]

[ QUOTE ]
Navico is an amalgamation of Simrad and Lowarance with a number of other brands in tow such as B&G, Eagle etc. Their European agents are Plastimo.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is no connection between Navico and Plastimo, the rest of the above statement is correct.

Navimo and Plastimo yes, but not Navico.

Navimo (Plastimo) sold Navman
Navico sold Northstar

Both products were the sameish but labeled differently.

In the ensuing battle, Navimo lost Navman and now produce their own brand of electronics called advanSea.

In the first instance I would talk to Navimo about warranty, it may be that Navico, as part of the deal, sort out Navman warranty issues, but Navico has never sold Navman products.

 

[FullCircle]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Navico is an amalgamation of Simrad and Lowarance with a number of other brands in tow such as B&G, Eagle etc. Their European agents are Plastimo.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is no connection between Navico and Plastimo, the rest of the above statement is correct.

Navimo and Plastimo yes, but not Navico.

Navimo (Plastimo) sold Navman
Navico sold Northstar

Both products were the sameish but labeled differently.

In the ensuing battle, Navimo lost Navman and now produce their own brand of electronics called advanSea.

In the first instance I would talk to Navimo about warranty, it may be that Navico, as part of the deal, sort out Navman warranty issues, but Navico has never sold Navman products.

[/ QUOTE ]


Yep, thats what I was saying. Navico have been handed the baton by Plastimo as Northstar have all the tools, parts (and the fix for the issue).

Plastimo/Navimo will NOT be dealing with this anymore.
This agreement was finally done las tweek.


advanSea instruments may well be offered at discount prices to Navman customers, or that is what Plastimo told me.

 

[philip_stevens]

I have just read the Feb issue of the USA SAIL magazine, and there is an article about the Navico Broadband Radar.

In the write-up, it starts, "Late last year Navico (B&G, Eagle, Lowrance, Northstar, Simrad) announced" .....etc.

Further down, it gives the phone numbers for Navico 800-etc- (Eagle, Lowrance) or 800-etc (B&G, Northstar, Simrad).

Nothing controversial, just showing the diversity of the company.


One thing SAIL does state, on the front cover - "Worlds <span style="color:red"><u>Leading</span></u> Sailing Magazine". Is it??

 

[FullCircle]

I have now received a receipt letter from Navico which is acknowledging receipt of the units received from Plastimo. I have checked carefully, and they have the unit details correct, and I now have an RMA number to chase.

They still don't give any indication of time span to wait though.