GPS service story !

[Lucky_Phill]

IT started off a while ago when I headed out of the bar and off to a fav spot some 11k's from offshore. The GPS unit had not locked onto the satellites. After much stopping and reconnecting wires etc, I decided that is was gooooone ! Never did find me fishing spot.

OK, rang the service people concerned and they said to send it down and they could fix it. I told them it appeared to me to be the antenna, and while they were at it, they might as well replace the internal battery as it's 10 year life was up a year ago. FYI, the unit is a Garmin 120.

The service people in Brisbane then onforwarded it to Melbourne or Sydney, ( still not sure ). Some 2 weeks later ( little less ), they rang to say unit can be fixed but I must pay for servicing up front.....mmm OK.

Ring me back to get delivery details etc from me. Later that week I get a parcel and open it. Invoice, old unit and old antenna.....mmm something is missing ! DOH ! no new antenna. I ring people and get put through to other people etc etc. Finally get to fella that says..mmm Yes, your antenna is here..........well I want it HERE ! Send it next day by courier. Arrives and is not the same antenna as the original, but I am sure it will work.

Overall, the service wasn't that bad, but, if you are putting an invoice into a parcel. one would have thought you'd check the contents of said parcel ??

I haven't fired the unit up yet, but here's hoping. Hoping all my marks have been saved. OH, and another thing, I wonder if the ' techs ' download all info from units in for repair, now THAT would be a nice list of marks >???????<>< <><> ><><><><>

Phill

[ShaneJ]

As far as I know, none of the GME techs would know what a fishing rod is. So I think your marks will be safe

[finga64]

Techs, I hate techs >
GPS back three times and 2 twice exactly the same thing, and after 19 months without one I got my money back. Thanks for nothing AMI sales.
HEAR THAT ALL. AMI Sales couldn't be bothered in fixing. Just interested in stuffing me about..
Sounder has worked a total of 1hr 20min. Back to get fixed for the third time as of yesterday. Made it quite clear if I got the same sounder back it's going up somebodies nose...sideways.
Trying to sort out a radio problem with GME and problems everywhere.
If you didn't guess....I hate techs

Hope everythings works for you Phil.

[finga64]

That tech's name isn't Warren is it??

[searaider]

Geday Phil ,
I hope the GPS works & the Waypoints are still there .
But I've got a bad feeling that if the have changed the battery , they most likely reset the unit & that wipes off everything & resets back to as you bought it .
If thats the case your waypoints are long goooooooooone

Peter
Searaider 2

[frankj]

Maybe this post should be linked to the post on importing from the USA. http://www.ausfish.com.au/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1157012893

An example of why people might look further afield rather than always supporting the local import agent.

Get the price right and provide good service and people will queue up for your products.
High prices and poor service means the outcome is inevitable.

Sorry Phill, I hope you get your problems solved and your marks are all there

[davo]

I've just had an interesting experience with GME also. It took them FIVE weeks to give me another 172C chart plotter > > > They even sent it to the wrong address but they didn't even contact me Brisbane no longer has any techs. I only buy if I can get local service so it's no more Garmin's for me.

[Noelm]

I have a Garmin sounder in my tinny and had a drama with the transducer (not faulty) and I called them (GME Sydney) with details of what I wanted, it arrived 2 days later and all was good, so maybe the problem lies with the QLD to NSW link or something, or, I may have just been lucky.

[Dirtysanchez]

GME are only the seller / service agents in Aus, much the same as a lot of their stuff, they make a few epirbs in Aus, thats about it apparently

Now the non volatile memory in the GPS should have a battery back up for essential data, so in theory your waypoints should still be there.. Unless is it a low end device in which case it will only have the one internal battery..

Good luck.. I had an even worse experience with Magellan in Perth a few years back, they just scrapped my unit without so much as a sorry about that sir. I wrote them a filthy letter and said I would tell all and sundry not to buy their stuff. In the end I got a replacement at their cost.. At the time it was $190 less that I could get it for at BIAS / Witworths