GARMIN Hotline Experience

[greenwald]

Having acquired a new GPS for my personal vehicle (Nuvi 55 LM - the 'LM' stands for "Lifetime Maps"), I logged on to Garmin Express, the new site for managing your registered Garmin devices. I had a seamless download of the latest software and the newest version of maps for North America (2016-2.20).

So I figured, hey - let's hook up my 6+ yr. old Zumo 660 for some of the same medicine. Kind of hit a brick wall. Some my fault - some Garmin's. Turns out that not all cables are created equal. Older model Garmins can have power cables only. Newer models have cables that not only power the unit up, but also transfer data. So I switched to the newer cable from the recent purchase for the SUV and that solved some problems, but bugs still persisted.

Long story short, the info provided via an e-mail cry for help did not fix my issues, so I called the 1-800-800-1020 hotline and ended up speaking with a pleasant young lady (Katherine S.). She admitted that even Garmin is having some 'issues' with their software in getting Garmin Express to run smoothly, and pledged to make me happy. She assumed control of my computer (with permission) and proceded to hammer away at anything that got in her path to success. 90 patient minutes later, we were both happy and I got the latest version of maps and updated POI's (just released Oct. 14th) downloaded into the motorcycle Zumo.

If you run into a bind with your Garmin, suggest you skip internet 'solutions' and go straight to human contact on the hot line. Very positive experience!

 

[rangerreece]

Human contact=very positive experience. I'm glad you were taken care of. I have the same experience when I call Garmin, schuberth, and my local dealer in Pensacola.

 

[shakeybone]

I have had little trouble with my Garmin but when I have the customer service was great including replacing the unit years ago under warranty. I would definitely buy another.

 

[JDOCKERY132445]

If Heather answers

Hang up.

 

[JDOCKERY132445]

I have a Garmin Nuvi that needed a map update.
I installed Garmin Express,
Hooked up my Garmin to my computer,
Garmin Express recognized my device and prompted me to the download

It took nearly an hour, but the new maps were finally loaded and I got a prompt that said I was good to go.
I unplugged my Garmin.

When I plugged my device into my truck and tried to enter an address, I received the message that there was no map data.

I borrowed a GPS and made my trip.

Once I got back, I tried again. Garmin Express said my maps were up to date.

I called Garmin support and talked to Heather. She suspected that it was a problem on my end and had me plug my laptop directly into my modem instead of using my wireless connection. I re installed Express, rebooted my computer, turned off my virus protection and did a number of tasks at her direction. She finally deduced that it was my computer and Windows 8. I told her no problem, I had a laptop that had Windows 7.

I hung up and fired up my old laptop. Installed Garmin Express and called Garmin. Linda answered and pulled up my trouble ticket.

She immediately spotted my problem because she said this happens quite frequently.

FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE::::::
Go to Garmin Express, Plug your device into your computer. Once Express recognizes it, download the new maps.

DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR DEVICE WHEN PROMPTED TO DO SO.

Instead, go to your file folder and open up the "computer" folder.

See the Garmin there?

Right click and choose, "remove device safely".
Unplug your device AFTER your computer has removed it safely.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

Heather was a waste of time. If she answers, hang up.

 

[075038]

Garmin Screwed my Nuvi 550 ($300): Their550 update is too big and ruins your GPS

A few days before this summer's 6,000 mile MOA rally trip I went to the Garmin site and bought $50 map update for my 3 or so year old Garmin.
The map that came from the Nuvi 550 part of their website was now too big for the 550, so it can no longer work. Tech support said to get an SD card and slide it under battery. For $37 I did. For more than 15 hours over the next few days I worked with Garmin's (Pilot) Tech person, Darryl S. and it works for Canada and the border states, of course on my trip it DID NOT WORK for middle America, coming back. It doesn't even work for eastern PA where I live. Garmin insists that the older smaller map that had it working fine before the upload is no longer "anywhere."

I am ticked that they made the waterproof, battery and 12v powered, nice GPS with US and Canada that I liked a lot turn bad because their updates for sale for that model have grown and are now too big.

 

[greenwald]

FYI, all map data updated to both GPS units.

But then again, I run Windows 7 !

 

[PGlaves]

FYI, all map data updated to both GPS units.

But then again, I run Windows 7 !

I had no idea Windows 7 would run on a Comodore 64.

 

[greenwald]

I had no idea Windows 7 would run on a Comodore 64.

I presume the C64C motherboard.

Seriously - ever hear of Best Buy?!

 

[EMOTO]

A few days before this summer's 6,000 mile MOA rally trip I went to the Garmin site and bought $50 map update for my 3 or so year old Garmin.
The map that came from the Nuvi 550 part of their website was now too big for the 550, so it can no longer work. Tech support said to get an SD card and slide it under battery. For $37 I did. For more than 15 hours over the next few days I worked with Garmin's (Pilot) Tech person, Darryl S. and it works for Canada and the border states, of course on my trip it DID NOT WORK for middle America, coming back. It doesn't even work for eastern PA where I live. Garmin insists that the older smaller map that had it working fine before the upload is no longer "anywhere."

I am ticked that they made the waterproof, battery and 12v powered, nice GPS with US and Canada that I liked a lot turn bad because their updates for sale for that model have grown and are now too big.

Did you try downloading the maps to your PC only, then using the map tool in MapSource (or maybe BaseCamp, I can't recall if BaseCamp has it) to select PART of the map set (say 2/3 of the continent) and then push the selected map set to your GPS? This will make for a smaller set, and should work fine. It is what I do with an older unit I have that doesn't have the space for the whole thing. Unless you really need all the roads in all of north america, just load part.

 

[075038]

Garmin Nuvi 550 seems to be working again after upgrade that was too big

Updated 11/15/2015
EMOTO said, "Did you try . . ." Thank you poster from above, I tried putting a smaller set of state maps onto my Nuvi "Hard Drive (RAM?)." Garmin Map Install came to my computer with a giant map back in the summer. Map Install turned red when I picked too many states, so I deleted a few and loaded them. It locked up every time I tried to put in an address.

Spoke with Garmin's Debbie from 3:15 to 4:00 and we picked the USA states and loaded them onto the Micro SD card that I had slipped in behind the battery also in the summer. It was done loading at 5pm. Test drive worked for the first 3 or 4 addresses then a screen locked up and would not accept a touch.

I was thinking the RAM "Hard Drive" was too full, it had a file of 1.86GB and 26.1 MB free(properties). So from 8:25 to 8:45 I put just Canada and Alaska into the RAM, now 1.34 GB used and 561 MB free. Out on the porch last night it seemed to accept one address after another with 20X more free RAM. I'll repost in a month with an update either way but I'm optimistic, thanks again.

Update: Its been a week of almost daily (unneeded use, just testing) and it has worked well, even when I put in some towns I'm familiar with that are in other states. Thanks again, EMOTO and Garmin call desk. Start up is slower now that I have a loaded SD card in there but it all works.

 

[rockbottom]

My experience with Garmin has not been nearly as stellar. I had one episode where their official response was, "It can't be doing that." So I sent them a screen shot which changed their official response to, "We don't know why it's doing that. Maybe future generations of the software will straighten it out."

I had another problem where my routes would just haywire halfway through and start showing routes where there were no roads. The first call had me reset the device. That fixed it for a couple of rides then it did it again. After the next call they had me replace the unit for which I had to pay $140. Again it worked for a few days then started doing the same thing.

Finally on my own I figured out that the problem was that I loaded one map update on the the unit's internal memory and the next one on a SD card, so the two were conflicting each other. I contacted Garmin to tell them that was the problem, figuring I wasn't the only person on earth who did that. Not only did they not refund the $140 but they didn't even thank me for contributing to their solution data base.

So the best I can say about Garmin tech support is that it's not quite as awful as Microsoft.

 

[EMOTO]

My experience with Garmin has not been nearly as stellar. I had one episode where their official response was, "It can't be doing that." So I sent them a screen shot which changed their official response to, "We don't know why it's doing that. Maybe future generations of the software will straighten it out."

I had another problem where my routes would just haywire halfway through and start showing routes where there were no roads. The first call had me reset the device. That fixed it for a couple of rides then it did it again. After the next call they had me replace the unit for which I had to pay $140. Again it worked for a few days then started doing the same thing.

Finally on my own I figured out that the problem was that I loaded one map update on the the unit's internal memory and the next one on a SD card, so the two were conflicting each other. I contacted Garmin to tell them that was the problem, figuring I wasn't the only person on earth who did that. Not only did they not refund the $140 but they didn't even thank me for contributing to their solution data base.

So the best I can say about Garmin tech support is that it's not quite as awful as Microsoft.

Ask them for a refund and put the charge into contest with your bank. It is more likely incompetence than malice, but just they same, get your $ back.

 

[dunc723]

I had no idea Windows 7 would run on a Comodore 64.

It does if you pedal fast enough.

 

[bernie]

I have a Zumo 665 and I had broken auto connector for the cable to the satellite receiver. I bought one off the internet but when I connected it the message I got was it needed to be updated. I was headed for Springfield MO from MN and decided to take a side trip to the campus of Garmin outside KC. There the techs looked at it and gave me a new connector for the auto for free. They also updated my maps. It took a while because there were several people there before me. Over all it was a pleasant experience.

Bernie