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Garmin

Customer Service Ratings and Comments

Garmin is ranked #87 out of the 301 companies that have a CustomerServiceScoreboard.com rating with an overall score of 50.52 out of a possible 200. This score rates Garmin customer service and customer support as Disappointing.

NEGATIVE Comments

73 Negative Comments out of 86 Total Comments is 84.88%.

POSITIVE Comments

13 Positive Comments out of 86 Total Comments is 15.12%.

Issue Resolution

Reachability

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Product Knowledge

Disappointing Overall Customer Service Rating
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  • I have spent over 15 hours trying to get updated maps that I purchased for 69.99 downloaded. when I have reached customer service, they are very friendly and patient. Its just what they tell you to do doesn't work. I am thru. I will demand a refund,dispute the charge,whatever it takes. I will then go and buy anything but a Garmin. Too bad, as I liked the device. Stupid way to treat customers, it will bite them.

    buckdad 9/1/10 8:00PM

  • Wait long is tooooo loooong.
    Unacceptable.

    chilenocl 9/1/10 1:13PM

  • They have issued a recall , there is no answers just rudeness ... I personally will not buy their crap , unfortunatly my parents did , I am cleaning up that mess ! I own a nextar and one on my cell phone (motorola ) and am happy with those ! great customer service ... every thing .. Garmin is JUNK , hope they read and see these as I for one think they suck
    Call after unanswered call , hold times of over an hour ,and rude and obnoxious employees , they want you to "pay" to replace their garbage , however keep in mind that we have already invested money in your garbage !!
    Oh and to tell the customer it is a fedral law that you can not ship a gps over night "really" how does the chain stores do it ? Dont pee on my leg and tell me it is raining , Garmin respect your customers they will respect you treat them like dirt you will be out of business before you know it and the great Dr Kao can pay your bills for you after all he is a billionaire ... But I for one wont help him make any more money my goal now is to scare off the unsuspecting suckers from buying his crap ...

    against garmin 8/27/10 10:06AM

  • garmin support sucks its a waste of time to try to contact garmin rather than throwing away the product

    surya 8/24/10 1:44PM

  • garmin has a very worst support for its products, the phone line wont get connected at all

    GARMIN 8/24/10 11:46AM

  • I reported a problem with CityExplorer NY not functioning properly on 1350 GPS to tech support and was told someone would verify problem and get back to me within 48 hrs. After no response for a week,I reported the problem again and this time the problem was verified by Garmin tech support while I was on the phone for about 45 minutes (after a 30 minute wait to reach tech support). Again, I was promised that someone would get back to me within 48 hrs with a reponse. Again, no one ever got back to me. So I returned the 1350,replaced it with a 3750, and requested that I be able to download CityExplorer NY to the 3750 without having to pay for it a second time. That request was granted, but the version that I was able to download was not the latest version. There had been an update soon after I made the original purchase. So I spent two months trying to obtain a Garmin unit that worked with CityExplorer NY and I still do not have the latest version of CityExplorer NY. Garmin management thinks that is fair. In fact, they think they did me a "courtesy" by allowing me to download the old version of the map to the 3750, totally ignoring all of the trouble Garmin caused me because the original 1350 did not function properly with CityExplorer NY and because of Garmin's failure to respond to the problem.

    VDGU 8/18/10 8:33AM

  • What a disgrace. They opened at 8:00. I called at 8:04 and was told there would be a 20-30 minute wait. How is that possible.

    The only way for something to change is word of mouth. I will tell my friends and clients about Garmin's deplotable customer service. I wish someone would have told me, I would never have bought the product.

    So disappointing.

    cmd

    cmd 8/13/10 6:11AM

  • Don't have time for the constant "30-35 minute wait" on the phone help line, so I have been playing the email game with them for about a month now while my warranty slowly runs out. Hmmm... maybe this is how they get out of a lot of warranty repairs. First email, I didn't put the proper info in. Second email with the proper into from me, they didn't read before sending a response. I can't turn my unit on and they gave me a bunch of procedures to try as if I could boot it up. Totally unhelpful. Third email, sent today. With all the info and a demand to get a RMA number to send my unit in for repairs. We'll see...

    B.Brown 8/12/10 1:27PM

  • I currently have 3 Garmin GPSs active (2 automotive, 1 handheld), and over the years have had 4 others (3 automotive, 1 handheld). My experience is that electronically these units are very good, faster at acquiring satelites than others, with superior displays and controls, as long as they work. When they don't, my customer service experience has gone from almost uacceptable, to non-existent (the former in earlier days, the latter now).

    I have many complaints, but one that really rankles is with my present unit, a Nuvi 775T. I bought this specifically because I was going to be in Europe, and wanted European maps as well as North American. As is usually the case, the maps on the unit purchased had updates available, and my experience in the past has been that Garmin updates maps if the update was released prior to the purchase date of the unit. This also was the case for the Nuvi 775T, except the gotcha was that despite it coming with two installed maps, only one map update was free. (Shouldn't they work on the principle of one map/one update?) But it gets better (worse?). I had to choose which map I wanted to update first, only to discover that I had chosen the NA map (because that is where I live) without knowing that the EU map was going to cost more! Needless to say, protesting e-mails to Garmin went unanswered.

    It has also been my experience that Garmin is grossly paranoid about protecting their maps. I have no problem with normal protection of intellectual property, but object to being unable to access a map that I have paid good money for simply because I have upgraded a computer. I also find totally unacceptable the habit of Garmin to change the upgrade process each time they bring out a map upgrade, meaning that you never know quite what to expect when trying to download a new map.

    Downloading - their map servers are the pits, and have become worse over time. I have just sat through six hours of waiting for updates to my North America and Europe maps to be downloaded and installed on my Nuvi 775T. I then discover, that unlike previous updates, this new update does NOT install the new map into MapSource, meaning that now my GPS maps are not consistent with the maps on my computer. The whole idea was that once could load track logs onto one's computer, and see them on the same map as was on the GPS; seemingly that model has been changed without notice.

    Then there is the issue with my Australia and New Zealand map, also on the 775T. Unfortunately, I changed PCs, and while I was able to re-install my (previous) NA and EU maps from the download files into MapSource, I am unable to re-install the AU & NZ map because that particular installer will not let me install it to MapSource because I don't have a PREVIOUS map installed on the Nuvi - forget the fact that this is in fact the first map for AU & NZ that I bought.

    On that last problem, I sent an e-mail to Customer Support almost 10 weeks ago, and have not yet received any reply, not even one of the BS automated replies that tell you they will get back within x working days.

    As I happen to be retired, I can try calling Customer Service, and I have never waited very long on hold. That is, their automated system plays me their usual stupid messages about UNUSUALLY high call volumes, at any time of the day or night (well, within their stupid limited hours)and then hangs up on me within 1 to 20 minutes. I have never yet spoken to an actual human being about this matter.

    So, I have basically given up trying to resolve issues with Garmin. I will continue to use my 775T until it breaks, or the internal battery dies (as I know that having it replaced by Garmin costs a stupid price). At that time I will buy the equivalent TomTom (my son has one, so I know his experience) - their maps are equally good, they have a better update process at a better price, and while their hardware is not quite as good as Garmin's, they cause a lot less aggravation.

    One can only hope that Garmin goes into bankruptcy soon, to save others from ahving to deal with this company that seems to have no idea of what it means to be in the business of serving customers!

    bummer 8/8/10 10:04PM

  • My customer service experiences are so far similar to everyone else commenting. But a couple of things to add ... after spending an inordinate amount of time researching the products (Nuvi 1490t plus SW 24k Map DVD) and then over $400, and about 12-14 hours on the computer going through Garmin's retarded IT rituals ... I am still unable to get the device to perform as promised. I can't view the topo maps on the device! Hard to believe they are the leaders in this industry? Garmin needs to go out of business!

    My solution is to have Apple design a navigation device, become friends with Google again, and sell an "iNav" with 64-gig of addressable memory using Google's mapping and Google Earth data.. I (and several of my friends) will stand in line to buy it! For a hefty price tag!

    Dave 8/1/10 4:50PM

  • I purchased the Garmin 765T for my husband and one for my son...an investment of well over $750 at a Best Buy in Baldwin, NY. With barely any use, my husband's unit now does not receive a satellite signal. The store manager couldn't help me today. He suggested I contact Garmin.I did via internet. The response: how much would I be willing to pay for an answer to my question via eanswer/ tech support. I am shocked and so very disappointed about the lack of customer service support from Garmin. They sell a product. If one is lucky and the unit works, enjoy your Garmin GPS. If it doesn't work, don't bother to seek help through Garmin. They do not appear to care one iota. I will not purchase another Garmin GPS unless there is a change in the customer service/support aspect of their business.

    Anonymous 7/31/10 11:02AM

  • I think it is obsurd that Garmin does not have customer support on the weekends. Most people are too busy during the week to take care of things and can only do it on the weekends. Now we are going out of town and I can't update my maps for some reason. It keeps giving me an error and to contact them but how can you when they have no support at all on the weekends. I will never purchase a Garmin again nor would I suggest it to anyone to purchase. What a big dissappointment!!

    Anonymous 7/31/10 9:04AM

  • I've been wanting to buy a Garmin Nuvi for three years now and have never been able to find one person at Best Buys or one person to talk with at Garmin that can sell me something. I have a few basic questions to ask before laying down 300 to 600 dollars and there is no one there that can provide an answer. I plan a vacation to the beach each summer where I want to try a device out for the water but never leave myself enough time to process an order. I guess next summer I'll give myself a month lead time to find a sales person who can explain what I need. Or maybe, the company will be bought out by then by a retailer who understands customer service? If this is what it takes to buy the product, God help anyone trying to get it serviced.

    Anonymous 7/27/10 12:47PM

  • Worst customer service and software EVER. I purchased a Nuvi product 2 years ago, lost the software installed on my laptop, and upon asking how to get another copy I was told that the product/software is no longer supported and I'm out of luck. I like their products, but after this experience I will never buy a Garmin again. I look forward to them going bankrupt...

    robiac 7/23/10 12:24PM

  • Its not coustomer service its COUSTOMER NO SERVICE! Great product but not timely support!
    Can't tell people what a great product anymore! I have owned Gamin product now for 25 years.....never again!

    22Viking 7/23/10 6:59AM

  • on hold and recording says a 30 minute wait If I can't get satisfactory advice in how to start my recently purchased nuvi 1350 its going back to the store for a refund.

    janet williams 7/22/10 7:01AM

  • I am on hold right now with Gamin Support. Have been for about 30 min. Had the same problem last week, over 20 minute wait. Email support is up to 3 days wait. Much to long for support.

    Bob 7/14/10 10:09AM

  • Horrible customer service. Not able to get anyone on the phone. Been trying to call Garmin for 2 days now. Always experiencing high volume calls apparently or only have one employee to answer all the call...Geezz
    There is no support for their products, forget about it, use google map on iphone and get accurate GPS functions.
    Never again will I buy anything that says Garmin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Anonymous 7/13/10 12:51PM

  • The worst tech experience I've had in 20 years with hundreds of products from different manufacturers. Garmin has admitted a problem but no solution or replacement that works.

    ScottND 7/8/10 8:36AM

  • The Garmin Nuvi I just bought and use every day in my work started freezing up when turning on several weeks ago. Today I receive an email from Garmin telling of a mandatory update for this, but if it has already happened to you, you now have to send it into Garmmin for a repair and will get it back in about 2 weeks. What a load of BS!! Not an acceptable solution to THEIR problem.

    Anonymous 7/7/10 1:58PM

  • So far customer support is a joke, several calls to their toll-free support number and waits of over 1/2 hr and no answer. Can't recommend their product when they won't support it. Answers to e-mails within 3 days?? we'll see.

    jfk

    Anonymous 7/6/10 1:58PM

  • Why such long wait times for support???? ridiculous.

    Anonymous 7/1/10 10:41AM

  • Have spoken on a number of occasions with Garmin representatives-- in almost all cases they have varying answers to the same question-- difficult to believe they really know their own products or services.

    Potential buyers should also be aware that Garmin intentionally obsoletes their products-- they sell a lower end GPS (for cars) and then when the new map comes out the unit does not have enough system memory to accomodate the map-- either you supplement the memory with an SD card, or you buy a new unit that will accomodate the map. Not an ethically company, or a customer friendly company.

    Finally the online map update system is horrendous-- even Garmin's own tech support reps try to steer people clear of it when they can. The designer of their web site is a moron-- could be much more straight-forward and simpler. Too bad-- an otherwise good product in such poor hands...

    B 6/30/10 4:33PM

  • HORRIBLE Customer Service & Relations. Highly priced products and no ability to receive support via phone due to completely unreasonable hold times. Garmin has NO RESPECT for the value of your time. Message ALWAYS says "We are experiencing *UNUSUALLY* long hold times..." There is NOTHING unusual about it.

    If you purchase a Garmin product, I PROMISE you will regret it the first time you have to call Technical "Support". Additionally, you will find NO "Customer Relations" phone number and number to any useful corporate office number.

    Google - Garmin support sucks, Horrible Garmin Technical Support, Garmin hold times, etc. and you will find what many have to say about this horrible customer service issue with Garmin.

    Unsatisfied Customer 6/28/10 12:10PM

  • I also contacted Garmin in Kansas and experienced complete ineptitude.
    This is a company you want to stay far away from. They tried to get me to upgrade to a 350.00 unit due to the fact that my 200.00 1300 only 2 months old was shot.
    Bad company!

    j1776 6/24/10 3:07PM

  • called 1800-525-6726 stayed on the line waiting for a operator for 1 hour than gave up never going to call back

    garmin sucks 6/24/10 11:20AM

  • I read all requirements posted on Garmin site for $100 rebate on Zumo 550 After purchasing from Amazon.com I download the rebate form and in small print it says they won't honor a rebate from an Amazon.com purchase.I cannot reach anyone to ask the reason for this or to register a complaint.
    I got hosed.

    motomacs 6/17/10 10:23AM

  • I refuse to pay for tech support via the computer on a product that is already unreliable. I'm holding on the telephone--30 - 35 minutes wait, they say--and if that doesn't help, my Garmin is going in the trash and I will not purchase one more Garmin product. If the telephone tech support also charges, forget it. What terrible tech support--and Garmin is reputed to be the best. I'll continue to rely on Mapquest and old fashioned maps.Geez, I'm furious.

    Anonymous 6/17/10 8:15AM

  • LONG hold times...

    Anonymous 6/11/10 2:09PM

  • WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYWHERE IN THE USA. 30 MINUTE WAIT TIME IS UNACCEPTABLE. Best to look for some other GPS devise. Don't invest in GARMIN products!!!!!!!!!!!

    kunky45 6/10/10 12:46PM

  • Don't bother calling technical support with a pre-sales question. Mine was answered with a baseless assumptive answer that I accepted as fact. After spending $618.26 I found that my new GPS in fact did NOT do what the technician specifically said it would do. I've been a Garmin stockholder, and have truly believed in the company, but have since become soured by their questionable technical support and their products' rush to market. I currently own three Garmin GPS products, and have purchased others for family members. But I am done purchasing or recommending Garmin until the company regains their focus on the customer through elimination of half-baked products and exceedingly long telephone hold times.

    Shane in KS 6/9/10 5:12PM

  • Unable to reach customer service which is required in order to get warranty service. called early morning, was told wait time was in excess of one hour and that the best time to call was in the morning: I was calling at 9 am. Will not buy Garmin and will not recommend Garmin due to unacceptably pathetic customer service. customer service is THE MOST IMPORTANT consideration for me when buying a product: Expecially for internet based purchases

    Florida Resident Bill 6/7/10 7:33AM

  • Had a simple question about downloading US Maps onto my new 1490T currently with European maps. Unfortunately I never had to the opportunity to ask my questions, because after a 2 hour and 12 minute hold, complete with elevator music and the same verbal instructions repeated every couple minutes .. the system hung me up! Not a great first experience with Garmin support!!!!

    johnb 6/2/10 1:18PM

  • In trying to redolve a problem with downloading new map updates I seem to have the choice of an answer by email in THREE+ days or holding on the support line for what has now been 45 minutes and counting. It seems they need to rename their service to customer lack of support. What a dismal lack of business knowledge from a company that should know better. Garmin has now earned a place in my Customer Service Hall of Shame that I use in my Customer Service workshops.

    Anonymous 6/1/10 10:06AM

  • Bought my Garmin 255 at Costco and it came with nuMaps lifetime update for the device. I am an experience computer user and was shocked to find that the support documents with the product tell you nothing about how to update with the card. I go on Garmin's site and find nothing but ways to buy the update card. A useless and piece of garbage website. I finally gave up waiting for 35 minutes with no help on the phone. I emailed them and I still am unable to download an update to my GPS. This is worst company that I have ever dealt with. I will never buy another Garmin product & I am letting Costco know of my experience.

    Greg 5/22/10 8:13AM

  • This is the worst customer service you can get, period. I was just trying to get through to tech support, has been on hold for 45 minutes, and still holding! What a joke!

    NeverGarmin 5/17/10 7:42AM

  • Customer service big time.Even after waiting 30min, no answer. I thought garmin was a big company and they talk about customer service ...blah ! blah ! blah! The WORST customer service goes to GARMIN ! you guys really suck !

    dallas 4/30/10 11:21AM

  • Total fiasco with Garmin's recall of the BlueChart g2 vision cards. Still waiting for replacement after nearly ONE YEAR!!! Customer support is unresponsive, rude and even untruthful when eventually contacted. Corporate officers are equally disinterested and indifferent. Clearly if the executives don't care, the rest of the company reflects that attitude. If the execs were interested in having a customer centric company team, it would happen, but they appear to choose to abandon their customers once they have made the sale. I and my charter captain colleagues have already made the switch to Raymarine, Furuno, Northstar etc.

    Captain Jim 4/26/10 12:02PM

  • Similar to others, I was unable to register my 755T unit on line. Garmin says that my serial number has already been registered. Can't get the prepaid (sorry, "free") map update if you call, or do anything other than complete the process on line.

    What an "opportunity" this company has....

    MojoSounds 4/24/10 9:45AM

  • I spent 55 minutes on hold and 15 minutes talking to 2 different reps from Garmin and they still could not help me with the problem. I felt like they were just 'passing the buck' with me.

    mpl173 4/21/10 8:40AM

  • the user's manual is the most inadequate I've ever seen. And they expect us to wait 35 minutes on hold to talk to a service rep for an answer to a question that should be in the manual. At this point, I'm inclined to return the unit. This is the least satisfactory service I've ever received- at the tender age of 67...

    Anonymous 4/13/10 1:17PM

  • AM currently on hold again after I wasn't quick enough to pick up on speakerphone after a 40 minute wait. Bought Garmin numpas lifetime but was unable to update my GPS because it is not registered to me, an accounting error by Garmin that you can only resolve talking to them. Unit was a replacement sent to me by original place of purchase after they sent in to Garmin for it. Bottom line don't do business with Garmin. Am going to file with BBB.

    je 4/6/10 12:01PM

  • I called Garmin today to find out how to take advantage of my free map update. The recorded message said the wait time was 30-35 minutes.
    btw, I purchased the unit at Best Buy 1 year ago- I wasn't aware of the 60 day time frame-- when I called the Best Buy store in Cambridge, MA where I purchased the unit, the manager told me "it's not my job to tell you" (about offers) "Read the instruction manual." Interestingly, the "free" offer wasn't in the manual and Best Buy has no recollection of the offer.

    zanna124 4/1/10 10:00AM

  • Has anyone reached Garmin without holding for over 35 minutes this year? This was a big problem last year, and I sincerely thought Garmin management would roll out a quick fix to resolve this exteremely long hold time. Garmin, by far, has a hefty price tag but we pay that expecting a quality product that will work, and can be quickly serviced. NOT ANYMORE! I'm quickly exchanging my unit for a TOMTOM right away!

    cmenow 2/21/10 12:18PM

  • only the most negative comments here describe garmins cust service with justice do they believe only they can make a gps?

    rico 2/18/10 11:14AM

  • The bottome line is if you need customer support from Garmin it's not good. You WILL be subjected to long hold times. You WILL NOT get the answer to your question/issue the first time. Tech support supervisors will not call you back. So you end up with an expensive paper weight.
    Buy cheap, when it breaks, throw it away. It will save you time and aggravation.

    Anonymous 2/3/10 12:40PM

  • Before I buy one of your auto GPS units, I want to ask simple technical question to a HUMAN (Your product descriptions are inadequate), but your phone service has me on hold and tells me I will have to wait 35 minutes. Do you want to sell me your product or not????

    Richard 2/2/10 5:19PM

  • what a pain! I need the garmin for my work (para-transit driver), and have had so many problems I've bought a second one to cover all the times my first one has been sent in for repair. I've exchanged the unit 4 times - the first unit would intermittently not acquire satellites even on the open freeway, the second unit they sent me would not acquire satellites at all, third unit after a week of use simply locked up, forth unit sometimes gives very wrong directions. Twice they told me to update the software on this 4th garmin to solve this problem. Each time the download took over 12 hours with DSL to my pc. Now there is no longer enough room on my pc and their solution is to go use someone else's pc. I rate their product poor and their service, especially their update service (which you must pay to subscribe to) as very poor.

    pro-driver 1/26/10 2:02PM

  • garmin support service sucks. Never could get any reply after numerous email to support service.

    wyl 1/6/10 12:08PM

  • To say that I am disappointed and upset would be an understatement. I purchased the map upgrade online and was unable to download it to my computer due to the size of the file. I called in and spoke with someone on December 16th who mailed me a DVD with the update. I installed the update on a business trip and the update locked my maps. On 28th, after spending 35 min on hold, while in a clients office, I spoke with someone who put me on hold for a software technician. I waited another 35 mins and was finally connected with someone. He stated that the disk that was sent to me was an the wrong disk and that was why my GPS was locked. He uninstalled the disk & told me to reinstall from the website. I have done that to no avail my maps are still locked. I contacted customer support today, December 31st, waited 55 minutes to speak with someone and the gentleman HUNG UP ON ME!!!! I am now on hold again. This is the poorest customer service I have ever experienced. I need my GPS fixed, I want my money back for the frustration of this update. And I most definitely want to speak with a supervisor. This is a sad, frustrating, horrible way to spend the day.

    kbatl 12/31/09 1:06PM

  • I recently purchased a Garmin Nuvi255W that included a free map update. Trouble is the update is done on-line and even with a high speed DSL connection it takes over 12 hours to download 2.1GB of data.Needless to say the data file was corrupt and after 12 hours would not load so I am back to the beginning. Telephoning Garmin was a total waste of time as I was put on hold for well over 2 hours before giving up. This company has no concept of customer service and an amazingly stupid product update philosophy.

    simmocj 12/30/09 2:24PM

  • waiting 30 minutes to discuss a POS 855 that locks up,,freezes...is not a good way to handle business.

    ** 12/29/09 8:43AM

  • 4 months after purchasing a very expensive 885T, Garmin and Microsoft decided to terminate Microsoft Direct services at the end of December, 2010. This service (and voice activation) were the two major reasons that I purchased an 885T. Trying to contact support and asking either for a refund or a replacement unit that would do what the 885T was advertised to do (but won't after 12/31/10) was an exercise in futility, leading to an offical complaint to the Attorney General in CT and to the BBB. Garmin's response was: "Thank you for your follow-up email. I have shared your concerns with our Legal Department. Someone will get back to you regarding your concerns in the near future." I'm still waiting.

    Disappointed 12/8/09 3:17PM

  • 4 months after purchasing a very expensive 885T, Garmin and Microsoft decided to terminate Microsoft Direct services at the end of December, 2010. This service (and voice activation) were the two major reasons that I purchased an 885T. Trying to contact support and asking either for a refund or a replacement unit that would do what the 885T was advertised to do (but won't after 12/31/10) was an exercise in futility, leading to an offical complaint to the Attorney General in CT and to the BBB. Garmin's response was: "Thank you for your follow-up email. I have shared your concerns with our Legal Department. Someone will get back to you regarding your concerns in the near future." I'm still waiting.

    Disappointed 12/8/09 3:11PM

  • From 2009-10 through 2009-11

    Unable to get through via telephone (numerous attempts, sometimes on hold for 30+ minutes before giving up).

    Written contact request made via Garmin's website never even acknowledged, let alone responded to.

    VERY disappointed in the current state of Garmin's customer service!

    siedkick 11/24/09 3:53PM

  • Called three times, and got three different solutions to my problems. I waited over 30 minutes during each call to get through to a Support Rep. #1 rude #2 in a hurry to get off the phone and #3 incompetent. Now, after trying all three suggestions, my Garmin is still not working. HIRE MORE AGENTS! You'd think the #1 selling GPS distributor in the world would have enough support to go around.

    c090708 9/29/09 12:51PM

  • Purchased a new Garmin Nuvi 255. Called Customer Service, was placed on hold for 28 minutes. I was then transferred to Software who hung up on me.

    Al 9/19/09 4:26AM

  • Customer service is extremely poor. I tried calling on 5 separate occassions. Each time the wait was 30 to 35 minutes. I could not stay on the line that long and gave up. I finally contacted product support via email. I purchased their Mexico maps for a one time trip to that country. The maps were downloaded onto my Nuvi 755 device. The maps did not work. Mexico did not even appear as a country option on the device, which we discovered after we were in Mexico. Because of the defective map program, our travel in Mexico was very difficult. When I asked product support to process a charge card credit for the defective maps they said it was not their policy. They would help to get the maps working. I needed the maps when I was in Mexico and have no plans to visit that country again. The maps are worthless to me. They cannot seem to comprehend the concept that if you purchase Mexico maps for a vacation trip, you need the maps when you are Mexico.

    Anonymous 8/11/09 11:14AM

  • New Nuvi 75x unit. Came with defective traffic/power receiver. After much troubleshooting on my part, I was able to identify the problem.

    Send part in, receive a different physical part. It works, but is NOT the same item which was sent in. They keep telling me how much the replaced part is and that this is the wrong part was shipped in the original unit.

    Except the part I sent in, lists for a $100 more and is described exactly in the documentation.

    Garmin continues to refuse to look into the matter and simply tells me that if it works - what's my problem ?

    Anonymous 8/5/09 11:11AM

  • I am very disappointed in thier costomer service. They were suppose to ship my order DHL however they handed it off to the usps which claimed they could not deliver ist to my address. This was not what I paid for I paud for DHL not the postal servise. No one called to verify address or anything. Then when I called about it they said it wasn't thier fault but usps. However not once did anyone find it important to call the customer and try to correct the problem. I will never order anything from this company again.

    dell 7/25/09 8:44AM

  • Both times I've ordered from them online, my order has taken twice the promised time. This time, something was backordered and I didn't find out till I inquired a week after it was due. It's now four weeks and nothing. Tried to call customer service and got the same wait time everyone else got. People we need a groundswell...

    I started a Facebook group to publicize the issue. The way I look at it is if Garmin can spend millions of dollars to support a Tour de France team, they can support their customers.

    JOIN MY GROUP!!!!
    http://www.facebook.com/lapapworth?ref=name#/group.php?gid=103112229235&ref=mf

    queenbee 7/17/09 9:39AM

  • Plese believe that this is the worse costumer service that can possibly exist, I think that the costmer already pay enough for the units to not get no kind of assistant once or ever my waiting time was 40 minutes I had a funeral to attent and couldnt do to my Garmin Gps not working. I was going to purchase maybe 100 gps's for my business, no thank you I will go also where.

    mo 7/15/09 10:07AM

  • Customer Support is the WORST. 35 Minute wait time at all hours of the day - morning - afternoon - does not matter. All retailers need to stop selling this product line so their management wakes up and they get more professional.

    Electroboy 7/1/09 1:28PM

  • I can not believe their lack of customer service. In the past I had great service and now I am on hold for 2 hours and 20 minutes. I called the main line on my cell phone and was told that they have laid off too many people and she was not surprised that the hold is this long. I have a critical trip for which I need a GPS. I have no option but up dump this one and select another company's unit!

    rcigar 6/25/09 8:52AM

  • Updating to 2010 maps was a 4 day agonizing process punctuated by 4 phone calls with over 2.5 hours of total hold time. Definetly NOT user friendly.

    Anon 6/18/09 9:09AM

  • Last weekend my wife gave me a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx for our anniversary. To get the GPS software and the maps going should be fun, simple, and easy. Instead it seems to be designed by a person that recently has been fired from homeland security and never has worked for a real company.

    I am used to my no-brand car GPS in South Africa, and my Nokia build in GPS which are both ‘plug and play’ and by the way appear to have more detail than your city maps for South Africa.

    I tried to unlock my Topo Czech 2 map and now I am 4 hours further with no result as the 7 digit registration code was NOT ENCLOSED in the box.

    In summary:

    The local Czech outdoor ‘Rock Point’ retailer could/did not explain, so you should not let them sell your product.
    I have wasted time and have become very disappointed with a brand that I ‘looked up to’
    Your web site takes me round and round, never allowing to ask a question per e-mail at a person directly – no Czech support address.
    You need to type in 6 different codes: Unit ID, map code, copy a security code, serial number and 7 digit registration number, plus a unlock website address to obtain the 25 digit code, this for three maps …. Where is the logic here?

    In the age where it takes 5 minutes to get your new apple iPod ready to play, this experience frankly has been bizarre. I never will buy a Garmin again and feel tempted to past this message on the relevant blogs as it concerns a real and valid non-customer centric experience.


    Your on-boarding process for your product should be FUN, not being guided as ‘half a criminal’ through a sequence that appears to be designed by a nerdy IT person to make even more nerdy IT persons happy. Alternatively Garmin is so greedy and so afraid that its map will be pirated that they forgotten about their customers wanting simplicity and ease of use.



    ceesfaber 6/16/09 2:11PM

  • To try and get hold of somebody from garmin or try and email somebody about a problem is a joke i have 3 garmin sat navs and not one of them is working properly and to try to get help from garmin wether by phone or e mail is a nightmare i have sent 3 emails to differant depts and not one reply have i had back so now i am stuck with sat navs i cant trust or rely on.If any body does recive this and they can put me in touch with somebody who can help i would be most grateful but im not holding my breath.Thank you yours sincerely,Mr j s brewster.

    maxewl 6/16/09 1:19PM

  • GARMIN IS THE WORST OF THE WORST. CALLED TECH SUPORT. WAS ON HOLD FOR 40 MINUTES. FINALLY GOT SOMEONE, AND THEY TRASFERED ME, AND EXPECTED ME TO HOLD FOR ANOTHER 35 MINUTES. I'M HANGING UP AND TAKING MY NUVI 885 BACK. I'LL BUY SOMETHING ELSE. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. AS A GARMIN CUSTOMER I FEEL COMPLETELY UNDER VALUED. MICHAEL J.

    MICHRAMMAY 6/16/09 10:50AM

  • 30 to 40 minute wait to talk to a support someone indicates you don't have enough "support' for your product. Maybe other gps products have better support?

    Anonymous 6/3/09 10:24AM

  • Every time I've called for customer support I get a message that the wait time is 15 to 25 minutes... so I hung up. Try again today and the wait is now 30 to 40 minutes.... I like their units but customer support wait time SUCKZ.

    w2ge 6/1/09 7:29AM

  • Hello I have been on the phone for more than an hour . Terrible could not get anybody on the phone tried again still no answer please somebody help me I need a few answered questions.I would like to sell your gps for dogs in Italy. How can I do that?. Who do I have to contact . Thank you.

    Anonymous 5/26/09 4:26PM

  • Bad product..terrible customer service DO NOT BUY A GARMIN..RUN WHILE U STILL CAN

    Anonymous 4/18/09 3:48PM

  • I would NOT recomend to purchase Garlmin GPS because of their really poor customer support. I purchased the lifetime update for my Garmin 760 but I was not able to dowload on my GPS the up to date version and Garmin never answer to me how I shall proceed aftyer having paid the up to date version. DO NOT PURCHASE GARMIN I'll have to go to COURT to obtain reparation. Be really carefull ! with them. If not you will regret it as I am.

    BAD BAD BAD customer support 4/3/09 3:10PM

  • Submit your comment >>
  • Garmin's tech support has been outstanding. I do sometimes have to wait in a queue until they get to me, but when they do, the issues are resolved.
    Garmin goes above and beyond the requirements to correct problems. I have (and have had) many Garmin products and, based on the service that I (and MANY of my friends) have received, won't even consider another manufacturer.
    I'm a technical person, and have a reasonable expectation of what I can and can not receive in the area of support. Garmin excels.

    MichaelJ 8/26/10 9:27AM

  • I have no problem with the customer service. The recording said it would be a 30 -35 minute wait. I waited 15 minutes, and the girl was very helpful. No problem.

    itsamusicallife 8/4/10 9:18AM

  • Some of the negative comments made me nervous but I called anyway. Had a problem with my Rino 530HCx, the ion battery was defective and would not power the unit on. I spoke with Cathy who was extremely friendly and helpful. In less than 10 minutes she had a new battery on the way to me at no charge. Great customer service. Thank you.

    rfinch 6/21/10 3:26PM

  • Great customer service! I had previously voiced a complaint that has since been addressed satifactorily.So far the negative feedback I left has not been removed, but should be soon.

    motomacs 6/17/10 12:23PM

  • Just wanted to address the long wait time. Garmin has hired over 120 people this year, with more new hires to come. Nearly all will be headed to call centers. They know wait times are an issue, and are working to fix it. Sorry you had a bad experience though!

    Mrs. Midwest 6/9/10 7:10PM

  • Fabulous customer service this morning - resolved my problem. Very patient and understanding. Did not demand proof of purchase/warranty coverage period to provide service (unlike HP experience I had.) Garmin keep up the good work!

    Anonymous 4/29/10 8:24AM

  • I had problems downloading the latest maps to my Nuvi 350. The computer wouldn't recognize the device, so I couldn't transfer the maps from the PC to the device.

    I wrote to Garmin thru their Product Support page, expecting no reply, or a canned reply that didn't fit my issue. Instead, "Christopher" responded in less than 24 hours with two choices: Try a technical solution, or they would refund my money. I had a bit of a problem with the technical solutuion and had to call. I waited 35 minutes but the rep, "Bertha", was helpful and friendly.

    Everything worked out OK and now the maps are loaded into this old and discontinued line of Nuvi models. I was annoyed with the time and effort I had to unexpectedly invest, but pleased with their customer service.

    shortysnh 4/26/10 6:27PM

  • My Forerunner 50 went haywire after 9 months, so got in touch with Garmin cusomer services Europe. They asked me to send the watch back (I did have a receipt but not required and within a few days had a brand new replacement. Brilliant service!!!!!!!
    Makes a refreshing change, well done Garmin.

    Clarke0902 2/26/10 1:27PM

  • Today I posted a negative comment regarding trying to get help upgrading the map system on my GPS. On line help told me it would cost $18 for the help. I TALKED with a cust. serv. rep. who was most helpful. I appologize for my remarks (which have been removed!) I couldn't be more pleased with the quick and effective help I got.

    Anonymous 2/4/10 5:17PM

  • I have 2 different Garmin units and each has needed some type of service over the past couple of years. A plug kept falling out of a socket on 1 and I accidentally cracked the screen on the other. Garmin was the epitome of outstanding customer service. Phone calls were REASONABLY promptly answered and emails were turned around in less than 24 hours. People are polite when you are polite and people are responsive when your request is reasonable. These guys are the training template for excellent customer service; they have rules but they are human when you treat them with the respect you want.

    silvermart 9/7/09 9:40AM

  • Always had good experience - I call early because any tech support operation has peak periods. Otherwise I have always had good service.

    FG 8/6/09 6:25AM

  • I would like to highly -no, make that very highly - recommend the Customer Service at Garmin. They went way above and beyond for me gracefully and seemingly as a matter of policy.

    Anonymous 8/5/09 4:15PM

  • I a couple of months ago purchased a Garmin nuvi c330 street pilot (referbished) for my girlfriend at that time, and she loves it,and has No trouble at all with its operations! I liked it sooo much that I have since ordered one for myself, and it also is awesome in its operation! I took back a Tom Tom One because after some time its speaker quit!! I would recamend the referbed c330 from Garmin purchased from CircutCity online only!for 99$ Can't beat it!it comes with everything= the interface cord for updates on your computer, the driver disc, and a minimized booklet! However you WILL need to go to tech support to get the download for the web updater!! I AM VERY PLEASED! AND I WILL RETURN FOR MORE!!

    Comfortmaker 10/29/08 10:04PM



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