Thanks for your permission. Post published here:

http://forums.motionbased.com/.....opic=10254

Let’s hope it’s not deleted. I think Garmin need to understand that users have a voice (and cash to spend elsewhere).

Kieron

I was clear and direct in describing my frustrations and disappointment, but apparently my response was considered “too hostile” by Garmin’s moderators and I was told that my posts had been deleted and if I carried on posting like this I’d be banned from the forum. I must stress there was no bad language. Just a frustrated customer’s statement of the facts.

It’s a real shame that Garmin has become too frightened of its own users to allow them to comment. Unfortunately, they’re missing the point. It took me less than 10 seconds to find this very enlightening thread – over which they have no editorial control. As Joe Louis rightly pointed out: you can run, but you can’t hide.

My mind is now made up. I’m jumping ship too. I’ve given this company the benefit of the doubt for far too long.

But before I’m banned, I think it would be useful (and non-threatening) to see if a link to this thread would remain on Garmin’s forums for any length of time.

I’m at a loss to explain why the situation is so bad and why, with so many owners expressing frustration they haven’t done anything about it. The fact this post continues to generate thoughtful, intelligent comments just reinforces this is a train wreck for Garmin.

::M

I have to agree with this comment. I’m amazed that this company doesn’t have some decent baseline of support for what are relatively expensive products. The support that they offer is what one might expect if they bought a $15 coffee grinder from Braun – waiting forever on the phone, non-existent web support, incoherent documentation. But Garmin is selling an amazing, technically complex and expensive product. And then just leaving their customers out in the wind when the product has problems.

Has Garmin realized that they are creating a niche that some other company is going to eventually come in and fill? I would predict that if their service continues at this level, they won’t be around for the long term.

I am not sure if this is just a general problem with Garmin support going down the toilet, or if the consumer software division is completely useless. I know this is new territory but the performance of this group is completely inexcusable. A team of ten engineers ??? This performance is so out of line with what I have experienced in the business world I’m at a loss for words.

There is also a serious risk here…. as Garmin moves solely to a web-based system for tracking stored GPS/fitness data – will they have exclusive rights to use this data? Is there any assurance you can pull the data out and use it for your own reporting an analysis (with software apps such as SportTracks, et. al.)? Or is it “locked up” in the Garmin servers – subject to their data backup policies, privacy protection, and server uptime guarantees.

My fear is even if their intentions are good – based on past performance, delays and their apparent secrecy – can you TRUST them to meet their committments?

When I got my first Forerunner 201 I was blown away at the possibilities and thoroughly impressed. Maybe I’m jaded with the new gadgets that have come out since… maybe I’m just cynical… but it just seems like eons ago and a completely different company.

It’s not easy to turn product evangelists into critics but they’ve managed.