Garmin Bricking Edge Devices (1050)

[Psamathe]

Recent goings on at Garmin highlight they shortcomings when it comes to considering their customers. I'm only aware of the Edge 1050 aspects but it may or may not be more widespread.

Couple of weeks ago they released a software update (which in my case without user permission). Seems it's a "duff" release causing a large number of users unable to use the device. Crashes and freezing mid-ride under all sorts of different and unpredictable situations. Lots of error reports on their forums and then a call from Garmin for users to allow them to inspect thgeir accounts to try and get to the bottom.

And a fair number of calls where people want to revert back to the previous release which worked. Garmin just won't allow people to downgrade. They've made a faulty release, they have a working release but they won't release the working version forcing their customers to endsure non-working units.

To me speaks volumes about Garmin's attitude to the customers (ie they really don't consider them or how thgeir actions impact customers).

When I got the 1050 I was in two minds about abandoning Garmin as I regard their hardware as excellent and their software as a disaster but I sort of gave way. Mistake and I suspect after recent shenanigans my next GPS won't be a Garmin.

Had a top of the range (then Epix) watch for a bit but, excellent hardware but after a couple of months returned for full refund as software was a disaster and Garmin refused to listed to user calls for a "disable this feature" option that would have resolved for 95% of users.

Ian

 

[Mo1959]

Recent goings on at Garmin highlight they shortcomings when it comes to considering their customers. I'm only aware of the Edge 1050 aspects but it may or may not be more widespread.

Couple of weeks ago they released a software update (which in my case without user permission). Seems it's a "duff" release causing a large number of users unable to use the device. Crashes and freezing mid-ride under all sorts of different and unpredictable situations. Lots of error reports on their forums and then a call from Garmin for users to allow them to inspect thgeir accounts to try and get to the bottom.

And a fair number of calls where people want to revert back to the previous release which worked. Garmin just won't allow people to downgrade. They've made a faulty release, they have a working release but they won't release the working version forcing their customers to endsure non-working units.

To me speaks volumes about Garmin's attitude to the customers (ie they really don't consider them or how thgeir actions impact customers).

When I got the 1050 I was in two minds about abandoning Garmin as I regard their hardware as excellent and their software as a disaster but I sort of gave way. Mistake and I suspect after recent shenanigans my next GPS won't be a Garmin.

Had a top of the range (then Epix) watch for a bit but, excellent hardware but after a couple of months returned for full refund as software was a disaster and Garmin refused to listed to user calls for a "disable this feature" option that would have resolved for 95% of users.

Ian

…..and now, after purchasing some of their models which can be just shy of £1,000 they have the cheek to want you to pay more for Garmin Connect Plus. They can jog on.

 

[ianrauk]

Funnily enough I was just scanning the Garmin forums only yesterday and saw there is a bit of a hoo ha about the latest update for the 1050

 

[Dogtrousers]

For the superstitious, it's interesting that the problem release seems to be 13.13

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fi...1910/crashes-on-13-13---specific-info-request

 

[Dogtrousers]

Anyway, I don't care. I just checked and it's only la-di-da swankpots with 1050s who are affected.

Us salt of the earth types with 1040s are unaffected, and can only dream of having such problems.

 

[Dan Lotus]

I've been buying Garmin units since around 2004 I reckon - started with some Forerunner 305s if anyone remembers them, and a couple of edge 205s iirc (Still have one of each knocking about) - used to use them with the breadcrumb trails, which at the time was rather useful.
Since then, we've had 500s I think they were, still breadcrumb trail units, then we moved onto 1000s. My 1000 had the disintegrating button issue, but I got a 3d printed replacement for about £6 which solved the issue, and is invisible under the silicone case - I've passed that onto my daughter now.
A couple of years ago when the 1040 came out, I nabbed a 1030 for about £280 I think it was, when CRC were still decent, and just before christmas I bought a 1040 (After the 50 came out) for £390.
I wanted the increased battery life and the hill climbing feature thing, that the 1040 has whenever you are riding I believe, which the 1030 does not. Additionally, my bro who lives in Italy and tours all over the world, using a Bryton something or other, I thought could make good use of the 1030, so I'll be gifting that to him when I meet up in Spain with him mid June.

I don't recall ever having any interactions with their support, but know they do not have the best reputation, and I agree that the frequency with which they seem to corrupt users devices is far from ideal.

I forgot to add (The post below reminded me), we now also have a pair of Epix Gen 2 watches, which we use for running, hiking (With the downloaded maps) sleep monitoring, and telling the time.
I bought them from H Samuel (Pretty sure they are still on offer) and with various discounts and cashback each cost around £280.
Been very happy with them, once the raft of updates was completed, and has been the first time in probably 30 years I have worn a watch day in, day out.
Was very tempted by the Epix Gen 2 Pro, when it was on offer for £379.99, but they've popped it back up to £400.
Heartily agree on the pricing front, there's no way I could justify spending ~£800 on a watch, or ~£600 on a gps unit - even the £390 took some persuading of myself, but I guess we all have differing thresholds of what is still reasonable vfm for what it provides.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

They have moved to a more unified development environment for their latest crop of devices leaving a lot of people with devices less than two years old being left behind as they are on the now older code base.

You’re talking about some of their high end stuff, Fenix 7 and Epix 2 Pro now not included in receiving most of the latest feature updates.

And the prices on their latest offerings are stupidly high.

I’m so glad I jumped ship to COROS when I did.

 

[wafter]

It was tales of crap like this (plus the inevitable corporate yank mentality towards product support etc) that pushed me away from Garmin when I was in the market.

While I'm not 100% thrilled with my experience of Polar (pairing and uploading can be pretty glitchy while direct customer service is essentially non-existant), broad strokes it still works after seven years and what must be well over a thousand hours of use. Relative to the "perpetually obsolete" world of tech this seems to be pretty decent..

 

[Bristolian]

…..and now, after purchasing some of their models which can be just shy of £1,000 they have the cheek to want you to pay more for Garmin Connect Plus. They can jog on.

No-one is forced to join Connect + - just ignore it.

 

[oxoman]

Garmin have a habit of introducing of introducing poor upgrades and occasionally products. The Edge was bombproof but they made it into the edge touring which was pants.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The Edge was bombproof

The Edge 500 wasn’t. I think it’s a bit like Windows, alternate versions are good / bad.

 

[ianrauk]

The Edge 500 wasn’t. I think it’s a bit like Windows, alternate versions are good / bad.

Yep. I had one 500 which was pants. Sold it on. Decided to get another 500 a while later for use as a back up device and it works flawlessly. Despite both using the same os.
The 200 I had never had a problem. Changed the battery and was good as new.
The 105, though great for connectivity and ease of use. The battery life was absolutely crap.
I then got an Explore. It was a bit temperament along with a poor battery life. Sold it on and got an Explore 2. Talk about chalk and cheese. It works flawlessly with a huge battery life.