Dealing with Garmin South Africa...

[Shebeen]

This product is over two years old, not available here. 

Will it work on our networks? 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/01/garmin-bounce-activity-tracker-lte-in-depth-review.html%23:~:text%3DThe%20intended%20age%20range%20is,for%20a%20few%20months%20now.&ved=2ahUKEwj0xPyCp8eKAxV3YEEAHbgQHFgQFnoECBwQBQ&usg=AOvVaw1FTreqZGaQMIHGAWCv9rEr

[Robo]

Who do I mail to get a response at Garmin…first call logged early December…no feedback…

 

[ChrisF]

34 minutes ago, Robo said:

Who do I mail to get a response at Garmin…first call logged early December…no feedback…

 

 

Everybody is on leave.

 

Dont expect any answer until 3rd week of January.

[Fisan]

On 10/10/2024 at 2:17 PM, WesleyR said:

Hey guys

 

I have a Garmin Epix Gen 2 Sapphire and the back button has stopped working. I took it to Garmin and just got a response that they will replace the unit for R16k??  Surely there is a way to replace just the button because I don't have that kind of money for a replacement watch when just a single button isn't working....  😔 I've got multiple Garmin devices and never had any issues, so rather disappointed in this watch.

@WesleyR did you ever get this resolved?

Had the same issue with my F7. Back then Garmin was quick to reply, gave me replacement F7Pro.

Now my F7Pro has developed the exact same issue, and Garmin is not responding to their emails (its been 3 weeks).

So much for a robust multisport watch 👎

[Zebra]

We deal with Garmin (as a Business) - at 'arms length' - their service/technical department is backed up ROUGHLY 3 weeks, before they can look at/open a product, for potential repair/warranty, etc.

So much patience is needed. We do work through a 3rd party shipper & forwarder, which saves us the hassle of dealing with Garmin direct. But much patience needed. They could do much better.

Cheers

Chris

[milky4130]

Before sending your device in for repairs / assessment ensure you have a backup plan. This was me digging out the Foreruner 25, the straps literally perished & snapped when I fit it to my wrist. Had to do a McGuyver so the workout could carry on 😛

 

[MORNE]

So heres my recent experience with (not) Garmin SA…

i bought a garmin watch end October 2024 and it bricked itself (red triangle of death) mid January 2025. Not even 3 months lol.

Anyway, i bought it through takelot on a pre BF special. I literally logged the return on the app the Monday, dropped it off at a pickup point and had a new watch on Wednesday. No dealing with Garmin SA. 

i thought that was pretty sweet considering if I had bought it through a retail brick/mortar store…they would have wanted to send it away to Garmin and it would have taken waaaaay longer. This way it was covered by TA’s own warranty/return policy and i was sorted.

still sh!t that the thing only lasted 3 months though…

Edited February 12 by MORNE

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, MORNE said:

So heres my recent experience with (not) Garmin SA…

i bought a garmin watch end October 2024 and it bricked itself (red triangle of death) mid January 2025. Not even 3 months lol.

Anyway, i bought it through takelot on a pre BF special. I literally logged the return on the app the Monday, dropped it off at a pickup point and had a new watch on Wednesday. No dealing with Garmin SA. 

i thought that was pretty sweet considering if I had bought it through a retail brick/mortar store…they would have wanted to send it away to Garmin and it would have taken waaaaay longer. This way it was covered by TA’s own warranty/return policy and i was sorted.

still sh!t that the thing only lasted 3 months though…

 

Possibly the same issue that caused many Garmin products to go wanky after a software update.  Got a lot of media coverage at the time.

 

 

Thus far I buy from SportsmansWarehouse or CWC ... however has the best specials...  (no points discounts)  My FR35 gave some seriously wierd heart rate values after about 10 months (I had both the FR35 and Edge520 printouts of the same ride).  I took the printouts to SW, they gave it one look and booked it in.  3 Weeks later I got a brand new unit .... I asked, and they were happy that I pay in on a better model.

 

Last year my Edge530 casing broke.  Back to CWC, made it clear that it was a fall (not a product failure).  They booked it in and 2 weeks later I got a refurbished unit from Garmin, at no cost.  The refurbished unit kept on draining its battery, so I took it back to CWC.  Sent back to Garmin, this time they asked me to pay shipment.  Two weeks later I got a brand new unit.

 

Not as fast as TA, but I really cant complain.  Garmin has treated me well, even though it does mean three weeks down time ...... perfect excuse to get a spare Venu 3 ... 

[Fisan]

2 hours ago, milky4130 said:

Before sending your device in for repairs / assessment ensure you have a backup plan. This was me digging out the Foreruner 25, the straps literally perished & snapped when I fit it to my wrist. Had to do a McGuyver so the workout could carry on 😛

 

Last time I had to dig out a TomTom Runner where the strap also went on day one. Miraculously Takealot stocked spare straps (and still do!).

This time I have my wife's old Vivoactive4s as a backup.

I get we don't need all of the gimmicks, but once you go back, you get a new appreciation for some of those "gimmicks".

[WesleyR]

16 hours ago, Fisan said:

@WesleyR did you ever get this resolved?

Had the same issue with my F7. Back then Garmin was quick to reply, gave me replacement F7Pro.

Now my F7Pro has developed the exact same issue, and Garmin is not responding to their emails (its been 3 weeks).

So much for a robust multisport watch 👎

@Fisan Nope I didn't come right with them. Took forever to eventually get to inspect my watch, came back and said they can't change the buttons and said they'd give me a discount on a new one... wasn't going to fork out R16k for a new watch when 1 single button wasn't working.  Found a guy who had a smashed Epix, opened it and removed 1 of the buttons and installed in my watch. Working 100% now.  Maybe I should go work for Garmin and show them how to repair their own devices  😁

[milky4130]

8 hours ago, WesleyR said:

@Fisan Nope I didn't come right with them. Took forever to eventually get to inspect my watch, came back and said they can't change the buttons and said they'd give me a discount on a new one... wasn't going to fork out R16k for a new watch when 1 single button wasn't working.  Found a guy who had a smashed Epix, opened it and removed 1 of the buttons and installed in my watch. Working 100% now.  Maybe I should go work for Garmin and show them how to repair their own devices  😁

I wont be surprised if they take our 50% "functioning unit" refurb it and then resell it for 100% profit.

[Shebeen]

On 2/13/2025 at 6:43 AM, WesleyR said:

@Fisan Nope I didn't come right with them. Took forever to eventually get to inspect my watch, came back and said they can't change the buttons and said they'd give me a discount on a new one... wasn't going to fork out R16k for a new watch when 1 single button wasn't working.  Found a guy who had a smashed Epix, opened it and removed 1 of the buttons and installed in my watch. Working 100% now.  Maybe I should go work for Garmin and show them how to repair their own devices  😁

careful on the device waterproofing if you've opened it on your kitchen table - AFAIK they replace all seals everytime they open a device, but this could just be a way to force you to use their overpriced service service.

Blows my mind how so many people fanboi on and on about how awesome garmin products and backup are, but then have a personal story about a failure on one or both of the above.

[WesleyR]

Definitely not leaking at all, been swimming, showering etc and not issues at all.

[Skubarra]

47 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Blows my mind how so many people fanboi on and on about how awesome garmin products and backup are, but then have a personal story about a failure on one or both of the above.

Think we would have to go way back to find a "fanboi" re Garmin backup/service, have been crap and getting progressively worse for years.