Garmin issues

[balzaccom]

Anybody ever had any trouble trying to register a Garmin device with their website? Apparently there's an issue. When I fill out the form correctly I get this message: "The user object contains invalid values."

And in checking their Q&A, they are aware of the problem, because lots of people have reported it, and don't have a fix--at least not one that's simple and effective. Their engineers say "they are working on this issue."

Makes you wonder exactly how well their system works, if they can't figure this stuff out...

The good news is that I bought the thing through REI, so I should be able to return it if Garmin can't get me up and running.

Oh, and when you send Garmin an email with a problem, they promise to get back to you in three to five days, unless they're really busy.

These folks are selling an emergency device.

[TurboHike]

This issue has been going on for 4 to 5 years. I know this because I read about it 4 years ago when I bought my Ocean Signal Rescue Me PLB1. I was weighing the pros/cons of the Garmin versus a PLB.

For the Garmin device, the issue appears to be created when someone buys the device, registers it, but then returns it for a refund. The seller then resells it as new, but the new buyer gets an error message when attempting to register the device since it is already registered or partially registered to someone else. I imagine that Garmin can fix this for you if you are patient. I hope you get it fixed.

I went with the PLB1 since I don't need texting ability. Registering with NOAA was simple and efficient. Every two years I get an email from NOAA telling me to log in and to verify that the PLB is still in service. Plus there's no monthly fee.

[balzaccom]

Thanks, TurboHike.

I think I may return this and get a Zoleo. I don't need it for my own hikes, just when I am volunteering for the USFS.

[TurboHike]

The Zoleo has some nice features, but for emergencies it uses GEOS, which is now owned by Garmin. If you ever need to push the SOS button, your SAR experience with Zoleo would probably be very much like the experience with a Garmin device. Not saying this in a bad way, just making an observation.

[balzaccom]

UPDATE; I spoke to Garmin's customer service department. Very nice guy, very efficient. And he told me they are aware of this issue, and it is a top priority with them. But he has no timeline for when it will be fixed, and based on their own troubleshooting message boards, it's been going on for at least three weeks.

He told me there is nothing he can do. He suggested that I try a different email (!) or a different browser. I tried two different emails, and both Chrome and Edge, and none of the combinations work.

What a mess! You'd think that they would tell people about this, rather than just continuing to sell these devices as if there is no problem.

[maverick]

Recent review:

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/c ... d=#compare

[balzaccom]

Yep. I ended up getting a Zoleo. Very easy to activate, and simple to use, for my purposed. And a couple of hundred bucks cheaper than the Garmin.