Garmin GPS - USD 99 for etrex rubber ring?

Author

USD 99 for etrex rubber ring?

Mathias Koerber

2005-08-18, 5:48 pm

My eTrex Legend (4-5 years old now) had the rubber ring that goes
around the unit and includes the buttons and cover for the systems
connector come loose (likely due to heat) and break (again, heat seems
to have weakened the rubber).

I emailed Garmin to find out how to get a replacement. No answer.
Then I called and was told that for such a problem I would have to
send in the unit and they would charge a 'flat USD99' rate.

IMHO this is ridiculous. I paid not even USD300 5 years ago for this
unit, and am to pay USD99 just for that ring which I can easily
install myself?

Garmin really must not hurt to be able to treat their customers that way.

David Lee

2005-08-18, 5:48 pm

Mathias Koerber wrote...
> My eTrex Legend (4-5 years old now) had the rubber ring that goes around
> the unit and includes the buttons and cover for the systems connector come
> loose (likely due to heat) and break (again, heat seems to have weakened
> the rubber).
>
> I emailed Garmin to find out how to get a replacement. No answer.
> Then I called and was told that for such a problem I would have to send in
> the unit and they would charge a 'flat USD99' rate.
>
> IMHO this is ridiculous. I paid not even USD300 5 years ago for this unit,
> and am to pay USD99 just for that ring which I can easily install myself?
>
> Garmin really must not hurt to be able to treat their customers that way.

Call them again but this time ask them to sell you a new rubber and
double-sided adhesive strip to fit yourself. With a bit of luck they may
send them out for free - certainly Garmin Europe (in the UK) have been doing
this. If they do supply the parts then fitting them is very easy. The
tedious bit is removing all the previous gunge. I found that warm water and
washing up liquid helped - it doesn't remove the adhesive but it allows you
to rub it off with your finger without it just moving around and sticking
somewhere else! Once you have removed all the failed adhesive then you will
need to remove the old tape. The ends are at the bottom of the unit - by
the lanyard mount - and they don't overlap. Be very careful because there
is a second layer of tape underneath that is crucial to the waterproofing
and Garmin may not send a replacement sealing tape so you need to take great
care not to damage it.

My yellow etrex adhesive failed after 2 years but now looks absolutely good
as new with its new rubber properly fitted.

Good luck

David

Mathias Koerber

2005-08-18, 5:48 pm

David Lee said the following on 18/8/2005 22:35:
> Mathias Koerber wrote...
>
>
>
> Call them again but this time ask them to sell you a new rubber and
> double-sided adhesive strip to fit yourself. With a bit of luck they may
> send them out for free - certainly Garmin Europe (in the UK) have been doing
> this. If they do supply the parts then fitting them is very easy. The

I specifically asked about that option, and was told 'we do not send
out parts, send it in'.

> tedious bit is removing all the previous gunge. I found that warm water and
> washing up liquid helped - it doesn't remove the adhesive but it allows you
> to rub it off with your finger without it just moving around and sticking
> somewhere else! Once you have removed all the failed adhesive then you will
> need to remove the old tape. The ends are at the bottom of the unit - by
> the lanyard mount - and they don't overlap. Be very careful because there
> is a second layer of tape underneath that is crucial to the waterproofing
> and Garmin may not send a replacement sealing tape so you need to take great
> care not to damage it.

I already had to replace that tape too (with scotch tape).

>
> My yellow etrex adhesive failed after 2 years but now looks absolutely good
> as new with its new rubber properly fitted.

I will try Garmin Europe next. humph

thanks

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