MapSource unlocks - the final straw...

Garmin have finally got back to me with answers to my queries about
MapSource unlocks.

I pointed out that you can't even find out how much an unlock for an
additional unit costs without providing a serial number, necessitating
the purchase of the new unit before you can see how much you need to
pay to put your maps on it. I have now found that to unlock City
Navigator 8 Europe for an additional GPS costs over $170. That's
compared to a new "automotive kit" (the only way to buy City Nav Europe
- you can't buy the disc on its own) for £135.

Even worse, once you have bought MapSource and registered it to the
first unit, that unit is always the unit for which one unlock is used
every time you upgrade. Even if you don't even own that GPS any more,
it still takes one of your two unlocks each time you pay for an
upgrade, and there is apparently no way around this.

So the next time the cartography is updated, to use it on two new GPS
units I've bought since I first unlocked it (having sold the original
unit), I would have to pay a $75 upgrade fee, and $170 on top for the
third unlock.

I'm sorry, Garmin, but you just lost me as a customer. I can't believe
this policy - especially not the part about having one unlock
permanently used on every upgrade. Surely other people have complained
about this?

S.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Really only 2 unlock codes??
    ... and then upgrade to say a 60CS can I turn off the 60C and replace ... >I suspect it is not Garmin but rather their supplier. ... >get one unlock from Navteq so actually Garmin is giving you twice as much ... >> If it's simply a money grab by Garmin then ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: More MapSource unlock madness...
    ... While I sympathize you you regarding Garmin Sales propensity to make people ... problem by using the map authoring tools to open the ... I agree with you about the lousy practice of forcing people to upgrade the ... Buy a 60CSx and pay for a third map unlock. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: New pricing policy for Garmin maps?
    ... I just got the DVD with the City Navigator 2008 upgrade. ... Used to be that each unlock would work with two units. ... Garmin said that their dropping the prices at the same time the two unlock policy was changed made the cost about the same in the end. ... They used to want $40 to unlock a $150 mapping product (City Navigator for example) to your Unit I.D. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • New pricing policy for Garmin maps?
    ... I just got the DVD with the City Navigator 2008 upgrade. ... I called Garmin with some questions about unlocking. ... Used to be that each unlock would work with two units. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: City Navigator 6.o
    ... >> With this upgrade they are shipping for free, does it cost to ... My upgrade arrived today and installed easily. ... allowed a free second unlock for my E-Map as did the original City ... bit more map detail on Hilton Head Island, ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)