---------------------------------------------------------- RV10-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 06/17/15: 8 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:02 AM - Trip to Albuquerque (n326jl) 2. 10:21 AM - Re: Trip to Albuquerque (Robert Brunkenhoefer) 3. 11:18 AM - Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Matt Dralle) 4. 12:17 PM - Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Carl Froehlich) 5. 12:19 PM - Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Stein Bruch) 6. 02:00 PM - Re: Trip to Albuquerque (Kelly McMullen) 7. 02:43 PM - Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Matt Dralle) 8. 07:21 PM - Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Bob Turner) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:02:23 AM PST US Subject: RV10-List: Trip to Albuquerque From: n326jl Thanks For your reply Kelly. I'm afraid that all of your suggestions around the Phoenix area are too far (275 NM) from the Albuquerque area where we'll be for me to pop into while my wife is shopping. I'm hoping to connect with some builders somewhere closer. So anyone who knows of an active EAA Chapter or a member or two in the Albuquerque area - I'd love to meet up and see what's happening there. We're actually thinking about moving to this area in our retirement. (That will be soon) So local information will be very helpful. Lee Otto RV-10 flying since 2013 Sent from my iPad ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:21:00 AM PST US Subject: Re: RV10-List: Trip to Albuquerque From: Robert Brunkenhoefer I have flown in and out of Ruidoso airport(KSRR0 many times @ 6800ft. and went to Taos once. If you want details of those places, I can help. You can call me @ 361-533-2383. N661G , Corpus Christi, Texas RV10. 800 hours. > On Jun 17, 2015, at 11:58 AM, n326jl wrote: > > > Thanks For your reply Kelly. I'm afraid that all of your suggestions around the Phoenix area are too far (275 NM) from the Albuquerque area where we'll be for me to pop into while my wife is shopping. I'm hoping to connect with some builders somewhere closer. So anyone who knows of an active EAA Chapter or a member or two in the Albuquerque area - I'd love to meet up and see what's happening there. We're actually thinking about moving to this area in our retirement. (That will be soon) So local information will be very helpful. > > Lee Otto > RV-10 flying since 2013 > > Sent from my iPad > > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 11:18:30 AM PST US From: Matt Dralle Subject: RV10-List: Reconsider Garmin Purchases In the rebuild of my RV-8 recently, I managed to get a scratch in the lens of both the Garmin SL-30 and the Garmin GTX-327. No biggie, I thought, I'll just order up a replacement and stick them in, much like I did on the King KX-125 on the RV-6. I called up Pacific Coast Avionics today to order the parts and was told the following: Garmin will not sell the lens. Yup, you hear that right. My only option is to return both units to Garmin for a "factory repair" and the MINIMUM charge will be $535 for EACH unit! That is $1070 to replace two $4 pieces of plastic! That is simply outrageous! Frankly, criminal behavior. I will NOT be buying ANY future Garmin products. I refuse to do business with a company that treats their customers this way. Unacceptable. - Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen" http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel Status: 182+ Hours TTSN - Version 2.0 Now Flying! RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer" http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Revitalization Log Status: 300+ Hours - Full Flyer Mode! Matt's Livermore Airport Live ATC Stream! Check out the live ATC stream directly from my hangar at the Livermore Airport. Includes both Tower and Ground transmissions. Archives too! For entertainment purposes only. http://klvk.matronics.com ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 12:17:32 PM PST US From: "Carl Froehlich" Subject: RE: RV10-List: Reconsider Garmin Purchases Shoot - tell me about it. I had three failures in a new GTN-650 of which Garmin covered one. On top of that their customer service is horrible. I'd love another option besides Garmin but if you want a GPS IFR bird you are lock into them or the other grossly overpriced options. I keep pressing Dynon to get them as direct competitors to Garmin - but they are keeping their cards close to the chest. I do note that there is no reason to ever buy a Garmin communication radio or transponder as there are viable alternatives (e.g. Dynon). Carl -----Original Message----- From: owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Matt Dralle Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 2:15 PM Subject: RV10-List: Reconsider Garmin Purchases In the rebuild of my RV-8 recently, I managed to get a scratch in the lens of both the Garmin SL-30 and the Garmin GTX-327. No biggie, I thought, I'll just order up a replacement and stick them in, much like I did on the King KX-125 on the RV-6. I called up Pacific Coast Avionics today to order the parts and was told the following: Garmin will not sell the lens. Yup, you hear that right. My only option is to return both units to Garmin for a "factory repair" and the MINIMUM charge will be $535 for EACH unit! That is $1070 to replace two $4 pieces of plastic! That is simply outrageous! Frankly, criminal behavior. I will NOT be buying ANY future Garmin products. I refuse to do business with a company that treats their customers this way. Unacceptable. - Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen" http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel Status: 182+ Hours TTSN - Version 2.0 Now Flying! RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer" http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Revitalization Log Status: 300+ Hours - Full Flyer Mode! Matt's Livermore Airport Live ATC Stream! Check out the live ATC stream directly from my hangar at the Livermore Airport. Includes both Tower and Ground transmissions. Archives too! For entertainment purposes only. http://klvk.matronics.com ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 12:19:32 PM PST US From: "Stein Bruch" Subject: RE: RV10-List: Reconsider Garmin Purchases This doesn't sound right. Sounds to me like someone just didn't want to deal with you (and it likely wasn't Garmin in this case). I don't know what or how you handled yourself, but sometimes you'll get more with honey than with vinegar - or perhaps the person you spoke with perhaps was slightly mis-informed. To be blunt, the lenses should be readily available (at least they were last time we got some). I'm sorry they aren't a $4 piece of plexi (there is some fancy schmancy coatings on them and such), but the GTX lens is around $26 and I think the SL lens around $65. My recommendation would be to calm down a bit, sit back and take a breath before indicting Garmin in their entirety based on a conversation with one person. Not defending anyone or indicting or flaming anyone, but your experience just sounds like we don't have the "whole story".....might I humbly suggest that before blasting this to every list you manage that you perhaps speak to someone else first (or maybe even Garmin directly)? Cheers, Stein -----Original Message----- From: owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Matt Dralle Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 1:15 PM Subject: RV10-List: Reconsider Garmin Purchases In the rebuild of my RV-8 recently, I managed to get a scratch in the lens of both the Garmin SL-30 and the Garmin GTX-327. No biggie, I thought, I'll just order up a replacement and stick them in, much like I did on the King KX-125 on the RV-6. I called up Pacific Coast Avionics today to order the parts and was told the following: Garmin will not sell the lens. Yup, you hear that right. My only option is to return both units to Garmin for a "factory repair" and the MINIMUM charge will be $535 for EACH unit! That is $1070 to replace two $4 pieces of plastic! That is simply outrageous! Frankly, criminal behavior. I will NOT be buying ANY future Garmin products. I refuse to do business with a company that treats their customers this way. Unacceptable. - Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen" http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel Status: 182+ Hours TTSN - Version 2.0 Now Flying! RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer" http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Revitalization Log Status: 300+ Hours - Full Flyer Mode! Matt's Livermore Airport Live ATC Stream! Check out the live ATC stream directly from my hangar at the Livermore Airport. Includes both Tower and Ground transmissions. Archives too! For entertainment purposes only. http://klvk.matronics.com ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 02:00:59 PM PST US Subject: Re: RV10-List: Trip to Albuquerque From: Kelly McMullen OK. I apparently had the mistaken impression you were flying yourself over to ABQ and could stop enroute. You could probably check EAA national website. I think there is EAA chapter in Belen, maybe one in Double Eagle. On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 9:58 AM, n326jl wrote: > > Thanks For your reply Kelly. I'm afraid that all of your suggestions > around the Phoenix area are too far (275 NM) from the Albuquerque area > where we'll be for me to pop into while my wife is shopping. I'm hoping to > connect with some builders somewhere closer. So anyone who knows of an > active EAA Chapter or a member or two in the Albuquerque area - I'd love to > meet up and see what's happening there. We're actually thinking about > moving to this area in our retirement. (That will be soon) So local > information will be very helpful. > > Lee Otto > RV-10 flying since 2013 > > Sent from my iPad > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 02:43:26 PM PST US From: Matt Dralle Subject: RV10-List: Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases Before making my original post, I had contacted two different Avionics shops and received the exact same story, so I didn't base my findings on a single vendor. I have subsequently contacted Garmin directly and was told that the parts are in fact orderable by dealers. But, when those same avionics dealers call the Garmin parts department they are told they are not allowed to order those parts. So, something is definitely not quite lining up here. I guess I apologize to the community for venting my frustration with this process, but this really shouldn't be this difficult. I will follow up with more information on this debacle as it hopefully progresses. Btw, the lens part number for the SL-30 is 308-3201-42 and the lens for the GTX-327 is 470-00034-00. Matt At 11:14 AM 6/17/2015 Wednesday, Matt Dralle wrote: >In the rebuild of my RV-8 recently, I managed to get a scratch in the lens of both the Garmin SL-30 and the Garmin GTX-327. No biggie, I thought, I'll just order up a replacement and stick them in, much like I did on the King KX-125 on the RV-6. > >I called up Pacific Coast Avionics today to order the parts and was told the following: Garmin will not sell the lens. Yup, you hear that right. My only option is to return both units to Garmin for a "factory repair" and the MINIMUM charge will be $535 for EACH unit! That is $1070 to replace two $4 pieces of plastic! That is simply outrageous! Frankly, criminal behavior. > >I will NOT be buying ANY future Garmin products. I refuse to do business with a company that treats their customers this way. Unacceptable. > >- >Matt Dralle - Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen" http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel Status: 182+ Hours TTSN - Version 2.0 Now Flying! RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer" http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Revitalization Log Status: 300+ Hours - Full Flyer Mode! Matt's Livermore Airport Live ATC Stream! Check out the live ATC stream directly from my hangar at the Livermore Airport. Includes both Tower and Ground transmissions. Archives too! For entertainment purposes only. http://klvk.matronics.com ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 07:21:53 PM PST US Subject: RV10-List: Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases From: "Bob Turner" Matt, First let me say thank you for maintaining this site, where posts critical of certain companies are allowed. I noticed that "the other" site - which collects advertising money from Garmin - has quickly removed your criticism, which of course was against their own self-interests. No question Garmin is a virtual monopoly, and sometimes they act like it. Some things I understand, like not allowing users to build their own harnesses. There are just too many builders who make mistakes, then want warranty service to fix what they've burned out. But to not sell you parts once you're out of warranty is just being a bully. This is just the way monopolies work. Price any sole-source part from Lycoming, say a simple push-rod, and you'll be shocked at the price. The one that gets me is the 240 audio panel. In the 21st century, when everyone else has figured out how to protect the output amplifier from a direct short electronically, Garmin put in a fuse. Internal. So if you wire for stereo, someone inserts a mono plug, you can blow the fuse. To keep your warranty valid it has to go back to Garmin for their fixed price repair. When it really was a poor design that failed to begin with. At the very least, they could have mounted the fuse in an accessible holder, user-friendly for service. To the other post, I'd say that Dynon will never compete in the IFR GPS game. It takes too big of an initial investment, for the R&D/Certification costs, for a company their size. And they know that Garmin, having written off development costs some time ago, could undercut their price so that Dynon would never recover their costs. You'll notice that the new "competition" (King and Avidyne) have chosen not to compete head to head with Garmin on price. That's the "cost" of ridiculously over the top regulations. -------- Bob Turner RV-10 QB Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=443724#443724 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv10-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV10-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/rv10-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv10-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.