---------------------------------------------------------- RV8-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 06/17/15: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 11:20 AM - Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Matt Dralle) 2. 12:19 PM - Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Stein Bruch) 3. 02:40 PM - Re: Reconsider Garmin Purchases (Matt Dralle) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 11:20:11 AM PST US From: Matt Dralle Subject: RV8-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 2 _____________________________________ Time: 12:19:47 PM PST US From: "Stein Bruch" Subject: RE: RV8-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-rv8-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Matt Dralle Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 1:12 PM Subject: RV8-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 3 _____________________________________ Time: 02:40:20 PM PST US From: Matt Dralle Subject: RV8-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 11:11 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! 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