Comments on: Nelson Chan – Magellan GPS Navigation – Not A CEO Concerned With Branding- Branding Blunders

By: CHris

CHris — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:25:25 +0000

Magellan are terrible. I have a cross over that the australian distributer are refusing to support. Calling the US and they say they won’t repair these units. SO after spending over $800 on a unit that failed misserably and Magellan refuse to support it, they suggest I spend some more money with them to buy another unit as part of their customer loyalty program. Are they for real……..
DONT BUY MAGELLAN. They are shonky units that have minimal support. Go GARMIN instead.

Chris

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 01:21:21 +0000

This seems a little harsh. I’ve had great luck with Magellan products.

By: Vince

Vince — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:36:04 +0000

My Maestro 4350 refurbished unit failed after 4 months. I received absolute terrible customer service, with no sympathy for a defective GPS. Their idea of customer service is to force me to pay $200 for a new unit! I have no faith in their product anymore. Time to switch to Garmin or TomTom.

It’s amazing they can stay in business with this attitude!!

PS> Magellan only offer a 90 day warranty on refurb units, while Garmin and TomTom offer one year! This shows you the faith they have in their own products!!!

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:48:25 +0000

Well I have been a Magellan customer since WAY before these 3D and portable talking GPS PoS had been around. I use my GPS when I go on extended hikes and hunts. My life very well may depend on my GPS functioning correctly and being accurate and up to date.

I still own a Meridian. One of the finest GPS unit ever made. It doesnt talk to me, give me directions in 3D, show me where to buy a latte or give me the latest hollywood gossip or any such nonsense like that, but its kept my ass alive, just as a GPS was inteded to do.

But now, with a unit and software less than 10 years old Magellan tells me that there are no more updates for the software Mapsend Topo USA (not 3D) and the update that WAS available no longer is. Which means I have to kick down a buttload of money for a GPS full of nonsensicle BS I really dont need or want. I guaren-damn-tee it wont be a magellan.

When did a company stop supporting its products after only a year or so?

Sounds to me like Magellan has lost its way. Pun intended

By: Jeff Leonard

Jeff Leonard — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:27:36 +0000

Hey Jimbob: GIve it up and dont break down and buy the Miestro upgrade like I did. The new map has bugs so that it won’ t show any POIs in certain catagories like “shopping” and “Public buildings”. They dont work in central Wisconsin so I bet there are other places and other bugs that won’t work and have you wasting even more time arguing with with the brick wall at Magellan. Cut your losses now and get a Garmin!!!

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:05:05 +0000

I purchased a magellan maestro gps unit in July 2008. The map was over a year out of date but upon checking their website, there was no new map available. In Early December I checked again and found that a new map was released in August so I called to activate my supposed 30 day map warantee , as I purchased it in July. So far, after spending over 9 hours on the phone both to the phillapenes, and their resolution center supposedlly in the USA, and 11 emails, I have been refused the map update. Even though it is very clear on their web site, that I should have gotten the new map, they refuse to give it to me and also refuse to show me their policy even though they keep citing this so called policy that they say I had to contact them within the 30 days to get this new map. This is by far the worst company I have ever dealt with and will never be spending another penny on their junk.

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By: kl2u

kl2u — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:06:57 +0000

Hi….this bad about Magellan GPS products. They have to make a way how to improve better quality products.

cheers
Car Gps Navigation Systems

By: Lyn

Lyn — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:49:32 +0000

People, DO NOT BUY A MAGELLAN.
I dropped $1400 on a unit and update. The audio quit working. “Tiffany” told me that they do not have parts for the original 700 but could offer me a Maestro for $128. if I send my old unit back. Excuse me? They don’t have replacement parts? Aren’t you the manufacturer? After staying on the line, she said they will fix it free of charge (within 21 days). We’ll see. So where did the parts come from all of a sudden?
I will never buy a Magellan product again and have told anyone who will listen!
Scam artists extraordinaire.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:02:50 +0000

I would like to know if anyone has ordered and received the new map update for the Roadmate 2000, and if so did it work okay without any of the problems mentioned in all the other messages. I would like to know before I order it? Thanks

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:58:47 +0000

I understand the flustration everybody feels with Magellan USA. I live in Australia and can only say that the guys from the Australian service and support, who are also the importers and distributors for Magellan, do a fantastic job. Warranty repairs are done in 2 or 3 day and the only time there is a delay is when they are waiting on the USA for something.
If the Americans performed like the Australians, they would certainly be #1.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:31:35 +0000

I made the big mistake – I bought a Magellan 6000T Roadmate without first reading all these blogs about the non-customer service at Magellan. The unit was fairly expensive compared to Garmin, but that was my first problem. After waiting several months for the promised updated maps and firmware upgrade, they were finally released in early 2008. However, attempts to update to the latest firmware were unsuccessful, and I tried “Customer Service!!!” After repeated e-mail communications that received nothing more than a message indicating my email had been received, I tried their 800 number. Naturally, it was to someone in India, who was not only difficult to understand, but offered a couple of suggestions that did not work. A follow-up call resulted in a long wait on hold, then a disconnect. I then tried a letter to the CEO – Nelson Chan. Same results – being ignored; no response after 60 days. Garmin has taken the oxymoron “Customer Service” to a new low – totally ignore the customer, and little service is required.
After reading many of these blogs, the last thing I would ever do is return the unit to Garmin for a fix. I’ll wait until it dies, or the maps become so outdated a replacement unit is required. Rest assured its replacement will never be another Magellan, and I have relayed this to as many friends as possible to ensure they too do not fall into the same Magellan trap.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:24:46 +0000

I urge everyone to call cbs 2 ny in NYC. CBS is working on doing a story about magellan since they are starting to recieve hundreds of complaints about Magellan.

I urge everyone to call 1800 ch 2 news and ask them to transfer you to the person that is doing the story on magellan. It is time for Americans to end this garbage.

I also urge everyone to call their local state Attorney generals office which looks in to these type of scam companies. Something can and will be done but we need YOUR help and the more people that complain to the authorities and news outlets, something will change.

Good luck to all of us.

By: David

David — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:04:29 +0000

Thanks, Admin. Yes, simply replacing it is a foregone conclusion at this point. After everything posted here, I’d never waste my time or money sending the unit in for repair, I’d just buy a new one. Oh those disposable $850 electronic gadgets, gotta love ‘em.

This board has been very helpful, otherwise I’d be stuck in the same rut as most everbody else here, paying and waiting, and waiting.

I am actually about to buy a new car with integrated GPS, the Roadmate 700 was nice for a while but I guess it’s lived it’s pre-determined lifespan and Magellan thinks it’s time for me to buy a new one. I’ve got some unfortunate news for them.

Thanks again Admin for the response.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:24:07 +0000

That’s the problem I had. Here are my suggestions:

1. Send it in to them, pay $150 and suffer or…

2. Buy a Garmin Nuvi for $200-$300 with more features

By: David

David — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:09:40 +0000

I have a Magellan Roadmate 700 and it has performed well for about 2 and a half years. When I bought it, the 700 was cutting edge and $850 was a steal of a price. I did purchase a software upgrade about 6 months ago for $100 but have not installed it yet. Recently the volume on the turn by turn commands has gone out. When I go into the menu function, the speaker works fine, but as for the turn by turn commands I still get nothing. I have cleaned the mounting contacts and used compressed air on the volume knob but to no avail. Have even switched between male and female voices but either work. Any ideas? Thanks! david

By: admin

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:02:11 +0000

Good question. Tell 10 friends about your experience.

By: Dirk

Dirk — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:18:35 +0000

I have a Magellan roadmate 760 and will be going to Portugal. My unit has all the maps of Europe already in it, but you have to purchase a code number to unlock the maps. I tied their web site, and put all the information in 3 times, but it would not accept the proper information. I then attempted to use the phone and talked to 4 different people (norman, eva, shawn, sarah) to ask what the price was to get the code ( if it is going to cost $100 or more, I thought I would by another GPS unit), but no one can tell me the cost. They gave me another number to call, so I just gave up. How can such an incompetent company stay in business.

By: joan

joan — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:12:19 +0000

needs to have updated maps but they dont make them for my model they sugested i spend 100s of
$ for another magellan get real

By: William Grow

William Grow — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:01:30 +0000

Magellan support is a nightmare. My unit went belly up after I applied a routine software update that I downloaded from the magellan website and installed to the letter according to the instructions. I have worked in technology for years and understand the phrase RTFM. I have called Magellan support about the unit multiple times. No one at the magellan support center can follow my RA number. They would ask me for my UPS tracking number and then look up the tracking information on the UPS website before telling me that the unit had actually made it to the repair shop. I have followed up with support for over a month and nearly every call ends with me being frustrated. This product works great when it works but my experience is that a customer shouldn’t try and upgrade the map or os software if the unit is working as problems may develop and even if the unit is under warranty don’t expect Magellan support to fix the unit. I wouldn’t buy another unit from Magellan unless the unit comes with an in store, i.e. bestbuy, replacement warranty that would kick in and let me return to the retail center that I purchased the unit from.