Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Is Garmin a Scam

6107115
over 2 years ago

Garmin after-sale service and technical support is an absolute disgrace!!

Garmin refuses to engage with consumers about, or rectify, the widespread Samsung-Garmin bluetooth connection issues. Instead of trying to fix the issue they just turn a blind eye and hope that the ever growing numbers of dissatisfied customers will just disappear.

I notice that the effected consumers are now engaging in sports blogs and other watch specific content across the internet, so the brand/image damage is starting to spread. Garmin needs to come out now and openly discuss what actions they are taking to resolve this widespread issue, otherwise the brand risks being forever labelled as a scam.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Which "widespread Samsung-Garmin" issue do you mean?

    Beginning with my Fenix 1 we had 6 Garmin watches with Bluetooth and at least 8 Samsung Phones or Tablets in our family — all without any connection issues!Thinking

    My Fenix 5 Plus is paired to both my Phone and Tablet and connects to the device which is in range without getting confused.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 6107115

    I checked posts for over a week back and couldn't see any issues with Samsung. The issue doesn't seem to be the particularly widespread when there are no active discussions about it. 

    Can you post direct links to posts with Samsung issues? 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to e7andy

    Last post 12 hours ago...

    I get that you all love your Garmins and I did too... I have used Garmin across Aviation, Marine, Hunting and watches but for this issue to go unresolved for so long and now Garmin are just refusing to address it, is a disgrace and damaging to the brand. It is hit and miss as to whether you are effected or not... my Fenix 5 is perfect but my wifes Vivoactive 4 is a brick straight from the box. Garmin won't fix it and the retailer wont take it back because to them it works fine and synch issues are not their problem.

    There is a massive problem out there and Garmin refuse to address it. You would be steaming too if it was your watch that you spent a K on as a birthday present and it doesnt do anything other than tell the time.

    https://forums.garmin.com/apps-software/mobile-apps-web/f/garmin-connect-mobile-andriod/283174/repeated-bluetooth-pairing-codes-after-disconnecting-watch#pifragment-1286=37

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 6107115

    That is just one discussion and for some people in the thread the issue is resolved. There is some issues overall with Android 12 which might or might not be related to gabeldorsche (new bluetooth stack). 

    It sounds very odd that a bricked watch wouldn't be handled as a DOA. Is is really bricked or do you called it bricked just because the sync isn't working? Will it sync with Garmin Express? 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to e7andy

    There are none that have resolved issues within that thread and the issue is not confined to Android 12 or any one type of Samsung phone either. It is not the Gabeldorsche and we have been down this path many many times already.. that is the problem... we have gone down all of these paths and there is no resolution and now Garmin are just refusing to communicate about it any further.

    A smart watch that doesn't synch to anything is a brick plain and simple... it is literally just a watch. The problem is that they sych and drop sych and drop synch and drop again and again and again throughout the day and always ask for the synch code again and again and again and then they just eventually stop synching even for the 30mins they used to.

    This issue has been going on for well over 6 months now, all over the world, with the full range of watches... and now Garmin refuses to address it. Would you be pissed if it was your watch, and every Garmin fanboy out there wants to deny the issue exists and jump to Garmins defence?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 6107115

    I'd suggest trying to connect the watch to another phone - for example an old spare smartphone, a phone of a friend, or a cheap 2nd hand phone, to see whether it then works. Of course, the phone should be of a different model, and brand, and possibly with a different version of Android, than the one you have problems with. If possible, avoid Huaweis, they have the most problems with BT devices generally. Remove the watch from the main phone, or disable Bluetooth on it for the time of the testing, to avoid a collision with the other phone.

    If you manage syncing without issues with the other phone, I'd suggest working it out with the support of your phone. There are plenty of settings that may cause it, besides the Gabeldorsche BT stack - diverse permissions and developer options, the Doze feature, the battery optimizing options, etc, etc. The manufacturer's support may be able to assist you in searching the right one.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux

    Wow crazy insights! Thanks! No one could ever have thought of trying to connect to another phone... thats just straight up genius there.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 6107115

    Looks like you just came to rant here, and are not asking for any help with resolving your problem, or are you? If not needing any hints, then I apologize for trying to help.

    From your sarcasm it is not clear whether you tried connecting another phone, and whether it worked. If it worked with another phone, and still not with the original one, did you consider contacting the support of the phone's manufacturer?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 6107115

    My daughter has a vivoactive 4 for some time now and her 3rd Samsung phone since then — without any issues. So there is definitely not a general issue. If you are not willing to provide details, nobody will be able to provide you with hints apart from very general stuff...