Dear Garmin Team,
After many years of using various Garmin products, I now feel the need to express my frustration — and I’m not alone in this. Several friends and training partners share exactly the same opinion.
First, the ELV4 heart rate sensor has been delivering completely inaccurate data during workouts without a chest strap for over a year now. For a company focused on precise sport and health metrics, this is simply unacceptable. The fact that this issue has been known for such a long time and remains unresolved is, quite frankly, a disgrace.
Furthermore, the Garmin Connect app has significantly deteriorated with version 5. The previous version was intuitive and well-structured. The current version feels cluttered and less user-friendly — a view echoed by numerous reviews on the Play Store and in online communities. Yet Garmin seems determined to push this update through, despite all the negative feedback.
What ultimately led me to the decision to move away from Garmin is the introduction of the Premium subscription. Charging €8.99 for features that were previously included in the device purchase is, in my opinion, outrageous — especially for long-time users who have already heavily invested in the Garmin ecosystem (Edge 1030 Plus, Forerunner 945 and 955, Edge 1040, several HR straps, Venue 3s, etc.).
Garmin is increasingly losing touch with its customers, and as a result, we are seriously considering switching to alternative solutions in the near future.
Disappointed regards,
Frank
