Change to Bing maps disappointing

Here are a couple of options:

3. Stop complaining to Garmin. They are providing a pretty cool service that is free to us, but definitely at a huge cost to them. They have probably signed an extended agreement with Microsoft for Bing. The agreement will stand unless one of the parties violates the agreement and the other seeks to withdraw. Garmin may also be working with Bing to improve Bing’s maps. Remember, Garmin is also in the map business. If could be that Microsoft owns an interest in, or is planning to purchase Garmin, but that is just a guess.
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I completely agree - stop complaining to Garmin and complain to Microsoft (yeah they'll hear you and I'll bet you get the same response :D). However, GC is not "free" as you put it. Someone on here made a really compelling argument that GC is indeed afeature and one that is listed within the product documentation as well as on the box, and therefore does have a cost already worked in when you buy the device.

3. Stop complaining to Garmin.

Customers have two types of leverage:

a) Don't buy the product (too late for us)
b) Complain loudly

Other than the above we don't have much power (unless of course the company has broken a legal agreement, which I doubt Garmin did). So I think option "b" is quite reasonable.

They are providing a pretty cool service that is free to us, but definitely at a huge cost to them.

It actually concerns me when I see these comments. It clearly shows that marketing has done its job well. It's not "free". "Free" is something you just get for nothing. We did however pay for the products that we are using the software with.

Secondly, they wouldn't do it if they didn't think they'd make money off of it.

They have probably signed an extended agreement with Microsoft for Bing. The agreement will stand unless one of the parties violates the agreement and the other seeks to withdraw.

That could be true. It's a very good point.

Garmin may also be working with Bing to improve Bing’s maps.

Which is essentially what they've hinted at. What's bad though is that they didn't start off by improving the user experience before switching. I have nothing against Bing or Microsoft really, it's just that it doesn't make sense for me to take 3 steps back before taking 5 forward, instead of just waiting and taking those 2 steps forward... know what I mean?....

Remember, Garmin is also in the map business. If could be that Microsoft owns an interest in, or is planning to purchase Garmin, but that is just a guess.

Could be...

4. Start complaining to Microsoft Bing for their incomplete maps. Most of us are also Microsoft customers who struggle with their products on a daily basis.

Garmin is really small compared to Microsoft. And out of Garmins users I'm guessing not all are even using maps. So it's a really really small group of users that are irritated. It's so small that Microsoft can afford to ignore it, whereas it's harder for Garmin to do so....

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I am getting used to it. I like reviewing my data and seeing how many houses I ran through. According to Bing, I just know there should be a bunch angry people in my neighborhood the way I streak through their houses and their yards

I am getting used to it. I like reviewing my data and seeing how many houses I ran through. According to Bing, I just know there should be a bunch angry people in my neighborhood the way I streak through their houses and their yards

Yeah, but at least it makes sense to choose Bing because most smartphones out there used for social stuff and web surfing use the Android OS or the Mac OS....

....wait... what?....

What I find hilarious are the "Give a Garmin" banners that are in my face every time I log into GC.

I received a 405 as a Christmas gift last year and fell in love with it after discovering GC. I was planning to buy 405s for my father and brother this holiday, but after getting a giant FU from Garmin this past month? Seriously, could they have picked a stupider time to pull this stunt?

The biggest insult and what blows my mind is the total lack of response to the community. I manage a user support forum for one of my company's products, and I cannot imagine ignoring our customers for this length of time. It would bother me on both a personal and professional level.

Bing Maps...Booooooooo!!!!

I'm with everyone here. Bing maps are bad!!!

Please Garmin, for once, listen to your customers...Bring back Google!!!

4. Start complaining to Microsoft Bing for their incomplete maps. Most of us are also Microsoft customers who struggle with their products on a daily basis.

No, because I do not complain to Bosch if the ESP in my Volkswagen does not work properly. I do complain to Volkswagen to fix it. Period.

I am in South korea. Bing Map has no data for us. There is no road, no city, nothing. In korea, Original Bing Map is not supported but Gramin connect use original Bing Map as default. So we can't use any map data.

Garmin connect.. and bing map.. I will never use that again.

WTF Garmin? Bing did not provide topo here in Indonesia. Garmin should now have a new category in their news feed: DOWNGRADED section.