Hello
I never do anything like this but now I feel like I have to say something because I have been disappointed beyond what is normal. I've had a Garmin watch for a few years now and for the most part I love them. Ive had an old Forerunner and then a couple of Vivo's and then a Fenix 5S. Now I have a Fenix 5X.
I never had any issues until I got the Fenix 5S. I;ve had it for not even a year when I noticed that the GPS was weird. It would just stop recording GPS even when the activity (run) is still going and it is recording other metrics (steps, strides, HR...). Then I looked some more into it and noticed that it didn't record any elevation. Thinking that this is weird I looked some more and saw that it didn't record any floors climbed for the past couple of days. I contacted the customer service and they tried troubleshooting and when everything failed they replaced the unit.
It was all fine again until the same thing happened about a year later. I contacted them again and again had to have it replaced, this time for a Garmin 5x. Less than a year later... Guess what happened... I got a new replacement, another 5x. On a side note, just want to add that throughout all this the customer service kept declining at a steady rate. Very nice and understanding the first time, not so nice the following times, strongly suggesting that I'm not doing enough to protect or clean the watch. The last time they even spoke to me as if I'm doing this on purpose because it is so convenient for me to do this every year.
Well guess what, a year and 4 months after that, right now, I'm having the same issue: last 2 runs no elevation, out of the blue and all the troubleshooting has failed. They offered to replace it at a cost but I really don't know if I even want it or if it is time to look into other options (Polar, Suunto).
I have a few points to make here:
1. I am beyond disappointed that a PREMIUM watch is having problems like this. I understand that sensors are not perfect and I can live with that but to flat out stop working? That is just stupid. I have also seen in forums that the 6 series is having similar issues so they apparently spent all their time on the solar panel rather than fixing a simple issue that A LOT of people are having.
2: I can't believe they keep bragging how this is a great triathlon (multisport) watch when they clearly don't want you to swim with it because it ruins the sensor. If that is the issue then stop marketing it as a watch you can swim with and cut the price. Also, I have seen a lot of people post that they have been cleaning the watch as suggested and it didn't help. I have been cleaning mine obsessively and not only after swimming in the pool but only because, contrary to what the customer service people seem to think: I DO NOT want this issue to keep happening.
3: I really have no confidence in the line and the company when they seem to be ignoring a basic problem that keeps afflicting a lot of users. I am really not looking for any handouts or anything like that. I just love triathlon and doing a lot of training and I need a reliable device to record it. It doesn't have to fly to the moon. All I need is something I won't have to keep replacing. And with these prices I AM expecting it to last a bit more than a year! I can't afford to buy a new watch every year, so if that's what this company is about then I am out.
Please, PLEASE, please... If anyone out there is having similar problems and/or has some insight that might be relevant here or useful, please speak up... I am really at the end of my rope here and just trying to figure out what I should do. I am in the middle of training for an Ironman race and have so many things on my plate right now. I really didn't need this issue to start happening again. Any help will be greatly appreciated...