Garmin Fenix 6 not working; gets stuck during startup, only shows the "garmin arrow" sign which flashes briefly from time to time.

Shipped my watch this past Sat - despite being in the town at 5am Monday, UPS didnt deliver until Wed, and Garmin hasn't shipped the replacement yet (took them a day to acknowledge they got it)..

Just to close the loop on this - my replacement finally arrived!  The post office (free shipping) took their sweet time, but it arrived safe and sound; and even though its marked as a refurb, it looks brand new. I really had written it off as a lost cause, so to have a "brand new" replacement is more than i could have hoped.  

Fingers crossed this issue doesn't effect any other users, and people with issues are made whole. 

Whoever may stumble across this thread outside of the US:

I have the same problem (see [1]) and pointed the Garmin support Germany to this thread and the other thread. They replied that they evaluated my case again but are not willing to provide a free replacement. So Garmin, what a great way to cash in another 190€ from a customer by bricking a device with your own software. I am more than angry at this point.

[1] forums.garmin.com/.../fenix-6x-sapphire-boot-loop---any-new-tipps

In some countries you have legal warranty for as long as you can reasonably expect a product to last. It may help to communicate clearly in writing via registered post, documenting the problem really well, and reminding the company of applicable consumer rights.

I'm in Germany as well, my replacement was free, but my Fenix6 was 10 months old, so still in warranty.

I assume your watch is no longer in warranty, right ? How long since the warranty expired ?

Either way, IMO it's unfair to charge you after they broke your watch through a process over which you had no control or responsibility (the pushed software update).

Have you considered making a complain to the legal authority that protects consumer rights in Germany ? I don't know exactly how this process would work, but it might be worth to look into it: imagine you take ~1h to write and send a formal complain, and in few days the Garmin company "suddenly reconsiders" and refunds you the money...

Good luck !

I asked them whether an in-person call would be doable and see whether a real human being may be able to sort things out. Watch was bought 08.01.2020 - I would expect to get more use time from an 800€ watch that I never misused, never had a beta firmware installed, has pristine glass, all working sensors etc. Not sure how to wake-up Garmin International and whether they notice this thread. I will keep you updated.

Anyway, I'm not sure that I am fine with paying an additional 190€ for a watch that was broken by software. Honestly, I feel kind of screwed by the whole situation.

I don't think it's "Garmin International" that you need to wake up.

I would hint for their subsidiary in Germany, basically the german company that would be fined for not complying with the German / European legislation about protecting consumer rights.

Sorry I can't give more specific advice, I'm not from Germany originally so I don't know how that would work or how that authority is called. But there definitely has to be something, any EU country has this.

And on with the storyline: Wrote them a week ago that I would like to discuss the issue via phone. It is also not clear to me what happens in case the same things breaks the refurbished watch - will they again charge me 190€ to get the next watch? And to no surprise, I did not receive an answer for a full week.

Honestly, I currently lost all fun and enjoyment for this product, looking at a bricked device for all these days now. It's not that I am trying to game a company to replace me a 10 year old product for free to get my hands on some fancy new device. It's a 2 1/4 year old "premium" sports watch with a software-based loop that I would like to get fixed with the same - currently outdated! - product. And if not free of charge, then at least be responsive Garmin and tell me what happens if the same bug kills a 190€ replacement.

Hi, I am having this same issue with my watch, how did you got this matter solved?

I had to buy the 190€ refurbished watch. They made me either pay or remain empty handed. They definitely lost a customer once the refurbished Fenix has to be renewed.