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Cracks on Forerunner 645 Music body

SaidB
over 6 years ago
Hello garmin users,

I just wanted to highlight some issues I recently discovered on my black645M. I have it since March and had no issues till last week.

When I removed it after a run, the band detached itself and that's when I discovered that the body was cracked where the band pin inserts into the body of the watch
What's worse (if that's possible) is that after inspecting the entire body, I've found that the 3 other holes for the pin were also starting to crack.

I am very cautious with my watch that has never been shocked in any manner. I do switch bands sometimes (official garmin bands) and I'm always careful when doing so.
I don't understand how this piece can be so fragile after only 9 months of not so heavy use, I'm wearing it daily at work and I've been running with it only around 40 times (no swimming).

I've just returned it to the shop as it is still under warranty and I hope that Garmin won't make any trouble to replace it but I'm now afraid that such an expensive piece of gear may not last that long finally... My previous Vivoactive HR died after 9 months also but this time it was after a one sessions at a swimming pool so the water proofing was probably faulty that time.
I can't afford a Fenix Chronos that is full metal nor want to carry such a heavy watch, the F645M is the perfect size for me and has the functions I want in a watch...

I'm adding some pictures of the cracks so you can see what it looks like.

I've seen similar posts for other models but nothing so far for this watch. Has anyone faced that already? ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1431516.png ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1431517.jpg
  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to 2479006

    My Forerunner 645M had the same thing happen today. Purchased late May 2019. Daily use, never used for swimming.

    It seems like a design oversight that the pin mounts in the watch body are not more durable than the pins or band. The failure mode to the pin mount effectively renders the watch no longer fit for purpose and in a time frame not consistent with such an expensive watch. 

    I have contacted Garmin and I am waiting for a response. I don’t consider paying over $500 for a watch that lasts less than two years acceptable and I’d be surprised if Australian Consumer Law does not have some protection for consumers in these types of situations.

    As a footnote: Apparently Garmin warranty period is two years in Europe and only one in Australia. Seems strange that it’s not two years globally if Garmin truely stand by their products.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Daniel
    Daniel said:
    Apparently Garmin warranty period is two years in Europe and only one in Australia. Seems strange that it’s not two years globally if Garmin truely stand by their products

    Garmin's warranty is a year. Europe has their own consumer laws which Garmin must honor. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows

    https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/legal/consumer-limited-warranty/

    Maybe I wasn’t specific enough. The site I looked at was the Garmin en-GB site, but the same argument applies. This image taken directly from the Garmin link above says Garmin offer a two year manufacturer’s warranty in the United Kingdom.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Daniel
    Daniel said:
    The site I looked at was the Garmin en-GB site
    Daniel said:
    link above says Garmin offer a two year manufacturer’s warranty in the United Kingdom.

    Garmin's warranty is 1 year. Great Britain and the United Kingdom are part of Europe so Garmin must honor the European Consumer laws which is two years.  You were wondering why Garmin has a two year warranty in Europe, but only one year in Australia and I explained this earlier.  If Europe didn't have this law, it would be 1 year there too as it is for everyone else.  I fail to see the confusion.  Did you not know GB and the UK were part of Europe? 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows

    GB may be in Europe, but it is not part of the European Union (EU) anymore. So EU laws do not apply anymore. Though, I don't know about devices that have been bought while GB was still in the EU.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Scorp1981

    Thanks Scorp, that was kind of my reason for clarifying to ‘who knows” where I found the info.

    Regardless of the duration of warranty periods in different regions, it is still a clear example of poor durability/design from a Garmin product, rendering it not fit for purpose in under two years.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Scorp1981

    From online:

    The changes are minor and at most, require limited changes to terms and conditions. Essentials of consumer protection law in the UK will not change as a result of Brexit. Immediately after 31 December 2020, UK consumers buying from UK businesses will have the same rights as previously and the CMA will have the same enforcement powers regarding domestic transactions.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Daniel
    Daniel said:
    it is still a clear example of poor durability/design from a Garmin product, rendering it not fit for purpose in under two years.

    We agree that the lugs/body should not break within two years.  I'll go as far to say it should last longer.  I committed on your post because you said:

    Daniel said:
    Garmin warranty period is two years in Europe and only one in Australia. Seems strange that it’s not two years globally if Garmin truely stand by their products.

    So, there's nothing strange about it and it's not a choice by Garmin and it has nothing to do with Garmin standing their products.  They offer a 1 year warranty on their wearables as does nearly every other manufacturer. Europe is the exception and a law Garmin must honor. If Europe didn't have this law, it would be 1 year there too like everywhere else. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows

    Just had mine break right before a 2 month trip. You guys a spot on that the pins should be the fuse not the body of the watch. This watch is 1 year 4 months.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to gcalhoun85

    I’ve contacted Garmin and provided them with all of the details of the watch (including proof of purchase). I am now awaiting their response.

    Fatigue in plastics is hard to predict and the design and material choices will all have an influence on the durability of such parts. However, it is a foreseeable failure mechanism which essentially renders the watch unusable. I fully agree with you gcalhoun85 that the pin should be the “fuse” in the system. I’m just crossing my fingers that Garmin offer a reasonable resolution. I suggest that you contact your local Garmin support team and seek assistance from them. Are you in Australia?

    For those in the UK, US or Canada there is an exchange program as a result of this type of failure.

    support.garmin.com/.../