Returning a Sat Nav...
Discussion
Ok, so last Wednesday I went out to buy a Sat Nav from Halfords. I needed to use it the next day so did a bit of searching and decided that a TomTom Start would be more than adequate for my needs: Crucially, it had the ability to crate/download routes and load them onto the device - helpful for things such as PH runs.
Anyway, I checked the stock online before I went to college (in stock, all OK), then went to the store a few hours later in a free lesson. The one I was after was now out of stock, but the guy suggested that I should buy the Garmin Nuvi 205. I asked if it would do all the same things that the TomTom did, and he said that "yeah, they're pretty much the same but obviously just packaged up differently" or words to that effect.
It must have been early, because I went ahead an bought it, safe in the knowledge that I could to everything I could have done with the TomTom, and saved four quid to boot. Great.
The long and short of it is the useless thing can't let you upload routes - this has been confirmed by a fair few sources on the internet, from reviews to forums. That was one of the key features I wanted from it - I'll admit that my knowledge of Sat Navs is pretty basic, but I did know that my dad's old base model TomTom from about four years ago could do the whole route thing.
It's only been five days, and I took the thing out the box, had a quick go with it, then tried to upload a route I've been sent for a run down to the coast tomorrow. Can I package it all up again and take it back to swap it for a TomTom, or am I now stuck with a Sat Nav that is useless for my needs?
Ben
Anyway, I checked the stock online before I went to college (in stock, all OK), then went to the store a few hours later in a free lesson. The one I was after was now out of stock, but the guy suggested that I should buy the Garmin Nuvi 205. I asked if it would do all the same things that the TomTom did, and he said that "yeah, they're pretty much the same but obviously just packaged up differently" or words to that effect.
It must have been early, because I went ahead an bought it, safe in the knowledge that I could to everything I could have done with the TomTom, and saved four quid to boot. Great.
The long and short of it is the useless thing can't let you upload routes - this has been confirmed by a fair few sources on the internet, from reviews to forums. That was one of the key features I wanted from it - I'll admit that my knowledge of Sat Navs is pretty basic, but I did know that my dad's old base model TomTom from about four years ago could do the whole route thing.
It's only been five days, and I took the thing out the box, had a quick go with it, then tried to upload a route I've been sent for a run down to the coast tomorrow. Can I package it all up again and take it back to swap it for a TomTom, or am I now stuck with a Sat Nav that is useless for my needs?
Ben
Edited by Benjybh on Sunday 2nd May 21:20
You should be able to, I'd take it back and tell them what happened.
From the short time I was in a similar electrical retail store I discovered basically never believe what they tell you. Many collegues didn't have a clue about what they were selling and so just blagged their way through a conversation. Reason is that you get a bonus if you meet your personal sales target, so they don't want to pass you off to someone else who would know what they're talking about (unless it's an inexpensive item).
From the short time I was in a similar electrical retail store I discovered basically never believe what they tell you. Many collegues didn't have a clue about what they were selling and so just blagged their way through a conversation. Reason is that you get a bonus if you meet your personal sales target, so they don't want to pass you off to someone else who would know what they're talking about (unless it's an inexpensive item).
Actually, you'll have a ight on your hands with Halfords. There policy is no returns with Sat navs.
My v old tom tom would not get a position on a 3 hours journey to the S coast, and I needed ti to ind some addreses there, so thinking it was knackered I went to a local Halords and got a new one. Sods law said, as soon as I got out to the car, my old one had decided to fire while I'd been in the shop, so I litterally turned around and went back in, package completely untouched and unopened to get a refund.....
I was there near 40 mins arguing with them, it was only when I threatened to just leave it there and cal the credit card co to dispute it which would cause them hassle and grief and they'd not get paid, that the manager agreed to refund it 'just this once'.
They are b
ds when it comes to taking Sat navs back, presumably cos people just "borrow them" for holidays etc.
My v old tom tom would not get a position on a 3 hours journey to the S coast, and I needed ti to ind some addreses there, so thinking it was knackered I went to a local Halords and got a new one. Sods law said, as soon as I got out to the car, my old one had decided to fire while I'd been in the shop, so I litterally turned around and went back in, package completely untouched and unopened to get a refund.....
I was there near 40 mins arguing with them, it was only when I threatened to just leave it there and cal the credit card co to dispute it which would cause them hassle and grief and they'd not get paid, that the manager agreed to refund it 'just this once'.
They are b
ds when it comes to taking Sat navs back, presumably cos people just "borrow them" for holidays etc. Benjybh said:
s3fella said:
stuff
Oh FFS. A no returns policy? It was mis-sold, ergo, I don't want it. 02) Make sure the bod that recommended/sold it to you is there
03) Ask bod to swap it for the TomTom you originally wanted or refund it
04) At the first rearing of no refunds policy continue to next point (i.e. Point 5)
05) Demand to see the manager about it (do not go to his/her office) STAY on the shop floor
06) Be POLITE but firm about the issues and your reasoning for wanting the TomTom over the Nuvi
07) If possible make sure its at a busy time of day.
They'll fold if you do all the above because they won't want the scene with other customers present particularly when you went in for a particular product and due to lack of stock they sold you another product stating it would suit your needs when clearly it doesnt. If it gets to manager stage, put the bod on the spot with the manager for selling you a product that "is the same as the TomTom" when clearly it isn't.
But above all be POLITE and respectful and stick to your guns!
Edited by Shinkou Ookami on Tuesday 4th May 03:31
Are you sure the Tomtom Start allows the use of routes? Low end Tomtoms used to have this feature, but it was dropped from the Tomtom One and the XL Classic. I have not seen a Start but I have the impression that it is rather like the One, in which case the itinerary feature may be absent.
In which case the salesman could have been telling the truth when he said the Garmin 205 had all the same features as the Tomtom Start.
In any case, I would certainly go for an exchange. Most retailers are much happier to allow an exchange than a refund.
BTW, in what format are you PH routes shared around? Tomtom's itn format is probably more common than the Garmin formats, although an excellent free PC application called TYRE (and others also) can create or convert either format.
In which case the salesman could have been telling the truth when he said the Garmin 205 had all the same features as the Tomtom Start.
In any case, I would certainly go for an exchange. Most retailers are much happier to allow an exchange than a refund.
BTW, in what format are you PH routes shared around? Tomtom's itn format is probably more common than the Garmin formats, although an excellent free PC application called TYRE (and others also) can create or convert either format.
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