Combining routes

[FredHiltz]

Ah, too bad! A loss for you and a lesson for all of us that gadgets do fail. Map and compass are absolutely essential.

Garmin has a good reputation for reliability and customer service. I expect they will make it good for you, but of course too late.

But maybe you should not give up too easily. Garmin sponsors a professional cycling team and is very conscious of their image. I'd contact them (http://www.garmin.com/us/support/contact) with your tale of woe and see if they would help a visitor to our country by arranging with one of their dealers (http://www8.garmin.com/dealers/) to exchange your unit and set of maps when you pass through. I doubt they would insist on proof of purchase, but is there someone at home who could fax a copy or attach a photocopy to an email if necessary?

I suggest this because they once helped me in a similar situation. A 60C fell off my handlebar mount when I hit a big pothole in a dark tunnel at speed. After checking the front wheel and tire, I went back and found the Garmin had been run over. I bought a replacement, called support with my story, and they gave me a new activation code so I could load my maps into the replacement. No questions asked, and they refused my offer to mail the remains of the old unit. All in one phone call!

Other than that, how is the TA ride going?

Fred

[alasdair]

I tried that approach, Fred, and unfortunately it didn't work. I explained to Garmin that I was one week in to a three month cross-country ride raising money for charity, with all my maps on the GPS, and that the ACA's Bike Bits had referred its 45,000 subscribers to my blog, where they would read what had happened to my GPS and how Garmin had responded. It was a good opportunity for Garmin to get some positive public relations by rushing in and saving the situation. I would have praised them on my blog. Instead they asked for the sales receipt from the original retailer (or copy thereof).

As to how the ride is going, well, you'll have to read my blog to find out.... http://aldernath2012.blogspot.com.au/