Anyone have an opinion on the best place to purchase a Zumo 550? I found a site on the net that is selling them for 479.00 plus 14.00 shipping. You just worry a little when someone is selling something like this significantly less than everyone else.

All suggestions welcome.

That's a great price, and since the 550 is getting a bit long in the tooth, maybe its legit. I bought mine through Amazon.com last summer, and it was priced at something like $679 with free shipping. They shipped quickly, and it included the full warranty.

If I remember right, Garmin was not providing warranty support for 550's bought through auctions, but your case doesn't appear to be an auction or "buy it now" type of ebay deal.

The other thing about the 550 is that, like the FJR ignition issue, they can go belly up and die without warning. A larger number of people have experienced this and reported the problem on the Zumo forum, including me.

When the problem first started to surface, it appeared that Garmin would pay overnight shipping both ways and do the turnaround in one business day. As the problem grew in scale, this generousity waned.

They replaced mine and paid return shipping, but it was via ground shipping, rather than overnight or 2nd day.

Before you commit to buy one, make sure Garmin is going to support a purchase through that vendor, and then also make sure they've actually got it in stock. If both questions have the right answers, it sounds like an excellent deal.

I would buy mine again, in spite of the failure.

call Jeff at Bike Effects dot com he will hook you up....


R

I would also check out the vendor at resellerratingsdotcom to make sure you are not getting ripped off. (Not required for Bikeeffects, who have a first class reputation).

Check out the web for reviews or problems with the company. There are several companies that are bogus. They advertise significantly lower price but they may or may not actually ship a valid product. If the price seems to good to be true there may be a reason.

All great suggestions. I was going to call Jeff at Bike Effects before I purchased anything.

Anyone else have a suggestion on a reputable dealer that will provide competitive prices I will give them a try.

Thanks again for the replies.

Just want to say that Garmin treated me really well recently.

My Zumo 550 was flaking out when the start way point and destination way point were the same.
They replaced the original unit with a refurbished unit for zero cost, including new cables, power adapters, etc.
..and in the end, it wasn't a Zumo 550 issue at all; rather a generic problem with MapSource.

When all is said and done, I have a 'new' fresh warranted Zumo that has a brighter display and newest map installed.

Thumbs up to Garmin, they ROCK!

buy.com

Be careful.

I've been searching, reviewing on the net, in this forum, and many of the net Zumo's for under $500 are scams. I found some a couple for around high $400 and they all turned out to be bait and switch scams. Check the sellers out first.

I'm still searching and looking.

Good luck.

Techjunkie,
I have the Zumo 550 and I like the unit. I also like that it has bluetooth in the event you have a communication system it will hook up and give you directions. I have a Macintosh computer and had to buy the CD for Mac with an additional on-line down load in order to make route maps, etc. I don't like that when I set a route and I am part way into the route and then turn on the Zumo that it tries to take me back to the start of the route. I haven't figured a way out of that yet. Other than that, it's a great unit and I would buy it again.

Brain Surgeon

Wow. That sounds like a SERIOUS defect -- or maybe I just don't understand.

I'm a mac user, too. So if I get one of these, I'll have to do without the route finding features? Or what?

If it sounds too good to be true.... well, you know the rest.

For electronics, I always but from a reputable retailer, or web seller.

I just bought mine from Amazon $663 out the door delivered.

Me and several friends of mine bought ours at PC nation around 650 these low ball guys will try and sell you a bunch of extra stuff.

I bought mine at gpsdiscount.com for 679.00 free shipping. It was a new unit with factory warranty, not a refurbished unit. You have to watch some of the cheaper priced venders are for reman units. I was satisfied w/gpsdiscount.

Good Luck Art

GPSdiscount in a good company I have bought several GPS units from them. Pc nation has the Zumo 550 for 648 with free shipping I tried to find a refurb unit and could not.

I got mine at newegg.com, but it looks like they are @ $689 today, or $40 more than I paid, about 2 months ago.

http://www.resellersratings.com can be your friend

If it sounds to good to be true....
It's a scam. I tried ordering one from one of those s

When I called to 'verify my internet order,' the guy on the other end of the phone tried telling me that the Zumo needs a 'special high speed' 8BG memory card... WTF?! When I didn't bite, he called me a "player" and, suddenly, the Zumo was "backordered" and my order was cancelled.

Anyway....

Amazon has good prices.
Can't go wrong with Jeff at BikeEffects.
I bought mine at BuyDig.com

Stick with the reputable companies.

I recently bought mine from PCNation. Great service and fast shipping. Like others, I tried the super cheap New York dealers. It was all a bait and switch scam. One asked me if I wanted the 2008 version or the 2005 version . I asked him what the price difference was. They told me $459 for the 05 and $649 for the 08. I said that I would take the 05 version and would probably be able to update for free from Garmin. Lo and behold, they didn't have any in stock. Save yourself the hassle.

I looked at the site offering them for around $470 yesterday. Then I read 8 pages of complaints about the site at ResellerRatings. Not so much bait and switch, but refusal to fulfill the order unless you purchase the outrageously overpriced add ons ($150 for a 1GB SD card). Now they have a credit card number and your personal info.

I'll be ordering from Amazon.

Got mine from PcNation. Had to send it back to Garmin for warranty issue and there were no problems.

Don't forget, if you have a "Signature" VISA card, VISA will double the original warranty for free and with no deductibles. You just have to send them some paperwork.

I had the EXACT experience as bikergeek, had to call and "confirm" my order then got the high pressure pitch for way overpriced sd cards etc. They were exceptionally rude and the Zumo was suddenly on back order when I wouldn't bite. Bought mine on Ebay for $585 plus $15 S&H.

I have been around the internet for a long time and work in IT for a living. I suspected it was too good to be true that is why I thought I would ask for seller recommendations. I figured if someone recommended them and had a great experience it would probably be ok. I also susptected if someone tried them and had a bad experience I would find that out as well. I suspect they are in the bait and switch camp as they are the only one I can find selling the Zumo for under $500.00.

Thanks all. I have decided on the Zumo but would rather pay a little more from a reputable dealer than get my blood pressure up with scam artist.

Thought I would add this link:

http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/merch...ngs-w-them.html

You guys were right. Now I said it and I aint gonna say it again!

Like talking to my wife!

Thanks to everyone for the heads up.

I find the lowest price and go to my local motorcycle store and they match the lowest price I can find. Works for me.

Best Buy in Greenville SC has zumo 550 closeout priced at 539.99. At least two left on shelf as of 5pm 07/01/2008.

That's a dang good price for a 550! I bought mine from PCNation last year for $639. The only hiccup was they listed as in-stock when I ordered, but there was a delay of a couple of days in shipping from them. I e-mailed them and they replied it was on back-order and it would ship out two days later. I waited it out and it showed up on the doorstep a few days after that.

As a side note I was surprised when I opened up the shipping box - the Garmin box didn't have any kind of seal on it. I opened that up and the unit was just resting in the cardboard craddle. I was worried that this wasn't a new unit, so I asked the question on the Zumo forum and they all replied it was normal to get it that way. Strange.


Herkypilot

I swear mine asks me if I want to reroute from the beginning.