FactoryOutletStore.com - any experiences?

Fenlander · 23 February 2021, 12:36

Anyone dealt with these folks?

https://g.eu.factoryoutletstore.com/...garmin+montana

On the face of it some great refurb Garmin units with 2yrs warranty. But dig deeper and they are a USA company with an Eastern call centre... the UK head office is a multi company office and their Garmin returns address is a "Store-It" type unit.

TrustPilot reviews about 80% OK.

Might take the risk paying with Paypal as they'll always get your money back??

Pikey Dave · 23 February 2021, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Anyone dealt with these folks?

https://g.eu.factoryoutletstore.com/...garmin+montana

On the face of it some great refurb Garmin units with 2yrs warranty. But dig deeper and they are a USA company with an Eastern call centre... the UK head office is a multi company office and their Garmin returns address is a "Store-It" type unit.

TrustPilot reviews about 80% OK.

Might take the risk paying with Paypal as they'll always get your money back??

They are taking the p155 with the charging cable @£24.08. They’re only £20 at go outdoors & it’s only a bog standard micro USB cable. Apart from that it’s probably worth a punt. RAM do a decent mount for it.

Fenlander · 23 February 2021, 23:52

>>> probably worth a punt

Oh well someone has to test these folks. Phoned the help line with several test questions which were answered correctly and quickly... then tonight used the online chat window and again questions answered in moments. So they are either really efficient... or good at acting really efficient.

I've given them a buy on the non-camera Garmin Montana 600 series refurbed at £242-95 with just a year's subs to worldwide sat imagery but no maps. This appears a bargain as the next cheapest were new ones loaded with UK Topo at £419 from Blacks and I don't want that land mapping.

Delivery claimed to be 3-5 days with Fedex. I await seeing what I get with interest.

RAM mount looks good... the one that has a screw down base will suit me to go on "her" seat next to the starboard tube.

Now to ponder over a PLB or Inreach sat comms device.

Pikey Dave · 24 February 2021, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Now to ponder over a PLB or Inreach sat comms device.

I think they are different tools for different jobs, not necessarily mutually exclusive. If I was in a situation where I was considering firing the PLB, I would prefer that the signal went straight to the cavalry in Falmouth, rather than a commercial outfit in the US. Plus there are no on-costs with a PLB.

treerat · 24 February 2021, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Now to ponder over a PLB or Inreach sat comms device.

Do they do them? I'm looking to replace my McMurdo Max and they do seem to be competitive on everything else.

Fenlander · 24 February 2021, 11:03

Those dodgy folks I'm risking for the Garmin Montana don't seem to do PLBs. My intensive Googling has found the cheapest PLB the £209 McMurdo Fastfind 220 at Marine Superstore. For the Garmin Inreach Mini cheapest £239 at Blacks.

I think you are right PD. Lots of review and user reports seem to say if you want to have a guaranteed rescue get a PLB. If you want the benefit of pre-disaster comms the Inreach is brilliant bit of kit... but with a slightly lower ability to get the emergency signal out with a 100% guarantee... from the sat comms signal ability aspect and as you say extra layers of call operatives.

The subscription for the Garmin is £15/mth... which is a factor but in truth nothing in terms of life and boating if the extra layer of comms ability attracts.

Pikey Dave · 24 February 2021, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Those dodgy folks I'm risking for the Garmin Montana don't seem to do PLBs. My intensive Googling has found the cheapest PLB the £209 McMurdo Fastfind 220 at Marine Superstore. For the Garmin Inreach Mini cheapest £239 at Blacks.

I think you are right PD. Lots of review and user reports seem to say if you want to have a guaranteed rescue get a PLB. If you want the benefit of pre-disaster comms the Inreach is brilliant bit of kit... but with a slightly lower ability to get the emergency signal out with a 100% guarantee... from the sat comms signal ability aspect and as you say extra layers of call operatives.

The subscription for the Garmin is £15/mth... which is a factor but in truth nothing in terms of life and boating if the extra layer of comms ability attracts.

Friends of mine have an In-reach but they are blue water cruisers in the pacific. They just pay the subscription when they are out there & it works for them. But they still have an EPIRB. In an ideal world you’d have both. For the £200+ cost of the in reach you could just pay the subs in the season. I think some creative man-maths could justify both[emoji6]

jeffstevens763@g · 24 February 2021, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Those dodgy folks I'm risking for the Garmin Montana don't seem to do PLBs. My intensive Googling has found the cheapest PLB the £209 McMurdo Fastfind 220 at Marine Superstore. For the Garmin Inreach Mini cheapest £239 at Blacks.

I think you are right PD. Lots of review and user reports seem to say if you want to have a guaranteed rescue get a PLB. If you want the benefit of pre-disaster comms the Inreach is brilliant bit of kit... but with a slightly lower ability to get the emergency signal out with a 100% guarantee... from the sat comms signal ability aspect and as you say extra layers of call operatives.

The subscription for the Garmin is £15/mth... which is a factor but in truth nothing in terms of life and boating if the extra layer of comms ability attracts.

Just jumping in my fast find is due a battery £129 I sore the mucmurdo ranger at that price a new fast find as above price from what I see they are the same spec am I missing something

Pikey Dave · 24 February 2021, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Just jumping in my fast find is due a battery £129 I sore the mucmurdo ranger at that price a new fast find as above price from what I see they are the same spec am I missing something

I paid £75 for my fastfind battery changed including test & re-certification.

jeffstevens763@g · 24 February 2021, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I paid £75 for my fastfind battery changed including test & re-certification.

Gu on then where about had a look ont web cheapest I could find, know owt about the ranger Dave

Pikey Dave · 24 February 2021, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Gu on then where about had a look ont web cheapest I could find, know owt about the ranger Dave

I had mine done about 18months ago by an outfit out Hull way, can't remember the name off hand, but I also got some Hammar re-arming kits off them too. Can't seem to find them now, they might have gone.

Ranger??

Fenlander · 25 February 2021, 01:47

The Ranger is the outdoor model in a protective pouch... compared to the FastFind 220 we are more used to with the marine use biased floatation pouch. I think operationally they are the same. Usually their prices are about the same.

BTW this dodgy outfit my Garmin is coming from have just mailed a legit UPS tracking number... probably just be a brick in a box.

jeffstevens763@g · 25 February 2021, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I had mine done about 18months ago by an outfit out Hull way, can't remember the name off hand, but I also got some Hammar re-arming kits off them too. Can't seem to find them now, they might have gone.

Ranger??

i sore it at £129 last night must have been an old ad the standard one from these has a good price too
https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/pr...Y8JC-0Q9pwGCAU
edit
just noticed when you click on the site it goes up in price

Fenlander · 25 February 2021, 10:48

Yep just clicked through... starts £175 on Google... jumps to £208 on their website... up to £249 when added to the basket and after putting your address in it would need to calculate even more on top for postage.

In the end this was the best FastFind 220 deal I found... at £209.95 inc delivery so I've ordered one.

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/saf...SABEgI41_D_BwE

jeffstevens763@g · 25 February 2021, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Yep just clicked through... starts £175 on Google... jumps to £208 on their website... up to £249 when added to the basket and after putting your address in it would need to calculate even more on top for postage.

In the end this was the best FastFind 220 deal I found... at £209.95 inc delivery so I've ordered one.

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/saf...SABEgI41_D_BwE

ive asked our workshop manager to look into battery replacement for the fast find ill let you know if he comes up with a good deal

jeffstevens763@g · 25 February 2021, 13:54

what do you recon any good

https://www.mikesdivestore.com/produ...=Google%20Shop

Fenlander · 25 February 2021, 16:01

No expert Jeff but that looks like a man overboard AIS personal unit... not a Sat alert emergency services type.

treerat · 25 February 2021, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

No expert Jeff but that looks like a man overboard AIS personal unit... not a Sat alert emergency services type.

I'd agree, seems to look teh same as the McMurdo offering;

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/saf...CABEgL47vD_BwE

Great for sailors or divers getting back to a boat, but not so good for a sinking rib.

jeffstevens763@g · 25 February 2021, 16:20

yes it has a range of 34 miles to shipping plus links through to you DSC radio if your thrown out the boat which wouldn't be available to you otherwise if you understand what I'm getting at. edit more for the lone boater me thinks

i was thinking of the fast find max too with user replaceable batteries

treerat · 26 February 2021, 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

I was thinking of the fast find max too with user replaceable batteries

User replaceable yes - but the cheapest ones I can find are £169!!

There used to be a company that would re pack a battery with new cells for you, they did it for my VHF a few years back which was ideal, and a massive saving.

If only i could find the email address