Lowrance problem!

AIK2002 · 29 June 2004, 14:30

I bought a lowrance LMS-330c a month ago, it worked perfectly for 3 weeks then the back light stated to flash. A week later the backlight went dead. I bought this GPS in USA and live in sweden so if I want it fixed I have to send it back to the USA. It will cost me $100 just to send it back to change a $2 lamp. Is there anyone who knows if its possible to change it your self?

Nick Hearne · 29 June 2004, 14:49

Have you tried a local dealer?
Nick

AIK2002 · 29 June 2004, 14:57

Yes, I have. They told me that I have to buy it in sweden to have a valid guarante here...

Nick Hearne · 29 June 2004, 15:13

How much will they charge to repair it, it may be cheaper than the post back to the USA?
Have you tried contacting lowrance direct?
Nick

Andy · 29 June 2004, 15:30

Ring Silva, the UK importer, they will help you I am sure. They have fixed problems with ours on a number of occasions and delivered excellent service. We did not buy from them either!!

SILVA SERVICE CENTRE
01414455585
service@silva.ltd.uk

SILVA LIMITED
FLEMING ROAD
KIRKTON CAMPUS
LIVINGSTON EH54 7BN
SCOTLAND

(44)1506419555
info@silva.ltd.uk

Petrov · 29 June 2004, 15:42

AIK2002,

Who did you talk to in Sweden?
If you send me a mail i will try to help you, my e-mail is under my profile.

Regards

VF2003

Andy · 29 June 2004, 15:47

Sorry, I did not see you where in Sweden, I thought you where UK based. However have you rung the Swedish importer

SIMRAD AB
4631695101
info@simrad.se

Jon Brooks · 29 June 2004, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by AIK2002

I bought a lowrance LMS-330c a month ago, it worked perfectly for 3 weeks then the back light stated to flash. A week later the backlight went dead. I bought this GPS in USA and live in sweden so if I want it fixed I have to send it back to the USA. It will cost me $100 just to send it back to change a $2 lamp. Is there anyone who knows if its possible to change it your self?

I am sure you will run in to this problem that most do when they "grey import" from the US to any EU country.

I know with us at Icom and many other they will not cover warranty on US products.

I am not sure as to the exact case with Lowrance but you may find this as a problem.

Sorry its not good news

Regards

thorper · 29 June 2004, 17:00

Its a shame that the electronics dealers (not just marine but most products in general) charge substantially different prices between the UK and EU for the same product, and will not honour the warranties. Abuse of monopoly springs to mind....

I can understand it creates logistical and financial issues to fix products in other countries (especially with the 110/240 volt differences), however the reason people buy grey imports is to get the best price. If they charged the equivalent prices in each country (not taking into account import duties etc.) then the grey import market would die out.

Shame there is little we can do to fix it!

Ricky

Brian · 29 June 2004, 17:05

Thorper
There is something you can do about it!
Before buying from the US ring the UK representatives and ask if they will honour a US warranty. If they say no dont buy it!

jwalker · 29 June 2004, 18:47

Or tell them to b*off and buy from a manufacturer who will.

codprawn · 29 June 2004, 18:59

[QUOTE=Jon Brooks] I am sure you will run in to this problem that most do when they "grey import" from the US to any EU country.

I know with us at Icom and many other they will not cover warranty on US products.

What happens to around the world sailors? If I equip my boat with Icom products in the UK and something goes wrong in say NZ does that mean Icom will refuse to help me?

Daniel TD5 · 29 June 2004, 20:30

codprawn

a very good point if its a world wide bit of kit its should be under the warrenty
were ever you are

i quote landrover trying to stop EU imports from being serviced by dealers
and not under takeing warrenty work until someone sued them as they were
detailing the product as world wide and listing all dealers around the world in the hand book from then on the gave up and started selling the imports on the fore court

Hightower · 29 June 2004, 21:34

I think it's disgusting these days, for companies to limit warranties to specific parts of the world. We all know why they do it, pure greed!! I'm into free enterprise and I know that some of you will say that prices are dictated by the economies of the countries the product is selling in and by and large there is an influence.

But it really cheeses me off when I can go to the States and get things so dam cheap, last week I came back with 2 Alloy props and 2 Bilge pumps, 1 Auto, 1 Man. and they chucked in a $20 Yamaha baseball cap! Total cost $210.00.....

matt owen · 30 June 2004, 01:16

I used to work for the UK distributer for Lowrance and their warranty is a return to base warranty. Also a lowrance unit that has been bought in the US has different software in the unit, units purchased in the US do not have international mode in them which effectively means that all your cartography will be back to front. This is to protect european dealers as the biggest seller of lowrance in the US is wallmart and they destroy the pricing.

your only option im afraid is to send it back to the US

jwalker · 30 June 2004, 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt owen

your only option im afraid is to send it back to the US

Or open it up, see what's fried and fix it.

Jon Brooks · 30 June 2004, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorper

Its a shame that the electronics dealers (not just marine but most products in general) charge substantially different prices between the UK and EU for the same product, and will not honour the warranties. Abuse of monopoly springs to mind....

I can understand it creates logistical and financial issues to fix products in other countries (especially with the 110/240 volt differences), however the reason people buy grey imports is to get the best price. If they charged the equivalent prices in each country (not taking into account import duties etc.) then the grey import market would die out.

Shame there is little we can do to fix it!

Ricky

From our point of view there are many difference between US and UK products.
Even down to different components in side.
This is down to CE marking which is not required in the good old US of A.
Other things like different class of DSC and different channels.

Whilst there are some that seem the same they are not.

I am a consumer like all of you but in some cases I know why this happens.

We (icom) are working very hard to get a world wide pricing structure so you guys don't feel ripped off but its not easy trust me.
Mainly because of the yanks.

With radio it also comes down to type approval. Most US sets, at this time will
will not meet the UK/EU approval standards.

Regards

Jon Brooks · 30 June 2004, 08:46

[QUOTE=codprawn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

I am sure you will run in to this problem that most do when they "grey import" from the US to any EU country.

I know with us at Icom and many other they will not cover warranty on US products.

What happens to around the world sailors? If I equip my boat with Icom products in the UK and something goes wrong in say NZ does that mean Icom will refuse to help me?

Now those we take on a case by case basis.
We have no obligation to offer you help in other countries only here.
You will find lots of people who have had this kind of problem and we have moved heaven and earth to help them.
Why? because we feel a duty to our UK customers who have spent money with us here and we are nice guy's!!.

We normally end up footing the bill with the other county.

Good news is our kit don't go wrong very often

Regards

Rogue Wave · 30 June 2004, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

Good news is our kit don't go wrong very often

Regards

brucehawsker · 01 July 2004, 17:37

Called Lowrance today. They said they would 'look at' (although the 'shouldn't') a LCX-19C Combo bought in the States which had a lighting problem, if it was shipped to them in Scotland.(Silva Service Centre - see the www.lowrance.com site).

I have been offered an LCX-19C ex ebay shipped to a US address by a reputalbe dealer for $1700 including transducer, GPS kit etc.
This compares to be best price of £1899 from jgtech.co.uk. In real money, the kit would cost £965 delivered to a friend in New York.

The ONLY issue is then the warranty.

Now, I am sure I could find someone in this forum who wanted a free flight to New York. At £470 for the flight, I would still be nearly £500 up!

So what is going on, guys?

Am I crazy to consider this solution?

Thx for thoughts on this.

Bruce