Thread: Project "HB Donut"

I sent Lowrance multiple emails about a warranty issue on a unit, and they never responded at all. I switched to H/B. I'd rather see a donut than a blank screen. I guess both companies lose customers.

Sorry Shellback and others that switched to HB because of Past Lowrance issues. They have corrected this present day, and even offer trade in on many of the discontinued models. Customer service is much better today, and call waits appear to be less then HB.

I don't think the core of this issue is a battle of the brands. If you look fully at the donut, it is an Humminbird item, only. If you don't believe it's an issue, then it's not an issue for you. But to say that you switched to HB and accept the donut because of a bad experience with Lowrance, is to say you recognize that the donut is an issue, but you'll accept it. Am I wrong?

I made the switch to H/B long before a donut was an issue with folks. Back when the govt had selective availability on the satellites. The donut is not an issue with me, or probably 98% of other users. I move on into my brush pile, throw a buoy over and fish it. I can't see folks watching a GPS screen to stay on a brush pile. How ya gonna see that little twitch in the line as the crappie is taking the bait while you're looking at the GPS.

Good. now this is becoming clear. So your complaint about Lowrance and the reason you switched is from years ago.... and has nothing to do with the current donut observance. That's what I was trying to get you to see, and you have. No reason to get negative on Lowrance to smoke screen the donut.

In some posts, you tell people to switch to Lowrance if they don't like it, but then you take shots at Lowrance based on experiences from years past.

Are you saying that Rickie and others don't have the right to voice their feelings and opinions on this, because HB said "It is what it is?" And better yet, if the next update from HB removes the donut and adds a pointer, will you switch to another brand? Would that be a sign of weakness, or an indication that they felt it was a problem?

The focus of "Project HB Donut" is clear and simple...

1. Identifiy and explore the facts surrounding the "Donut"....(This has indisputably been accomplished)....
2. Open a venue of discussion for people affected by the "Donut" or how the "Donut" affects their decision of what brand to buy...

It should not matter what (%)percentage of users are affected by the "Donut"...The fact remains (and is being documented in the forums) that some people are finding the "Donut' as an inconvenient "feature" of the HB units .....and some people are (in fact) buying Lowrance or switching to Lowrance simply because of the "Donut"...(whether it be "feature" or "flaw" in the individual's opinion)..

1%...2%...38.5%...how small a percentage doesn't matter...HB is losing customers because of the "Donut"....it's not a myth..nor just an opinion..it is happening...period..

Asking people to quit "beating the dead horse" will not make the problem (of HB losing customers) go away....

Not discussing the "Donut" in an open thread will not make people just "live with it ,that's how it's designed"....

The "Donut" is real....it is proven to be an inconvenience for some...and HB is losing customers because of it...facts are facts..

I would guess that Lowrance loves donuts....

Rickie (an almost satisfied HB owner)

30 humminbird customers ,$2000 dollars a piece units,so if all 30 of us switched that would be $60000 dollars more fore lowrance.i sold mine and just bought one lowrance this week,and if i like it like i think i will i will be buying another lowrance.if humminbird would have fixed or even discussed on getting it fixed in the future i would still own humminbird,but all they want to do is blow smoke ,is that customer service

Originally Posted by blueball

30 humminbird customers ,$2000 dollars a piece units,so if all 30 of us switched that would be $60000 dollars more fore lowrance.i sold mine and just bought one lowrance this week,and if i like it like i think i will i will be buying another lowrance.if humminbird would have fixed or even discussed on getting it fixed in the future i would still own humminbird,but all they want to do is blow smoke ,is that customer service

Give it up on the switching brands! For every dollar H/B loses to Lowrance, there's a dollar from Lowrance going to H/B. When Lowrance's C/S was in the toilet ya think people switched? How about when they were told their 3 or 4 year old $2000 plus unit weren't repairable, but they would give them a discount on a new one. Or how about all the Lowrance units that went back because of water problems? I can tell you that a lot of Walleye fishermen switched to H/B due to C/S, water intrusion and no repair on units just a few years old.
I'll be peeing in my pants if the govt starts selective availability again. The only donuts to be seen will be the circles in the water of crappie fishermen looking for there direction arrows! PS that thing I'm kicking? It's a worthless Lowrance H2OC, that can't stay locked on satellites. I'd rather have a donut on my screen rather than a flashing position indicator that can't find it's location.

not here to argue but im buying two lowrance units,i know what ur kicking, buy one that works for u ,be it garmin, humminbird,delmore,etc.nobodys saying humminbird is junk, and if u like how it works why waste ur time on hear argueing with everyone.i can tell u dont spiderrig cause the donut would be a problem.i can watch my poles and fishfinder at the same time it dont take no tallent to do so ,and can also walk and chew bubblegum at the same time.the main thing about this thread u taught me was to change to something that works for me and i did Hands Clapping

Originally Posted by Shellback

Give it up on the switching brands! For every dollar H/B loses to Lowrance, there's a dollar from Lowrance going to H/B. When Lowrance's C/S was in the toilet ya think people switched? How about when they were told their 3 or 4 year old $2000 plus unit weren't repairable, but they would give them a discount on a new one. Or how about all the Lowrance units that went back because of water problems? I can tell you that a lot of Walleye fishermen switched to H/B due to C/S, water intrusion and no repair on units just a few years old.
I'll be peeing in my pants if the govt starts selective availability again. The only donuts to be seen will be the circles in the water of crappie fishermen looking for there direction arrows! PS that thing I'm kicking? It's a worthless Lowrance H2OC, that can't stay locked on satellites. I'd rather have a donut on my screen rather than a flashing position indicator that can't find it's location.