The Lowrance Saga Continues

Way back when electronics first began to become part of fishing, I was one of the first to buy one of those nifty Green Box Flasher units. That thing really changed our fishing. I still remember the whir it made when operating. Gosh, how long ago was that, late 60's?

Fast forward 39 years. I can't remember how many Lowrance units I have purchased...but Lowrance is all I have ever bought.

Last November, I bought my "retirement rig," a new 21' Sweetwater 2186, all set up for fishing. It came with a cheapie Lowrance unit already mounted in the dash. I added a new LMS 520c for the bow. Man was it good to upgrade to color! Life is good.

Well, in March I got caught in a storm on the far side of Lake Ouachita (Arkansas) and by the time I got to the dock, my unit was FULL of water. I returned the unit, through my dealer and although the 520C is no longer made, they sent me a brand new one...in two weeks. I couldn't gripe.

Today I was on the water at 5:15 a.m. Everything was beautiful. I was to fish new water, or at least water I had not fished in 25 years. You can imagine my surprise when, once I turned the unit on, it began shorting out and going haywire. It looked all too familiar. The unit finally went dead.

Yesteday I got caught in another summer afternoon downpour, just like the first scenario. No big deal. I have a Behimi top on the 'toon. So, water alone is not a problem with me fishing.

I must say that I'm getting tired of this game. I gave the unit back to the dealer today--full of water--(of course) and it is getting old. We'll see what Lowrance does now. I really couldn't gripe before, but I can now. Mainly because I will be without the DF for quite a while. It's just getting old.

I'm ready to jump ship to just about ANY other brand of depth finder that is (indeed) waterproof. Is that too much to ask? In the meantime, I will be without my depthfinder for at least two-three (more) weeks.

It is apparent that Lowrance is cutting corners and personnel. You'd think that when they replaced my original unit that they would have at least made SURE that the replacement unit was waterproof. You would THINK that Lowrance would DO something about the 45 minute wait for customers and dealer. I don't think they care so much about what the customer thinks.

This society put men on the MOON more than once. You'd think a man could get a decent DF. Gimme a break. :mad:

I feel better already. Rants are good for the soul. :p

aj

It,s not just them they have our money don,t want to hear us anymore:mad: And your right you,d think since it being out on the water it would be waterproof, but that,s just what we,d think they,d do. It,s like they just don,t care.:mad:

It seems like the 520C is made to be used under a roof or cover.:D :eek: Just cant believe a fishfinder wouldn't be waterproof. But been hearing a lot of the owners complain about the same problem. Seems like a lot of things made today are just not up to par.

they are having major problems with all their models

I'm thinkin' they just need to write me a check. I don't want to have to go through this situation again.

aj

Like you. I started using DF in the green box era. In fact I still have a Eagle Silent Sixty flasher in the front of my boat. I do still like my flasher. I still have a Silent Thirty in reserve in case that old Sixty dies.

I have had both HB and Lowrance over the years and always considered the Lowrance the better unit. I still have a Lowrancs X-15 and I like it but if it ever dies, I have to admit with all the bad press on here about Lowrance customer service and the fact they have issues with water in their units, I think I would really have to take a hard look at the HB units. I hate it when a company skips on quality in manufacturing to save a few bucks. Most people want what they pay for and if it costs a few dollars more then so be it. Hopefully this isn't the beginning of the end for a great company but it sure doesn't sound good.

Lowrance has been banking on it's long term fans and customers, while letting it's product quality and customer service go down hill fast. As more and more of you long time customers realize Lowrance units aren't what they used to be, it will be the death knell to them if they don't change their ways. I just read where Raymarine is in serious trouble, not thru bad quality or service, but because of the economic condition of the marine industry. Seems to be lots of issues with new Lowrance products. I'm running a Humminbird fishfinder and Garmin GPS.

I'm 50-50 on Lowrance products right now. My LMS-320 FF/GPS has worked great since I bought it in 2003. My iFinder handheld GPS (waterproof) failed when it got rained on.

I'm also shooting about 50% on their support. Several times they have dropped the ball, but several times they have hooked me up with a replacement cable or updated map.

I plan to buy their new handheld GPS unit (called the Endura) as soon as it is released. They have missed their delivery dates to retailers 3 months in a row so I am worried about the quality I might get being an early adopter. Unfortunately I plan to take a gamble as I need a replacement handheld and this new unit is the only one with all the features I want.

So I know what you mean about Lowrance becoming just another business-as-usual company.

just got a replacement lcx 38 (second replacement). map screen went out after just a few minutes of use. i have been 3 months without an hds 8 unit. nothing in stock. it went out first use also.

i mentioned that some local stores have some and would like them to give me a certificate for a new one. not happening. this is not the same lowrance of just a few years ago. they use to offer solutions, not find excuses.

it will be at least another month before they get some. lowrance has no problem replacing units when they have them, they will pass them out like halloween candy. it is the p*** poor quality that is the problem. these units probably only cost a few dollars to produce.

what scares me is this economy and the instability of large corporations. they could go under any minute and we are all stuck with junk that won't work. i guess i should not bash them and discourage potential customers that could help them stay afloat.

Well I was looking towards Lowrance and their new units they are coming out with since Humminbird has GPS problems on their units. I have the money to get one but due to all of the problems that I have been seeing on both brands I told the wife that I would just hold off and not buy one yet.:mad:

Same here...and I think alot of prople feel the same way.

The only problem on the HB 997 that I'm aware of is the slow GPS refresh rate, which I think is blown out of proportion. I have absolutely no problem with it using it as I do---marking structure and coming back later to mark it with a buoy and fish it. If you slow-troll and try to follow a break, I've heard it's an issue. This issue does not compare with a unit not being water proof!

Arkie John, By pass the dealer. Send it direct to Lowrance. It might not cure the problem but will save you a couple of days on the turnaround.

i recently joined the need for my 522 to be fixed, its losing bottom reading and i believe the gps is messing up now , they all ready sent me a new transducer with no help, now im waiting for a new head unit but they said there out and would send it to me as soon as more come in.
This sounds like a repeat of what others already said

I appreciate all of your comments. You know, I'm not a negative person. Really. But in today's economy, I doubt if anyone on this forum has a surplus of money for toys that don't work the way they're supposed to. So, I write to give you a heads up on my personal dealings with Lowrance.

It's too bad that a company will cut corners and personnel in the name of saving money and at the expense of loyal customers. I certainly don't have the extra cash to put out hundreds on a substandard product.

BUT...I will be willing to pay the necessary cash for a fully-operational WATERPROOF unit.

Maybe one day, the better logic and philosophy will prevail and Lowrance will, once again, rise to the occasion.

Finally, it's one thing to continually sell a product that is lacking. But the REAL problem I have is their seemingly total disregard for the customer service end of things. How can they stay in business with they make their dealers and individual customers wait for 45 minutes to an hour EACH TIME YOU CALL?

I just don't think they really care anymore. Too bad for all concerned.

I guess I'm through ranting. Now, I guess (as always) I'll just wait for them to give me the time of day whenever they get around to it.

aj

If any of you guys do much with firearms. Remember when back in 1965 Winchester thought that as long as the " WINCHESTER " name was on it.Junk would sell. It did for awhile until the consumer caught on. Now pre-64 winchester establishes a guns worth. Later on under new management Winchester started to make good guns once again. But the gun consumer and user does not forget easily and ultimately Winchester went down the tubes.

Any company that sacrifices quality and customer service is doomed to failure. Now days word spreads a lot faster than back in the 1960's. Humminbird under their old owners and management almost shot that company in the foot. Johnson outdoors has for the most part turned it back into a success story.

When the bean counters take over any company and the only line they pay attention to is the bottom line as taught in today's businesses schools. They strangle a company to the point that they forget why they were successful in the first place. Customer service is often the first service to go downhill as there is no PROFIT there.

How sad that these companies are so ignorant of history. The ones bent on failure seem so determined to get there.

I have used hummin bird for years and never had any problems they did have a 3 day turn around.

lowrance takes weeks.

I refuse to buy another lowrance, customer service is bad,very rude,had to wait 40 minutes on hold, and i have went through 3 lowrance products in the last 3 years