Interesting exchange with Lowrance

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07-30-2019, 04:24 PM
SeaRay

Interesting exchange with Lowrance

The power button stopped working on my HDS7 Touchscreen. I can turn it on and off by plugging in or disconnecting the power cabel so the unit seems fine except for the button.
I called Lowrance Tech Support and I had a true test of my patience today. I was on the phone, mostly on hold, for 63 minutes. The lady was trying to be helpful but she has a script to follow and it was madding. I was instructed at least 3 times to turn the unit on using the power button. THE POWER BUTTON IS BROKEN!!!!!!!!!
We finally got through all the various questions and 10 minute holds and came to the conclusion that....drum roll please.....I need to send it in for further testing.
Now here is the kicker. I was asked to prepay a fee of $375 plus shipping and testing for a total of $425. If it cost less than that they would credit the difference back to my card less the $49 bench testing and $30 shipping to send it back to me.
After careful consideration, I will continue just plugging it in when I get to the lake and unplugging when I leave.
I would have had no problem prepaying the $49 for the bench test and based on what they found paying for the repair or just paying to have it shipped back to me. I think it is a simple fix to just the power button but I seriously doubt I would ever have gotten any of the $425 back.
What they basically were doing was charging me for a rebuilt unit just like mine, then repairing mine for the next guy.
This has placed a serious cloud over me ever buying another Lowrance unit.
07-30-2019, 04:53 PM
satoma

Ray, I agree with you that sounds kind of screwy !
Maybe you could install a on/off toggle switch inline to keep life simple vs pulling the plug. The little connector pins can only take so much use & abuse.
07-30-2019, 05:18 PM
BigDawgg

Dang, SeaRay! Sounds like a new DF is in store for you. HB helix 9 mega image would do just fine. :juggle Good price can be found looking on the net I'm sure. I hope you can get it fixed. My HB 998c has the same issue and I found that if you press really hard on the side of the button it will do what you need done. Maybe if you try that and see! Good luck!
07-30-2019, 05:29 PM
sinkermaker

Sorry for the inconvenience Ray. Maybe you need to go to Garmin like I did.
07-30-2019, 05:32 PM
SeaRay

I'm going to do the toggle switch thing for sure. Ron I bout pushed the button through the back of the unit trying to get it to turn on or off.
07-30-2019, 05:33 PM
SeaRay

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinkermaker

Sorry for the inconvenience Ray. Maybe you need to go to Garmin like I did.

If I had your money I would. :Rofl
07-30-2019, 05:33 PM
Cray

Hey Ray, you did better than most. At least they offered to repair for a price. In most cases they tell you they don’t repair but will sell you a new unit at a discounted price which is still more than it’s worth. Went through that a couple of times and now you couldn’t run me down and give me a low range unit.
07-30-2019, 06:22 PM
strmwalker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cray

Hey Ray, you did better than most. At least they offered to repair for a price. In most cases they tell you they don’t repair but will sell you a new unit at a discounted price which is still more than it’s worth. Went through that a couple of times and now you couldn’t run me down and give me a low range unit.

Now that's a GOOD ONE !!!!:Rofl:Rofl:ThumbsUp
07-30-2019, 06:40 PM
SeaRay

The crazy thing is I've had 2 occasions where I called Lowrance while I was on the water and had a problem and both times they talked me through a fix in just a few minutes. If I hadn't had my cell phone plugged in it would have died before we ever finished the call today.
07-30-2019, 07:11 PM
brettw

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinkermaker

Sorry for the inconvenience Ray. Maybe you need to go to Garmin like I did.

I think im on my way to G

Sent from my SM-G965U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
07-31-2019, 07:09 AM
SeaRay

I only switched from HB to Lowrance because my buddy had one and it was dialed in like the pretty screen shots you see posted on here here. I have a 3.5" Humminbird with GPS that I bought back when this technology first came out. Back then it costs a much as a 7" today. I've held on to it mainly because it's not worth anything today but guess what? It still works perfectly. It takes a chip card and if you can read it, 3.5" remember, it is dead on and crystal clear. I had a HB Helix on my last boat but I let it go and went with the Lowrance. Oh well, live and learn, die and forget it all.
07-31-2019, 01:56 PM
91tiger

Don't know if you have any interest but I have a HDS Gen 3, 9" that I have been thinking of selling. I upgraded a while back to the newer HDS Live units and held onto that Gen3 because it worked so well. But the Lives have been flawless so I don't really need the Gen 3. I was thinking $800 if you are interested.
07-31-2019, 08:22 PM
S-Town Crappie King

I had a similar experience with Lowrance 10-12 years ago on a 14 month old unit. They wanted me to pay the cost of possibly fixing the unit up front before they would even look at it. Haven't bought a Lowrance unit since then, and don't have any plans to right now.
08-01-2019, 01:07 PM
gabowman

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-Town Crappie King

I had a similar experience with Lowrance 10-12 years ago on a 14 month old unit. They wanted me to pay the cost of possibly fixing the unit up front before they would even look at it. Haven't bought a Lowrance unit since then, and don't have any plans to right now.

So what are you running....HB?!?
08-01-2019, 01:37 PM
Rees Guide

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaRay

The power button stopped working on my HDS7 Touchscreen. I can turn it on and off by plugging in or disconnecting the power cabel so the unit seems fine except for the button.
I called Lowrance Tech Support and I had a true test of my patience today. I was on the phone, mostly on hold, for 63 minutes. The lady was trying to be helpful but she has a script to follow and it was madding. I was instructed at least 3 times to turn the unit on using the power button. THE POWER BUTTON IS BROKEN!!!!!!!!!
We finally got through all the various questions and 10 minute holds and came to the conclusion that....drum roll please.....I need to send it in for further testing.
Now here is the kicker. I was asked to prepay a fee of $375 plus shipping and testing for a total of $425. If it cost less than that they would credit the difference back to my card less the $49 bench testing and $30 shipping to send it back to me.
After careful consideration, I will continue just plugging it in when I get to the lake and unplugging when I leave.
I would have had no problem prepaying the $49 for the bench test and based on what they found paying for the repair or just paying to have it shipped back to me. I think it is a simple fix to just the power button but I seriously doubt I would ever have gotten any of the $425 back.
What they basically were doing was charging me for a rebuilt unit just like mine, then repairing mine for the next guy.
This has placed a serious cloud over me ever buying another Lowrance unit.

Le tme share the other side of the coin from a competitor. After the ACT at Ross Barnett my almost 2 year old Helix chirp 12 died, I called Humminbird. Shipped back with receipt to show it was less than 2 year old and under warranty. They could not fix mine so they sent me a Gen3 Mega 12, transducer and all. Same week, same company under different name. My Minn Kota 460 charger had died while at ACT too. While on the phone with Humminbird they game me Minn Kotas number, I call and explain the problem. They say send it in, my response was how long will this take, my boat is tore apart to get the charger wires aloose. Their response was, we will email you a shipping label, as soon as the old one is scanned as returned a new one will be on the way.
I am forever a Humminbird and Minn Kota man! Customer service is where return business comes from, I do not use a certain rod company because of the lack of it.
Hope it works our SeaRay, sure is a pain to spend the money we do on stuff and it not work right.
08-01-2019, 07:41 PM
SeaRay

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91tiger

Don't know if you have any interest but I have a HDS Gen 3, 9" that I have been thinking of selling. I upgraded a while back to the newer HDS Live units and held onto that Gen3 because it worked so well. But the Lives have been flawless so I don't really need the Gen 3. I was thinking $800 if you are interested.

Thanks but when this thing finally gives up the ghost I will probably go a different route.
08-01-2019, 09:15 PM
GREENFISH

Well. I just think you’re a tightwad!!! [emoji23][emoji23]
Seriously though, that’s not right

Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
08-02-2019, 07:40 AM
trypman1

Stay away from Lowrance, I learned that years ago. Sorry for your problems.
08-03-2019, 09:41 AM
S-Town Crappie King

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabowman

So what are you running....HB?!?

Yes been running HB since then
08-04-2019, 01:01 PM
brettw

Low-Rents have treated me right for years now

Sent from my SM-G965U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
08-05-2019, 04:42 PM
gobbler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

Le tme share the other side of the coin from a competitor. After the ACT at Ross Barnett my almost 2 year old Helix chirp 12 died, I called Humminbird. Shipped back with receipt to show it was less than 2 year old and under warranty. They could not fix mine so they sent me a Gen3 Mega 12, transducer and all. Same week, same company under different name. My Minn Kota 460 charger had died while at ACT too. While on the phone with Humminbird they game me Minn Kotas number, I call and explain the problem. They say send it in, my response was how long will this take, my boat is tore apart to get the charger wires aloose. Their response was, we will email you a shipping label, as soon as the old one is scanned as returned a new one will be on the way.
I am forever a Humminbird and Minn Kota man! Customer service is where return business comes from, I do not use a certain rod company because of the lack of it.
Hope it works our SeaRay, sure is a pain to spend the money we do on stuff and it not work right.

that ross barnett tournament must been one heck of a rough tourney!!

i was at the crappie masters national tourney on kentucky lake in 2015 i believe, well wednesday morning my terrova remote started acting screwy, it wouldn't come on for a while and when i finally did it died again soon after, now keep in mind in september i do my yearly boat maintenance which includes replacing the batteries in my scales and my trolling motor remote, anyway i thought well maybe its the batteries anyway, nope, well that evening we had that event where we had to be of the water by noon and attend some function and go around and see all the exhibitors, well when i come by the minn kota booth i start telling the guy my problem, he said you have the first gen remote, he said yeah we have had a few problems with them, he got my address and by the time i got back home to nc there was a new one in my mail box, of which i'm still using, though i sure wished i had it for the tourney