SAMSUNG AND GARMIN/GARMAP SCAM

[Profile retired]

Buyers of Samsung Phones with GPS Option Please becarefull!!

Those poor persons who own Samsung C6225, i780,i900 Omnia and i8000 Omnia II phone which were sold with Garmin XT “GPS + Garmin navigation for life solution” now will have to pay ± R600 per annually if they wish to maintain accurate navigation inspite of the FREE FOR THE LIFE OF THE PHONE promises by Samsung Electronics SA (Pty) Ltd, they now deny responsibility.

Garmin XT has been discontinued by Garmin as the final update 2010.3 and replaced by "Garmap for Mobile Onboard", sold on Micro SD card @ an annual cost of ± R600. Garmin XT was a USA product versus the "GARMAP for Mobile" a local company version.

SHAME ON YOU SAMSUNG AND GARMIN

[AndyD]

Hi Proseal, welcome to TFSA.

Do you have any links to sources with more info on this?

[Profile retired]

I own one of these Samsung Phones and is in the process of trying to resolve this with Samsung and Garmin. Sorry cannot provide more info due to pending legal action.

[AndyD]

Apparently 'free for life' meant free for the life of the contract. This isn't the first time I've seen this 'for life' advertising trap. I guess the legal issue would swing around whether a contract has a 'life'

Garmap

For Samsung proprietary handsets: Garmap. This is a network-dependant service. It streams maps from the Internet, which means you always have updated maps and you need to have coverage to use navigation. Our product team did some testing and they estimate the cost per month, if used daily in JHB, about 10 – 15 Rands.

Navigation on Samsung proprietary handsets is for the life of the contract (24 months). The service is purchasable after that period however, the cost is still not determined
Garmin Mobile XT

For Symbian and Windows Phone®: Garmin – Mobile XT. This is a similar experience/environment to the traditional Garmin. The maps are on the memory card/phone memory with free navigation for life. The maps are updated free of charge for the first two years of the device. After that, they are upgradable on the handset for a fee (depending on the map/region/country).

Source

[Profile retired]

AndyD
Samsung and Garmin may interperate as they wish but the final word rests with the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority of SA) and they will rule if the Samsung is guilty of ambigous advertising or not. Thereafter a judicial process to remedy the loss suffered by myself and others caused by Samsung and it's CEO and President (RSA) Mr Kwange Kee Park. The supplier agreement between Samsung and Garmin and the problems surrounding this is not the consumers problem.

[Dave A]

I confess if I saw an ad that didn't expand on the definition of "for life", I would assume it to be the life of the product I was buying...

It'll be interesting to hear about ASA's ruling when it comes, Proseal.

[Profile retired]

I confess if I saw an ad that didn't expand on the definition of "for life", I would assume it to be the life of the product I was buying...

It'll be interesting to hear about ASA's ruling when it comes, Proseal.

I will advise with their result.

[Profile retired]

The Deputy CEO Dr C. Crozier of Garmin now states confirms that Samsung made these promises and not Garmin. We await the ASA rulling for that Samsung promise. Will keep you posted as this is in the interest of all consumers.

[AmithS]

I also have an i900 that i am still using and will probably pass it onto a family member in a month or so.

Will be very interested to here the outcome as i use the GPS on the device.

[Profile retired]

The ASA reply and rulling

Please the ASA reply and rulling as attached pdf.ASA Samsung Rulling.pdf
Enjoy and thank you.

[Dave A]

No ruling from ASA then given the voluntary withdrawal of the offending marketing material.

Are you satisfied with the outcome, Proseal?

[Profile retired]

No ruling from ASA then given the voluntary withdrawal of the offending marketing material.

Are you satisfied with the outcome, Proseal?

It remains a fact that Samsung tacitly admits that the phrases could be ambiguously interpreted.

You get a point where this is like putting good money into bad business. I have now paid school fees and will never purchase a mobile phone combined with a Gps, rather aquire standalone one.

[Dave A]

I suspected you might still be peeved. I thought them trying to seperate the GPS service from the maps service was a weak point. One is near useless without the other.

It's actually an interesting demonstration of the limitations of the ASA. They can get advertising withdrawn, but it seems they can't really compensate for the consequences suffered by those misled by the advert while it ran.

[AndyD]

Their running for the door with no ruling if the advertising is withdrawn is very disappointing. Closing the stable door long after the horse has bolted doesn't help the misled customers. Is this the ASA having lack of balls and taking the easy way out or a genuine lack of teeth from a crippled mandate I'm wondering.

[tec0]

On a similar subject my Nokia 5230 was advertised with GPS but I got no software to speak off. Thus yes the GPS can be activated but there is no software on the phone to use it. I phoned MTN and they stated that it is not there problem and gave me a phone number for Nokia. I phoned them and they stated that “some” models get the software others not.

I use a standalone GPS and to be honest the map story I had to figure out after the fact like so many things. That said what really makes me angry is MTN not ordering stock. As you all know by now MTN loves to advertise low cost 3g modems but in the Mpumalanga aria they are unobtainable. FACT I ordered one nearly 1 yeas 5 months ago and to date no modem. I visit the shop once every weekend and I always get the same story “no stock”

Is this false advertisement? In my opinion I will say yes because the cheap price promise get you to their store and you always have to go for the more expensive option in the end. Telkom is now pulling the same stunt with their 3g modems. So the short of it is ASA are not doing their jobs.