My Forum

Thanks for the replies.  Yep, I wear a watch to bed, is this strange?  I chose the FR60 as it was small and as 'normal' looking as I could find, knowing I would not want to take it on and off.

Taxi Driver - surely the strap would have broken an awful lot sooner if I was taking it on and off every time I ran (4 times per week), as may be suggested as it is a sports watch?  I don't think it would possibly have lasted past 3 months!!  And yes, the paint peeled from the front within 4 weeks.

I mentioned to the support centre that surely this must be a known problem as it had happened to me twice and he said no!  I'll be watching the post over the next few days to see what they decide to do.

What would you do?  Pay £30 for a replacement which is going to break again (hopefully within 12 months) or just accept that a product costing £130 is no longer useable?

Fair comment Carrie.  What I meant was that the watch was not taken on and off my wrist, hence there was no reason for the moulded strap to have weakened through being flexed (as would normally happen).  I think it would have broken alot sooner had I been taking it on and off between runs.

I was given a Garmin FR60 in February 2011 for my 40th birthday - I thought was great and did the job.  In July 2011 the mouled strap broken. I returned it to Garmin who promptly replaced it as it was within the warranty.  I was then given a new warranty for the replacement watch.  Fourteen months later (September 2012) the strap broke again on the new watch.  I called Garmin and was told that as it was outside of the 12 months warranty, they would only mend it for a fee.  I left it at that and glued the strap back on every few days to use it (it kept breaking off).  Now it will not glue on at all.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, not having a useable watch, I've been getting pretty peed off. I returned the watch to Garmin last week stating that I have an unusable product costing £130 which broke just after a year of getting it.  Something I do not feel acceptable.  When I spoke with their Customer Services today they said they would replace it for £30 with an identical watch.  That's a fair offer I suppose but as I said to the operative, I'll be returning it for a replacement within 12 months as the strap is guaranteed to broke.  Can I also note here that I wore the watch 24 hours a day and just about never removed it, hence the break cannot be wear and tear.

As I am not happy with their offer, I was advised to write to their Consumer Relations Department to resolve the issue.  I have stated that I am happy to pay to change the watch to an alternative without a moulded strap.

Am I being completely unreasonable?  Has anyone on here had any similar issues or resolved not so straight forward issues with Garmin?  I don't think I am expecting too much but any of your opinions would be appreciated.

 I'm just off to post the second letter now!!!

Karal, that's just how I read it.  CP3 is now at the station as that's the side we approach Goring.

Not yet although my hubby was able to run along the stretch of the Thames after Purley just yesterday.  I wouldn't be surprised if we can re-join the Thames after Purley and then have to leave it again the other side of Reading.  Would be nice to run along the river just a tad.