lowrance support?

[FishyGuy]

After skimming a few posts I see references to poor service from Lowrance.  Can those with experience chime in here?  Did it get better or worse after they were bought out?  They certainly have flooded the market with lots of various models.

[WRB]

After Navico bought Lowrance the excellent customer service became hit or mis depending who you called.

I contact the local rep or Don Iovino for any upgrades or questions.

Tom

[MickD]

A coincidence regarding customer support, I was just coming to the forum to communicate how fast and effective Humminbird Customer Service is, e-mail form and phone number on their web site.  I've used them a number of times and it's always the same.

[FishyGuy]

I have sent email  questions to lowrance support and they have responded quickly.  The statement that after warranty/support they will give you a good deal on a new upgrade doesn't sound very enticing, but that is probably typical.

[TOXIC]

I think that the problem is not that lowrance does not respond, it is that most do not like the answer they give.  Lowrance is not in the repair business, their first and normally only offer is to replace for a fee or give a discount on an upgraded unit.  Had a friend just go through this with 2 Touch 12's.  One was continuously beeping and he is a whiz with his electronics so all of the proper updates were installed.  He called lowrance and they wanted him to send it in so he did.  Their reply was replace with the same unit for $$$, upgrade to 12" Carbon unit for more $$$$ or upgrade to 16" Carbon for even more $$$$.  All were discounted prices.  He chose to upgrade to a 12 Carbon.  It was the best deal.  As luck would have it, not long after he got the new unit, his other 12 started doing the same thing.  He did the same deal.  Sucks that he had to pay but the units were 2 and 4 years old respectively and that was his only option.  No offer to fix or replace free of charge.  They were both out of warranty.  

[DogBone_384]

I had two Elite 4’s lose their seal, causing foggy screens.  Lowrance took care of them promptly.

[Sam]

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 2:15 PM, FishyGuy said:

After skimming a few posts I see references to poor service from Lowrance.  Can those with experience chime in here?  Did it get better or worse after they were bought out?  They certainly have flooded the market with lots of various models.

Really bad service.

 

They want you to throw your current unit away and purchase a new unit.

 

I took my Lowrance unit to a Virginia retailer who also repairs them and after waiting one month to get it back the unit still does not work correctly. It seems it cannot find its location for some unknown reason.

 

I use it for speed and water temperature.

 

If I ever replace it I will go to Raymarine. Their units are easier to use and the side and down scan pictures are outstanding. I saw them at a Bassmaster Classic a few years ago and fell in love with their units.

[FishyGuy]

19 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I think that the problem is not that lowrance does not respond, it is that most do not like the answer they give.  Lowrance is not in the repair business, their first and normally only offer is to replace for a fee or give a discount on an upgraded unit.  Had a friend just go through this with 2 Touch 12's.  One was continuously beeping and he is a whiz with his electronics so all of the proper updates were installed.  He called lowrance and they wanted him to send it in so he did.  Their reply was replace with the same unit for $$$, upgrade to 12" Carbon unit for more $$$$ or upgrade to 16" Carbon for even more $$$$.  All were discounted prices.  He chose to upgrade to a 12 Carbon.  It was the best deal.  As luck would have it, not long after he got the new unit, his other 12 started doing the same thing.  He did the same deal.  Sucks that he had to pay but the units were 2 and 4 years old respectively and that was his only option.  No offer to fix or replace free of charge.  They were both out of warranty.  

I think that's right.  I have been thinking about that Elite but I am suspicious of the touch screen.  May be a bigger problem if you leave your boat in a slip over the water exposed to high humidity.  I've got LMS520 about 15 years old, still works fine.  

Do you know how much they discounted?

[TOXIC]

He told me but I can't remember.  I know the jump from replacing his old units with the same units to the new carbons was only like a couple hundred so that's what he did.  Keeping in mind there was a fee to replace the units with the same units again.  Too many just expect a free replacement when out of warranty and while it would be nice, it's not practical for them.  I do wish they had a repair service that would be the cheapest route but they do not.  The good thing is that if you are in warranty, they don't refurb your unit, they just send a new one.  

[PAbasser927]

I have only had one expirience with their customer support so far, but it was extremely positive.  I actually posted about it here a few months back.

 

 

[FishyGuy]

After getting responses to my questions from support and seeing the comments here  I concluded that they were good enough so on Black Wednesday I got a 9i at Bass Pro.  Can't wait to try it out.  Thanks for all the comments.  It is quite a step up from my Lowrance lms520.