No more free update?

So... the proper thing to do is never register a new Garmin GPS until
April of the following year? And if you buy an upgrade, is there
anyway of making it look like it's within the time limit to qualify
for a free upgrade the next year?

It not even clear you have to register within a year. A colleague of
mine bought his StreetPilot in 2005. In Feb 2008, He called Garmin to
see if he was entitled to get a DVD. They registered his unit, and
sent him the 2008 DVD for free, probably because they no longer have
the V6 that was loaded in the SP.

panabiker wrote:

But that's exactly what folks here have been saying. The free upgrade
"clock" is tied into the date of registration, not the purchase date. I
bought a new, old stock unit from a PRIVATE party on ebay. He'd owned
it for two years, minimum, but never registered it or took it out of the
box. I bought it, the mapping software was three years old and
immediately registered it and upgraded to the current years' software at
no charge. Garmin - at least then - has no care or idea WHEN you bought
the unit.

All they go by is when you actually register it for the first time with
them.

Unquestionably Confused wrote:
I think there is some confusion here.

You can *always* update the base maps that are installed on a Garmin gps
regardless of when you registered it.

What is being discussed here is an upgrade to maps such as City Navigator.

I registered my Nuvi 360 on April 4, 2008. I do not qualify for a free
update to City Navigator 2009, as City Navigator 2008 is current for
this model. I live 6 miles from Garmin's HQ in Olathe, KS and went in
and talked to their customer service manager. It was explained to me.

I was offered an upgrade to CN 2009 for $25.

BTW, I can still update *NOT upgrade* my base maps any time I want free
of charge. The main difference is that POI are not updated.

Thaddeus J. Bumwad III (Tad) wrote:

The only confusion is in the choice of "update" in the subject line.
Everything else in the thread clearly indicates the topic is the upgrade
to the newest set of mapping software.



Agreed but I don't know that the base maps are ever upgraded. I was
under the impression that it was just the firmware for the GPS unit for
functionality. No?




Apparently, you landed a better deal than another poster. Had you
registered it on April 4, 2009, you'd have gotten the upgrade (not
what? $40?

The biggest gripe I have with Garmin is that oftentimes if you ask three
different support folks a question, you'll get three different answers,
one of which is sure to include the maddening, "I don't know but I'm not

You have now posted that you got your upgrade for $25. The next person
who gets an "accommodation" from Garmin support at a price of $30, $40
or $45 vs. the regular charge is likely to take issue with that price
based on your post. Garmin needs to set their policy, promulgate it to
all hands, and then stick with it. I don't doubt that you were offered
it for $25 but I do doubt that everyone in support is aware of that rate
as it probably is a discretionary thing with the manager you spoke to.
Others may not have that discretion or, alternatively, knowledge of that
price that they can quote and that's where Garmin's train runs off the
tracks!