F20 Map Updates - NOT FREE

zzf00l · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 84

Oh and could we have an 'EDIT' key on our post's so we can correct our bad grammar and spelling please!

j75b · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject:

Tim Buxton · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject:

zzf00l · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 84

themeldrews · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 47

zzf001,
When i purchased my 520 plus european maps i just connected to desktop ,entered the serial number from the CD set and downloaded the maps.Are you saying that the F20 plus european maps requires an additional payment for a unlock key before the maps can be downloaded?
Terry

Gee-Pee · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:

robertn · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 564

You may have grounds under misleading trading practise laws if you were lead to believe Map upgrade would be free or low cost. You may also have grounds if you were lead to believe you were purchasing all of EU and you only got UK.

Good luck though, as I have no doubts that the retailers and manufacturers are flying close close to the wire on this subject, however, I suspect their legal departments spend more time on this than me and I am an IT geek, not a Lawyer.

In the end, Caveat Emptor, putting it down to Experiance and moving on is probably the best advise.

tasape · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 3

Hi All
just been on to the Navman site and dowloaded the N Series handbook

it does actually say on page 83 thay you may be required to purchase a license for updates Crying or Very sad

zzf00l · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 84

Oh well thats OK then.. hold on, I bought mine before I read the manual!!!

RavingDave · Lifetime Member Joined: Oct 14, 2006 Posts: 111

If you compare this to the software industry updates to the latest version are usually free (bug fixes, small enhancements etc). When there is a new release of a product (major upgrade) then this has to be paid for - however, it is usual for existing licence holders to be offered a discounted price to upgrade to the new version - it is very rare to have to pay the full new commercial price if you are already a user of the product - This even applies to Microsoft!

So why can't the SatNav companies do the same - full price if you are buying for the first time, discounted price for existing licence holders?

Gee-Pee · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject:

gambitgander · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject:

The discussion about map updates has been buring since the very first sat nav devices hit the shelves. I could blind you with facts and figures about licence costs, bargaining leverage, supply/demand, etc, but the truth is that it will only serve to open up yet another rebuttal.

If sat nav manufacturers gathered the map data themselves, they would no doubt have MUCH more control over the pricing. BUT they don't. They base their pricing on price they pay the map data provider for the licences. This is negotiable to a point, but they don't get a %age discount because they've already bought the previous version, etc. The price is what it is. And yes, sat nav companies do need to make money to stay in business. The margins on new sat navs are so thin thesedays, that money needs to be made elsewhere.

You make a big deal of paying £100 approx for a sat nav??? WOW, you missed the big buzz back in 2003 when they were being flogged for £1,400!! Technology will always get cheaper as time moves on. I have no doubt that over the next few years map pricing will drop and the data will be more accurate. Until then, do your research before you buy something. Most companies have support sites and call centres... phone them and ask questions. There is only limited amounts of space on a box, do you really think it is possible to put EVERYTHING about the product on it? And if you're feeling a bit adventurous, ask the retailer you're buying your device from Confused

but I would always double check the information.

zzf00l · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 84

and.....

robertn · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 564

gambitgander - I agree with you to a point. yes, the suppliers need to make a healthy profit, we all benefit from that. They do not need to mislead consumers by misrepresenting their products through implication and ommision to do it.

If a software company advertised it software with "annual upgrades avalible", and then charged 100% of the purchase price for the S/W upgrade, would the consumer have a valid complaint in law? Would you have a right of return? I believe so. This is a similar situatuion. The maps are advertised at being avalible for purchase. The cost is not discussed and is found to exceeded reasonable expectations by an order of magnitude. The price is what it is for reasons irrelivent to this discussion, what is relivent is the consumer was mislead.

Easy - The manufacturers should state - "Annual map releases may be purchased at full price". or "Annual upgrades at full reatils prices avalible" - no one is mislead, everyone is happy. (Oh look - flying pigs......... 8O"

j75b · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject:

	PocketGPS
	Web