Which one of the big 3 has the best customer service ? I have a 3 year old HB Helix 10 G4N of course it’s 6 months out of the 2 year warranty period. 450 bucks to send it in to get fixed . What a kick in the nuts . Anyone offer a 3, 4 or 5 year? Or have cheaper repair cost? Pretty bummed !
Whats wrong with it
Screen went black and the back light wont light it up anymore. Have to use a flash light to see your settings. Called bird and had a 20 minute factory reset and the works. Tried different sources of power . Nada.
Also its gonna drive me nuts if someone doesnt change that thread title to Lowrance lol
The best customer service is the one you never need. The one time I had to contact Lowrance I was happy with the results, but from the sounds of your experience with Humminbird you arent happy but that is pretty par for the course once out of warranty IMO.
I guess I’m confused.
You called Humminbird, got it working, then you decided to use a different power source? What exactly does that mean?
Now it doesn’t work?
Why not just run a factory reset again and see if it works?
I guess I’m confused.
You called Humminbird, got it working, then you decided to use a different power source? What exactly does that mean?
Now it doesn’t work?
Why not just run a factory reset again and see if it works?
Must of read it wrong . It quit working – if you use a flashlight and shine through the glass you can kinda see whats going on . I called humminbird, we switched power sources, did a factory reset and nothing has worked.
I’ve put in 1 claim with Humminbird (bad screen) and 1 claim with Garmin (transducer cord separation) (I’ve never owned Lowrance) and both were replaced quickly without being charged anything…
Also its gonna drive me nuts if someone doesnt change that thread title to Lowrance lol
LOL
Not helpful but as a side note, I hate when I forget to turn the backlight back up after night fishing. Next time I go out I can’t see the damn screen to get it booted up and turned back up 
I do it every friggin time
Only have experience with Garmin. I was still having issues with my 93uhd not reading my ducer. I called them on it and after telling him I have been having issues off and on since year one they still said all they could do was half off a replacement ducer. When I said why would I buy another one that could have the same problems, he then said they fixed the issue and I won’t have a problem with it again. So I came back at him and said if it was a known issue, why did I not get a free replacement. He understood where I was coming from but I still had to purchase a new ducer. Pissed me off but it’s worked since just fine.
John, that is really lame if it was a known issue and they wanted you to pay for a new one even if it was at a discount. I ran into a similar scenario but with the photo for my son to get his passport. I went to the Post OFfice had it taken and expedited then a few weeks later it came back rejected so I needed a new photo. Went back to the Post Office asked for my money back because it was overexposed and they said they cant do that but they would take another one. I said you think I am going to trust you with another photo when the first one didnt work? Went to Walgreens and paid less than half.
The best customer service is the one you never need. The one time I had to contact Lowrance I was happy with the results,
X2 on Lawrance. Never had a problem with any unit I have ever owned. (That’s going back to the late 80’s.)
-J. 
Have one of the original Helix 5 portables for open water and ice – I switch out transducers with the season. Got to a point where I could no longer update firmware, called Humminbird and after a few failed tries to fix it over the phone, they had me send it to the Alpharetta, GA facility and I got it back in about a week, firmware updated and no charge. No complaints with Humminbird at all.
I run lowrance hds units and never had to use customer service.
My garmin also had the transducer not read but dielectric grease took care of that issue.
I had Lowrance units as early as mid 80’s I think but unsure to be exact. I had an issue with my first one and they repaired it and sent it back.
I had another new Lowrance in 1999, X?? idr. No issue, but considering todays electronics it was a hit and miss on it’s believability! When ever Bottom Line came out with their “HD” model I had zero issues with it. I ran the tow of them for a few years together.
Lowrance came out with the LCX15MT. Solid unit! Moved it to the bow and added the first Humminbird 987c SI unit in 2006 when it came out. I think HB was at least 5 years ahead of the competition regarding Side Imaging!!
I’ve been with HB ever since after the first one.
Sold the 987cSI Had Bird on the horn 2x’s. once my issue once theirs.
998 SI & 1198 SI. called once for help and resolved.
Solix 12 mega SI & Solix 15 mega SI. I added a new Ulterra Quest 36v 72″ and had a bad cable that they sent and arrived in 2 days. I was loosing gps and mapping. Just last Oct, I spent a 1-1/2 hr on the first afternoon while on the water then drove home and I connected with the same SC agent and we went another maybe 2-1/2 or more hours before she seemed to have resolved my “One Boat Network” issues. I have one more little bug to figure out that most folks would not acknowledge was there. My system is now operating fully functionally! I’m happy!
I have praise for the Humminbird Customer Service!
Nearly no wait time on the phone!
Get a SC person to speak with that I can understand!
Gets to the bottom of the issue and resolves it!
Do any of you remember the WAIT times for LOW back a few years ago with their SC??
DO any of you remember the law suits that were involved in the Side Imaging that Humminbird had with the other one of the big 3??
Bird was the first and are solid!
Each of the 3 has their best pf category. All are close to each other now days.
I’ll stick with the Bird.
All are close to each other now days.
I’ll stick with the Bird.
I agree they are all pretty dang good and it really isnt feasible for most people to completely re-rig for a different brand of electronics. I did just add a Bird to my Lowrance units and looking forward to trying it out. So far its meh. I dont like the interface at all and its not a touch screen, but I can get over that. I mainly got it for the mapping because Lowrance sucks where I fish in LOW in Canada. Pretty much useless up there.
captain Musky what part of lake of the woods do you fish? I had an older lowrance with a lake master chip that showed more detailed maps then the newer bird. Really like those old lake master chips.
captain Musky what part of lake of the woods do you fish? I had an older lowrance with a lake master chip that showed more detailed maps then the newer bird. Really like those old lake master chips.
We are on the Canadian side about 18 miles straight south of Kenora. I also have Navionics chips but those only show hazards contours are pointless or non existent. THe hazards are a major plus and accurate which is good. The lowrance CMAPs are not accurate. They show 1 foot contours but could be off by 30 feet in depth or more and the shape of the structure is rarely accurate.
Had my gt54 transducer go bad on my 93sv.
Started a chat on their site, immediate response with no wait. Got some basic info, sent pics, determined I was 2 years outta warranty. First offered to replace for $150. I balked at that, didn’t throw a fit but let em know I wasn’t happy, and they agreed to a one-time no cost courtesy exchange.
In my opinion when it comes to customer service, Johnson Outdoors is horrible to deal with. Period.
Garmin on the other hand has been 5 star. Nothing but good things.
Haven’t had to call Lowrance in 7-8 plus years but they “were” good to deal with.
In my opinion when it comes to customer service, Johnson Outdoors is horrible to deal with. Period.
Garmin on the other hand has been 5 star. Nothing but good things.
Haven’t had to call Lowrance in 7-8 plus years but they “were” good to deal with.
I’m not here to debate your experience or to promote any brand.
I have no experience with Garmin other than a hand held GPS and the use of the app , Navionics. The ap is very helpful for both the US and Canada.
I remember Lowrance with their messed up NO customer service (that can be messed with too) that I actually got caught up into once as well.
I’ll stand by my statement concerning the last of the big 3 and their SC. I even have an email from the person from CS that was working with me after my issue mid Oct. “Follow up Regarding Ticket 87****”.
I will be in touch with the person tomorrow.
They all suck, mostly from people that don’t want take the time to learn them. They want everything to work like they see on TV without ever reading the manual. I’m thoroughly convinced you should stick with the format that you know, I was Lowrance from green box till about two years ago, when I bought a helix. It’s hell to learn something that you used to be able to do without even thinking.
It’s hell to learn something that you used to be able to do without even thinking.
Yeah, I am in this boat with the new Helix I bought. I am sure I will figure it out and it will be just fine, but who reads manuals?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>3rdtryguy wrote:</div>
It’s hell to learn something that you used to be able to do without even thinking.Yeah, I am in this boat with the new Helix I bought. I am sure I will figure it out and it will be just fine, but who reads manuals?
Not tryna bag on Bird, but compared to Garmin their interface is a nightmare. One of the main reasons I went with Garmin was because I have little interest in attending a college course to learn how to use my fish finder.
Dirty water my experience with the bird compared to lowrance.
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