This question has come up quite a few times in conversation recently and I suppose the obvious answer would be that it depends on the price. But, one should also try and find out why the GPS model was discontinued and who discontinued it. In other words, did the manufacturers stop making the unit because they have replaced it with something else or did the local distributors simply stop importing them because they weren’t selling well?
Very often it is simply the local distributor who decides to stop importing a specific GPS model, or even a whole range, due to a variety of factors. For example, a particular GPS model may well be popular in another country but it just does not seem to sell well to the market in your country. Sometimes, and this is also the reason why some models are never imported into South Africa at all, the infrastructure of a particular country might also limit the usage of certain features that are available on a specific model and although model “x” may have more features than model “y“, the only features of both model that are actually usable in that country would be the same ones (i.e. there would be no practical difference between the two GPS models capabilities). It then makes sense to only import/keep importing the GPS model with the cheapest pricing point.
Of course it must also be remembered that we are dealing with a product where new technology seems to be released on an almost monthly basis and often the rate at which new GPS models are brought onto the market outstrips the rate at which older models are being discontinued. This can cause great confusion amongst customers when there are so many different models on the market that all seem to be doing exactly the same thing (and when sometimes the only difference between two models might be a newer GPS chipset or a slightly updated operating system with a faster screen refresh rate).
In cases where the local distributor stops importing a particular model into their country, they would also stop importing the accessories for that model. Given the levels of stock that they usually carry, this would mean that within about 4-6 months those accessories would no longer be available in that country either. Since most models within the same range/series use the same accessories (i.e. the GPS 60 series includes the GPSMAP 60Cx and GPSMAP 60CSx and the Nuvi 2xx series includes the Nuvi 200, Nuvi 200W, Nuvi 205, Nuvi 205W and the Nuvi 250) this is generally not a problem if only one model out of the whole range/series has been discontinued. However, in cases where the whole range has been discontinued – Beware, some of the accessories (particularly the mounts) are not compatible between ranges/series.
Purchasing a discontinued model will have no effect on your 1 year warranty period for the unit (as long as the unit is purchased from an authorised dealer) as the distributors do tend to keep some stock one side specifically for warranty replacements and repairs of these units.
In summary, I would recommend doing a bit of homework before you purchase a discontinued model (and especially if you come across a dealer that is selling a particular model at a “bargain price” – they may simply have excess stock of a discontinued or even a “soon to be discontinued” model). Find out if there are any other models in the same range that are also being discontinued and why.
I would really like to get some feedback on this and I would value any opinions you may have. Please leave your comments in the box below.
What is the latest version of maps for the Gamrin Nuvi 200?
The latest maps (as of 10 November 2008) for Southern Africa are still the Garmap Southern Africa Streetmaps 2008 – March Edition.
We are very close to another release (a couple of weeks – a month or two) however we have not yet been given a release date. Keep an eye on this blog (sign up for the RSS Feed) for further news.
Hi Madmapper,
I bought a disc and was told by the staff that helped me that I would not need to paid to get my maps updated. I currently have version 1.5 on my Nuvi 200.
Do I still have to pay to get the Garmap Southern Africa Streetmaps 2008 – March Edition?
On different issue how to I post a new question?
Hi Nat
It depends on when you registered your present map version. As per the last paragraph on this page, customers who purchased and registered their unit and/or the v1.5 streetmaps after 1 January 2008 will not pay anything further to update to the 2008 – March Edition streetmaps (apart from the initial cost of the 2008 DVD @ R99 of course). All others who are upgrading from v1.5 should pay R349
WRT new questions, drop me an email on sales (at) gps-shop dot coza.
Great site! Exactly what I was looking for! Is it still updated? Seems not, as posts are from 2008, and its now June 2009. Pity if not.
Thanks,
Fred
Hi Fred.
Thanks and ummm… yes, I have been a bit scarce lately haven’t I? Sorry guys, I really need to get my butt into gear and get into a decent writing schedule for this blog.
There are quite a few new developments rumored (i.e. new units, new technology etc) to be on the Garmin South Africa horizon but, because none of them have been officially confirmed yet, I am a bit hesitant to mention or discuss them here.
We all know what it’s like to be initially excited by the promise of something new, only to be later disappointed by lengthy delays and ever changing plans now don’t we?
I had a iQue3600 and the battery went flat. Avnic agreed to let me have a Nuvi 715 for R2850.00 if I handed in the old unit. I can buy a new Nuvi1310 for about the same price. What should I do? The guys at Cape Union Mart suggest that I should take the 1310 – any comments
I bought a Garmin IQ3600 New when they came out, 6 months I returned it for repair. The replacement unit has worked ever since. I bought a battery replacement for it and the
store that sold it helped me indtall the battery. If you buy a kit on line it is not too dificult for a hobby tech.
Opening the case was the tricky part. The replacement battery should also come with a plastic tool to open the case. If not you will scratch it up. The video clip on line is very accurate. My unit is still poor on holding a charge, but I use it in the bag/cradle and it works well.
If not used weekly a reboot and recharge is needed. I bought a updated map content and it would not load on my old desktop. I used my newer laptop running Vista and it
loaded ok. There is no more support from Garmin. If it breaks I will change to a newer system. Probably a cell phone with multiple apps, they have basic road directions.
Until then I use my IQ3600 for trips and new-to-me address locations.
I have a Garmin Quest 2 in perfect working order with a leather case, and the usual mounting accessories. It is loaded with S.A, Street Maps as well as North American stret maps (I purchased this GPS whilst living in the USA in 2005). As I am a person who likes to keep reasonably up to date with technology, I have been told that the Garmin Nuvi 500 has in fact replaced the Quest 2, which has been discontinued? Kindly advise what I should do. I would only be using this on land and at this stage for S.A. Street Map purposes throughout Southern Africa….no water sports. Kindly advise me if there is a better or less expensive option which you would recomend for my purposes.
Kind Regards,
Dave Cobbold