anyone know the local Humminbird rep? My ICE35 is broken

[dmpalm]

I bought an ICE 35 in Jan/Feb 2010 and like the unit, except I've had problems with it reading incorrectly and not turning off without completely disconnecting the battery...now it wont turn off at all without disconnecting the battery (bad switch maybe). Gander wont exchange it after 90 days and Humminbird's customer service has given me the run around, and is telling me my only option is to ship it to Alabama at my own expense and wait for them to fix it and ship it back. There has to be a better way, I'd be extremely disappointed and feeling like I should have bought a Vex/Marcum if I have to pay to ship and wait for it to get fixed and shipped back. You'd think I could swap it out for a new/reconditioned unit or have it fixed locally, especially for something that has only seen 2-3 months of use. I want to be fishing, not waiting!

Anyone know if there is a local rep I can talk to? Anyone else have an issue with Humminbird that they were able to get resolved? Any help is appreciated.

[harvey lee]

MarCum and Vex would also ask you to ship it back for repairs from my experience.

I would ship it back asap so you can have it back asap.

This is pretty much how all the repair centers work. Dealers are not authorized repair centers. I had to send one back 2 years ago and I had it back within 10 days from the time they received it. I was very happy with the turn around time.

I don't believe they are giving you a run around at all as it states this in thier return policy.

[fievel9922]

what i have done in the past is call them and tell them you are a guide and this is your lively hood to take people out fishing. i have had them respond nicely and next day ship a new one out to me. a little dishonest but i had my electronics go out in my boat the weekend before opener. i had it in 3 days.

[PerchJerker]

a little dishonest but

that must be the same as "a little bit pregnant"?

[Esox_Magnum]

Had issues with a former camera a week out of wrrenty sent me a new one and postage sticker to return the old one, my 2nd LX-5 had a problem out of the box they sent me a new head and postage to return the old one had both on my doorstep in a few days. Both my Vex's though I had to send in to get fixed and pay both ways but they did cover the parts.

[blackleech]

I had a scratched tranducer (from factory) on my Vexilar . They paid postage both ways and was super fast. I just told them if it wasnt fixed Id go back to being a Marcum customer...it works.

[hanson]

Gander wont exchange it after 90 days and Humminbird's customer service has given me the run around, and is telling me my only option is to ship it to Alabama at my own expense and wait for them to fix it and ship it back. There has to be a better way, I'd be extremely disappointed and feeling like I should have bought a Vex/Marcum if I have to pay to ship and wait for it to get fixed and shipped back.

Hate to break it to you but that is how you get your unit serviced with any of the manufacturers unless you live close enough to drive it there vs mailing. Marcum is 1 block off my drive to work, I pass their place twice a day, problem solved. With that said, I have Humminbird's in my boat and they have been exceptional on the CS end.

[Ed Carlson]

Did you send in the warranty registration card when you purchased the ICE 35, or register it on-line?

Your covered if you did, with the 1 year warranty from the manufacturer.

It is always important to save a copy of the receipt, and the original packaging tell after the manufactures warranty period has expired. I tape a copy inside the box.

Paying shipping one way is common practice in the industry.

The speed of turn around on repair or replacement varies greatly from company to company.

I have found filing the warranty ticket properly and quickly and utilizing on-line registration on electronics will speed up any dealing you may need to have with the manufacturer.

If you feel you are not being dealt with properly, ask to speak with the supervisor, escalate the repair service issue, that often expedites repairs.

(Any unit on clearance, or in discontinued status from the manufacturer, buy an extended service policy from the retailer, or your screwed because it will become unserviceable to the manufacturer or it will cost you more to repair than it is then worth.)