Garmin

I’m extremely disappointed with the support I received for my Garmin Forerunner 935. Over the years, this watch developed several well-known issues. It started with screen delamination, then the buttons gradually stopped working, and eventually the watch stopped powering on altogether. Despite providing Garmin support with all the requested… Read more

details, including videos clearly showing the problems, I was not offered any meaningful assistance.

I understand that the Forerunner 935 is no longer a current model, and I wasn’t expecting a replacement. However, I did expect at least some level of technical guidance—whether that be insight into the likely cause of the failure, possible repair options, or even general advice on what could be done. Instead, I was simply told that because the model is outdated, no support could be provided.

The only option offered was a 25% discount on current full-priced items, which honestly felt more like a sales pitch than customer support—especially since similar or even better discounts can often be found through other retailers or programs such as health insurance partnerships.

This experience left me feeling that once a product is superseded, Garmin offers little to no support for it. Considering the premium price of these watches, I expected both durability and a longer-term commitment to customer support.

Overall, very disappointing. I would caution others to keep this in mind when deciding whether to invest in Garmin products. I am determined to escalate this matter and proceed with a formal complaint.

Was gifted a garmin venu 3s for christmas. After 3 months of just general wear (I'm 63 so not into strenuous stuff) the glass cracked significantly in two places. Contacted Garmin to be told its not covered under warranty and no repair places in Australia. Was offered a refurbished watch (not sure how old it would be considering mine is only three… Read more

months old) but have to pay another $230. Why would i throw more money away on a watch that clearly has a very fragile screen. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER!!!!!

Garmin should not be allowed to sell their products in Australia, given that they do not have a repair or service facility in the region. REBEL SPORT should not sell their product in Australia, given that REBEL SPORT direct all consumer queries back to Garmin. This is not right. Under Australian Consumer Law, you have the right to a repair,… Read more

replacement or full refund if your goods are faulty, unsafe, or do not work. Garmin can not offer this service, and try and weasel their way out of warranty issues.

Garmin watches have known issues with cracked screens and monitors that do not function correctly. Garmin can not offer local assistance, and your only option is to purchase a refurbished model from Garmin. What a joke! How is this business practice allowed in Australia?

Garmin watches in Australia are a scam, and REBEL SPORT facilitate this scam!

Almost five years to the day after I purchased a Fenix 6X, the screen went blank after I'd been in the sea for a couple of hours. As it is supposed to be waterproof to 100m I phoned customer service to see if there was anything Garmin could do. The lady on the phone was extremely courteous, talked me through a list of problem solving questions… Read more

and extracted the data about the watch. It was fairly evident the watch had an ingress of water yet it was also recognised that the watch was 5 years old. I was offered a refurbished Fenix 6X for $285 AUD which arrived today. Apparently they have to pass all the same tests as a brand new watch and to be honest it looks and feels brand new. Thank you Ashleigh and Garmin for great customer service

Greatest company in the world to deal with. After sales service and warranty’s are second to none. They stand behind their products even well out of warranty. Been dealing with them for over 15 years now with dog tracking gear and marine sounders. Blown away with every issue I’ve had. Show details

Features good – Garmin Approach S42 The features of this watch are great. Shot tracking, app interaction, preloaded courses, distances. BUT, the battery life is terrible. Almost exactly after the warranty expired (one year) the battery life degraded rapidly to the point that it would not last a full round. ZERO customer service. Called product support multiple… Read more

times: on hold 15 mins+, no answer. Emailed product support (Product.Support@garmin.com & garmin@support.garmin.com) no answer.

Do not buy if you want a watch that lasts longer than a year.

>>>>

10 November 2024: Update on the above. After a few weeks I received a reply from Product.Support@garmin.com. Garmin replaced the watch with a free refurbished unit. As above, support is hard to get hold of, but once I did they forthcoming with a replacement.

As also noted above, the features of this watch are great.

Beware of battery life, but I think that applies to all smart watches.

Purchased D2 Mach in Feb 2022. I loved the watch, it is solid and with a nice design a pleasure to wear. I chose the leatherband option, which turned out to be a mistake. After 4 months of dialy use in the summer in/around Melbourne (Victoria) the band started to come apart from the sweat. I contacted customer service and got disappointed. I… Read more

explained the scenario in detail and all I got after many emails was " the watch band is not designed for daily use". Seriously, I couldn't believe my eyes.

It wasn't until I copied the text on the website where I bought this watch that Garmin gave in. They didn't offer a replacement leather band because "suddenly it was not in stock" but instead Garmin offered me a cheaper variant. Very disappointing.

Second issue I had after approximately 2.5 years of daily use as a pilot is that the screen started to burn in. I am clear: I wore it 5 days for approx 4hrs a day with the screen on auto dim. Hence when I do check my screen it switched off after 15seconds. Yet, the screen slowly started to burn in. Bringing this up with customer service I got a similar results as with the band, nothing. Customer service is poor again.

For a watch that set me back more than Au$2000 you expect a better customer service. Be aware of potential poor customer service. Typical American where they try to waive you off telling you it is your fault until you start pushing back with accurate facts..

Having mentioned the negative customer service experience I do have to say that apart from these two hick ups I am very happy with the performace of the watch. The watch itself has not faulted me and worked whenever I needed. Whether for flying as a handy backup tool or during one of many walks I did over the years. Naviagtion is accurate and especially some of the maps are very good for hiking. The design is nice and the functions are very easy to use.

Would I buy the follower up? Probably not for this price. Especially not when I mention that the battery life degraded very quickly on my watch. Within the two years warranty I struggled to get 5 full days out of the watch, using it approx 4 hours a day during flight . ( That is, with functions like satellite options to max battery life). Having brought this up with customer service ( again!) I got told that this is "normal wear and tear" and not included under warranty.

Garmin, if you read this. Not good! I love the watch ( without its small defects) but Your service is appaling and stopping me from buying this watch again at the moment.

I’ve been a loyal Garmin customer for years, investing in devices for both personal use and development purposes, but my recent experience with Garmin Australasia has been extremely disappointing. My fēnix® 8 – 51 mm AMOLED watch developed a display issue, which I first reported to Garmin on 15 January 2026. Since then, I have been in contact… Read more

multiple times, providing proof of purchase and confirming the replacement order as requested. Despite this, Garmin has repeatedly dragged out the resolution process.

Most frustratingly, Garmin was notified on four separate occasions that the replacement watch being sent was the wrong model, yet they went ahead and sent it anyway. At no point was an apology offered for the repeated errors or the inconvenience caused, and the communication has consistently placed the blame on me rather than addressing the mistakes on their end.

For a brand with Garmin’s reputation, this experience was deeply disappointing. Even with loyal, long-term customers, their support process has proven slow, frustrating, and dismissive. I cannot recommend relying on Garmin’s customer support if something goes wrong.

I've been loyal to Garmin for many years, I'm on my 4th device. Unfortunately my 3.5 year old Garmin Forerunner 745 recently fell victim to the green triangle of death firmware issue. Under Australian Consumer Law the watch hasn't met durability requirements but Garmin will not look at it until I provide a 'Valid Receipt or Tax Invoice'. I have… Read more

provided them with a transaction history that Rebel Sport provided me and also went through my activity history to give them the approximate date I registered the device with them (they have this but it was an extra data point since the date lined up with the Rebel document). Even though this should be enough under consumer law that 'shows the item was purchased from the retailer' they are digging their heels in. I speculate this is their way of dodging responsibility for their flawed firmware update making an expensive smart watch unusable. Prices have roughly doubled for the same functionality since I purchased my last watch so given the risk that Garmin will not take responsibility for their poor software updates I'd recommend avoiding their products.

Customer service is basically non existent but they don’t mind billing. After a year of being unable to access my kids account or get any assistance we finally decided to try and sign up again. Success. We paid for another year of access to connectivity $170. Then I get an email telling me we will be billed again on the original sign up cycle. I… Read more

emailed and communicated the issued. Was assured it was fixed. Then I find that the connectivity has been totally cancelled and we’ve “forfeited” that $170 and would need to pay AGAIN to get access. I’ve emailed back and forth but there is zero common sense from customer service. I’ve been met with sarcastic, passive aggressive indifference. If it wouldn’t break my Kids heart I would throw the watch away. We would never consider another Garmin product. Beyond disappointed.

Was just about to buy Garmin Venu 4 as my Venu 2 is outdated and discovered Garmin no longer offers free text alerts to family when I am out running alone in the country!!! This is a safety feature that I rely on that effects women more than men and that i rely on. APPALLED that i was not advised it was no longer available . It was the main reason I bought my Venu 2. Looking to a different company now for my next watch!!! Show details

Customer service non-existent - left me unanswered despite numerous follow ups. Products are shoddy, not purpose built and overpriced for what you get. Shocked at the disdain for customers who are seeking resolution to reasonable problems. Would go somewhere else. Show details

Absolutely horrendous company . But I can see I'm not the only one with same exact experience. Impossible to get in touch or never get a reply ,impossible to get them on the phone and chat never ever works. Having dead watch for 650 AUD for 5 months Show details

Garmin – Promised Compensation, Now Silence After weeks of chasing Garmin for a missing watch they sent me an empty box, they finally sent a replacement Garmin Instinct® 3 Solar – Twilight. But now that it’s arrived, they’ve gone silent on the compensation they promised once the watch was delivered. I’ve emailed them (again), but no reply. Let… Read more

me be clear: ✅ I followed all their steps ✅ I provided all evidence ✅ I waited weeks ✅ I paid in full ❌ Still no compensation — even though they offered it

This has been a deeply frustrating experience. Garmin might make great tech, but their customer service and accountability have been shocking.

If you're thinking of ordering direct from Garmin, this is what you might be in for.

#Garmin #GarminFail #PoorCustomerService #ConsumerRightsNZ #GarminInstinct3 #AccountabilityMatters #DoBetterGarmin

A high-end, expensive smartwatch comes with only a one-year warranty, which I find unappealing. At this price point, quality should be backed by confidence, and that confidence should be reinforced with an extensive warranty—at least five years—to earn customers' trust. Show details

Sadly Garmin post sales service is terrible. No answer to an email sent 3 weeks ago, with regular followup emails sent to ask for help. No answer on their support phone number. 0 stars. Show details

Great disappointment from Vivosmart 5. Support online/manual goes ludicrously round in circles. Phone suport, doesn't seem possible. Waste of time, money and energy. An unwell! unsmart! choice/experience. Show details

The watch is good, but I bought a Garmin so I didn't have to pay its subscription. Now that they have brought out Garmin Connect Plus, they have lost me as a customer. Show details

I have a Garmin stainless Fenix 5x I spent 30 mins waiting on phone to be told after 5 yrs the warranty is out. My watch is a stainless good quality but don’t bother spending a large amount of money on Garmin to get only 5 yrs They say no parts and nothing they can do because it’s a 2016 model. It doesn’t hold charge and now I have a useless… Read more

ornament. You would expect you could keep a watch of quality for life, not so with a Garmin unfortunately. Stick to their cheaper models

I had an extremely disappointing experience with this company and would give zero stars if possible. I was instructed to deliver a return package to their address. Upon arrival, I registered my name and vehicle details on their entrance door pad, yet no one attended to me. Several staff members were standing outside conversing, so I approached one… Read more

to ask about the return process. The staff had no idea what to do.

Another Indian employee, trying his best with an Aussie accent attempting to sound authoritative, insisted that I drive to their receiving dock area clearly designated for truck deliveries. I informed him that this did not seem appropriate for a standard package return, yet he insisted it was the only option and boy O boy he insisted like a grumpy old lady “no mate! this is the only way” Upon arriving at the dock, I found a completely empty facility—multiple open doors, but not a single staff member in sight. It was evident that this was not the correct location for package returns.

After wasting nearly 30 minutes navigating their disorganized process, I returned to the main entrance, where several staff members were on break. One finally took the package but had no knowledge of where returns were actually processed. I documented the handover with a picture as there was no clear protocol in place.

This company has one of the worst communication structures I have ever encountered. If their internal operations are this inefficient, I can only imagine the issues they face with product failures and customer complaints. Not a single staff member was helpful, and many displayed an unprofessional attitude, as if they personally owned the company.

Overall, this was an incredibly frustrating experience, and I would strongly caution others against dealing with this company. I would stay away from this company. Extremely poor communication structure.

Have had a vivomove sport for 10 months and was quite happy with it until it stopped syncing to phone via bluetooth 1 month ago. Without the bluetooth sync the steps are inaccurate and time displayed drops an hour / day. Have tried numerous troubleshooting, reboots, reset etc. Was able to have a limited chat with support who offered additional… Read more

troubleshooting steps but since been unable to get a reply to an email or phone call answered. Completely dropped the ball with support

I have the Garmin Vivomove Trend. Poor user interface and usability. Touch screen barely registers your finger and often disables your workout halfway through or doesn’t record it at all. Too many useless features that don’t work as described. Basic functions like automatic walking activity is slow to respond and you have to click through multiple… Read more

screens and options before it’ll start your workout when manually selected. Doesn’t record distances accurately unless your phone is with you during your workout. Charger can only be plugged into a usb-C which is inconvenient unless you have a wall adapter for it. It doesn’t come with one so I have to charge it through my laptop. Purchased because I preferred the look vs Apple Watch but I’ll be going back to the Apple Watch now.

A Chronological Catastrophe: The Garmin watch and the Erosion of Consumer Guarantees My experience with the Garmin , purchased from Garmin Australia on - has been nothing short of a masterclass in frustrated expectation. While the sleek aesthetic and promise of advanced functionality initially appealed, the reality has proven a stark departure… Read more

from the advertised capabilities. The core issue lies in the pervasive and systemic malfunction of the device's fundamental features. Specifically: * Inaccurate GPS Tracking: The purported high-precision GPS consistently deviates from actual location, rendering navigation and activity tracking data unreliable. This is not a matter of minor variance, but rather a demonstrable failure to perform as advertised, impacting the watch's primary purpose. * Erratic Heart Rate Monitoring: The optical heart rate sensor exhibits unpredictable fluctuations and outright inaccuracies, rendering it useless for fitness tracking and health monitoring. This directly contradicts Garmin's representations regarding the sensor's accuracy and reliability. * Software Glitches and Freezes: The device's operating system suffers from frequent crashes, freezes, and data synchronization errors. This instability undermines the user experience and hinders the effective utilization of the watch's features. * Battery Performance Below Stated Specifications: The watch's battery life consistently falls short of the advertised duration, necessitating frequent recharging and limiting its usability for extended activities. These are not isolated incidents, but rather a pattern of systemic failures that render the Garmin fundamentally unfit for its intended purpose. I have meticulously documented these issues, including photographic and video evidence, and presented them to Garmin Australia's customer support. Despite this evidence, Garmin Australia has refused to provide a refund, citing This refusal constitutes a clear breach of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Specifically, the watch fails to meet the consumer guarantees outlined in Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), including: * Guarantee as to acceptable quality (s 54): The watch, given its price point and advertised features, is demonstrably not of acceptable quality, as a reasonable consumer would expect a functional and reliable device. * Guarantee as to fitness for a disclosed purpose (s 55): I purchased the watch for the express purpose of accurate activity tracking and navigation, purposes for which it is clearly unfit. * Guarantee as to compliance with description (s 56): The watch's performance significantly deviates from the descriptions and representations provided by Garmin in their marketing materials. Garmin Australia's insistence on refusing a refund, despite the clear and demonstrable failure of the product to meet consumer guarantees, constitutes unconscionable conduct. The ACCC explicitly states that consumers are entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement when a product fails to meet consumer guarantees. Therefore, this review serves not only as a public warning regarding the Garmin shortcomings, but also as a formal notification of my intention to pursue all available legal avenues to enforce my rights under the ACL. Garmin Australia's disregard for consumer rights is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Unfortunately no customer service – Well a journey with Garmin that started for the first time and ended quickly after 6 months. Got the Forerunner 955 , it had a rattling sound after 6 months. Clearly it was a screen issue manufacturing fault. Emails , phone calls 50+ mnts , no answer. I was lucky that had to go to rebel who I bought from and they refunded me back under warranty… Read more

because after 2 weeks , Garmin informed rebel the watch is discontinued. Very disappointed : bad quality, bad customer service.

Appalling customer service – The watch stopped working after i went for a swim. Contacted customer support and was left on hold for 90 mins then told to email them with proof of purcahse which I did but they never got back to me. Appalling customer service!!!!!!