Night Parrot

I'm also looking at PDA as an option for use with eg. the BT338 or BC-337 (as mentioned above). It might be worth having a look at "OZIExplorer" Map Software as well (has real-time Moving Map option) - you can download the "CE" Version for use with your PDA - there's a free Demo Version that lets you look at how the Moving Map software etc. works (with your own scanned maps) so you can "try before you buy" and you can get a 3-D add on option for your maps - see here. I'm still seriously considering the Garmin GPSMAP60CSx as well though as has the Compass, Altimeter etc. etc. - although I also reckon that the maps available aren't as good as what you can achieve through the PDA set-up.

A-ha.......think I got it figured out now Glad we we could be of assistance

I've E-mailed Garmin again just now and put the facts and figures to them regarding how it is anticipated that we will be forced to pay an additional US$200.00 for the 60 CSx here in Australia just to get local Warranty cover (which should be provided by ANY Garmin Service Repair Centre anyway as per their documentation). I'll let you know the details of their reply.

Thanks for posting that. Its a shame they wont honour the warranty in Australia. Still, if its a minor fault, it might be cheaper to get it repaired locally than pay 2 x freight charges. As I said before though, hopefully this will never matter. No problem - yes, hopefully no need for the Garmin Unit to be returned - ... by the way, GME in Australia have advised just recently that the new csx models will be here about mid May . They should be priced at : 60 - A$969.00 plus mapping & the 76 $1,069.00 plus mapping ..City navigator $349 or Metroguide $176 (so that's in line with my previous "educated" guess of US$700.00 for just the 60CSx in the Box).

Here's the reply I received from Garmin this morning (their first E-mail said that I could get it done here in Australia) ... Thank you for contacting Garmin Cartography. I apologize. I started thinking about your situation after I wrote you back and decided to double check. If you purchase a North American model then you won’t be able to have it repaired under warrantly in Australia. You would have to send it back to the dealer you purchased it from and they would repair and send it back to you. Normally in Australia it is GME who does the warranty repairs. They could still repair your unit but they would most likely charge you. Sorry to mislead you before but I haven’t ever had this come up. Again, you would need to send it back to the company you bought it from for warranty repairs. You can find a list of GME stores using the link below. They might even know when the Pacific “x” series units will arrive in Australia. Please let me know if you have any other questions and thank you for your interest in Garmin. Regards, Nathan Dealers - http://www.garmin.com/dealers/

Thanks for all that - I'll do the sums with the various options and work out the best way to pay for it at time of purchase (I was also looking at doing a T/T direct from my Buiness Account - I do a lot of those - you get the "good" Exchange Rate but there is always a flat $22.00 T/T fee with the bank I'm with (ANZ) - that's OK if the T/T amount is a lot higher than $500.00).

Thanks for the pointer Simcoe - I'll put that to the Garmin rep. in USA that I've been coresponding with. Thanks also re. PAYPAL info. - I haven't dealt with that type of payment before however I suppose the Dealer will have to use some sort of Exchange Rate to get it to A$ as their price is in US$ (still would have to be better than the Credit Cards you would think - I'll ask the Dealer).

I can answer that one for you. No duty or GST is payable on imports into Australia provided the total cost is under $A1,000. You will easily meet this requirement so its tax free Thanks a lot for your input Comphelp / Simcoe - I'll let you know which USA Supplier I buy it from and how it goes (hopefully I won't need to explain my experience in returning the Unit though - ) Actually I'm new to all this and this will be my first GPS but I've been studying up on it over last few months. Gonna wait for a week (no longer as want one now) as Exchange rate here just dipped under 0.72 today (was 0.74 a week or so ago) and Credit Cards will load the rate even further so will be lucky to get 0.70 the way it's going at moment (eg. US$500.00 = A$714.28).

I have already checked out R.E.I and their price is quite good (in conjunction with the recommendation of their after sales service as commented on by "Miragee"). I'll have a look at LLBean.com as well as the return policy and "beyond the call of duty service" with my circumstances (being in Australia) is actually as mentioned much more important than getting the best price - thanks a lot !!!

That's a problem for us Aussies because air frieght each way costs about $US45. Multiply this by 2 (there and back) and suddenly your warranty claim is starting to get expensive. Fortunately, Garmin products are very reliable Exactly right - and if more than one return required well (I am inflicted with the "if it is going to happen it will happen to me" syndrome). Anyway as you say Garmin products seem to be quite reliable. Thanks again - I'll investigate further.

Hi Comphelp. Thanks for your reply. I actually have had some dialogue with Garmin on this matter but they have been a bit vague about it. I have ended up somehow talking to company that looks after Garmin product Warranty here for some of the Dealers. They say on their Web-Site "CUSTOMER SUPPORT - This section provides support for GME and Garmin customers in Australia and New Zealand" however they also go on to say that support is available only to approved GME dealers. I contracted them to clarify and they went on to tell me that that for warranty and support I would have to deal with the place of purchase. Anyway - thanks for the suggestion - I'll see if I can get a hold of someone else at Garmin (as you suggested) who might give me a better pointer.

Thanks for your reply Miragee - I'm willing to pay a bit more for some "peace of mind" (will still be a much better option than purchasing here in Australia I believe). I'll check R.E.I out as an option. Thanks again - much appreciated.

Hello from Australia ! (this Post is directed to USA based Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx users). I'm wanting to purchase a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx. We can't get them in Australia yet (not until about the end of April I've been told). My guess is that our local price will be in excess of an equivalent US$700.00 (based on the price of other Garmin and Magellan Units available locally and a bit of sniffing around with local Stores who will be stocking the 60CSx). I wanna get one of these new 60CSx's asap and at a "fair" price so was wondering if anyone out there in the void could offer some comments on their experiences with the USA Supplier they purchased their Unit from with respect to : (1) has anyone had to return their 60CSx Unit yet for repairs or replacement ? ; and (2) - if so - what comments you may have regarding your service experience from that particular USA Supplier - just Australia is a LONG way from USA so I want to find a Supplier with a combination of a "fair" price and good after sales service (if need be). Can anyone assist with their comments / opinions ? Thanks in advance.

I've been looking at buying a Garmin 60CSx direct from USA as well as (1) these Units aren't yet available in Australia and (2) I have heard whispers that the price will be close to A$1000.00 (US$730.00) - just for the boxed Unit alone (Map software additional). Whereas I would like to take the option of buying from USA direct, my major concern is with the after sales warranty and (possibly) the need to return to Supplier for repair / replacement. Reading through some of the forums out there - some purchases have had to return the CSx Unit a couple of times for repair / replacement. My questions is - "do the Supplier's in USA generally pay for the return Courier costs (if the Unit has been purchsed from another country like from say Australia) or are the costs "to" and "from" each time there is a "return" issue to be borne by the purchaser ?" This could add quite a bit to the "great" price if there is a problem with the Unit (and the long trip from USA to Australia could just adds to the possiblity of a D.O.A. Unit. Also there is the issue of downtime with being without the Unit for longer periods than if purchased locally. Anyway - any comments ? Thanks.

I'm also looking at purchasing off shore as the price of GPS Handhelds here in Australia is rediculous compared to prices being offered in USA (even taking into account our low excange rate of around AUS$1.00 = USA$0.73 at the moment). My only reservation in buying this way is with the warranty / need to return for repairs. Is there a local set-up here in Australia with the manufacturer (Garmin in my case) which looks after that sort of thing or does the Unit have to be returned to the Vendor in USA if there is a problem that needs fixing ? I'm looking at purchasing a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx - this will be my first experience with GPS.