Repairing a Forerunner 305

jeffontour

Anyone experience of getting a 305 fixed or doing it themselves? Mine has given up the ghost. I opened it last night, which is ridiculously easy, and it's got a decent amount of water damage.

There's a set of connectors that link the top half of the unit containing the screen etc. with the bottom which contains the battery, see here for image, contacts are brassy bits at top of each side. Some are fairly corroded and half of one is missing as a result.

I'd rather not spring for a new one if possible, this one has served me well for 2.5 years. Any suggestions on a place to get it done or if anyone has an old 305 or 205 that is busted, smashed screen or the like, that I could use for parts let me know.

Krusty_Clown

Get Garmin to do it, though if there are signs that you opened up the watch, they may not be too enthusiastic. They typically have a fixed fee, based on watch version of the watch it is. Send them an e-mail.

jeffontour

Cheers Krusty, knew that was an option but best part of half the cost of a new one for a repair and shipping resulting in a device only warrantied for 90 days doesn't make much sense to me.

I'll drop them a mail anyhow and see what the deal is but if I can find the parts from a broken unit I'll have a go at fixing it myself. If I'm successful I'll maybe have the start of a little cottage industry!

The Hammer

Garmin have some of the best after sale service i have had from a company.
Ive had straps and my watch replaced and they both out of warranty for free.

galwayspur

It might be worth bringing the 305 along to Runways, they have a guy there called Ash who is a Garmin 'expert'.

Krusty_Clown

jeffontour wrote: »

Cheers Krusty, knew that was an option but best part of half the cost of a new one for a repair and shipping resulting in a device only warrantied for 90 days doesn't make much sense to me.

I'll drop them a mail anyhow and see what the deal is but if I can find the parts from a broken unit I'll have a go at fixing it myself. If I'm successful I'll maybe have the start of a little cottage industry!

Good point. They do become economically beyond repair very quickly. But it's worth dropping them a mail anyway, just in case you get the right support guy in the right frame of mind to look after you.

As the Hammer says, they have a great reputation for after-sales service, when you can get through to them!

jeffontour

Result!

Just spoke to support having got an answer within 15 seconds of calling. They're replacing the unit for the princely sum of £50.41 of the queens sterlons. What a joy to deal with. Should have a new unit back within 10 days of them receiving the banjaxed one.

Thanks to all for reminding me that there are some stand up companies out there and will report back when I get the replacement.

50 squids is so much better than the 250 I was fearing dropping on a 310 as a replacement after making a dogs dinner of the home repair on the 305

scottreynolds

jeffontour wrote: »

Thanks to all for reminding me that there are some stand up companies out there and will report back when I get the replacement.

I'd had the same deal with Sunto (free replacement) and Polar which is crazy it seems this maybe the only industry with customer service as a priority (please don't mention mac support) -- perhaps its cause they only cost about £10 pounds to make...

jeffontour

Replacement Forerunner just arrived. Wow, what great service!

With the arrival of my new MTB tyres earlier, a new Inov8 waist pack and this unexpected delight I imagine this is what it must be like to be a kid at crimbo. Who got everything he asked Santa for plus every other toy advertised on TV in December

bpollard

just on to helpline about repairing my 310Xt cracked screen.
Reiterated what was said earlier - just replace but unfortunately my 310 to get replaced due to cracked screen is going to cost £103 english pounds. such a simple little mishap can dig into my wallet.