Topic: How much imput do the pro fishermen have into what software changes are made ---

[steelebob]

Sub title "tilting at windmills"
It seems many suggestions made by us for changes in software have been ignored for years!!! I know I'm a dreamer BUT, can't we get some people behind us that have "louder voices" in an organized manner to get Humminbird "higher ups" off it's dead butt.

If nothing else, could we get the high and mighty at Humminbird to recognize and acknowledge our ideas with some sort of reply!!!!!

[George]

Bob

I do believe that HB as well as other manufacturers do listen to their customers within reason.  There are a lot of improvements we would all like to see, some of them get done over time, but it is all about competition. 

Many of the improvements made is to keep up and/or one up the competition the same as computers.  Down imaging probably came quicker because of Lowrance coming into the market  and used it along with SI to launch their product.

We are apt to see more improvements caused by meeting and/or exceeding the competition, then customer feedback unless it is going to save them money by implementing it.

Say that, over the past few years we have observed an explosion in technology, sure some of this stuff has been known for years but it was not available to us.

George

[steelebob]

 Tilting at windmills II         The times they are a changing. More and more companies today know that their bread and butter is dependent on their consumers needs. If only consumers would realize how much power they now have in the digital age... The first company in this field that can make the customer feel they are being listened to, will build a loyalty base for future sales. When the consumer is not placed high enough in importance the bottom line will be affected.

[sonar2000]

Another issue today with subsidiary companies is their budget is at the discretion of the parent company.  In this case Johnson Outdoors......If we yell at Hb then we must also yell at Johnson Outdoors.
What really gets attention is sales, or lack of sales. If we as consumers will stick together and not buy ........... a change will come quickly..
If only we could get this to apply to our gas purchases also.  
I also agree that HB needs a department for customer satisfaction. But that takes employees and saleries...
Chuck

[steelebob]

... or it takes an employee to go the extra mile.

[sonar2000]

Yep, that too. but you know.......sometimes a company will hold back the employee.. sad to say but true.
What ever happened to the american way of helping a fellow out...
But the nice thing about this forum is the amount of knowledge and the willingness to share the same.
Robert had a great idea and it is coming around now...
Chuck

[Humminbird_Greg]

I checked and they do keep tabs on the wish lists.  Remember the Contour Mode?  Wonder where that could have come from…

[sonar2000]

But that is just one of a hundred... .......
There are a lot of good and well thought out wish list items. and ones that are important to users of the HB systems.

Chuck

[ITGEEK]

This is what I think Humminbird is doing and where their priorities lie:

1st:Keeping the software up to date to work with all the current hardware, including Ethernet.

2nd:Repairing and replacing current user's machine when needed, on a timely bases.

3rd:Looking forward and trying to develop new and innovative fishing sonar technologies so they can continue to stay in business and give their employees  paychecks.

4th:Worry about what an end user wants his boat icon to look like.

So, you see, user wish list items probably fall dead last in the big scheme of things.  And rightly so.