Author Topic: New 788 ci Di owner and so utterly disappointed! (Read 12641 times)

kwelklin · « **on:** June 09, 2011, 07:02:51 PM »

Just installed my new locator which I bought after using a 788 ci for the past year or so. Hit the lake and at slow speeds the breadcrumbs seem to be following me but the direction indicator is headed in the opposite direction, this was not an issue with the 788 ci as I used it on the ice walking with it!

Call CS and the first guy tried to tell me I was lieing to him about the ice story and then when I got heated he drops the call. Now it's on, the next guy actually sounded like he was going to get to the bottom of the issue and hasn't quite called back in over a week. Multple unanswered e-mails later I called back and got a gal who tells me that," it's just the way that unit works maybe I should just take it back and get another brand!" Is Humminbird gonna buy my Lakemaster chip. . .well ahh no.

Holy crap!! I immediately ask for her superior who was on the phone so I get the voice mail and you guessed it . .. no call back.

I mean my hand held e trex can follow me walking for $99, you can't tell me that a $800 dollar unit can't follow my track at less than 2 mph.

My first post and it's the mother of all rants, and for that I thank you!!!!

Roddy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2011, 10:38:29 PM »

If you can post pix of transducer inst, Roddy

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:25:59 AM »

I think that I was asked about one of your phone calls as I remember someone who used one model unit on the ice and another model unit on their boat – and the one on the boat did not perform as well for low speed directional arrow. I believe that the Engineering folks are looking into this so there may be a software update coming out to try and fix this.

stillbear · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:50:14 AM »

Have you got your unit on North up or what? Gary

kwelklin · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:41:11 AM »

Actually the 788 ci works well at slow speeds on the water or on the ice. I just can't imagine why they would change that part of the software when adding the DI. It would seem too be a completely separate set of functionality instructions.

And I've tried it on magnetic north and true north, on map orientation north and course. When orientating the screen with the course and then slowing down you better not look at the screen long as it spins so much you'll be sick to your stomach.

I really don't believe it is a transducer issue as I believe the gps ant. is inside locator. I wonder if the addition of a exterior ant. would provide a stronger signal?

I was absolutely flabbergasted to be told that I should buy a different brand by the customer service dept!! That kind of service is from a company who plans on being the "leader" for about 15 min. It has been a proven study that a satisfied customer tells 3 people, a dissatisfied customer tells 10. And I'm well beyond that so far!

kwelklin · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2011, 05:01:04 PM »

After further pondering I wonder if the cpu inside the unit cannot keep up with the DI software being added on top of the 788 ci platform?

stillbear · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2011, 06:24:50 PM »

First off a brand new unit out of the box that don't work right go's back to the vendor not the company the day
I find out it don't work there is no discussion about it. Gary

xSilmarilSx · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2011, 11:26:51 AM »

It's a documented issue about HB GPS units, slow speed and everything go whack.

I have best of both world, Garmin GPS connected to a HB sonar.

Roddy · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2011, 12:20:40 AM »

I have 3 HB units and a Garmin GPS on one boat.

Roddy

kwelklin · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:22:42 AM »

Wow that's crazy but I do have a Oregon 450 hand held with the lakemaster info on it i suppose I could use it in tandem. Still doesn't take away from this POS not doing it's job!

ITGEEK · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2011, 11:09:00 AM »

It sounds to me like you had an attitude when you first called HB.
Calmly explain the problem and ask the customer service what do they suggest you do next.
It unfortunate that your unit is not working properly, but with a little patience and courtesy HB will eventually make it right. Be nice and you will be treated nicely.

kwelklin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2011, 12:10:05 PM »

Quote from: ITGEEK on June 12, 2011, 11:09:00 AM

It sounds to me like you had an attitude when you first called HB.
Calmly explain the problem and ask the customer service what do they suggest you do next.
It unfortunate that your unit is not working properly, but with a little patience and courtesy HB will eventually make it right. Be nice and you will be treated nicely.

You're absolutely correct sir, you catch more bees with honey than vineger. When I called the first time I calmly explained the issue I was experiencing. The person on the other end was the one with the attitude. He may have been having a bad day or whatever but his reply was simply "Yeah we know about that problem and it is a software issue ". I asked ,"what kind of time frame I'm looking at" and his reply was "Could be a day, a week, a month, or a year." "Really? a year" I replied. "Should I return this unit and get a different one or can you possibly work something out out to get me a unit that functions?" "That's on you sir"' was his flipant reply. He acttually used the "It's on you" phrase twice in the conversation before he "lost" me. So yeah I got an attitude! I just spent $800 plus the Lakemaster chip to find out that HB knows they are selling defective or ineffective units and it's "on me" now!! Unfortunately for HB I have a job that pays me to be on the internet 12 hrs a day which affords me lots of time to join forums and share my experience with as many people as possible.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2011, 12:41:22 PM »

I think that the “It’s on you” is more of a language barrier than a flippant comment. I do training at Humminbird and I hear this more from a certain age group and they really mean something like “that’s up to you”.

That software should be available in a few weeks or so if all goes well in testing.

12 hours a day on the internet? Wow! I know a lot of younger people who would love your job!

kwelklin · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2011, 11:30:05 AM »

Quote from: Humminbird_Greg on June 13, 2011, 12:41:22 PM

I think that the “It’s on you” is more of a language barrier than a flippant comment. I do training at Humminbird and I hear this more from a certain age group and they really mean something like “that’s up to you”.

That software should be available in a few weeks or so if all goes well in testing.

Believe me Greg alot of people would like this job. I only work three days a week on top of that. Anyways what your giving me is all that I was looking for, a little help or hope. What I am trying to avoid is getting a fix before my window to return expires.

My interation with HB customer service has honestly been horrible right down to one of the supervisors. Believe me I have plenty to do other than post crappy reviews on HB. I appreciate your attention hopefully things go well here shortly.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2011, 12:47:57 PM »

Kwelklin,
Work three days a week? I would like that!

Send me a personal e-mail as I may have something that you can try that may help your unit. I spoke with the Customer Resource Supervisor and I think that they believed that you had a different issue with your unit. E-mail addy should be to the left in my signature.

kwelklin · « **Reply #15 on:** June 15, 2011, 02:20:12 PM »

Thanks Greg I look forward to working with you.

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