Spot 2 recall. Have to send it back

[Rizzo]

Just got a new Spot 2 and went to register it and got a message that there is a recall on it. Have to send it back to SPOT and they will send out a new one some time in 2010? Anybody have any idea how long this will take or if they are sending out the new units yet? We were heading out to the mountains soon and I was hoping to be able to use it but it doesnt look like that will happen now.

 

[deschutes]

It will take a week or two for them to send you a return box after registering your return. Replacement units are scheduled to ship the first or second week of January. This is based on information a few weeks ago, so the dates may have moved up or out depending on when they receive their shipment of new SPOT 2's.

 

[KFD070]

Yeah, mine's gotta go back too. Just waiting for further instructions from SPOT on how to return it from Canada. Gotta give the company credit for getting on this so quickly. Bummer though that I will most likely be without it for the next 2 to 3 months.

 

[Rizzo]

Better not be 2 or 3 months or I'll be sending the damn thing back for a refund. I got an email back already saying there will be a return package sent out within 5 to 7 business days which means Jan 5th to the 7th and then you have to send it back to them and wait for the new one. If they dont have them in stock then it could be weeks before we see them. I hope they are going to give out some free service months for this.

 

[deschutes]

It shouldn't be three months, more like three weeks. I believe they are giving a one month service credit or extension.

 

[KFD070]

Better not be 2 or 3 months or I'll be sending the damn thing back for a refund. I got an email back already saying there will be a return package sent out within 5 to 7 business days which means Jan 5th to the 7th and then you have to send it back to them and wait for the new one. If they dont have them in stock then it could be weeks before we see them. I hope they are going to give out some free service months for this.

I got that e-mail too but 10 days later it was followed up by another e-mail saying that Canadian residents would not be getting a return package as mentioned before, but early in the new year would receive instructions outlining how the recalls from Canada would take place. Shipping from Canada to US...... 3 to 4 weeks.Processing of the return..... 1ot 2 weeks. Return shipping US to Canada.......3 to 5 weeks. Yeah, I can guarantee it'll be 2 to 3 months....I hope they prove me wrong! Stand by for ,more details.

 

[black swan]

what's the problem w/ version 2.0? the old units are working fine.....bad hardware?

 

[deschutes]

The Spot 2's have a potential hardware issue. In some units the battery light can give a false negative and there may be some messaging issues. Spot 2 owners have the option of taking advantage of a recall, and all new units have been cleared from shelves. Spot 1 is not affected.

 

[mgeary07]

I have the same prob. I heard the new units will for sure ship out by february.
SPOT seems to be fixing this before anyone has the chance to use them, which is nice.
Cant really tell if its too much better than last years.. besides the size

Guess we'll have to wait and see..
bummer

 

[Boston Racing]

Im not going to turn mine in until they have them in stock and ready to ship. The way I see it is..It might or might not work. Thats better to me than having nothing.

 

[Rizzo]

Im not going to turn mine in until they have them in stock and ready to ship. The way I see it is..It might or might not work. Thats better to me than having nothing.

I was thinking the same thing but when I go to register it they wont even let you. It comes up with a message as soon as you enter in your ser# that this unit needs to be shipped back and you cant go to the next step of setting it up. Im thinking I am goingt to call the place I bought it and see if he has any of the new ones but I doubt it as it got delivered here on the 24th. What sucks is the distributor knows they are going to have to be sent back so why even bother sending them out. SPOT says they have cleared all the old product off the shelves but the distributor I bought it from obvioulsy is still sending out the old ones. I will call him tomorrow and see if I can just send it back to him and just wait until the new ones come out and get perfected.

 

[Rizzo]

So here is the latest. I called SPOT today. They said I could wait for the package and send it to them and then wait for the new one but they had no idea when the new ones would be sent. He said it could be Feb or even April. He had no idea and actually recomended that I send it back to the dealer and get a refund if I wasnt willing to wait. I explained that the only time I would use it would be this winter and he hinted that a refund would be in my best interest. Mine is going back tomorrow and when they come out with the new ones I will get one then. I also asked if I could just get it hooked up right away and still use it and he said no. They cant even over ride the system to register it so if you have a new SPOT 2 there is no choice but to return it to SPOT and wait or return it to the dealer and get a refund.

 

[EagleRiverDee]

You might consider just getting a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). They cost a bit more initially but there is no annual subscription charge and they work in more places than SPOT does. That's what I'm saving up for.

 

[deschutes]

You might consider just getting a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). They cost a bit more initially but there is no annual subscription charge and they work in more places than SPOT does. That's what I'm saving up for.

PLB's or SPOTS, it is a personal choice. There are pros and cons to both. A point of clarification though, PLB's DO NOT work in more places than SPOT. There are countries that do not recognize PLB's for use on land, including the UK. SPOT's work most everywhere but Southern Africa and around the poles. In theory, I would say that SPOT actually works in more places that people would likely travel to than PLB's. You are golden with either in North America, so buy a technology based on the features you want not the marketing efforts of either company or technology.

 

[EagleRiverDee]

PLB's or SPOTS, it is a personal choice. There are pros and cons to both. A point of clarification though, PLB's DO NOT work in more places than SPOT. There are countries that do not recognize PLB's for use on land, including the UK. SPOT's work most everywhere but Southern Africa and around the poles. In theory, I would say that SPOT actually works in more places that people would likely travel to than PLB's. You are golden with either in North America, so buy a technology based on the features you want not the marketing efforts of either company or technology.

Thanks for the response. I'll have to go back and re-read the articles I've read, but several mentioned some serious issues with SPOT, particularly in Alaska and remote countries. If that's no longer (or never was) accurate, then I apologize. I wasn't trying to mislead anyone.

EDIT: The first four sites I've looked at all state that EPIRB's (PLB's) have a slight edge on SPOT for coverage, particularly in remote areas and the polar regions. That is both anecdotal and professional reviews. Several cited that the GlobalStar network that SPOT is on is a weakness for SPOT and doesn't work well in Northern Canada or Alaska. That's my primary consideration-- Since I live in Alaska I need something that will work best for up here. It may be that the 48 contiguous US States and southern Canada work just fine with the GlobalStar network that SPOT is on.

Both a SPOT and a PLB have their benefits. My preference for a PLB is due to the consistent reports that SPOT doesn't work well in Alaska and because I have no need for the check-in feature or the route monitoring...I just want something I can signal for help with if an emergency happens.

 

[deschutes]

Thanks for the response. I'll have to go back and re-read the articles I've read, but several mentioned some serious issues with SPOT, particularly in Alaska and remote countries. If that's no longer (or never was) accurate, then I apologize. I wasn't trying to mislead anyone.

I have no firsthand knowledge of this, just what I have read/been told. However, northern Alaska could very well fit into the northern extreme that SPOT has troubles with. The SPOT literature shows all of Alaska with a 99% or better probability of sending a message within 20 minutes, and the area all around Alaska as 96-99%.

Anyone from Alaska have any firsthand experience?

 

[SledsWest]

Anybody know if the SPOT 2's are good to go yet? I want to buy one, but am waiting until this problem is fixed.

Nevermind, I found the site: http://www.findmespot.com/exchange/