Garmin Watch Repair Near Me

Garmin Watch Repair Near Me

Garmin is best known for its GPS products used for automotive, aviation, marine, outdoor, and sports activities. Getting a Garmin watch repaired, is much like getting a cell phone repaired, as opposed to a traditional mechanical timepiece. Below I will address where and how to get Garmin products get repairs, the Garmin warranty and unauthorized service. I will also share my experience with the Garmin watch repair near me.

Map of Garmin Watch Repair Near Me

If you are looking for “Garmin Watch Repair Near Me”, see the map below…

garmin watch repair

There’s No Garmin Repair Shop, Find an Authorzied Seller…

The places on the map are authorized sellers of Garmin products, but not Garmin repair shops. The reason being is there is no such thing as a Garmin watch repair store. This is similar to how the brand Fitbit operates.

You can often take a broken Garmin watch back to an authorized seller to get help on getting work done to fix it. Stores like Best Buy will assist you at the Geek Squad counter in helping you make a warranty claim, but they will not perform a repair. When you visit the same authorized seller that you purchased your Garmin from, you are more likely to get help.

Getting warranty help from an authorized seller may include providing proof of purchase showing the price and date of purchase.

So Where Can You Get a Garmin Watch or Wearable Repaired?

Most people are first inclined to think of watch repair shops, but those shops deal with traditional watches with mechanical movements. Your best bet for a Garmin watch repair near me is actually a cell phone store or a place that does smart watch repair.

Find Your Garmin Manual for Repair Information

When you purchased your Garmin watch, it should have come with a manual. Inside there is the information on the limited warranty. If you can’t find it, you can look it up on the Garmin website by product name or serial number.

Most Garmin watches fall under the same legal language for the warranty. Here is a synopsis of what is covered…

garmin watch repairs

How Long is My Garmin Warranty and What is Covered?

The Garmin watch warranty lasts one year from the date or purchase. It only covers the original purchase, in other words, it wouldn’t cover a resale of the watch. The watch must have been purchased from an authorized seller.

What is Covered Under the One Year Warranty?

Garmin has a pretty standard language limited liability warranty. It covers materials and craftsmanship of the hardware. This basically means if parts fail, not due to common use, then the issue will be covered. The Garmin Support Center will either repair the device, refurbish the device, or provide you with a replacement device.

You will have to pay for the cost of shipping to send them the watch.

Refurbished and Repaired Watch or Wearable Warranties…

If you have sent the watch in for work, the repaired or refurbished watch has a 90 day warranty. If you are still under the original warranty, the coverage is 90 days or whatever is left on the original warranty, whichever is longer.

The 90 days is only granted to those who have a watch repaired or refurbished by an authorized service center.

What Qualifies as Manufacturer Defects to the Hardware…

A few examples of manufacturer defects are:

  1. The wristband strap is broken, but not from wear and tear
  2. Your display has become dull or not as bright as it used to be
  3. The battery’s doesn’t hold its charge anymore
  4. It just stopped working all of a sudden (not due to dropping it)

Those are all valid reasons to call support and inquire about a warranty claim. To make a warranty claim you must provide the date and prove ownership. That can be done with an original receipt or credit, showing the purchase date, model number, and price.

What’s Not Covered Under Garmin’s Warranty…

Here are things that you will not get warranty coverage on…

  • Any kind of aesthetic damage such as scratches, nicks, dings or dents.
  • A dead battery, unless you can prove it was due to poor craftsmanship or part quality.
  • The damage you cause like dropping it, having it submerged in water, banging it into something.
  • Damage by unauthorized service providers. In fact, this can void your warranty if done.
  • Jail breaking or altering your device. Tampering with the software or hardware will void your warranty.
  • Damage was caused by using a power cable that was not issued by Garmin.

garmin watch

How to Make a Claim on Your Garmin Warranty

In order to make good on a Garmin watch warranty, you must contact their support center. A customer service rep will gather your account details and record the specifics about what you think is wrong with your product.

They may not be able to assess whether or not the warranty will cover the issue until they look at it in person. You will need to mail the watch to them to inspect it and diagnose the issue. My advice is to include an index card in the package with a description of what needs to be fixed and insure the package for the estimated value of the watch.

If you are wondering how long a repair may take, they do not disclose a timeline.

Is There an Extended Warranty?

Garmin does not offer an extended warranty. The alternative way to get one is to purchase through the authorized seller. For example, if you purchased a Garmin watch from Amazon you can buy an extended warranty through Square Trade. The extended warranty kicks in when the manufacturer’s warranty runs out.

I Bought My Garmin Watch Second Hand, Can I Make a Warranty Claim?

No Garmin only honors the original owner as the warranty holder. So if you purchased your watch at auction, from a friend, or used it online, the warranty does not extend to your product.

Other Resources for Garmin Watch Repair Near Me

Sometimes getting help from support services can feel like a hassle. It’s sometimes good to reach out to others who have done troubleshooting or successfully made a warranty claim. Since there really is no such thing as a local Garmin watch repair service, here are the online resources to check for help:

Know Your Garmin Watch Series and Model for Repair

When you seek a Garmin watch repair near me, on a smart watch or wearable the first thing they ask is what series you have. Garmin organizes its watches and wearables by series and then each series has a number of models associated with it. The series helps a technician know what kind of hardware is in the watch. Here is a list of the Garmin series for your reference when you seek a local Fitbit repair shop. You should also see which model you have in the series…

  • Descent Series
  • Vivosmart
  • Forerunner
  • Epix
  • Tactix
  • D2
  • Instinct
  • MARQ
  • Quatix
  • Venu
  • Vivomove
  • Enduro
  • Fenix
  • Approach
  • Garmin Swim
  • Vivoactive

If you have a watch series NOT on this list, it is most likely not active anymore and has an out-of-date warranty.

The 5 Most Popular Selling Garmin Watch Series

According to the Garmin website, here are the 5 best selling watch series.

  • Vivoactive
  • Venu
  • Forerunner
  • Instinct
  • Fenix

Garmin Watch Repair Near Me Wrap Up

For Garmin smartwatches and wearables, there are not a lot of repair options. You are left with either dealing directly with the manufacturer’s service and support center or finding a cell phone, electronics or smart repair shop. When you seek repairs outside of Garmin though, you will run the risk of voiding your warranty. Even still though, the warranty is often difficult to make a claim on since, likely most issues will be from the consumer.

The thing about these watches, wearables, and fitness trackers is they are used when you are active. A one-year warranty for fixing a product that is used when you are being active isn’t a very long commitment from a company. For comparison, the average watch has a two-year warranty. This is what I have learned from Garmin watch repair near me.

FAQs (People Also Ask)

Where can I find a reliable smartphone repair store for my Garmin device?

Many customers prefer to visit the official Garmin service center for any repairs or issues related to their Garmin products. However, there are also specialized smartphone repair stores that have expertise in handling Garmin devices. Always confirm the credentials of the store and check their website for any promotions or guarantees they might offer.

How long does it typically take for a Garmin device to be replaced or repaired?

The process can vary based on the nature of the issue and the location of the service center. Typically, minor repairs can be completed within a day, but more complex issues might take several weeks. It’s always a good idea to confirm the expected timeline with the service provider. If you’re sending your device to the Garmin factory, they might provide you with an RMA number to track the status of your repair.

Are there any additional costs associated with Garmin device repairs?

While the Garmin service center often runs promotions where customers can avail of free diagnostic services, certain repairs might cost more money. Always ask for a detailed breakdown of the payment before agreeing to any service. If your device is still under warranty, some repairs or replacements might be covered. However, damages caused by external factors might not be covered, and it’s the customer’s responsibility to bear the costs. Always check the display and cables for any visible damages before submitting for repairs.

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