Escort offering a 550 GPS

[HaulinAshe]

I almost NEVER open such email, but Escort sent this link to me. It's for their factory direct offering on a new Model-550 GPS. At least this may help bring the price down on the Zumo. And I may have to seriously consider the Escort version since it costs sooo much less $$$.

Escort 550 GPS

 

[bramfrank]

Looks like a private labelled Garmin C series navigator.

Not waterproof. Not for bikes. Not competition for Zumo.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Now BF, you KNOW that I consider you the foremost forum-based expert on GPSs. I guess the point I was (so poorly) trying to make, was perhaps this private label offering might have some effect on Garmin's price point for the Zumo.

This may just be my ignorance of such private-label offerings already existing? Go ahead man, straighten me out!

 

[04FJR4ME]

Garmin is trying to expend their product brand awareness by offering unique Garmin products to different companies such as Escort and Kenwood.

The Garmin C550 price maybe adjusted to match the Escort price soon, Escort just jump the gun and it did caused some issues internally in the sales department with Garmin.

There is no intention of dropping the Zumo 550 product price any time soon, it appears that Garmin is banking on this ruggedized Nuvi product to be the hotest seller this Christmas. This product is under MRP and any dealers selling it for less then the MRP, Garmin will stop shipping to them. :glare:

 

[gatorfjr]

Garmin is trying to expend their product brand awareness by offering unique Garmin products to different companies such as Escort and Kenwood.The Garmin C550 price maybe adjusted to match the Escort price soon, Escort just jump the gun and it did caused some issues internally in the sales department with Garmin.

There is no intention of dropping the Zumo 550 product price any time soon, it appears that Garmin is banking on this ruggedized Nuvi product to be the hotest seller this Christmas. This product is under MRP and any dealers selling it for less then the MRP, Garmin will stop shipping to them. :glare:

The Zumo is going for $739 on GPScrazy.com now...

 

[04FJR4ME]

Garmin is trying to expend their product brand awareness by offering unique Garmin products to different companies such as Escort and Kenwood.

The Garmin C550 price maybe adjusted to match the Escort price soon, Escort just jump the gun and it did caused some issues internally in the sales department with Garmin.

There is no intention of dropping the Zumo 550 product price any time soon, it appears that Garmin is banking on this ruggedized Nuvi product to be the hotest seller this Christmas. This product is under MRP and any dealers selling it for less then the MRP, Garmin will stop shipping to them. :glare:

The Zumo is going for $739 on GPScrazy.com now...

Not sure about that?

https://stores.gpscrazy.com/-strse-110/Garm...-550/Detail.bok

Add to cart and this is the check out price! I think Garmin probably shut them down and they don't have products! I don't see them listed as an authorized Garmin Dealer either.

https://www.garmin.com/cgi-bin/online/onlin...IT=Show+Dealers

GPSCrazy Items

Qty SKU Description Price Total

Remove Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle GPS FREE Overnight Shipping

$999.99 $999.99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub-Total

$999.99

GPSCrazy ESTIMATED TOTAL $999.99

 

[Groo]

Color me confused, but why would anyone buy a GPS unit from Escort? Not like they have a track record in the field of satellite navigation... ? I don't think I'd be inclined to buy a GPS from Amana, Kenmore, Dell, or Nokia either... not because they're bad companies, but because they're just rebranding somebody else's hardware and are not the people who could answer questions if you eventually had any problems.

 

[04FJR4ME]

Groo

I kind of agree with you but here is what Kenwood has ask Garmin to do, they made their Nav system function with their touchscreen and the Garmin GVN52 which is the exact same unit a remote control display and no touch screen.

I have a Kenwood / Garmin GPS system with a 7" display and a rear facing camera on my FJR, it is different and I have a rainhood made for it with clear plastic so I can use the touch screen features. The menu and touchscreen is much larger then then the 27xx, 28xx or Zumo and it offers the same features as the rest of them but do not have the IPX 7 standard.

The MAP software on the Kenwood is older, version 7 City Navigator comes with the Kenwood unit, and the Garmin GVN52 units comes with Version 8 City Navigator, for you to update your Kenwood unit,you will have to contact Garmin and pay llike $149 more for the update, Garmin send you an SD card that you load your software onto the Kenwood / Garmin blackbox. This is the future for updates gang!

Worst of all, Kenwood does not really support this Garmin / Kenwood product and you will have to contact Garmin csutomer support for product support which does not know much about the Kenwood interface and displays.

Last, the kenwood unit cost more then the GVN 52 Garmin unit, this is the way Garmin is protecting their dealers.

Here is what I know for sure, Dell, HP, AAA, Kenwood, Escort etc are all jumping on the band wagon since this PND market is hot and profit is great for the manufactures and venders, not so much so for the resellers. They expect to sell 2.8M PND units and some companies are making a very good profit from this like Garmin, so all the big guys will be jumping in and that makes it even harder to compete, to much brands to chose from with little or no differences.

That's just the way things are right now, I know 2007 and 2008 will be crazy, but I think by 2009, most of these companies will be knocked out.

Good luck

James

04FJR4ME