Based on recent customer reviews, Garmin South Africa draws strong praise for device accuracy and durability, yet heavy criticism of after sales support. Owners of Fenix, Forerunner, Vivoactive and Navigator units report batteries failing, screens going blank and straps detaching, often just outside warranty. Complaints centre on no local repair capability, discounted replacement quotes priced near or above retail, unanswered phones, slow email replies and devices held for weeks. A minority describe free goodwill replacements, quick email responses and life saving heart rate data that built lasting brand loyalty.
TrustIndex
2.5
NPS Score
-65
Recommended: Unlikely
Dec '25 - Nov '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Garmin South Africa
What do customers say about Garmin South Africa?
Based on recent customer reviews, Garmin South Africa draws strong praise for device accuracy and durability, yet heavy criticism of after sales support. Owners of Fenix, Forerunner, Vivoactive and Navigator units report batteries failing, screens going blank and straps detaching, often just outside warranty. Complaints centre on no local repair capability, discounted replacement quotes priced near or above retail, unanswered phones, slow email replies and devices held for weeks. A minority describe free goodwill replacements, quick email responses and life saving heart rate data that built lasting brand loyalty.
Is Garmin South Africa trustworthy?
Garmin South Africa has a TrustIndex of 2.5 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 36 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked Garmin South Africa across 416 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (36)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Jan 2025
Garmin misleads the customer
In March of this year I took my Garmin Phoenix watch that stopped working to Sportmanswarehouse in Atterburry Pretoria. Firstly 3 weeks of absolute silence and I had to call to get feedback. Now my watch was out of guarantee(2 years) and they advised that they do not repair watches but that I could purchase a new one for a discount. I did exactly that,then this year exactly 3 weeks ago my watch stopped working and only came on when you plugged it into the charger,remember it was brand spanking new. I took it back and was first advised that my new watch did only carry a 3 month guarantee and then later that it carried a 6 month one and not 2 years although it was new. This is the most ridiculous policy ever. Nowhere in any communication was I advised of this. I am still waiting for feedback and I am now doing the otter without my watch a week from now. I am a Television producer and director and I will make sure when we film the otter experience without my Garmin to include this as part of the show. Although I love the Phoenix I think it is time time to approach the consumer watchdog regarding a guarantee on a new product that changes without notice...Bitterly disappointed and still without my watch or any communication from the branch!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2025
Garmin misleads the customer
In March of this year I took my Garmin Phoenix watch that stopped working to Sportmanswarehouse in Atterburry Pretoria. Firstly 3 weeks of absolute silence and I had to call to get feedback. Now my watch was out of guarantee(2 years) and they advised that they do not repair watches but that I could purchase a new one for a discount. I did exactly that,then this year exactly 3 weeks ago my watch stopped working and only came on when you plugged it into the charger,remember it was brand spanking new. I took it back and was first advised that my new watch did only carry a 3 month guarantee and then later that it carried a 6 month one and not 2 years although it was new. This is the most ridiculous policy ever. Nowhere in any communication was I advised of this. I am still waiting for feedback and I am now doing the otter without my watch a week from now. I am a Television producer and director and I will make sure when we film the otter experience without my Garmin to include this as part of the show. Although I love the Phoenix I think it is time time to approach the consumer watchdog regarding a guarantee on a new product that changes without notice...Bitterly disappointed and still without my watch or any communication from the branch!
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2012
Garmin terrible service
I bought my Garmin Venu3 from Sportsmans Warehouse in Vanderbijlpark in November 2025. In August 2026 my watch started to glitch, I would switch it off and on and it would work again. Then it started to happen more often, at the end almost every hour, so I took it in with my proof of payment to Sportsmans on the 7th of October 2026. The watch was only collected on the 16th October after I had a massive fight with Sportsmans, who blamed Garmin. I am a fitness instructor and part of Vitality, the fact that I have been without a watch for this long has lead to me missing out on my Vitality points and makes my life very difficult being without a watch. I was sent an *** from Garmin saying they have the watch and it will take 7-10 day to asses, so I asked when I will be able to get my watch back. Garmin have not responded to me regarding my watch and I dont know how long im going to wait to get it back. This has been such bad service from Garmin, im extremely disappointed with the whole situation.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2012
Garmin terrible service
I bought my Garmin Venu3 from Sportsmans Warehouse in Vanderbijlpark in November 2025. In August 2026 my watch started to glitch, I would switch it off and on and it would work again. Then it started to happen more often, at the end almost every hour, so I took it in with my proof of payment to Sportsmans on the 7th of October 2026. The watch was only collected on the 16th October after I had a massive fight with Sportsmans, who blamed Garmin. I am a fitness instructor and part of Vitality, the fact that I have been without a watch for this long has lead to me missing out on my Vitality points and makes my life very difficult being without a watch. I was sent an *** from Garmin saying they have the watch and it will take 7-10 day to asses, so I asked when I will be able to get my watch back. Garmin have not responded to me regarding my watch and I dont know how long im going to wait to get it back. This has been such bad service from Garmin, im extremely disappointed with the whole situation.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2018
Poor Customer Service
I contacted Garmin Customer Service for assistance with my Garmin Forerunner 165, as I am experiencing difficulties viewing my activities on the Garmin app and syncing them to Strava. I spoke with Lucian Porter, however, my experience was disappointing. During our interaction, I did not receive the assistance required to resolve the issue. Lucian advised that he would call me back at 2:00 PM on 15 September 2026, as specifically requested. Despite this, he attempted to contact me at 1:00 PM, an hour earlier than the agreed time. During our conversation, Lucian also advised that he would be proceeding on annual leave and would return around 28 September 2026. Unfortunately, no alternative support or escalation process was provided to ensure my query could be resolved in his absence. Based on my experience, Garmin appears to lack an effective process for managing and resolving customer queries. I remain unable to view my activities on the Garmin app or successfully sync them to Strava. I trust that this feedback will be used constructively to improve customer service standards and query resolution processes.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2018
Poor Customer Service
I contacted Garmin Customer Service for assistance with my Garmin Forerunner 165, as I am experiencing difficulties viewing my activities on the Garmin app and syncing them to Strava. I spoke with Lucian Porter, however, my experience was disappointing. During our interaction, I did not receive the assistance required to resolve the issue. Lucian advised that he would call me back at 2:00 PM on 15 September 2026, as specifically requested. Despite this, he attempted to contact me at 1:00 PM, an hour earlier than the agreed time. During our conversation, Lucian also advised that he would be proceeding on annual leave and would return around 28 September 2026. Unfortunately, no alternative support or escalation process was provided to ensure my query could be resolved in his absence. Based on my experience, Garmin appears to lack an effective process for managing and resolving customer queries. I remain unable to view my activities on the Garmin app or successfully sync them to Strava. I trust that this feedback will be used constructively to improve customer service standards and query resolution processes.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2016
***** and poor customer service
On the 3rd of August I submitted a request on an invoice through Garmin's official website and email addresses on site for a instinct 3 solar watch. Invoice was sent to me on the 4th, and paid on the 5th. On the 7th it was reverse with an email from Garmin stating the account is going through a audit would I please make payment in a different account with confirmation of account attached. Payment was made on 10th of August. Follow up emails was sent regarding delivery and rep**** on. After a month of no delivery I went to Garmin's offices located in Rosebank Johannesburg to follow up in person. They confirmed payment was paid into an account other than theirs. It was also confirmed that their emails was intercepted by a third party although emails came from official Garmin email domain with/from a representative working inside the Garmin offices. I was asked to give them time till the 11th of September close of business for them to investigate the matter. No communication or device was received since. Problem comes in. All initial communication was through official Garmin channels. It is not the consumers fault if the company have an internal security breach. Up to date no communication, device or reimbur*****t have been received from Garmin. A ***** case have been opened at the South African Police Services and is pending investigation. If the matter is not resolved a complaint will be lodge at the National Consumer Commission under the consumer protection act. I will also try my best to open up an investigation at the information regulator regarding personal information leakage under (act 4 of 2013) also known as POPIA. After more than a month from ordering from Garmin itself I still don't have a device or a reimbur*****t which is unacceptable.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2016
***** and poor customer service
On the 3rd of August I submitted a request on an invoice through Garmin's official website and email addresses on site for a instinct 3 solar watch. Invoice was sent to me on the 4th, and paid on the 5th. On the 7th it was reverse with an email from Garmin stating the account is going through a audit would I please make payment in a different account with confirmation of account attached. Payment was made on 10th of August. Follow up emails was sent regarding delivery and rep**** on. After a month of no delivery I went to Garmin's offices located in Rosebank Johannesburg to follow up in person. They confirmed payment was paid into an account other than theirs. It was also confirmed that their emails was intercepted by a third party although emails came from official Garmin email domain with/from a representative working inside the Garmin offices. I was asked to give them time till the 11th of September close of business for them to investigate the matter. No communication or device was received since. Problem comes in. All initial communication was through official Garmin channels. It is not the consumers fault if the company have an internal security breach. Up to date no communication, device or reimbur*****t have been received from Garmin. A ***** case have been opened at the South African Police Services and is pending investigation. If the matter is not resolved a complaint will be lodge at the National Consumer Commission under the consumer protection act. I will also try my best to open up an investigation at the information regulator regarding personal information leakage under (act 4 of 2013) also known as POPIA. After more than a month from ordering from Garmin itself I still don't have a device or a reimbur*****t which is unacceptable.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2020
Garmin: Built for adventure — Not Built to Last
Extremely disappointed with Garmin and the way they have handled the failure of my Fenix 7. I purchased my Fenix 7 in September 2023. At the time, the Fenix 7 was a premium R21,000 watch. You would reasonably expect a watch at that price point to provide many years of reliable service. Fast-forward to 2026 — barely three years later — and the Fenix 7 has completely failed. It stopped charging and will no longer operate. Garmin’s own technical assessment confirmed that the battery has failed, the watch heats up while charging, and the battery cannot be replaced separately. So rather than replacing a battery, the entire watch effectively has to be replaced. What is particularly disappointing is that this isn't a cheap fitness tracker. This was Garmin's premium Fenix range, marketed as a rugged, long-lasting device designed for years of use. I understand that batteries deteriorate and that the watch is outside the standard warranty. But less than three years from a R21,000 premium watch is simply ridiculous. When a premium watch fails after less than three years and Garmin's own design means the failed battery cannot be replaced independently, it raises serious questions about the long-term durability and value of these products. If you're considering spending R20,000+ on a Garmin, I'd seriously think about how long you expect it to last — because my experience has been less than three years
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2020
Garmin: Built for adventure — Not Built to Last
Extremely disappointed with Garmin and the way they have handled the failure of my Fenix 7. I purchased my Fenix 7 in September 2023. At the time, the Fenix 7 was a premium R21,000 watch. You would reasonably expect a watch at that price point to provide many years of reliable service. Fast-forward to 2026 — barely three years later — and the Fenix 7 has completely failed. It stopped charging and will no longer operate. Garmin’s own technical assessment confirmed that the battery has failed, the watch heats up while charging, and the battery cannot be replaced separately. So rather than replacing a battery, the entire watch effectively has to be replaced. What is particularly disappointing is that this isn't a cheap fitness tracker. This was Garmin's premium Fenix range, marketed as a rugged, long-lasting device designed for years of use. I understand that batteries deteriorate and that the watch is outside the standard warranty. But less than three years from a R21,000 premium watch is simply ridiculous. When a premium watch fails after less than three years and Garmin's own design means the failed battery cannot be replaced independently, it raises serious questions about the long-term durability and value of these products. If you're considering spending R20,000+ on a Garmin, I'd seriously think about how long you expect it to last — because my experience has been less than three years
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2022
No updating of maps due to changes taking place.
Garmin seems to never update their maps anymore. They use the same maps data for all their devices. The app warns the driver of cameras along the road that was and is not working and has been removed. Some of their place placements are wrong and one has to use coordinates to get to the said place - mainly in the rural areas. Waze and Google Maps seems to light years ahead of Garman in terms of updating their maps and is far more interactive and user friendly. Garmin remains a support however in areas where internet signal is poor.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2022
No updating of maps due to changes taking place.
Garmin seems to never update their maps anymore. They use the same maps data for all their devices. The app warns the driver of cameras along the road that was and is not working and has been removed. Some of their place placements are wrong and one has to use coordinates to get to the said place - mainly in the rural areas. Waze and Google Maps seems to light years ahead of Garman in terms of updating their maps and is far more interactive and user friendly. Garmin remains a support however in areas where internet signal is poor.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2010
Disappointing product and even more disappointing service. Really expected more.
In 2.5 yrs the watch simply stopped working. Conveniently it is outside of the warranty period. They are expensive so I would like to have it repaired, took it in to Garmin SA, they tell me they cannot fix it BUT have a special offer for a new one at R3500. What is the chance of it happening again, they are not sure. I ask if they can just try repair it because I do not have R3500 every 2 yrs to replace what should be a good watch. No, they do not repair, either replace the watch or they are sorry to hear about my problem. They then have the cheek tell me the watch is more than 7yrs old and out of service. I asked around, a few of our club members and they all have the same problem, just after the warranty their watches also stopped working and they had the same experience. So rather stay away, spend less money if you need to replace a watch every 2 yrs. Just very disappointing, I expected more from such a supposedly good brand - now I know, stay away. I bought a Casio watch in 2002, less features for sure because it is 2002 model BUT it is still working, they replace the battery every 2yrs but I don't need to buy a whole new watch.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2010
Disappointing product and even more disappointing service. Really expected more.
In 2.5 yrs the watch simply stopped working. Conveniently it is outside of the warranty period. They are expensive so I would like to have it repaired, took it in to Garmin SA, they tell me they cannot fix it BUT have a special offer for a new one at R3500. What is the chance of it happening again, they are not sure. I ask if they can just try repair it because I do not have R3500 every 2 yrs to replace what should be a good watch. No, they do not repair, either replace the watch or they are sorry to hear about my problem. They then have the cheek tell me the watch is more than 7yrs old and out of service. I asked around, a few of our club members and they all have the same problem, just after the warranty their watches also stopped working and they had the same experience. So rather stay away, spend less money if you need to replace a watch every 2 yrs. Just very disappointing, I expected more from such a supposedly good brand - now I know, stay away. I bought a Casio watch in 2002, less features for sure because it is 2002 model BUT it is still working, they replace the battery every 2yrs but I don't need to buy a whole new watch.