# Best place to shop for GPS units? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371 "2009-03-30T23:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/1 "2009-03-30T23:14:20Z")
My mom is looking to buy a GPS unit, and asked me where to shop for them. I have no idea; can anyone recommend a store or website? ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/2 "2009-03-30T23:15:05Z")
Amazon ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/3 "2009-03-30T23:20:41Z")
Seconding Amazon for lowest (usually) prices. Otherwise REI (in store or online) for awesome service and a lifetime satisfaction guarantee on everything they sell. They mainly carry personal / outdoor GPSes though, so if you’re looking for an automotive or marine one, it may be a no go. But don’t rely on them to tell you which one to buy; do your own research beforehand and check out some reviews. (Can’t help you there, sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/4 "2009-03-31T00:02:48Z")
N41° 53.655 / w87° 37.450 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/5 "2009-03-31T03:42:32Z")
These are tiresome little units that quickly wear out thier utility. Pick em up for a song on the aftermarket. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/6 "2009-03-31T09:43:00Z")
I find that [buy.com](http://buy.com) usually has slightly lower prices on electronics then amazon. Spend the extra money and buy a Garmin nuvi (if you’re in the U.S). so far i’ve used the a TomTom, a magellan, and a Garmin. The Garmin wins by a mile in terms of ease of use, ease to read and accuracy. Hell my TomTom stuttered. Thats right. It freaking Stut ut ut ut utttered. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/7 "2009-03-31T12:48:55Z")
I spent a couple of months looking for good deals on my Garmin. I missed a few exceptionally good deals around black Friday, and the lowest price after that was Costco/Costco.com (if you’re a member). Once you decide on a unit, check [fatwallet.com](http://fatwallet.com) just to make sure you’re not missing a good deal. And I second the Garmin nuvi suggestion. Great systems. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/8 "2009-03-31T13:41:21Z")
Visit [Garmin.com](http://Garmin.com) and learn about various GPSr units. Pick out one you like, check its price with Garmin. Then check the [GPS garage sale](http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=13) on [geocaching.com](http://geocaching.com). You’ll probably have to register, but it’s free. See if you can find a unit like one you want. The GPS units offered for sale there are usually ones that have been used lovingly but the owner has upgraded to a newer unit. If you can’t, then check Ebay or Amazon. You’ll get a good price there. ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/9 "2009-03-31T14:30:01Z")
Go to a BestBuy or something first and actually plan around with the GPS before you buy anything, however. Make sure you like the feel of the thing. Also, having worked with GPS units frequently in the past, I recommend a Garmin. Good quality, good customer service, and a good UI on most units. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/10 "2009-03-31T15:11:47Z")
I’ve got two Garmins; I bought one on Amazon and one on eBay. Figure out which model you want, and then search for a good price. Amazon has handy charts that compare models. BTW, the bluetooth feature on Garmins sounds like poo. I wouldn’t buy one for that feature again. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/11 "2009-03-31T15:16:58Z")
> [@Spezza](#): > > Go to a BestBuy or something first and actually plan around with the GPS before you buy anything, however. Make sure you like the feel of the thing. The key here is to play around with them at Best Buy, **but don’t buy anything from Best Buy**. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-shop-for-gps-units/491371/12 "2009-03-31T15:40:02Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > I find that [buy.com](http://buy.com) usually has slightly lower prices on electronics then amazon. Ditto. Don’t know about GPS in particular, but I’ve gotten some very good deals on electronics at [buy.com](http://buy.com).