That really sucks. Is there any chance they would let you trade up? Do you do bsiness at that particular pawn shop often? Sometimes if they know you, then they are willing to help out if nobody loses money and they can keep customers.

I was just telling Robert about the geocaching thing. He is out back "building" a walkway/deck thingy of sorts. One of our friends had a nice boardwalk walkway at her b&b and didn't like it, so she had it torn up and we got it for free. Robertt was NOT a happy camper to get it. But it saved him from having to build a foundation for a storage shed. It became a mini porch for our woodworking shed yesterday,. and now is getting use from another chunk. LOL! It has definitely come in handy, with parts of it for 3 projects and still some left for more. Anyhow, He wants us to look at gps's and I'll probably get him one as a Father's Day not-surprise, so we can give it a try. He loves to be outdoors, me, not so much. I'll keep my eye out for sales and such.

Right now, REI has a coupon for their members, 20% off any one item. They have that one you were talking about, the bright yellow one for $70-ish and then 20% off would be a pretty good deal. I'll see if I can drag Robert over to Sierra later today and see what they have there and let you know.

Barb

We started geocaching last summer and my husband is OBSESSED. He eats, sleeps and breaths geocaching. He's into the really difficult finds now where he has to climb 60 feet in a tree, go down tunnels, use a boat, etc. He also does a lot of puzzle caches. There is one now that has like, 42 levels? It's insane. He also hides most micros (which I think are EVIL as they are the size of a thimble or smaller), puzzles or in trees/tunnels. This weekend he was going to hit 1500. That's in one year. Today he went out with his dad two hours away to do a tree climb. I myself have probably only found 100 or so. I started my own account to keep track a couple months ago but I haven't found much. I wouldn't go out in the winter like he does. I have cached in 10 states so far. I don't climb trees. Or go in tunnels.

I suggested it to hubby, but he didn't keep the receipt (I had warned him against that when we bought it. He said "it doesn't matter they don't take returns").

I suggested it again after we had problems, he's still dead-set against it (even if the guy remembers us and wants to make us happy), because he say's he'd feel responsible if they put it back in the case, some other poor sucker buys it, and gets lost in the woods because of it.

He also says he doesn't want to take a chance on a more expensive model (which was at least three times the price) and then have take it back for a $100 credit at the pawn shop instead of $30.

We are going to talk to the owner next time we're in, but more as a "heads up" (and maybe he will give us some kind of credit) that they need to be cautious with gps units. I'm sure the owner was under the same assumption we were - that if it "appeared to be working" then it was.

Looking on reviews, it looks like this particular model has some very negative customer reviews on its accuracy, so it may actually be a manufacturer's defect. But unless there was a recall, (and even sometimes if there was) the manufacturer may not honor it for a unit with no proof of purchase.


Still, it's worth contacting the pawn shop and the manufacturer, so I'll do both, just not holding my breath that we'll see any refund on it.

My hubby and I just did this today. Searched for 3, found 2. It's awesome. And it got us out of the house hiking.