I bought a Gen3 to replace my original SPOT because I like the idea of it "pausing" when you stop moving, and then re-initiating the tracking once you start rolling again, and that you don't have to restart it after 24 hours.
I did a BBG one time and started the tracking about 2 hours before I actually left the house, so since my BBG was 23H 55M the Spot failed to capture the last two hours. Grrrr.
Anyhow, after getting SPOT on the horn, I got the devices changed in the system in about five minutes... piece of cake.
Now... the issue... SPOT does not honor the $75 rebate if you buy through Amazon. You find that out at the terms & conditions link on the online rebate page, at the very bottom, in very small print.
So I call SPOT back to have them change me back to my original unit. "No problem" says Diego. "I just have to call Finance and let them know so they don't charge you for an inactivation/re-activation. I'll be right back".
Phone goes dead. I call back and it just rings and rings. I call back several times over the next 30 minutes and it just rings and rings.
So I sent them an email and I'm waiting to hear back. In the meantime, my Gen3 is boxed up to go back to Amazon and my old unit is sitting on my bike, but the Gen3 is still showing in my account so if I ride this weekend I won't have any tracker.
Arghhhh...
UPDATE 07/15/17
It turns out that they had a big storm in Louisiana yesterday (imagine that), and their building lost power. I spoke with them this morning and they changed my account to show the old SPOT Messenger instead of the new Gen3, and there wasn't any charge to disconnent/reconnect.
So in the end, all is well.
I also found out that in order to get the rebate you have to have a NEW subscription, you just can't swap units, so I'll be staying with this model until my subscription expires next April.
ANOTHER UPDATE 07/15/17
The circus continues... I happened to check my credit card balance and I found a charge from SPOT in the amount of $194.45. It seems that the promo code my agent was given when she re-activated my account didn't work. So now I'll be looking for a credit to my statement the early part of next week.
I'm currently researching the InReach brand now.
OK, I think TricePilot has convinced me. I had not given thought to what Brenda would go through if she got "the call". That, plus the story by Sideoff on ADV has pretty much convinced me that the interactive texting is the way to go. It might be a little more expensive this way, but right now it looks like it will be money well spent. My SPOT is good until April of next year, so I'll start looking for deals around Christmas time this year.