Search
Notices
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets HRM, GPS, MP3, HID. Whether it's got an acronym or not, here's where you'll find discussions on all sorts of tools, toys and gadgets.

Garmin 520+ on sale

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-14-19 | 05:25 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,631
Likes: 3,543
From: South shore, L.I., NY

Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Garmin 520+ on sale

Got a flyer from REI, they’re running a sale starting 5/17.

520+ will be 25% off. Normal for them is $280, so that sees it at $210.
Steve B. is offline  
Reply
Old 05-14-19 | 09:49 PM
  #2  
znomit's Avatar
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 1,005
From: New Zealand

Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Trek Marlin 6, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2

That's because the 530 is about to hit the shops.
znomit is offline  
Reply
Old 05-14-19 | 09:58 PM
  #3  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
REI had the Edge 25 on sale for $99, so I ordered one. Then they cancelled my order, determining it was no longer in stock, and embezzled my dividend.

Member since 1986. First time anything like that happened.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 08:48 AM
  #4  
sdmc530's Avatar
Heft On Wheels
 
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 561
From: South Dakota

Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18

I saw the 520 standard at my LBS for $179! that is a great deal
sdmc530 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 09:42 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,694
Likes: 2,617
From: northern Deep South

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

I was curious enough to compare the 520+ and the 530 on Garmin's web site. After re-ordering the blurbs so you can do a comparison, I didn't see any differences that mattered to me. YMMV.
pdlamb is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 10:37 AM
  #6  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,585
Likes: 6,538
From: TN
You might want to check DC Rainmaker's review of the new 530. He explains the improvements as well as the deficiencies of the 520+.https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/04/...th-review.html
shelbyfv is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 10:50 AM
  #7  
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23,208
Likes: 10,653
From: Seattle, WA
Originally Posted by wgscott
REI had the Edge 25 on sale for $99, so I ordered one. Then they cancelled my order, determining it was no longer in stock, and embezzled my dividend.

Member since 1986. First time anything like that happened.
Holy crap.

Do they have a brick and mortar store nearby? I'd talk to someone in customer service.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 11:04 AM
  #8  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,585
Likes: 6,538
From: TN
Originally Posted by seattle forrest
holy crap.

Do they have a brick and mortar store nearby? I'd talk to someone in customer service.
omg, $9.99!!
shelbyfv is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 12:12 PM
  #9  
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23,208
Likes: 10,653
From: Seattle, WA
I took it to mean he paid with his dividend, and it wasn't refunded.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-19 | 12:36 PM
  #10  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,631
Likes: 3,543
From: South shore, L.I., NY

Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
I took it to mean he paid with his dividend, and it wasn't refunded.
What REI does is refund the price of the item plus any tax, plus the dividend. Thus you get a larger refund than just the purchase plus tax.
Steve B. is offline  
Reply
Old 05-16-19 | 11:01 AM
  #11  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
Originally Posted by shelbyfv
omg, $9.99!!
A bit over $100, with tax. I am sure they will straighten it out. I haven't had a chance to do anything other than contact them via internet customer support.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-16-19 | 11:04 AM
  #12  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
I took it to mean he paid with his dividend, and it wasn't refunded.
Yeah. Again, I think it was a genuine mistake and I am reasonably confident they will fix it, but it puts me off buying things with it in the future, vs. cash it in. (You also don't get things that you buy with the dividend credited to the next year's dividend, like you would with their credit card or cash, so cashing it in is the more sensible thing. It was "just" $100 left over, so I didn't think it was worth the hassle, and with clearance items I don't think you get the dividend credited anyway.)

I'll try to buy the 520+ in person and with my REI card and then have them straighten out the other mess while I am there.

Last edited by Cyclist0108; 05-16-19 at 02:12 PM. Reason: s:/510/520/g
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-19 | 10:13 AM
  #13  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
The 520+ is now on sale, for $209 at REI. The 130 is $200.

DC Rainmaker isn't impressed with the 520+. (He didn't do a full review on it, but makes references to it being problematic in his review fo the 530). But for almost the same price as the 130, would it be worth it?

Currently I have an Edge 25, and appreciate the minimalism but not the battery life. The only feature I "need" is the ability to link to my Viara radar.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-19 | 10:33 AM
  #14  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
So the Edge 520+ is also $209 on Amazon, so maybe this isn't an REI-specific price drop (none of the others are on sale, nor do they let you use the 20% off coupon for these).
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-19 | 10:56 AM
  #15  
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23,208
Likes: 10,653
From: Seattle, WA
Is the 20% sale going on?

If the only issue you need is a display for your Varia and The minimalism worked for you except for the battery, I'd go for it. The nothing but a Varia display they name is $100. You get some other stuff with it.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-19 | 10:59 AM
  #16  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
Is the 20% sale going on?
Yeah, the Edge 130 is 20% more at REI than Amazon.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-23-19 | 08:12 PM
  #17  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
Originally Posted by wgscott
A bit over $100, with tax. I am sure they will straighten it out. I haven't had a chance to do anything other than contact them via internet customer support.
Well, they sent me a check in the mail as a reimbursement.

So all is good.

Except I immediately misplaced it.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 12:10 AM
  #18  
ZippyThePinhead's Avatar
Slacker
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 7
From: North Orange County, in Southern California

Bikes: 1987 Trek 560 Pro, 1983 SR Semi Pro, 2010 Motobecane Le Champion Titanium, 2011 Trek Fuel EX8

Originally Posted by wgscott
So the Edge 520+ is also $209 on Amazon, so maybe this isn't an REI-specific price drop (none of the others are on sale, nor do they let you use the 20% off coupon for these).
The price drop is a recent thing. I even got an email from Garmin offering it for essentially the same price.

Tempting, except that my powermeter is a Powertap G3 hub and I wonder if it would play well with something newer than my Edge 510.
ZippyThePinhead is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 05:30 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,336
Likes: 1,789
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Originally Posted by ZippyThePinhead
Tempting, except that my powermeter is a Powertap G3 hub and I wonder if it would play well with something newer than my Edge 510.
No reason it shouldn't.


(There might be some issue with calories being reported instead of joules but that might have been fixed.)



https://www.thisisant.com/directory/powertap-g3-hub

https://forum.bikeradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=13075569
njkayaker is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 08:13 AM
  #20  
Randomhead
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
I would expect the 820 to be on sale soon too, given the imminent(?) availability of the 830. Might be worth checking out the difference between the 530 and the 520. You will probably be living with it for a while.
unterhausen is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 08:17 AM
  #21  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
Just FYI, the 530 reviews on the REI website are all negative, and all complain of the same thing -- the scroll-back button apparently is unresponsive.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 08:18 AM
  #22  
Occam's Rotor
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
Originally Posted by njkayaker
No reason it shouldn't.


(There might be some issue with calories being reported instead of joules but that might have been fixed.)



https://www.thisisant.com/directory/powertap-g3-hub

https://forum.bikeradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=13075569
1 cal = 4.184 Joule = 10^-3 Cal

Did they get that wrong?
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 08:27 AM
  #23  
Full Member
Titanium Club Membership
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 436
Likes: 124
From: Northern NJ

Bikes: 1987 Pinarello Montello, 1996 Litespeed Classic, 1996 Colnago Master Light, 1997 Litespeed Ultimate, 2006 Opera Leonardo FP, 2006 Pinarello Paris FP, 1984 Pinarello Record, 89-ish Cornelo Profilo, '86 DeRosa Professional SLX, '87 Merckx Corsa Extra

Newer isnt always better - I'll stick with my 520 until it dies. My only minor faults with it are that it sometimes does not communicate nicely with my Wahoo Kickr, but that probably has to do with the fact that the Kickr is also talking to an iPad, and the Garmin is talking to my phone, so it's like Grand Central station for e-waves in my basement at ridetime.

If you don't have a GOS computer, I recommend them highly. What I do need to figure out one of these days is whether my 520 can import a GPS breadcrumb track and show it on the map as I ride so I can at least try to follow it. Someday I'll buy something fancy that can do turn by turn. This year isnt that day.

As for REI, I cant say enough good things about them. I've never found them to not make good or work things out. They even let me use my 20% coupon last year on a Wahoo Kickr, and my wife's coupon on a Climb, even though I'm not sure they were supposed to. Then, when the Core did what some have done, and died completely one day a month later, they swapped it for one off their shelf (it still didnt have the ESD fix, and Wahoo sent me another one that did, so they've been fantastic too).
CyclingFool95 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 08:49 AM
  #24  
Randomhead
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
newer isn't always better, but the 830 is reportedly much faster, and that is one of the complaints that I have about my 800 that I never complain about because it wouldn't be fair.

I wonder if the 530 scrollback issue is a screen calibration issue? If not, I 'm sure they will fix it in firmware right away.

Hahahahahaha
unterhausen is offline  
Reply
Old 05-24-19 | 02:31 PM
  #25  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 158
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by wgscott
Just FYI, the 530 reviews on the REI website are all negative, and all complain of the same thing -- the scroll-back button apparently is unresponsive.
Curious as to how anyone reviewed a product that is not yet shipping??
Goldrush is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.