SPOT provides personal satellite communication devices and subscription services for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and remote travelers who need emergency messaging and location sharing outside cellular coverage. This page aggregates verified shopper ratings and reviews to help you evaluate the service's reliability, customer support quality, and value before purchasing.
SPOT Reviews
1.3
20 reviews
What Shoppers Say About SPOT
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
SPOT is rated 1.3 out of 5 by 20 shoppers, with 85 percent giving it one star. Reviewers consistently report severe customer service problems, including long hold times, difficult billing practices, and what some describe as deliberately confusing subscription management. Multiple customers mention unexpected charges related to activation and suspension fees, unclear website language around account settings, and difficulty reaching support to resolve disputes. One long-term subscriber noted that even after years of loyalty, billing issues went unresolved.
Beyond customer service, technical performance complaints emerge in reviews. One user reported that their SPOT Gen 3 device failed to reliably deliver messages during a multi-week hiking trip in Norway, with only approximately one in ten daily status updates reaching intended recipients despite operating in advertised coverage zones with clear sky visibility. A small minority of reviewers (5 percent) rated the service positively, though their feedback is not detailed in available excerpts. The overwhelming pattern suggests potential structural issues with both the service delivery and company operations rather than isolated incidents.
Customer Reviews (20)
Sorted by: Most recentDerek M.Feb 2, 2023
Really frustrated with this company. They don't back their products at all. I received a defective Spot Trace unit where the power button stopped working, and instead of helping me out, they just kept passing the buck. They're happy to take your money upfront but don't seem interested in actually supporting what they sell.
Nicholas P.Oct 14, 2022
Do yourself a favor and get a Garmin Inreach instead. The Spot X just doesn't perform like it's supposed to. I was on a remote hunting trip trying to stay in touch with my wife and couldn't send or get any messages through. I ended up having to use my buddy's Garmin to communicate.
Robert S.May 30, 2022
The device was a gift and I kept it in my travel pack and stayed current on the subscription, never thinking I'd need it. But when I actually needed it most, they weren't there for me. I had a stroke caused by altitude sickness while in Colorado, and they never sent any help. Seventy-six hours after it happened, after I was already in the hospital, they called my personal phone where my family member picked up and asked if everything was okay. Seriously?
Vincent H.Apr 5, 2022
Their pricing model is a total ripoff. First comes an activation fee around 30 euros. Then you choose between monthly or yearly, with the monthly option being called the Flex plan at roughly 15 euros. But the Flex plan also requires an annual flex charge of about 34 euros. That flex charge is required if you want to be able to turn your flex plan on and off without getting hit with a new activation fee. So if you want to use it for just one month each year, like during vacation, you're paying about what three full months would cost. Even if you quit the Flex plan, you still owe that 34 euro charge for basically nothing. Plus taxes aren't even included in these prices. A single month of use runs you close to 100 euros when you add it all up.
David F.Apr 5, 2022
The pricing structure is way overpriced. You start by paying an activation fee of around 30 euros. Then you pick between paying monthly or yearly, with the monthly option called the Flex plan at about 15 euros. But here's the catch - the Flex plan also comes with an annual charge of about 34 euros. You have to pay that flex fee if you want to turn your plan on and off without getting charged an activation fee again. So let's say you only want to use it one month a year for vacation - you're paying roughly what three months would normally cost. Even worse, if you cancel the Flex plan, you still pay that 34 euro fee even though you're not using anything. And none of these prices include tax. So a single month ends up costing close to 100 euros total.
Marcus R.Feb 11, 2022
Pretty disappointing overall, especially the customer support. The person I spoke with seemed to be using some kind of translation tool and clearly didn't understand what I was asking about. They had basically zero technical background. Would definitely recommend looking elsewhere.
Timothy H.Nov 22, 2021
These people are seriously bad at what they do. They make billing so complicated that you don't realize you're locked into a 12 month contract that you can't get out of. Just go with Garmin Inreach if you want something that actually works right and lets you do month to month. This place is a total scam.
Steven W.Aug 3, 2021
I spent way too long trying to find how to cancel my account through their website. Eventually I emailed their deactivation address, but they never wrote back. My second email actually bounced with an error saying they weren't accepting it. Basically they're making it impossible for me to close out my account, but they'll definitely keep charging my card. I had no choice but to cancel my credit card to keep them from taking my money. Never touching this company again.
Paul N.Jun 3, 2021
Had two of these devices and neither one worked right. You'll spend hours waiting on hold with the company and they won't have any answers for you. I cancelled my yearly subscription ten months early, and then last month they just charged my card again with no warning or billing notice. I'm still trying to get that money back with zero help from them. Really bad operation to work with. Steer clear.
SPOT Review FAQ
Why is SPOT rated so low?
The extremely low rating reflects widespread customer complaints about billing issues and customer service. Reviewers report difficulty reaching support, unexpected charges for activation and suspension fees, and confusing website language around account management. These operational problems appear across multiple independent reviews from different customers.
What are the main complaints about SPOT service?
Common complaints include: unreliable message delivery (one customer reported only 10 percent of daily messages arriving), confusing billing practices with separate charges for activation and suspension, long customer service wait times, and difficulty getting billing disputes resolved. Several reviewers also mention that billing language on the website is unclear, leading to unintended charges.
Have customers had problems with the SPOT device itself?
While most complaints focus on billing and customer service, at least one reviewer reported technical issues with the SPOT Gen 3 device, noting poor message delivery rates even in areas with advertised coverage and in conditions with clear sky visibility. This suggests potential hardware or network limitations alongside service quality concerns.
Do shoppers recommend SPOT?
The vast majority of reviews are strongly negative, with 85 percent rating the service one star. Only 5 percent gave five-star ratings, and their detailed feedback is not available in the review data. Based on available comments, most reviewers actively discourage others from using SPOT and suggest seeking alternative providers.
How are SPOT ratings calculated on RetailCoupons.com?
Ratings are calculated from verified customer reviews submitted to RetailCoupons.com. The overall rating represents the average of all individual ratings. The rating distribution shows what percentage of shoppers gave one star, two stars, and so on. Only authenticated purchases are included to ensure review authenticity.