Excessive Cost - why?

So once you get past the fact that Hyundai stops supporting owners of older cars with free maps, they throw you a bone with being able to have it shipped to you. Then you get the first penalty - they charge you $25 for an SD card worth less than $10. OK, so you accept that and then go to ship the order and they charge you about $22 to ship an SD card! They then make you wait 1-3 days for processing before they pass it along to the carrier. So in all your out almost $50 for a "free" map. Does my order come in and a rep takes ownership of my order and goes over to a bin and select an SD card then walks it over to a computer that updates the new card while the rep responsible for my order waits? Then does this rep take my newly made (and tested) card and hand packages it for delivery? They then drive over to the carrier and drop it off but not before sending me a confirmation that my order is on its way. It this what happens? NO. They may call it a "handling fee" but seriously - how much handling is there on this? The cards are likely mass produced and a minimum wage worker hopefully pics the right one off a shelf and drops it off in the shipping department after slapping a label on it. it takes them 5 minutes. Hyundai needs to be fair to all its owners who support them and make the maps free for everyone. I do not know why they do not make the same process available for 2018 cars (mostly) and not everyone like their press releases state. They do no elaborate on the fact they charge such "fees" for the free product. I see no reason why they cannot use the same platform to allow owners to download their own maps; or perhaps charge a nominal fee in lieu of a download option. What's a nominal fee? I would say its the going rate for the SD card ($10) plus a handling fee (no more than $5) plus actual shipping. Total costs would be around $20 or less. If someone can explain to me how this is not a profit making operation disguised as a "free" product I would love to hear it. Thank you.

We understand your frustration about the USD $25.00 + S&H. However, please let us explain what happen when Hyundai/Genesis/KIA introduce the Map Care agreement in 2020.

1. Prior to 2020 Map Care agreement, Map & Software update used to cost USD $145.00 + S&H
2. After Map Care agreement, the same update only cost USD $25.00 + S&H*
3. Prior to Map Care agreement, there was no free download update for any vehicle.
4. After Map Care agreement, free download is available for GEN 4** and newer head units.

* Except DVD update installation.
** Oldest vehicle year with GEN 4 is 2014 KIA Soul.

We understand that anyone can purchase SD card/USB drive very cheap this day, but the process of making the product available such as the labor, packaging, printing, etc, is what most people don't calculate. We can't say much about FedEx expensive rate, but the handling fee is only $5.00 from the total shipping cost.

If you any further question, please contact either Hyundai/Genesis/KIA corporate for the pricing and the exclusion of older vehicles from the Map Care agreement.

Thank you.

Actually you did offer a free download of the $25 map update for the 2014 Kia Optima. I know because that was my first update purchase then WHAM no way to download only pay through the nose for an SD card and shipping .

We recommend for you to reach out to our call center and confirm your 2014 Optima head unit generation. Since the release of global update in Aug 2020 download is only available for GEN 4, P GEN 2, and newer head units. There is a possibility that although the vehicle year is 2014, you may have GEN 4 instead of GEN 3 head unit. If that is the case, you can download the update for free.

You are correct about the ability to download April 2020 GEN 3 update for only $25.00. The update used to be administered by Hyundai MnSOFT USA branch for both download and shipping order. However, Hyundai Corporation initiated global strategy and started in Aug 2020 they took over all the download for the update, and Hyundai MnSOFT only support the shipping order. In April 2021, Hyundai MnSOFT became Hyundai AutoEver America IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) and continue the same offering & services.

I agree with all on here, at the minimum allow people to pick us mail delivery option so it’s not nearly a $50 update that I assume could be handled over an online download process. All other companies that support software updates can deliver over the internet so why can’t Hyundai support the same option for older GPS systems?

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on our forum. Hyundai AutoEver would provide the option for USPS mail if that shipping option was available. The availability for downloads comes directly from Hyundai, please contact customer care if you would like to inquire further about download availability for the navigation updates. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have further questions or concerns. Thank you again and have a great day!