To answer your question: I would have called him and talked through it BEFORE I came onto the internet posting pix and making accusations.

That's the part of the OP's post that got my attention. It does appear as if someone attempted to repair. If it came out of the box damaged, they should have let the man know instead of repairing and not telling him.

Based on my experience installing mine I bet this happened. After installing the motor he released the latch and tried to lower the trolling motor to check and make sure the transducer cable had enough slack and the trolling motor slipped from his hands and the bottom of the motor hit the trailer. Same thing might have happened to me but I put a pad on the trailer for the trolling motor to rest on. When you release the latch and try to lower the motor it can flat get away from you. That thing is heavy unless you're in the boat above it where you have some leverage. I would have done what Ken A. said, either take the boat over or show him the pictures. That crack might void your warranty too.

My thoughts exactly. Call the shop up before you put them on blast on the internet.....

Nope ,,,,,, that is not how we do things in today's world.
In today's world we BLAME first and then make the accused try to get to clear their name

If you lower motor while still on trailer does it hit trailer right there? That would explain others describing same damage. Good news! It�s covered by warrantee regardless of fault!

If damaged in box so be it if installeer damaged it so be it. Either way shop installer should have told him it was damaged instead of getting home and finding out. As he said someone glued piece back and painted so someone knows something and guy gets trashed for being p�-Ed off. I don�t blame him. Good luck hope get fixed and enjoy on water

Depends on the boat and trailer. That where mine hit. Fortunately I saw it ahead of time and put a pad down. Standing beside the boat and trying to lower that thing without help is tough. Lots of opportunities to crush fingers and lose control of it. The thing is super heavy and awkward to handle unless your in the boat. If I was a betting man I'd bet that's what happened.

The thing IS heavy. For what it is.

I actually dropped mine in the grass the first time I went to toss it up onto the boat. Lucky, it just made a divot in the yard and not damaging the head.

I bet they simply dropped it. It looks like a much harder hit than bumping it on the trailer. I have smashed mine into rocks and only scratched the powder coating.

If it was me? I�d have said SOMETHING. maybe not what the customer would want to hear, but I�d at least own up and offer to fix it or get it fixed. Nothing can make it �new and undamaged�. Or �new and unrepaired�. But, at least I�d offer to make it as good as I could. Period.

100% agree JP.

I would've just called the shop and spoken to the owner before I came on here and told the world.

They won't be back in until the 2nd so couldn't call anytime soon and I'm not worried about posting about it.

Thank you!!! Someone with some sense speaks!

He didn�t identify the shop in question, so how does that constitute �trashing� them?

What does it matter if I call them first or not? Putting who on blast? Did I mention the shops name? Don't believe I did therefore that's not putting anyone on blast.