I wanted to let all of my TFFer's know how Minn Kota chose to handle the situation I have with them so that everyone here knows the truth.

I called Minn Kota last week to discuss my problems I have been having on the motor. I wanted to buy a box that others said they have bought for around $10-$15. They acted like they had no idea what I was talking about. Said that there is no box as it is all connected to the board. So they would have to sell me the entire board for $200.

I eventually spoke to a manager who's name is Mark. He is a technical supervisor who is over the service area. Anyway, I let him know how I felt about his product and ALL of the problems I have had with it over the years. He mentioned it has a 3 year waranty and asked when I bought it. I said in 2001 sometime. Probably early on. He asked me to get the serial number and to call him back as he might be able to do something. (False sense of hope developing here).

I get the number and call him back and leave it on his voice mail. His number by the way is 507-345-0312. He called me back moments ago (Monday) and said that the motor I have was built in 2000. I said well I am pretty sure I bought it in 2001 because I bought my Skeeter in 2000 and it came with a Motorguide on it. Well that broke too so I bought this Minn Kota later on. I realize the 3 year warranty is past but it is pretty close. We are talking a few months here people.

He said that there is nothing that he will do for me because the motor has had no "prior service or history" (As if that matters) and because it has went past the 3 year warranty. While this is true and I know that it is pretty close and I have been having other issues with it prior. I was hoping he would be man enough or maybe nice enough to offer me something to help the situation. I never asked for a new motor or anything like that. I am only over the 3 year warranty by a few months.

What I need is a new electrical board for the motor. I told him that he should work with me on it since it is a problem with there engineering or quality because they have changed it up since mine.

I also told him that I had a problem with Yamaha a couple years ago and I called them and they agreed to cover the labor costs of a repair job I had on something that needed repairing and I wasn't even the original owner and it was way past the warranty anyway. I also had a problem with my truck brakes and Ford repaired them after the warranty at no charge to me.

All of this was to no avail. I didn't think I was asking too much. I think a 50% reduction in cost would have made me happy and would have kept me as a satisfied customer. For him telling me NO, THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO FOR YOU sealed the fact that I will not be another Minn KRAPPA customer again!!!

So thanks to managers like Mark who are black and white in their managerial approach and do not bend at ALL you have lost a customer and hopefully this post will enlighten the eyes of someone else who will choose to go a different route then Minn Kota when they are in the market for a trolling motor.

Keith, I don't know if you have tried but give Allstar Marine a call and see if they might have a used one or something they can sell you. It might be worth a shot.

tx_basser,

I called them first and they quoted me $300 for a new one. Minn Kota sells it to end users for $200. I didn't ask them if they had used ones and the guy I spoke with didn't bring it up either.

geez...... sounds like your getting it from both ends. That would really pizz me off have a TM a little over 3 years old and have to spend 200 bucks to get it working again.

I've been using Minn-Kota for over 20 years. All different price ranges. I can't think of ever having a problem with them. Other than my own abuse.
I broke the collar on one and I recommended a stainless steel sleeve to them. I was also past warranty.
RV and Trolling motor service at Lake Fork will get you back on the water quick. They are on the Lake Fork Marina drive in off Highway 17..

Man, if you hate Motorguide, and now hate MinnKota, seems as though you may be screwed at this point?!

Keith, what kind of paddle are you gonna get? JK

I've been using Minnkotas for about 13 years and have never had a problem with one that wasn't my fault (only had one problem with each motor). Their Customer Service was very helpful and less expensive than AllStar. I like Minnkota. Have also had a Motorguide--no problems with it--just didn't like the foot control and switched to Minnkota. Keith, you may have just gotten a "lemon". I can't imagine that their management staff wouldn't do something to help you out. I assume you spoke to some people at the factory in Minnesota. Its been a while back, but I think I bought an extended warranty for the one I have now and when I had the problem with the wiring it was covered under the extended warranty. Like I said, I've never had a problem with Customer Service--I have ordered replacement parts from them at a reasonable price and fixed it myself since the warranty has expired, but there was never a major problem like you seem to have had.
c.j.

OK, let me get this straight...

As soon as you got the manager on the line you proceeded to "let him know how I felt about his product and ALL of the problems I have had with it over the years." You then proceeded to compare his product to a Motorguide that you used to have (but that broke within the first year?!?). And, you are referring to a little box on the motor that "others said they have bought for around $10-$15," but you don't have a part number or anything other than "a box" that attaches to the board. Most motor manuals have a diagram of the motor inside. Does your not show this "box?"

I realize that customer service in this instance appears to have been lacking, but is it possible that you didn't use the proper tact? I sincerely hope that this works out for you, but I wouldn't go complaining about the whole company just because of one bad experience. At least you learned a valuable lesson... ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RECEIPT!!! Again, I sincerely hope all works out for you.

Todd

I've had lousy experiences with minn kota cutomer service too, got a lecture for calling in without my part number, when I never had the diagram of the motor to begin with since my boat dealer had not included it with my new owner packet when I bought my Skeeter. I did get the part, but only after the mailed me the diagram and I called back later. Also, I cracked the "unbreakable shaft" on it, and you would think that when you crack something unbreakable they would stand behind the damage caused by the breakage, but nope, my transducer cable was broke when it cracked and they were not the least bit sympathetic, bordering on just plain rude. "We are not responsible for any damage beyond the broken shaft itself, it's in your warranty." I've been told "no" by many companies, and I have to say "no" to people everyday myself, there's a way to do it so people are not left with such a bad taste in their mouths, the MinnKota customer service reps needs a little training in this area.

Someone needs to come out with a new trolling motor company. With only two choices of trolling motor companies, one being metal shaft and the other plastic shaft it pretty much a monopoly. It would make things a little more interesting with a little competition out there. Prices would fall and quality would improve.

Goatfarmer...that was a classic answer, too funny dude!!

Keithscratch, i have no idea how much you fish (or even if you ever got your overheating engine fixed) but if i owned a troll motor 3 years and had ZERO warranty history on it. I'd feel pretty dang lucky.

Got a 97' model Motorguide 757 on my Astro, and it has broken down a couple of times. I have something better than the company though, I have a buddy named Bob Ridgeway at Southwestern Parts Sales and Service, Mockingbird Ln.Irving, TX. He does Minn Kota too. Sometimes, Mr. Bob can work a miracle or too on your unit, but he, is without a doubt, the BEST link between you and the factory. Let Bob evaluate it and let Bob negotiate with the factory. If anything can be done to save you money, he will do it. If he can't resolve the problem with the factory, he will give you the best deal in town (in my book). I have been dealing with Bob on all my trolling motor and depth finder problems for the last 13 years! Not once has he ever left me feeling like I didn't get the best service out there..!!!

Thanks Bob. I was going to get with Bob Ridgeway to see if he had a used part I could buy.

Todd, no I didn't jump all over the manager initially. At first things seemed to be going good. He even mentioned he would see what he could do. I wrote this right after the last phone call so I was a little heated. And no I don't have the receipt or the motor diagram. Rarely do I keep things like this. But in this case it didn't matter as having a receipt would have only proven that I bought this motor longer then 3 years ago by a few months.

I agree Big Leslie.

RGR-BTS, I fish once a week. Have been for lots of years. I personally don't think a $780 motor should be considered good if it only gives you 3 years of use. Not 3 years of great use but 3 years of Ok use with several problems along the way. Maybe the rest of you can afford to plop down $780 every few years and think nothing of it but I EXPECT something that I pay that much money for to last longer then that. Maybe that is the problem we have been so conditioned by these companies to believe that things like this are so normal that it is no biggie when it happens.

Bass_Bustin_Texan. I couldn't agree more with what you said. Perhaps if another competitor jumped into the fray and built a better motor Motorguide and Minnkota would start building a better motor that would last more then 3 years.

Maybe I just expect more out of things that I purchase. I guess being mediocre now a days is the in thing so I better start getting used to it. So since I have 2 choices I may indeed have to go with another Minn Kota someday. Maybe like some of you have stated this is a lemon.

I will get this one fixed and will see how long I can stay with it before I make another $800 plunge into another one. I was pretty steamed when I wrote this and I am sure I over stated myself and acted hasty.

Keith-You should expect more for your money. Too many times the american way has been take it or leave it. Then the foreign companies came in and gave the word quality a new meaning. They stood behind it. A lot of times you didn't have to worry about it breaking down because they took the time to make sure it was done with quality in the first place. I hate seeing our quality go down for quantity. Pay me pay me! I've had my dealings with people that had that attitude of take it or leave it. As a matter of fact I am going to be getting into to it with a boat manufacturer in the winter time. I have delt with them already. There motto is that it is the "if you want a boat and a boat company that won't let you down..." So I know how you feel about expecting something for your money and expecting some compensation is a great way to keep a customer for life. Good business, that's all!