My MinnKota Woes Continue (MinnKota is awful)

[Schneider Fishing]

Don't buy a riptide (fresh water equivalent is the Terrova).
The others may be fine, but don't buy a MinnKota riptide ST/AP

Dropped off to be repaired July 1st.
Parts ordered July 6th (Holiday weekend July 3, 4, 5)
Today July 23rd. Get a call from Nick (TMD) he ordered fresh water parts by mistake. He man's up and admits his mistake and re-ordered the correct parts. I can respect that. They should be here by Tuesday the 27th.

I get roughly 9 weeks off for vacation each summer and both this year and last year I have lost 4 weeks of fishing because of the GDF MinnKota Riptide ST trolling motor.

But why didn't Nick give me the option of having the parts shipped 2nd day air for an additional fee? Why did it take MinnKota so long to get the parts here in the first place? I asked MinnKota and they have no idea. Maybe the parts were on back order.

Nick told me last year that the delay was because MinnKota sent him the wrong parts twice.

I will never buy another MinnKota product in my life. To those of you that are happy with yours, great for you. I'm very frustrated and pissed.

* By the way, I fished with two guys at the US Open that had MinnKota's (not riptides) and they beat the hell out of there boats (and trolling motors) driving across the waves. Way harder than I do; and their motors stayed latched just fine.

Get this, I just got off the phone with MinnKota. There is no warranty with respect to being satisfied with their products. They only warranty the actual equipment (parts and labor). I bought it, I don't like it, I stuck with it. The guy never even asked me my name after telling him the whole story. Obviously they don't really care about their customers satisfaction.

You know I don't think I have ever gotten on this board and slammed somebody's product until now. Most of the time if I have a problem I am well taken care of or at least there is some sort of compromise. With MinnKota I feel like they are say 'Too bad, so sad. You paid for it. Tough luck. Up yours, etc. etc.'

[ppickerell]

I don't know where you are but the Norcal MinnKota man in San Ramon has given me EXCELLENT service.

[Schneider Fishing]

I don't know that Nick (TMD) is really the problem. I think it's that particular product Riptide/Terova.

Hey if there is a MinnKota Rep out here I'd love to take you out to the Pacific Ocean and do a little fishing and have you show me the proper way to stow and deploy the riptide under actually fishing conditions. I was recently told that I was supposed to bend down and release the latch with my hand not my foot. I'd love to see that done in 2-4 foot swells ad 1 foot wind waves while fishing the boilers off Newport.