Johnson Outdoors Minn Kota

I took my trolling motor in last week for an excessive vibration -a few days later I got an email from Johnson Outdoor they will be shipping my motor back. I do not think my motor was not under warranty anyway. I purchased my Ulterra 36v 112 back in Dec. of 2013. They replaced and updated 10 items to my motor and they did not charge me anything on top of it, I do not have to go back and pick up the motor either. I always has been very impressed with their customer service either on the phone or in store interactions.

Possibly the worst customer experience I have received both from their authorized repairer and then when escalated to Minn Kota customer service itself. While I had loved the product, my 36V 112lb 60" Ulterra was going into a pause/error mode and freezing. I tried to take to the local authorized repairer, who would not look at the motor because I didn't buy it there. After driving 45 miles to the next closest repairer, he incorrectly diagnosed the issue as the main board, charging me over $700. When back on the water the issue reappeared within minutes. After researching, this was a known issue with a lower sensor and easily fixed without any new parts even. When the authorized repairer refused to acknowledge that he grossly misdiagnosed and overcharged me, I approached Minn Kota for advocacy. Their response was a few sentences basically saying they provide training (clearly unsatisfactory) and parts only and do not stand behind the repairers they authorize. When I specifically requested they at least provide a $10 replacement sensor (to be sure the issue wouldn't reappear), the one sentence response was that they don't ship parts to Canada (yet somehow parts make their way to the "repairers" they authorize). This is a company that definitely acts like they have the monopoly on electric trolling motors.