Notice for Ulterra trolling motors.
I know this is forum for local fishing but also know this is where it will get noticed by all. If you own an Ulterra trolling motor it is good info to know. Or if one is thinking about buying one it is good info to know. My motor is working fine today....but it now needs 4 updates....back in May it only needed two updates. Just because your Ulterra is working fine today if these updates are not done the problems will show up sooner or later. Below are the details.
I have had problems with my Ulterra not stowing. Both times I have been able to fix it myself. No need to go into what triggers that but now it takes me about 3 minutes to get it going again once it happens. I was in contact with Tracker Marine in Hendersonville, TN back in May. I will just explain how they wanted to handle the problem. When I first called I was told their policy was 1st come 1st serve. I have no problem with that. When I explained to them my motor was working I just needed to have the updates done they still said 1st come 1st served. The people I dealt with were not courteous at all. After much discussion they told me they would order the parts for my updates...2 updates at that time according to my serial number...and call me when they came in. But I would still need to leave my...motor/boat.....and when they got time they would install the updates. Never heard back from them and on repeated calls all I got was 1st come 1st serve. Called Minn Kota again today after my motor had the same problem a week back.. Now my motor...by serial number...needs 4 updates. Minn Kota was very courteous but I told them this is not a good situation. Customers need to be notified of these updates instead of problems showing up that these updates will fix.....in other words be proactive and not reactive. They did give me the option of sending the motor to them but I would have to pay shipping.....and they would pay shipping back to me. That was not acceptable to me and I no longer have the box it was shipped in to begin with. So I contacted Barron River Boat Shop in Lucas, KY. Right off the bat you know you are dealing with someone who does customer service. After explaining my situation he told me he would order the upgrade parts for my motor as per serial number....call me when they come in....make an appointment for me and I would have to wait about 4 hours for them to put the parts in. He also told me he would not guarantee those upgrades would fix the situation with my motor. I understand that and told him so. Minn Kota told me the upgrades will fix the problem. He also told me they are running 3 weeks behind....meaning they have a lot of bad motors in there...not sure how many are Ulterra but I will find out when I go up there. As for Minn Kota.....the 4 upgrades now consists of magnets......two sensors....and a belt block. When I asked Minn Kota to send me the magnets they refused right out. No matter how much I talked they were not sending me any magnets. I know of one on here that they did send the magnets to and I also have 2 friends they sent the magnets to. I just expect better than this from Minn Kota. Not much I can do about it...I am out the money for the motor...very happy with it when it works. Back in 2001 I think it was I bought a PinPoint trolling motor...I think that was the brand......had 5 transducers in the head. It would track a creek, or channels if you found one.....track just the depth you requested it to stay in.....track so many feet out from the bank. That thing was pretty amazing when it worked......which was not much...LOL. But after about 6 months and having it sent to them 2 times in that period...at their cost.....they informed me the motor was ahead of it's time and they were not sure if they would ever be able to get it to give constant performance. Their offer to me was they would fix it and return it but then it was mine...or they would refund all my money....including the tax I paid on it. I chose the refund. The same day UPS delivered my check they picked up the motor to be sent back. Now to me that is the way service should be. I will follow up on how this all winds up.
Regards
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