Awful Minn Kota Rebate system

I bought a couple of Minn Kota trolling motors early April and have yet to receive the 2nd rebate despite several online exchanges. There appears to be no way to actually call and talk to someone. Even their cooperate office dumps you into an automated system. A phone number listed on the rebate site is literally disconnected. I finally resorted to talking to someone in parts and she gave me a number that also doesn’t have a way to talk to a live soul. I’m so frustrated that I took the time to post this to warn others. I wouldn’t count on getting a rebate so make your purchase accordingly,…i.e. be happy with the full price. You may or may not get a rebate. My positive sense of a Minnesota company in the fishing business has gone down the tubes.

Well, actually, it’s a WI owned corporation so…

But, but, but everyone always says competition is good for the consumer.

I had a rebate in the form of a gift card when I bought my bow mount in 2015. I bought the motor in December and it took until the following August to get the rebate/gift card.

Funny. I bought tires at Discount Tire last Wednesday, filled out the rebate form online while they were installing them, and literally got my prepaid Visa card in the mail on the following Monday. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum.

This is a common strategy – companies want to make it hard to collect rebates. They also aren’t going to put actual people into the process – why add cost to cost?

Not saying it’s right but it’s a commonly used strategy.

ClownColor wrote:

Well, actually, it’s a WI owned corporation so…

No dog in the fight but Minn Kota headquarters are listed as Mankato Minnesota, not sure who or what owns it. BTW I think Minn Kota is a terrible company regardless.

I’ve received alot of rebates over the years and never had issues with a one. Guess I don’t pay too much attention to the mailbox for a couple hundred bucks either though.

Johnson outdoors owns Minnkota and Humminbird….Glad I didn’t deal with any rebates. I got a free Helix 7 when I bought my Terrova this spring.

Still waiting on my ice55 rebate from 4 years ago…so long that I dont even own it and use a helix 7 now

Update,…I got an email saying my submission was complete and that it would be another 4 to 6 weeks to get the rebate. (recall this all started last April) Unbelievably, I got another the other day saying that it was incomplete. How incompetent can they be? Apparently,…two rebates can’t be handled with this system and the talent working with it. Probably a good thing I can’t get someone to answer the phone,…I’m afraid of what I’d say to the poor soul.

I am having a similar experience with lowrance at the moment

Back in 2014 I got rebates from both Minnkota and Lowrance. I wouldn’t be surprised if it took 3-4 months. I got what I was promised. I never called or questioned it. It wasn’t the deciding factor for the purchase so I really didn’t care if I got it or not.

I’m just wondering how someone operates two trolling motors at the same time.

mplspug wrote:

I’m just wondering how someone operates two trolling motors at the same time.

Very easy, I run my bow mount with the remote and Vantage from the rear on my 1875 Pro Guide. No need for drift sock. Boat goes where ever I want. Very easy to make a controlled drift. As far as the rebates it’s like buying a lottery ticket.

Matt Moen wrote:

This is a common strategy – companies want to make it hard to collect rebates. They also aren’t going to put actual people into the process – why add cost to cost?

Not saying it’s right but it’s a commonly used strategy.

This is precisely correct, time = money and if a company can make you use more time then you’re less likely to get your money.

biggill wrote:

But, but, but everyone always says competition is good for the consumer.

I have no idea what you’re trying to get at here biggill but what the rebate issue shows is a LACK of competition – a big conglomerate throwing its weight around, making it hard for consumers to receive the terms of sales they were promised.

The MinnKota hassle is clearly contrasted by the Discount Tire rebate story – you can buy rebate eligible tires at literally hundreds of places so by DT doing the mfr rebate fight for you and putting the $$ in your hands ASAP, it makes them attractive to consumers.

Good luck with rebate ddh, hope it turns out well for you.

zooks wrote:

I have no idea what you’re trying to get at here biggill but what the rebate issue shows is a LACK of competition –

Except 2 major players just entered the trolling motor market, Lowrance and Garmin. Everyone says that added competition will improve products and lower price.

Well, price will go down but quality will certainly follow.

Regarding rebates in general, it’s no secret they are a PITA. If you want to judge a product by how your rebate experience went, well, good luck to you.

biggill wrote:

Except 2 major players just entered the trolling motor market, Lowrance and Garmin. Everyone says that added competition will improve products and lower price.

So you think two more giant conglomerates, that just entered the market during the June show season, will do anything to help consumer experience immediately? Or do you think this would have fixed the problem that the OP had beginning in April?

All these companies are doing is looking to get their slice of the pie because they have as much weight at Johnson Outdoors, not to make better products or to provide consumer relief, which you seem to agree with. Your stab thinking that I’m equating product quality or consumer experience to rebate outcomes though, is telling but not surprising.

Again, good luck ddh, let us know how it turns out.