Trolling motor retailer question

Some help please!

I am going to purchase a MINN KOTA TERROVA 80 Model #1358894 for my boat. I have done extensive research and feel this is the best for my needs. I have even gone to Bass Pro Shops twice and was kind of disappointed by the limited product knowledge of the salespeople.

I was wondering if anyone has had any personal experience or knows anyone who has knowledge of TrollingMotors.net. Their web site looks nice and there are many positive reviews. Their price is $1,749, the same as most everywhere else; but no tax and free shipping. I believe they are based out of Colorado.

Being a skeptical person who knows how reviews can be packed, I was wondering if anyone can give me a personal recommendation on this place.

I called Minn Kota to see if they were an authorized dealer and they really couldn’t give me a direct answer telling me that they were not on the list, but could be buying from a local distributor. So no help there!

So, am I stuck with Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s?

Thank you very much for any help you can give.

Why not hump down to Thorne Brothers or Joe’s. You pick it up it cost you nothing. You might pay a little sales tax but if they can answer your questions isn’t that worth something?

Trollingmotors.net is a legit website. They are a drop shipping company, however.

Where are you located?

I bought from Dan’s Southside and their service and price was on par with anyone local to Mpls. They’ve been helpful when I had questions.

I’ve also bought parts from Hannay’s for the trolling motor and my H-bird and they were really helpful.

I would guess any of the reputable boat dealers in town would be close to the same in price and service.

Not to rant here but sometimes it’s worth paying a few extra bucks so you have someone to speak with if you need help.

Stop in or call Capra’s in Blaine. They will give you a great price if you ask, plus they are a Minn Kota service center as well. Talk to Greg.

X2 on Capra’s. Talk to Greg.

Since he said he went to Bass Pro twice, and spoke with salespeople, I’d suspect that he’s somewhere near a BPS, thus not in MN or anywhere near Thorne Bros, Dan’s Southside, or Capra’s.

I’m confused by the comment “was kind of disappointed by the limited product knowledge of the salespeople” but willing to buy the product online, without speaking to anyone. If you want knowledge about the motor, the members on this site should be able to give you more than enough insight about it, perhaps even too much insight.

You’re right he may be out of town, but a phone call still can do wonders these days. It’s amazing how much personal service you can get by speaking to a knowledgeable person instead of clicking with a mouse.

I appreciate all of your responses. I live in California, near to a Bass Pro Shop. As I stated, I have gone there twice and the salesmen in the trolling motor area couldn’t even figure out if the model I wanted came with a foot pedal or not, or just iPilot. Even after going to their own web site on their own computer they were still stumped. Thus my dislike for Bass Pro Shops. If you read between the lines, I don’t want to buy from Bass Pro Shops, and that is the only brick and mortar place anywhere close to me. Also, I don’t want to buy from Walmart, another supplier of Minn Kota.

I have done more that click on the Internet. I have talked to Minn Kota and have talked to Clayton at trollingmotors.net, who probably had more knowledge about trolling motors and battery chargers than all of the employees combined at Bass Pro Shops.

So, from the reviews on the Internet and talking with Clayton, it would seem this is a legit place, but my posed question was if anyone had or knew anyone who actually bought a motor from this place.

Thank you all for your assistance.

Back in 2013, the previous owner of the Trollingmotors.net publicly auctioned off the company via his blog. He met with the new owner, Clayton and it has been all uphill from there. I would have no worries whatsoever doing business with them.

Drop shipping companies sometimes get flack because they have little-to-no overhead and just transfer orders directly to the purchaser, essentially being the middle man collecting the dough. I can assure you that even Cabela’s does drop shipping frequently.

Thank you Mr. Eagle,

I am in a drop-ship situation anyway, as I live in the Sierra foothills in Northern California not close to a lot of actual hands-on stores. I’m about 200 miles from Cabela’s and it’s iffy is they have something in stock, otherwise special order shipped to store, in who knows how many weeks.

Great info on Clayton and Trolllingmotors.net. You have helped to put my mind at ease regarding my trolling motor/charger purchase.

Thanks again, your help is greatly appreciated.