Also to note, I still would gladly box up my 6″ Trekker and all my defective parts and send them back to NILS USA/Brian Casavant if they would give me full refund of my purchase(s). Never did Brian C. want or have me send either of my defective parts back for NILS USA to inspect/look at. Now why would that be when I specifically requested I wanted a full refund??? Only reason I can think of is NILS USA knew possibly they were in the “wrong” and sent me a new auger that could possibly have defects. It state’s right in the NILS Warranty that a consumer should be able to send their auger under warranty for a refund or replacement and I was never given that opportunity.

That didn’t help me know in the purchase of my 6″ Trekker and most things are considered used once you purchased them new. If the NILS augers and parts are imported, why would Brian Casavant tell me over the phone my first defective part(the drill adapter) their job shop welder had missed some of the inner welds on particular model’s? Was he referring to a job shop in the States or from overseas? Then when my main auger section went defective was that a inner weld done by a job shop overseas that missed another inner weld?

NILS lately isn’t going to build a great fan base or following if here in the States it doesn’t start with a strong customer service base. Would you be using NILS augers if you hadn’t been given the opportunity to become a Pro-Staffer? I know a person who is a NILS Pro-Staffer also and they ice fish very limited compared to us, but the interest and opportunity was there so they got on board. Maybe you know why NILS USA won’t issue a full refund of the purchase price if a consumer try’s to return at any retailer? Like most new products bought from a retailer defective, new, new in the box, etc…that retailer should be able to refund the purchase price and in the case of a defective auger, the retailer is then responsible for returning back the defective auger back to the manufacture to get credit for it. I worked in the Sporting Goods retail business for years, other than ammo, guns, consumables and live bait a customer could return product and get a full refund.

After my all my issue’s/defects I had with my 6″ Trekker, all I wanted is my money back and too return my NILS auger, NILS under their warranty refused to do that. I don’t consider that very good customer service or warranty to build a base for any business/company here in the States. It’s great your testing and using NILS products and they have great products to come for ice anglers in the State’s, but it’s going to take anglers like you prove NILS products over the course of time to get a loyal ice angler fan base. If the quality in NILS augers is up and down along with their customer service your going to constantly have consumers like me who may have did their homework before purchasing all to come find out you bought a “lemon”.

I was familiar with the older NILs augers coming with a power point(self tapping point) and available for replacement if needed. Wish my and other’s newer purchases of NILS augers had come with them. Think it would eliminated quickly dull blade issues on my and other’s newer purchases if our augers would of come with a starter/power point.

Hope your positive experiences with NILS augers continue grow and you stick with them for years to come as Pro-Staffer/tester. All I know I won’t recommend based on my experiences/defects with my 6″ Trekker and not being able to get my money back when I requested it from NILS USA, that I won’t tell others when asked how I like my NILS auger or if they should consider buying one that I wouldn’t. Just for the fact if your not happy with the auger or just want to return it from where you purchased it from, you won’t get your money back unless under clause 2 on the NILS Warranty(I believe from memory) you send your auger directly to NILS USA and it’s at their discretion to refund your full purchase price.

Too all commenting on this tread,

You’d have to go back to the start of thread/post to understand the issue’s I was facing with my new NILS 6″ Trekker I had purchased two Ice Fishing season’s ago directly from NILS USA. So the post was my “Bad Experience” and a legit story of my purchase. Since, I know others with newer NILS Augers that have had issues and talked with the Store Manager from Marine General in DUluth when I was having problems dealing with NILS USA directly on such things as their warranty and products. When speaking with the Store Manager from Marine General in Duluth, MN., and don’t quote me and my memory, but Marine General has carried NILS Augers and products for many years and the Store Manager told me from what I remember they had quite a few customer returns that year on the NILS 8″ hand Augers. As I previously stated NILS USA was back a couple years ago just a two man sales team. The building/manufacturing of their augers are made else where(job shops). The Marine General Store Manager gave me the information for why I was experiencing poor Customer Service with NILS USA because he was getting the same service from NILS USA he explained to me and that Marine Generals customer NILS auger returns would have to wait til the following year to get their replacement auger(part) replaced. Keep in mind that I wanted a full refund on my new NILS purchase after it breaking on me twice, so all those Marine General customers who returned NILS Augers also faced that Marine General couldn’t give a full refund also if they wanted one because NILS USA written warranty won’t let you get a full purchase price refund. Doesn’t matter if you buy a NILS Auger directly from NILS USA or buy one at Cabelas, Marine General, Scheels, etc..your NILS auger breaks and you want a full purchase price refund they won’t give you one but instead get told you have to call NILS USA and get on the list for a replacement part which like me, who knows when you’ll get one. because your waiting on NILS USA’s makers of those replacement parts.

Of course I could go on and on like the above paragraph. In one of my post I know I did say I was done replying back to comments, but with the recent post I felt I needed to clarify some things about my experience with NILS USA and their operation overall. Yes I did my before and after research about NILS USA and their now produced augers. Those commenting about owning a NILS power auger tell me what you know about why they’re not available anymore??? I know kind of. Those owning older NILS Augers with no issues, can you tell me where they were manufactured??? Those owning newer NILS hand augers, I wish you the best of luck and hope you never have any issue’s like I did. Was well into December of last year before I was able to use my NILS 6″ Trekker once again. So I missed out on using it a good full month from the start of this ice fishing season because NILS USA sent me the wrong replacement part(which was my second defective part on my NILS auger).

Lol, guess I went on and on again in the second paragraph. Sorry, once I get started about NILS USA it kind of still “pisses me off”. You’d think after all my issues NILS USA would of gave me a full purchase price refund”. OH well and waiting for the next thing to break on my NILS auger when using it this season if a person can get out now with all this snow. Those have problems with with the Wing Nuts and Wing Bolts loosening or missing, I just replaced the Wing Nut with a Nylon Nut. Quick Clips, lock washers, LockTite, etc..I’m sure will all work equally well. NILS auger blades, I leave that in your own thoughts but here’s a rough quote from from a consumer who called NILS USA about their newer NILS auger and not cutting this season. NILS USA, “yeah, the place where we have our blades/section made doesn’t do the best job making sure they’re sharp and that you can send them to such and such in Minnesota for $40 and have them sharpened”. Keep in mind this person only used their brand new NILS auger one previous season and never nicked, damaged, ran into the bottom or dealt with “dirty ice”. I know, I fish with him.

Not proud of my 6″ Nils Trekker, but you can use/replace with nylon nuts or quick clip pins. NILS USA is a two man sales operation. They job shop out their manufacturing of their augers and parts. They won’t even reply back to me or answer my calls anymore since all my headaches with my defective new 6″ Trekker I purchased from them directly. Good luck if you ever have a warranty issue with your auger or want a refund under warranty, they won’t refund your purchase and only promise to replace defective parts that may arrive a year later. I complained about the Wing nut and Wing Bolt issue to NILS USA as a poor design since I almost lost my blade section to the bottom of the lake because of this exact issue. They’re response was that, “the Wing Nuts/Wing bolt’s are designed to self tighten upon use/rotation of the auger”. Yeah, right!!! Poor company, poor customer service, poor warranty and definitely not the NILS Auger Company from the quality of them produced back in the days in Finland.

Don’t know how much more honest i could of been, hence the long explanation/story and the story still goes on! As of 11/27 Nils Master USA still hasn’t sent me the right replacement part needed. Ice Fishing season is here in Wisconsin as well as it is in Minnesota as well as other states. So here I sit, good thing I have a back up auger now.

Do you go back and search 10 years prior on any fishing related item you buy under $250 ??? I don’t think so, but thanks for your POV’s.

I’m sure you would let it go after a year also on something you spent your hard earned money on, especially for fishing! As of today 11/27/2018, Nils Master USA has yet to send me the replacement part. So chew on my flavor of bubblegum for a while and tell me how you like it? Plus, Ice Fishing season is here in Wisconsin and good thing I have a spare Jiffy Power Auger if need be.

With that last reply to all of you who have participated in replying, the previous reply from me will be my last. I’ll continue to leave my original post up for other’s to read and view. I’m not one to carry on with this subject/issues I have with Nils Master USA and my 6″ Trekker Ice Auger I order from them. I just wanted to be heard and will continue to be heard thru Social Media Websites, Fishing Forums, word of mouth, etc.. for Consumer Awareness and dealing with Nils Master USA.

I will no longer reply back to readers of my original post on In-Depth Outdoors unless I feel necessary to do so. Thanks to all who have supported my thoughts and actions I have placed in regards to Nils Masters USA, Inc.

Joe Shock
Holcombe, WI.

BigWerm and Bob, I was beyond upset and over it a longtime ago. Being my issue’s hasn’t been resolved as of September lead me to push the issue to the BBB and to the consumer.

BigWerm, I’m composing part of #2 as I read my Nils Warranty Card; “Konsaku Oy shall refund the purchase price for such a Product, provided that the Subject product(1) is returned to Nils Master USA, Inc. with a two year warranty period, and (11) is accompanied by a proof of purchase in the form of blah, blah, etc…”

What #2 also says on the Nils Warranty before my composition part of #2 of the Nils Warranty clear tells me if Nils is unable to replace or repair my auger, then Nils shall refund.

Nils for one, never asked or wanted my Auger Drill Adapter when it broke and just sent me a possibly to find out if defective, another one that happen to be the last one Brian Casavant told me he had left sitting in his office at the time. Secondly, when my main auger section broke I was told by Brian Casavant that I would have to wait until September of 2018 to get a replacement because Nils didn’t have any left in stock. So there I sit with a new Nils Auger in the middle of my Ice Fishing Season that is completely useless to me. So you tell me the way the Nils Warranty States that their being totally legit when Nils from the beginning never asked for any of my broken auger parts back or to return to even consider giving me a refund I requested over and over again? How can Nils determine I should receive a full refund if they don’t have my broken auger and part to look at for themselves? As I stated many of time’s, I’m sure Nils was aware of the new 6″ Trekker Ice Auger they had sent me and the issue’s I would face because it was manufactured out of their normal manufacturing dates to fill rushed and overdue orders to other retailers and consumers.

Regardless of the past few reply’s Gentlemen, I ordered my Auger thru a Nils Pro Staffer and used their discount code. So Matt being a Nils Pro Staffer and knowing my Nils issues is just being non-compliant to my original posting. The Pro Staffer I know couldn’t suggest any solutions for my problems with Nils Master USA and Brian Casavant because they want to continue on with their Sponsorship and I can’t blame them or Matt B. Sponsors are hard to get when you take your passion to a different level.

In my case with Nils Master USA, they never asked for my broken parts/sections back, hence doesn’t comply with what their Warranty says. Nils Master USA just sends me new replacements parts. Is anyone to blind to see the discrepancy I’ve been dealing with and my complaints about how Nil Master USA under their own Warranty is abusing my consumer rights? What does any of those who have commented so far in regards to being a Pro Staffer have to do with my case/issue’s with Nils Master USA to begin with?

Matt B., Nils Master USA(Brian Casavant) apparently lies to you also. You want proof? I’m sure I have a few saved emails from Brian C. stating my new main extension would be coming in September. And besides that, Nils should of asked for both my broken Drill Adapter and broken Main Auger extension for inspection but they didn’t because I’m sure they knew all to well what was wrong in the building of my new auger they had sent me. Sure, send back your Clam Bibs(made up story) and Clam will send you a new pair. Well Nils Master USA didn’t want my broken auger back and didn’t send me a new one or grant me a full refund of my original purchase price under their Warranty. So I should just be happy with you went inquired on your behalf as a Pro Staff Member to Brian Casavant probably today and found out I’ll will still be getting my replacement part sometime or whenever? Geez, thanks a lot for the inquire, but I’m going to continue with my story about Nils Master USA and the way they have treated me on my new Nils Ice Auger like it or not so consumers that do their research before buying any Nils Masters USA products can be informed.

I won’t be happy til or if Nils Master USA ever will refund me my original purchase price. Fine if they want to honor and send me a so-called “NEW” and “IMPROVED” main auger extension. Why are they “NEW” and “IMPROVED”? Was their something wrong with the old building of the 6″ Trekker Models to begin with??? Does everybody commenting/replying back to my issue’s with Nils Master USA tend to agree to disagree given my statements and facts?

I did my research before buying my Nils Auger, loved the way it performed and cut, gave others my recommendation to buy one. Obviously and knowing Nils Master USA sent me a “LEMON”, shouldn’t I have the right as a Consumer buying a used car from a dealer that falls under the Lemon Law and is a lemon, the same right in this case of my “NEW” Nils ice auger to have the choice of a new auger or a full refund being Nils never asked for my broken parts back for inspection to determine if I was eligible for a full refund? Am I in the right or am I in the wrong? I’m sure someone will reply back that I’m in the wrong and tell me just be happy that sometime hear in the near future Nils Master USA will be sending my “NEW” and “IMPROVED” main auger replacement that upon using the auger again as a whole will more than likely break again because the “OLD” Drill Adapter that was replaced will probably fail again because of a missing inner weld and my Nils 6″ Trekker Ice Auger story goes on!

“GOOD GRIEF”(a.k.a. quote Charlie Brown)

Matt B.,

This isn’t product bashing at all. Tell me you never bought anything “New” and never returned it from where you bought it from? In my case I gave Nils the benefit of the doubt with a number of issues I had with my new auger regardless if it’s product being used in adverse weather condition’s. I’ve had a Jiffy Power Auger of my Dads built back in the 60’s than I ran up to 7 years ago without few normal issues over that course of time from being new.

I spent over $270 just for a new hand auger and 14″ extension that I was able to use with my Cordless Drill a handful of time’s between different sections of it breaking due to Nils Jobs Shops missing inner welds and poor quality welds. That’s a costly purchase for any Ice Fishing Angler just to sit back and take the good with the bad. I sat the majority of the rest of my 2018 ice fishing season with my without my Nils Cordless Drill set up because it was unusable.

Those Clam Bibs your wearing in your profile picture would of leaked, blew out the crotch upon first time wearing or the shoulder strap failed, your not going to to return them??? And if where you bought them from won’t replace them or give you a full refund of the purchase price, your just going sit back and say to yourself that your going to bite the bullet of your hard earned money and not buy Clam products anymore based on that experience, Warranty or no Warranty??? Plus, keep that self experience with your Clam Bibs all to your personal self and not say anything to other’s so they can know when it come’s time to them purchasing any Clam Products that their not aware of what happened to you in your experience with your Clam Bibs???

Matt B., Consumers report on Products and their manufacture’s all the time. There wouldn’t be places for consumers to go to if there wouldn’t be sources to review a product(s) before a consumer making a purchase.

I agree Mexican Eagle, like the Solo engines made in Germany or old quality motors that were designed to be flawless for years providing you do your pre-maintenance.

As far as the Warranty #2 I attached it to this post in reference to my posting and in regards to what Nils replied back to the BBB about my complaint. I still don’t see if I wanted a full refund for my defective auger I probably would of gotten one if I went thru a retailer on my purchase(unless the retailer is fully aware of Nils Warranties and won’t take returns) and why Nils has been so reluctant after all the issues I’ve had with my new auger from the start of using it, why they just wouldn’t grant me a full refund or offer me a whole new auger in replacement. Plus when my auger broke twice, Nils never asked for the broken parts back for inspection. They knew they had sent me a auger that would eventually break. Hence, they never requested for me to send back the main extension when that broke(inner weld broke) and said they would replace it in September of 2018. It’s October and no replacement has shown up on my door step!!! Nils intern tells the BBB that they told me new replacements would be available sometime in the Fall of 2018. Yeah right!!!How can Nils default from what their Warranty says on it if they don’t even want broken or defective parts back for them to inspect to determine if it fall under their Warranty sayings??? With that said, they should have Lawsuits filed against them for failure to follow thru with their Warranty Policies.

Am I a liar in stating that most companies, businesses and manufacture’s of products don’t operate these days such as Nils Masters USA has done with me? I was appalled at the reply given to BBB from Nils Masters that the issues with my new auger were the results from improper usage. WTH??????

Re-read my original post. If you did you’d know the Wing Nuts and Bolts loosening up wasn’t the main issues I had with my new Nils. If you bought a brand new truck and the manufacture had forgot to put engine oil in your motor or forgot to put the engine in it all together to make it run, wouldn’t you want a different new truck or your money back? No difference in what I’m going thru with Nils Master USA and the new auger I paid for last year ordering directly from them.

Lot of people order direct from the manufacture versus buying on the retail market. Warranties should apply the same regardless who you buy from!

That’s what I’ve been doing most of the day. Reaching out to Social Media, forums, etc…I rather have potential consumers know my story with Nils Masters when it come’s time for them to purchase a new auger.

That’s if they would loose or settle out of court.

Happy Easter everyone, new member here! Not sure if this is the place to comment on Jim’s recent Rain River outing, but just wanted to say that guy’s from my area were still up at LOW Ice Fishing this past week even though their reports were that the ice was really getting sketchy and probably was the end or least their attempts to ice fish. I actually ice fished about a week ago yet on the body of water I live on, but it was my last time going out and put the equipment away for the season.

Picture is of Jon Turner(Profession Ice Angler) and I around Easter last ice 2016.

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