Motorguide trolling motor parts issue?

[Captain Dan]

I'm not posting this to slam Motorguide, but to vent my frustrations with their replacement parts department. FYI
I purchased my 75 lb thrust 24 volt wireless trolling motor 4 years ago for my 24 foot pontoon boat from Bass Pro.
Within he first year the motor quit so Bass Pro replaced it at no charge.
The second year it got water in the motor again and quit so it was repaired at Jerry's in KC. Thanks to the extended warranty I purchased, good until March 2014 it did not cost me for the repairs.
The 3rd year the transmission that turns the motor went out, plus later that year the motor got water in it again. Repaired under warranty at Arnies.
This year about a month ago it started quitting to come on again. The motor has a feature that turns itself off if the motor binds up or stops turning, pulling too many amps. To reset it just disconnect from the battery then reconnect. It would run fine for maybe 5-10 minutes then quit again.
On October 14th I tried to use the trolling motor again after verifying there was no fishing line on the shaft causing the over amping issue, which there was no line on the shaft. I left my gas motor trimmed up all the way so it would not cause a drag and strain the trolling motor. It quit 5 times before getting out of the marina cove. The wind was pushing me torwards the shore and I knew I could not get up front to reset it before hitting the shore so I tried to lower my gas motor to back me up, but was not successful. When the trolling motor hit the shore it broke the shaft. I took the motor off my pontoon which is difficult to do one handed and took it with me. The next morning on the 15th I called Motorguide to see if they would cover the shaft since it was broken because of the motor quitting. They told me to take it to Arnie's and have them call Motorguide with the cause of the motor failure to determine if they would replace the shaft under the extended warranty. I received a call from Arnie's on Wed the 16th and was told that Motorguide was sending them the shaft and a new lower unit(motor), great, I thought.
I called Arnie's on Monday the 21st to see if my motor was ready yet and was told that the parts are on back order, dam.
Again on October 28th Motorguide told me the shafts are still on back order from their supplier, but might be in by the 30th,
but it could be November 9-10th.
What if I was a fishing guide with my livelihood depending on my boat to be available for my clients to pay me for a fishing trip?
I just think they should do better to resolve my situation, don't you?
I don't feel that I'm that hard on the motor, not using it daily like some do, the motor is raised out of the lake when not used, plus I check the shaft before every fishing trip for line.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and let me vent my frustrations.

["G"]

I feel your pain. Hope the parts come in and it holds up for you this time.

[Captain Dan]

Thanks G,
I talked to a supervisor at Motorguide this morning and told him it was unacceptable to have to wait possibly a month for a part for my motor.
I tried to get them to replace the complete assembly, but no luck.
They are shipping the saltwater version shaft that they had 4 in stock of, It will be white instead of black but carries a lifetime warranty as long as I pay the difference of $1.94 and 2 day shipping cost so Arnie's will get it by Thursday, So now it will be up to Arnie to have it ready for Saturday pick up.
I am not that picky about having a white shaft, black lower motor and black upper end trolling motor until I can afford a new Xi5 next year.

[haugboss]

I feel your pain Dan the it seems everything you buy now is disposable. Companies don't supplies of parts for "older" models hoping people like you and me will get get fed up dealing with costomer service and buy new. If more people did alot more ranting maybe they would get better. As for what people do when this kind of crap affect their business unfortunatly the only answer is to carry spares of EVERYTHING.

rant on
Al

[ragnar]

but Dan it wont match the color of your pontoon boat or house?

[Captain Dan]

I don't think the crappie will care what color it is and I don't have a wife to tell me it does not look good so I'm good with a white shaft.

[ragnar]

maybe if you repaint the shack from that purple

[Captain Dan]

I can not paint the shack K State purple since it is in Lawrence.
UPDATE: I got the call that my trolling motor is ready for pick up so I'll be picking it up this morning and trying it out with dester in hopes to find some slabs and whites today.