cannon dowriggers-BUYER BEWARE!!

W

westward

New member
Please read this before purchasing Cannon products: I purchased 2 brand new Cannon Digitroll downriggers at the boat show, having been sold on their high tech features and "rave" reviews by fishermen. Cost over 2 grand, and that was the Boat Show special. BAD DECISION. 1. one of the downriggers glitched the first time out and began rapidly spooling up/down, destroying the wire and spool and almost taking off my fingers in the process. After a multi-call hassle with Cannon (they wanted us to take it into a service center and I wanted a new downrigger) they agreed to authorize Outdoor Emporium to give us a new one. 2. I recently remembered that I never received my $200 rebate for the purchase. I had sent everything in per the instructions on 3/31/14 after I had received the downriggers and required package bar-codes, and made backup copies of everything for my records. When I called the rebate center I was informed that my rebate claim had been "archived" in April for reasons unknown to the service rep, and it was now too late for her do do anything for me. No contacting me, no reason given, just that she couldn't help me. I got the feeling that this was a routine event and that many people forget about the rebate with the passage of time. I informed her that I had complete documentation of my fully-compliant rebate application and would not be going away quietly. I filed a claim to have it escalated to her supervisor and that's where I stand;they're supposed to contact me back within 48 hours. Moral of this story: If unsure of which downrigger to purchase, please consider yourself fore-warned. Go with the Scotty's like I now wish I'd done. I should make clear that Outdoor Emporium has been fine to deal with through this process; the challenges have all come from Cannon's end. Mike
 
So your problem is with cannons rebate department and not the down rigger it self?? You had a new downrigger malfunction but they replaced it?? That part sounds good.

How does the cannon work for you?? does it now do what it is suppose to do?

I love my phone but I have the rebate and warranty department that att uses. I love my cannons and I am sure you will love yours too for the way they function. All products have a few bad units and they replaced your, Noted with a bit of a fight. But they are still better units then the scottys. More features and useful tools then the scottys. I say this because I have used BOTH for about 4 years each. if you need me to come and show you all the neat things you can do with a Cannon and NOT a scotty I would be more then happy too. I know that I was one of the people that told you to buy them so I want to help you use them if I can. And I want to fish :wink:
 
Hi Tom. My challenge is with the shockingly poor customer service from Cannon, more so than with the product. I have to say, though, that a complete haywire failure out of the box undermines my confidence a bit. You don't like to have to battle your vendor to get them to stand behind their product and promises. I just wanted to let folks know what the customer service program is like so their eyes are wide open. I do appreciate the advice and assistance you've given me and I hope to get together at some point to fish. How have you been doing in the San Juans? We're up in the San Juans most weekends and we've caught a few salmon. It has overall been slow however; lots of hours per salmon landed and the creel report at the boat launches is not very promising. I've heard that Westport was dynamite this year!
 
Update: among the folks I've contacted on this issue is Tom Nelson of the KIRO outdoor line. He's a local representative for Cannon downriggers. Night and day difference in attitude and approach! He got back to me right away, gave assurances he'll make good on my issues, and generally bent over backwards to be friendly and accommodating. EXCEEDINGLY friendly and accommodating. Why don't manufacturers understand how well the positive approach, when offered first and without a fight, works to build brand loyalty and goodwill?? (Sort of like what Jeff Messmer brought to C-Dory when he was with them, and what he brings to Ranger now). At any rate I hope to soon be posting a modified thread extolling the virtues of Cannon products with the caveat that you use Tom Nelson as a resource for major service issues. Mike.
 
Nelson is a nice guy that believes in the product as I do. I have never had to deal with Cannon customer service but have had to use the local service rep at Anglers choice and can not say anything but praise for him and his wife ( don't remember his name) and the quick, honest services I have received from them.
 
seen a cannon arm snap in half from a newb free spooling a 12 pound ball then sudden stop of ball. I have and will only fish/buy scottys for my boat. that said any electric downrigger is better than a manual one and better yet than none at all.
 
well as far as newbies, you fix stupid but you can ban him from your boat... I have stopped my boat while hung up on bottom with a scotty and a cannon and never broke a arm. my problem is not quality but function and design.
 
Tom, you take this fishing stuff way too personal! I bought a downrigger this year and it was Scotty - but only because that is what Englund Marine in Astoria sells. If they had Cannon instead, I would've got that. It is an electric winch to that pulls up a lead ball. That's what it does. They all do it well. If they were sophisticated they would have circuit boards and stuff just like the Wallas.
 
Just my point. the scotty is just a motor and a button on a badly designed spool system. It does not power down, does not track bottom, does not cycle depths, does not stop at the surface half the dam time. Cannon does all these things and does have a circus board but unlike a wallas it works when you turn on the unit. ( hi mike)
 
Within the circuit board lay my problem, hopefully now resolved with a replacement unit. It was scary when it malfunctioned. I had good luck with previous electric Penn and Scotty downriggers, no problems. I'm hoping with the passage of time to be able to say the same about my new Cannon's; I'm certainly invested. Update: as a direct result of Tom Nelson's intervention Cannon made a friendly phone call this AM and have decided to send me my rebate after all. Best of luck to all fishers this weekend! Mike.
 
customer service is often expressed by a individual interaction rather then a interaction with a company as a whole. That's why training of customer service is so important to public image.
 
Tom- Your post made me think of this. It's sad how much excellent sales and service is lost because of poor customer service.
robert-mankoff-no-thursday-s-out-how-about-never-is-never-good-for-you-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg
 
I have two Cannon Magnum 10 TSX -TS. Got them last year and used the hell out of them in the salt as well as this year. Work great and never one problem.
 
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