NILS Hand ICE Auger 4.5"

My review of the Nils Master Hand and Tanaka Power head, I have two Nils master augers one a 6'' and an 8'' the cutting on the 8 inch is great, although a few things to know before you purchase a nils is the customer service is horrible. When I got my 6'' auger in the mail after opening it I noticed a significant dent in the auger about 3'' up from the cutting head this also had a small mark (a paint chip) Note: (this was new from the box). I called Cabelas where I purchased it from and they told me someone would be calling me in three to four days. They man called after 5 days from Nils Master in Vermont the first guy I spoke with said to take off the cutting head and ship the auger back at my own expense for them to determine if it was their fault I told the man ok. So I returned to the garage and took of the handle and the cutting head off as he told me to. approximately 15 minutes went by and the phone rang again it was Nils this time I had another guy on the phone I told him the story and he told me not to take of the cutting head before shipping it back (too late it was already off!) now he tells me that its most likely I won't get a new one, and I'd be paying for that unit to be shipped out and returned to me in the same condition. So the bottom line is if you want to save yourself a bunch of aggravation and time just buy the Fin Bore III for a lot less and better customer service (yes I have one of these also) and the only thing I replaced was the blades and those I bought at the local bait shop for half the price of the Nils master cutting head. As for the power head you can buy a less expensive power auger also and get better customer service. Now I understand why people buy products that are made someplace other than the USA because when it comes down to quality and service USA made does not pay! very poor quality control practices and even more rude employees that work there. Nils master in Vermont you get a failing grade. Also the cutting head I got was a refurbished one it still had the old paint chips like it was never cleaned properly before paint just painted over and re-sharpened I asked Nils rep about this also and he said it was new clearly lying to me again. I am positive I am not the only one who had this happen to them. If you do buy one good luck! with getting a good one and pray you don't need to call Nils Master. If I had to do it again I would have saved the money and got new blades for the fin bore. As for Tanaka its good quality made in Japan and runs like a bear! The Tanaka gets an A++. Now I have to call Cabelas and see if they will take back the Nils Master 6'' altogether and refund my money! I'll make sure to update you on their customer service when I hear back from them!

I just got off the phone with Nils USA's 'customer service'. I calmly explained the situation, that the first auger I had received had shipping damage and that I understood that was UPS's problem. The second auger that I received had an intact box, but minimal packaging inside. The handle had a large scrape and the blade head had paint chips and rough paint all over it, same as the first. The person I talked to was rude right from the start. As I am explaining the situation, he cut me off and said, "Okay, cut to the chase, what do you want?" At this point, I said that I was trying to be calm and courteous and that I didn't feel he was doing the same and he didn't acknowledge that and proceeded to ask me if I had taken it out on the ice. I said that I hadn't because I didn't want to use it and not be able to return it. He then raised his voice and said to take it out on the ice and then call him back; that they don't make a product that is pretty, but a product that works. I related that when I bought my Pro4 it was both cosmetically perfect and functioned well, which is what I expect when I pay top dollar for the best on the market. When I said that I would like to return the auger and get my money back he said that I could not do that and that I would have to contact the point of purchase (basically punting it back to Cabela's) because it's shipping damage. Now, why would he say that they don't make a product that's pretty (acknowledging the poor appearance) but then say it is due to shipping damage? He was also unable to answer my question as to why the paint is on the blade head in the first place (for protection of the metal) and whether it is important to have intact paint. I asked him if I could please have his name and he hung up on me. I will have to contact Cabela's next. It goes without saying that I will never purchase another item from Nils.