From what the op posted, they weren't exactly interested in his complaint, if you complained to customer service about something like that, and got that response, what else would you call it? How would you feel? It's like they couldn't give a ****
I thought the response from customer service was 100% acceptable and polite..
I'm not sure where you are seeing anything about not giving a ***.. Nor where you read disinterest or anything into it..
The customer asked a question.. Got an answer.. Promptly disagreed and stated that the answer received was wrong/incorrect.. Customer service verified their response and responded accordingly.. case closed..
I can't read anything else into it and shouldn't.. Nothing there is wrong at all nor "terrible customer service"..
Could it have gone "better" for the customer?.. Sure..
Can the customer request that the case be reopened or submit another?.. Sure they can in this mostly free world..
A company surely does not need to give out information on the who/what/why of their internal workings and Engineering decisions..
The customer is perfectly capable of using their rights and returning the product if they are not happy with it.. Seems that they are still within the warranty period too.. But warranties typically cover "manufacturing defects".. Surface rust or visible rust on a stainless steel shaft in a marine environment does not equal a manufacturing defect. Its perfectly normal..
Now could ecotech have made a "better" choice in material selection.. Sure/maybe.. but they are using SS shafts.. Its what it is..
I'm sorry that some of you feel that the premium price you are paying to Ecotech is going towards more expensive/exotic materials and that you feel that this price somehow should guarantee a higher form of quality.. Its very clear its not and does not and it should not be expected to. Ecotech from what I've read has always stated that their higher price is mostly due to the R&D they put into each product and that the elevated price is to recoup that in a sensible time frame. Just like many other products in this world much of the elevated price is because of the brand and quite frankly they keep that price because people are paying it...
Now again without pictures to judge the state of the corrosion I really can't comment any further..
If there is visible pitting of said shaft or other signs of more than just surface rusting then there is/may be a case here..
But without further information I really don't see it as a problem.. and I certainly don't feel that the customer service responses were a problem or unacceptable or anything less that normal/polite..