Patience Pays (sometimes)

I bought a new Lowrance LHR-22 waterproof VHF handheld earlier this year for $50 as a second radio (that and I could not pass up a deal). It worked great and was doing fine until it fell in. No biggie (water is 3' deep and warm), I rummaged around and found it in short order. Tx'd and Rx'd just fine. Waterproof works

Problem didn't pop up till a month later when I looked for it again. Turned it on, no life. Tried to charge it, no dice. Took off the battery and looked at the terminals. They'd turned to a pile of green dust then fell off.   Moral of the story: rinse your gear after use (especially after a dunking).
So I called Lowrance and told them my tale of woe (sans the part about not rinsing it  ) and they say send it in. That was in early July. Didn't really think about it till deep August when I called to see what the deal was.

Back-ordered. ok 

Called back early Sept.
Back-ordered, Hmmmmmm   

Called today.
Back-ordered and no expected shipping date.

Why yes, as a matter of fact I was fuming by then, but I remained polite and asked when would it at least be known when it would be received. She didn't know but would be happy to let me talk with customer service.
(I was talking to customer service). So I waited.

"There are less than 5 callers ahead of you" the recording said.
HMMMMMMMn, 

Eventually someone answered the phone and I explained the situation again. She put me on hold
She eventually came back and said that she'd talked with her super, and he'd agreed to upgrade me to the LHR-80 <DSC, waterproof, GPS, and floats> and that she'd next day it to me tomorrow. 
I'll be thrilled when it gets here, but till then,,,

Yeah, been looking at that unit myself - goes for over $160!