I originally ordered what I thought would be a silver
Tank-250 motor scooter from ScooterDemand on the 9th of September
2006. It took them until the 2nd of March 2007 to actually deliver an
undamaged scooter to me. It was their third try. The first was a Roketa Bali-250
scooter and destroyed in shipment. The second arrived in similar condition and I
declined the shipment. After they refused to send a third replacement, I stopped
payment on the purchase because they failed to deliver as advertised. It took
six-month of bank arbitration to get my money back.
I thought I was free and clear of the Winwin Auto Group
until I got a phone call from Mike at Scooterdemand. The company had decided to
send a third replacement if I would relinquish my claim at the bank. When I
declined their offer he had the audacity to ask me to pay $250.00 for the
shipping costs on the scooters I did not receive. When I refused, he threatened
to send my case to a collection agency and boasted how they had never lost a
case.
The Winnin Auto Group had me between a rock and a hard
place and it was certainly a no-brainer choice. Succumb to their extortion and
pay shipping charges, risk destroying my good credit rating while fighting with
a collection agency, or agree to purchase a third scooter.
Before I agreed to order another scooter I revisited the
website and decided on the silver Tank Urban 250. At the time I placed the order
with Mike, he promised they had my silver colored scooters in stock and it would
be shipped via UPS on a wooden pallet to prevent forklift damage.
Promise one broken: The scooter was not shipped on a
wooden pallet but arrived unscathed because UPS did a good job of delivering it
with only slight damage to the metal shipping frame.
Promise two broken: The scooter that arrived was Black. I
called customer support and to my surprise Mike answered the phone. He could not
explain why the scooter was not on a pallet or why I got a Black scooter instead
of Silver. He did however promise to reduce my purchase price $50.00 if I would
accept the Black one. I said OK and gave him the VIN number at which time he
promised to send the registration paperwork right out.
To add insult to injury, as I unpacked the scooter and
began to assemble the front end I discovered the two major parts required to
mount the front wheel were missing. From there it was virtually impossible to
get anyone in customer support or the parts department on the phone without
getting the recording, “All our support personnel are busy assisting other
customers, please leave a message.” I have left dozens of messages over the
course of the past seven-months but the only ones I received were the calls
threatening me with legal action.
I found the only way to get past the automated answering
machine is to persist in dialing the number until someone answers. The next day
I dialed until I manage to get to talk to the man in the parts department who
informed me they did not have the parts in stock and would have to get them from
another scooter. I wonder if that is why my front wheel parts were missing! It
took 14 days to get the parts and after installing the front wheel, adding break
fluid, anti-freeze coolant, and changing the inferior CVT gear oil I got the
scooter set up and running. All appeared to be working but I can’t road test the
machine until after I get the registration paperwork.
Promise three broken: After the paperwork finally arrived
(27 days later) the Bill of Sale did not reflect any $50.00 reduction in price
and my credit card has not been credited. I tried for three days to contact
customer support but could not get past their automated answering machine
system. I left messages for Mike; (My name and phone number) “I am still waiting
for the $50.00 refund you told me I would get if I accepted the Black scooter
instead of the Silver one you promised to send.” (Phone number again.) I am
still waiting for his return call!
I went to the Tank-Sports website and got their warranty
information that every Tank dealer is supposed to fill out prior to delivery and
supply to the customer. At the time I ordered my scooter I ask Mike if this
warranty form would be included in my paperwork and he assured me it would be. I
did not get this form.
http://www.tank-sports.com//documentation/form/PDI-delivery-form-2006.pdf
So if you ask me if I recommend Scooterdemand.com as a
place to buy a scooter, I can say their Tank products may be as advertised and a
good buy for the price, if and when you can get one delivered intact. However
everything else is questionable and leaves much to be desired. Do I recommend
them as a reputable place to do business, I would say buyer be advised and shop
elsewhere.
To read and see pictures of the entire
horror story and my battle with the Winwin Auto Group visit my other website:
http://members.tripod.com/roketa-250/
