Chapter One
After 50 years
of motorcycling and selling my last Suzuki a few years ago I decided to
look into getting a scooter instead of another motorcycle. I
spent several months searching the
Internet before I found what I considered the best company with whom to do
business. I selected ScooterDemand.Com because they appeared to offer the best warrantee. (Free 38 months). However I have since
questioned my judgment and their integrity!
I have included a link to their website BUT I do not recommend you
purchase from them! http://www.scooterdemand.com/index.asp
Here begins
the saga and fate of the first Roketa
Bali 250 touring scooter.
On the 11th
of September 2006 I ordered a Roketa Bali 250 Touring scooter from
ScooterDemand It arrived promptly on the 15th.
I wish I could
say the shipper (Custom Company Inc. and/or Action Delivery) guarded its goods with as much care as
they were prompt. The shipping container was practically destroyed and except
for my overly zealous anticipation of its arrival, I nearly refused to accept the scooter.
After the driver
removed the torn exterior cardboard I noticed the base of the
container's uneven framework and mistakenly assumed that was normal
packaging. However, I found no immediate apparent damage to the scooter
itself. He then told me that if there was any serious damage to the scooter, they would return it for a replacement.
With that assurance, I reluctantly
signed the delivery receipt.
The delivery pictures are self explanatory. See
Pictures.
The
Saga Continues
Customer support at
ScooterDemand (A subsidiary of the Winwin Auto Group)
told me I would have to get proof of damage before sending any replacement
parts. I sent them these pictures. Customer support told me the pictures
were not proof enough, that I should take the scooter to a shop and get a
professional's opinion. Also that all costs of repair would be at my
expense. So much for their 36 month
warrantee!
Before I could get proof, of the damage I suspected, I had to wait for them to
send me the paperwork in order to get the scooter registered at the Arizona
DMV. I then took the scooter to a local Motorcycle shop for inspection and
evaluation. Three professional motorcycle mechanics confirmed the scooter
was out of alignment; the front wheel assembly was out of alignment with the
rear wheel, and the scooter was unsafe to drive.
I once again contacted Customer support
at ScooterDemand and asked about getting the damaged scooter replaced
and they told me since I had accepted the scooter there was NOTHING
they could (or would) do about the problem and I should place a
claim with the shipping
company.
I e-mailed the transportation company (Custom Company Inc) and received an
immediate phone call in response. The man I spoke with sounded promising toward replacing
the damaged scooter. However, days passed and
after hours on the phone with dealers, shippers, and filling out damage
claim forms the
Custom Company authorized
the scooter's replacement.
Many more days passed
with
multiple phone calls between Action Delivery (the people who delivered the
scooter to my home) and Custom Company (main shipper) the damaged scooter
was picked up by Action Delivery on the 19th of October.
A week passed, more phone
calls, and on Friday, 27 October I learned the replacement scooter was en route and should
arrive on or about Monday, 3, November .
Whoever said, “Lightning never strikes in
the same place twice.” has not dealt with shipping companies.
See Chapter 2.
