Chapter Three

On the 9^th of February my bank informed me that the Winwin Auto Group had not contested my second claim and the funds were returned to my account. Since the matter was closed I was planning to purchase a Kymco Xciting 250 locally. 

Or so I thought; on Saturday February 24 the Winwin Auto Group again raised its ugly head when I got a call from ScooterDemand telling me they had a new distributor and used UPS as their shipper. They were now prepared to send me a third replacement scooter if I would contact my bank and rescind my claim against them. When I declined, I was asked to pay $250 to cover the shipping charges for the scooter I refused to accept. When I refused to pay them any more money for something that was not my fault, I was told they were going to turn the matter over to a collection agency.  

I told them I would have to consider my alternatives and get back to them.  

I had three choices, pay their extortion of $250 for shipping costs for which I am sure they had already recovered from the shipping company’s insurance, accept shipment on a third scooter, or fight a collection agency ad-nausium. Everyone knows what happens to ones credit rating if anything goes up for collection. 

Now I understand why the company boasts of never having lost a case against having to refund money – they win by intimidation.

I succumb to the threat of collection and elected to take their offer to send another scooter. However with the stipulation that if this scooter arrived damage, it would be their third strike and all money would be refunded with no questions asked.  

They agreed to send me the Tank Urban Touring 250 in place of the Roketa Bali 250. I hope it is a better machine and it gets here intact. See the specs at: http://www.scooterdemand.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10 

I wish I could say that everything went as pledged. I talked to Mike the customer service representative who promised the new scooter would be mounted on a wooden pallet to prevent forklift damage; it was not. However UPS did a good job of delivering the scooter with minimal damage to the metal frame.

I specifically ordered a Silver scooter with their total assurance they had silver models in stock. The scooter arrived on Friday, March second however it was Black. When I called Mike about the wrong color, he apologized and offered to take $50.00 off the price if I would accept the black one. I said OK if he would expedite sending the registration paperwork. I gave him the VIN number and He said he would sent the paperwork right out.

That was only the beginning of the problems with this scooter. The Roketa arrived with the front wheel assembled; the Tank did not. This in itself would not have been a problem for me except the two major pieces required to mount the front wheel were missing. I.E. the right side spacer and the speedometer gear assembly.  I once again called Mike who transferred me to their parts department where I ordered the missing parts. I requested he send me an e-mail with the tracking number. This all transpired on the same day the scooter arrived. When I did not receive an e-mail from the company by Tuesday the sixth I tried calling the parts department only to be told all personnel were busy assisting other customers and to leave a message. I have been down that road with them many times before and only once has someone returned my call. I called several times an hour before I got through late that afternoon. That is when I was told they did not have the parts in stock and would have to get them from another scooter. (I can only assume that is why my parts were missing.) I immediately started researching the Internet for Tank scooter parts and found a site who had what I needed. http://www.scootersgeorgia.com/tascpa.html

On Wednesday the seventh I ordered the parts from Georgia and received them on Friday. I mounted the front wheel and completed the setup. I added battery acid, break fluid, anti-freeze coolant, and changing the inferior CVT gear oil all appeared to be working. I put a gallon of gas in the tank, turned on the key, pressed the starter, and the scooter began running.

Before I could road test the scooter I waited 27 day for the registration paperwork.

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 in stead of the Silver one.” (Phone number again.) The call was never returned.

More as I get it written.