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.
