I bought a new scooter with 50 miles on it. I used it for about three months and thirty miles problem-free and running fine. While driving, the bike stopped and all the lights went off. The closest dealer is over 300 miles away and told me over the phone that it was probably a fuse since it was running fine when it stopped.
A manager at OTC Powersports, LLC told me to bring my scooter to the shop. He told me if they could not fix it, there would be no cost. I brought the scooter to the shop and the story changed. I was told by a second manager that there would be a minimum one hour $75 diagnostics fee. I thought that this was expensive for a fuse but I wanted to get the bike back working after sitting for a year in the garage.
After a few days and no phone calls, I was prepared to pick up the bike and bring it to another shop. I received a call saying that it was fixed.
I went to the shop to pick it up and was told a long list of items that had to be fixed on the NEW bike. They claim that they had to clean out the carburetor because a bike sitting for a year could have moss growing in it. They claim that the battery had to be replaced. Two months previously, I had brought the battery to Interstate Battery and was told that it was good and did not need replacing. They claim that someone had previously worked on this NEW bike and had some wires crossed. They claim the sparkplug was corroded and not making contact (after just 90 miles driven).
I was told that the bill is now $239.88. I asked, “Why didn’t someone call me to discuss repairs before performing them”. I was told that he thought that I just wanted it fixed regardless of the cost. I told him that I may have but it was my choice to make not his. I told him that I was not happy. His reply was an offer to buy my bike as-is for $500. He said that he could sell it for $1,500. So, he did not want to rip me off once, but twice. I told him that I was reluctantly paying the bill but I was definitely not happy.
I am not sure of the law in Florida regarding scooter repair. For automobiles, if the repair exceeds $100, the shop MUST give a written estimate. The repair shop must contact you before exceeding the estimate by $10 or 10 percent whichever is greater. I do not want to comment more on this until I do research on the Attorney Generals website.
I went to get my scooter. I had told them that the back seat lock was having problems. Their solution to this was to pry the seat open. This damaged the lock making it un-lockable and had several parts missing. He went into the shop and gave me the parts that he could find. I did not notice until the next day that more parts were missing including the backrest. I drove the bike for a mile. It only ran sluggish, sputtering and died while driving. I called the manager and was told that it may be out of gas because it was low at his shop. He told me that they rode it all over and it worked fine. I checked the gas and found over half a tank. He told me to bring it back. I told him that I would bring it the next day.
The next day, I filled the tank with premium gas and drove it back to his shop. He drove the bike and told me that he was experiencing the same thing.
He later called me with more distressing news. He said that he would need to check the air system, the drive belt and transmission. I asked him what the drive belt and transmission had to do with the motor sputtering. His answer was that they were all tied together. He said that he would not repair it under warranty but at an additional charge. He said that I only paid him to get the bike to crank not to make it run correctly. He said he did everything that he was paid to do.
I picked up my bike this morning and drove it at 36 MPH to my garage. In my opinion, this repair shop has done damage to my bike. It will crank but cannot be driven without sputtering and dying in the street.
On a humorous note, their website states “SATISFACTION IS OUR GUARANTEE”
As I told their manager, I will now be required to bring the scooter to a competent repair shop to make the necessary repairs. I will need to pay them to fix the damages created by OTC Powersports, LLC.
KTutor
Tampa,#2Author of original report
Sat, September 07, 2013
As requested in the last company rebuttal, I went to the shop and asked for Paul, Sr. His son, PJ, told me the best way to reach him was through his cell phone. I called Paul and he suggested that I bring to scooter back to the shop, where they would remove it and give me a full refund.
Since I did not have the old battery, On 8/16, I texted him and requested that I purchase a new battery (exact brand/model -$45) and deliver it to the shop for a full refund. Paul said that he would give me a partial refund (less the cost of the battery - $59) and then post the refund on Rip Off Report.
We again communicated via text on 8/30. Paul required that I respond first on Rip Off Report that he intends to give me a psrtial refund before delivering the check. As required for the partial refund, I am posting on Rip Off Report.
OTC Powersports
Tampa,#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sat, August 03, 2013
Ken i am sure you would agree any time there are two sides that have two different takes on a situation frustration is the result. How you can claim that our satisfaction guarantee is not real when we offered ALL of your MONEY BACK? If you would like to resolve this in a professional manner please contact me at your convenience. As the principal owner I will discuss it with you. If I or probably any consumer was dissatisfied with a product or service and a full refund was offered even if the company felt it was in the right what else could be done? Thats what our guarantee says and that is what was immediately offerred. I am sure any consumer reading this would agree. We have done all we can and should.
if you wish to speak with me you can reach me at the shop and ask for Paul Sr. This will be the last response as we have done all we can.
Thank you
KTutor
Tampa,#4Author of original report
Sat, August 03, 2013
I was told up front my cost would be $75 diagnostic fee with no estimate to repair the bike. This is a scooter with just a few wires. How could a competent mechanic take four hours to trace an electrical problem?
I did claim this as a new scooter. It sat on the store floor for two years and I am the only owner. It had 50 miles on it when I bought it. For five months, it was running fine until the fuse blew (or whatever caused the total loss of power). The shop that told me this was over the telephone and in Georgia. I told this to PJ, the manager when I left it there. He now suggests that I should have brought it to Georgia.
He is lying about bullying someone else. He is trying to misdirect and shift blame for this problem. This my first complaint EVER about any business.
The only offer made to me was to not pay my bill and sell my bike to them for $500. He told me that he could sell it easily for $1,500. I stated this in my initial report. I was asked when I left if I wanted my old battery back. I told them no.
All my claims can be verified by a ride on the scooter. Until I bring it to a qualified mechanic, I will not know what is wrong or what damage may have been done.
Since this report, one of the managing members of this LLC has texted my cell phone three times with threats of retaliation from his partners. Who is the bully?
I suggest anyone reading this and are considering using OTC Powersports, to get your estimate in writing. It is the law and it may save you this headache.
OTC Powersports
Tampa,#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sat, August 03, 2013
This gentlemen Ken brought his scooter in as it was not running. He was told up front what the charges would be. It turned out to be an electrical issue and our mechanic worked on tracing this back for over 4 hours. In any other shop in town 4 hours would have been at least $396 alone in labor, we charged half of that. We also checked his battery and determined the battery was no good. We put in a new battery and got the scooter up and running after it had no been sitting for 2 YEARS (DID HE NOT CLAIM IN HIS REPORT IT WAS A NEW SCOOTER) When Ken came in he basically said our bill was too high and what could we do about it ? Please note he is a friend of someone that works at our shop and this is not the first time Ken has tried to bully people into paying less. As our company policy states satisfaction is our Guarantee. So one of the owners offered Ken ALL OF HIS MONEY BACK .We would remove the new battery and put the wiring harness back the way that it was and he could take it to another shop. Well we all know what he chose. Now he says its not running the way it use to.
So he claims the scooter was new yet he told us it had been sitting for 2 years. He claimed another shop could have fixed it for $75 by putting a fuse in? Really? Why not bring it there immediately. We offered his money back. He said no I will pay. Why would he pay? Because we got his scooter running at half the cost he would have been charged at many other places!
Now that he could not bully us into discounting his bill he makes fraudulent claims in an open forum! Want to speak to hundreds of satisfied customers Ken stop by and we will make arrangements for you to meet them.
OTC POWERSPORTS WHERE SATISFACTION IS GURANTEED!!