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 spark plug 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. read more