American River Bike Shop

This customer came into the business with an electric scooter disassembled. We informed him that we don not repair motorized vehicles of any sort. He asked us to still repair his scooter, stating that he his a vet. and that he did not have the money to pay a scooter shop to do the repairs. After...

approx. an hour of the customer asking us to repair the electric scooter, we informed him we would look at the issue. However that if we attempted the repair we would not know if it would be ok. He agreed. We found his headset had been over tightened and destroyed. The customer ten told us he had someone in his neighborhood try to fix it. He then asked us to try and it wasn't a big deal if we could not repair it. We back ordered a new headset, because it was not available at the time. We then informed him that the scooter was originally designed or manufactured in Santa Rosa, either way, there was a number we could call to get the scooter repaired correctly. When the part arrived we attempted the repair. We were not satisfied with the repair, and decided we would not charge him. The customer assembled his scooter and proceeded to ride around in the shop on it. At this point we told the customer he was not allowed to ride his electric scooter around in the shop. He began to disassemble the scooter in front of the counter. The scooter then launched forward at what appeared to be full throttle. Almost running over two people. The customer grabbed the scooter to stop it. While the customer held the scooter, it did a "burn-out" on floor and started to smoke from what we believe was the battery compartment. After the customer regained control of the scooter we requested the scooter be removed from the shop. A few days later the customer came back and requested $150.00 to pay for a new wiring harness. We said no, and that he would need to talk to the owner of the business. He then came back and asked for $1250.00. We said no. He left his contact information, and that was the last time we saw him in person. There were some attempts by the owner of this business to meet with the customer. For any further information please call [redacted]

Review: My name is [redacted] and my address is [redacted], Sacramento, California 95826. My phone number is [redacted]. I would like to file a complaint against American River Bicycle located at [redacted], Sacramento, California 95826. Their phone number is [redacted].

On April 24, 2014. I took my [redacted] 3 EZ, battery operated scooter to their bicycle shop to have my handle bars tightened up because they were very loose. I was told by the head mechanic that it would not be a problem to fix the headset but if they needed a new headset they would call me to confirm the cost, but if not it would cost no more than $20.00. He said he would start work on it Thursday because he only worked from Thursday through Sunday and he would let me know.

One week went by and I went over there to see what progress they had made. The mechanic said he would have to order the parts called the headset.

Another week went by and I went back to the shop to see what was happening and the mechanic said the part was going to take longer because they had to switch carriers from [redacted] to [redacted] and I said okay. But felt they were stalling me, I said okay because they had taken the scooter apart was on a bike stand.

Week number three I called and they had just got the parts in and my electric scooter would be ready by next week.

On May 24, 2014, I went to the bicycle shop to pick up my [redacted] 3 electric scooter and he said it was ready but my scooter was still on the bike stand, still dismantled. The mechanic said I had a flat front tire; it was not flat when I took the scooter to them. I told the mechanic that he needed to fix my front tire because nothing was wrong with it when I dropped it off with them. So he put in a new tire, but it was not my tire I had on the scooter. The mechanic did this to please me and he wanted me to leave the store.

I then made the decision to take my scooter down off the bike stand. I re-assembled the scooter by myself; they seemed like they did not know how to reassemble the scooter. After I reassembled my scooter I turned it on to make it run, but the scooter would not work. Then I noticed that some Electrical wires were different and some black electrical tap had been placed over some wires. My front head lights and my horn were not hooked up, as they wre whne I dropped it off to them. I tried to hook up the horn and the head lights and smoke started coming out of the wiring harness, they seemed shocked. I ask them have they ever worked on an electric scooter before. And they said no. I then decided to get my scooter our of there, so I said how much do I owe you? The mechanic said the part cost $15.00, and then said since we had your scooter for a long time. I will only charge you $15.00 or an 18 pack of [redacted] beer. I went to get the beer and bought it back and they started drinking on the job. I wanted to see how they do business.

On May 24, 2014, I took my scooter to my electrician [redacted]. He looked at my scooter and said all the wires had been ripped a part and he could not fix it, he would not even try to fix it.

I called the American Bicycle shop to talk to the owner to see what could be done about getting this problem solved, and was told to meet him on Monday at 11:00 am. I went to meet with him and the word was he had left early. I then asked when he would be in again, they said tomorrow at 3:00 pm. I went to meet with him again and the word was he was busy. I left my phone number so he could call me and we could sit down and talk about my problem, but no phone call was ever received.

I then took my scooter to another mechanic called Midtown Moped in Sacramento, California. After a week he said he could not fix it, because the wiring was so messed up he could not figure it out, so he told me to come and get the scooter. [redacted] called me and gave me a phone number of a scooter mechanic, who lives in Santa Rosa, California. His name is [redacted] his phone number is [redacted]. I called him and made an appointment with him. It took about two weeks for me to get there. I have pancreatic cancer and became very sick with the stress of these events.

Finally, after four months later I was able to take my scooter [redacted], it took about two hours to get there and when I met with him said he could fix it. He could not fix the head lights or the horn. He also found that the 3 batteries would not work. I told him I would get new batteries or get them charged, so I took them back to Sacramento and a week later we got the batteries to him.

On Monday I went to buy 3 new batteries that cost $100.00. On Saturday morning my fiance and I drove back to Santa Rosa, California. The mechanic took the batteries and told me to come back in 2 hours. I returned to his and my scooter was read, although the head lights and horn still did not work. He charged $200.00 to fix my scooter. It took my fiance and me, four trips to get to Santa Rosa. It took approximately 440 miles and $200.00 work of gas.

My fiance bought the scooter for me because I am a disabled vet, with pancreatic cancer; I have two knee replacements and have to wear knee braces to get around. My fiance bought the scooter for me to make my life a little easier so I could get to my appointments on the light rail and get to the store to get my medicine, instead of constantly walking everywhere during the day. My scooter made me feel good about myself that I could things for myself and not have to bother people.Desired Settlement: The American Bicycle has made my life hell; I have never had any work done to my scooter, until I took it to the American Bicycle Shop. I never thought a company would do this to a customer and not try to fix the problem. I served my and your country to make this a better place to live and never have to worry about how to raise their family. I met a few people that had done wrong to them, but they tried to work with them on resolving their problem. The bicycle shop will continue to do business as if no one stands up to them. My [redacted] 3 EZ Scooter cost $845.00 when it was brand new. I have spend $1400.00 to get my life back and they are responsible for all of the damages and I should be compensated for all the grief I have been through. I hope with the help of the Revdex.com that we can stop businesses from doing things like they did to me.

Thank you very much. [redacted]

Business

Response:

This customer came into the business with an electric scooter disassembled. We informed him that we don not repair motorized vehicles of any sort. He asked us to still repair his scooter, stating that he his a vet. and that he did not have the money to pay a scooter shop to do the repairs. After approx. an hour of the customer asking us to repair the electric scooter, we informed him we would look at the issue. However that if we attempted the repair we would not know if it would be ok. He agreed. We found his headset had been over tightened and destroyed. The customer ten told us he had someone in his neighborhood try to fix it. He then asked us to try and it wasn't a big deal if we could not repair it. We back ordered a new headset, because it was not available at the time. We then informed him that the scooter was originally designed or manufactured in Santa Rosa, either way, there was a number we could call to get the scooter repaired correctly. When the part arrived we attempted the repair. We were not satisfied with the repair, and decided we would not charge him. The customer assembled his scooter and proceeded to ride around in the shop on it. At this point we told the customer he was not allowed to ride his electric scooter around in the shop. He began to disassemble the scooter in front of the counter. The scooter then launched forward at what appeared to be full throttle. Almost running over two people. The customer grabbed the scooter to stop it. While the customer held the scooter, it did a "burn-out" on floor and started to smoke from what we believe was the battery compartment. After the customer regained control of the scooter we requested the scooter be removed from the shop. A few days later the customer came back and requested $150.00 to pay for a new wiring harness. We said no, and that he would need to talk to the owner of the business. He then came back and asked for $1250.00. We said no. He left his contact information, and that was the last time we saw him in person. There were some attempts by the owner of this business to meet with the customer. For any further information please call [redacted]