POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A Local 10 News viewer decided to "Call Christina" after she said her brand new electric blue scooter wasn't taking a charge.
During this Call Christina investigation, the dealer opted to give her close to a full refund, but the viewer refused the offer. Instead, she opted to accept the replacement part delivered by the manufacturer and get the scooter fixed at a different shop.
The takeaway from her story is to always obtain an itemized receipt when exchanging money for a product, good or service.
Also, check what is covered in the manufacturer's warranty before purchasing a brand new scooter, because Florida's Lemon Law protection does not extend to scooters.
Stephanie Waldrop said she fell in love with her brand new Peace Industry Group BASH TPGS 808 scooter.
"It is blue, my favorite color," Waldrop said.
Her bill of sale from Bike and Scooter Super Shop in Pompano Beach shows she purchased it for $1,200 in January. Since then, a problem with what she described as the scooter's charging station has prevented her from enjoying her new ride. Since January she's only been able to use her scooter a handful of times.
"There's no way the juice is coming through the scooter, just one part. It could be the voltage regulator," Waldrop said.
The Florida Attorney General's Office explained that the state's Lemon Law protection doesn't extend to scooters.
After she felt like the dealer was giving her a tough time about honoring the manufacturer's warranty, Waldrop contacted Local 10.
"I don't want to have to fix something that I shouldn't have to fix," she said.
When Local 10 News investigator Christina Vazquez approached dealer and owner Marcio Andreoli in early April, he was on the phone with the manufacturer discussing Waldrop's scooter.
"We contacted the manufacturer to fix her bike. They (are) going to ship the parts to her," Andreoli said. "The part is not here yet. That is why I talk to the manufacturer right now on the phone. You know that. You see that."
Waldrop claimed Andreoli was planning on charging her for the part and labor, but Andreoli told Local 10 he would do it for free.
"Of course, we take care of everybody here, everybody. You can go Google my name or my company's name and no one complaining about me. We (are) the best scooter shop in Florida," Andreoli said. "We know that. Everybody know that. Ask any scooter driver in the world. If you ask about me, everybody is going to give me an A-plus."
Bike and Scooter Super Shop currently holds a D rating with the Better Business Bureau.
At last check, it had 4.2 stars out of 5 stars in reviews on Google.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles told Local 10 News the only complaint on file is Waldrop's.
In her case, an investigator cited a dealer violation of "improper assessment of lien, also conflict resolution of lien assignment."
They also stumbled on the same snafu Local 10 did when trying to sort out the case.
Waldrop insisted she paid for tag, title and registration in cash, handing the money to a store employee. It is a claim Andreoli denies.
"We did a title, tag, and registration for her," he said. "We pay for her, she's supposed to pay for (it). She never come in here and pay. What (is) she going to do? Pay for her bills and then we take care of her bike, easy."
The problem, according the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Investigative Report, is "neither one of them had receipts to show whether the complainant paid for the tag and title and the accessories."
An investigator also found that the "bill of Sale didn't clearly define what had been paid."
Waldrop concedes she owes the dealer $45 for a lock.
Last week, the owner said he would refund her $1,100 of the $1,200 listed on the bill of sale, but Waldrop passed on the offer. She said she decided she wants another shop to fix the bike with the part the dealer secured from the manufacturer.
The takeaway here:
- Always obtain an itemized receipt when exchanging money.
- Check the manufacturer's warranty when buying a brand new scooter.
Follow Christina Vazquez on Twitter @CallChristinaTV
Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10