FamilyGoKarts.Com Scooter Buying Experience

[scootnewb]

April 11th 4 weeks after receiving the Hellcat and nothing. Familygokarts.com sold me a project bike.

[\\-olf]

I purchased another TaoTao ATM50A1 scooter tonight, same as my now ten year old scooter but new

My 2012 TaoTao has run well, it has close to 9,000 on the odometer, but being out in the weather and sun 24/7 takes it's toll on the plastics, the speedometer clear plastic cover has multiple cracks in it and is so cloudy you cant read it, a front shock lost it's hydraulic fluid, the seat (2nd one) is cracked at the seam, floor mat vanished long ago, various screws on the plastics missing, the front brake feels almost like there's more brake fluid in it than before, and so on, so it's time to get a new ride.

I think since the engine on it was replaced last year with a new one, and it runs very well, I will probably take the new unused engine out and swap it with the old one which is already broken in and valves adjusted, and the carb was replaced with a correctly jetted one etc, and store the new unused one away for a spare.
I will have to go thru the new one and replace rubber fuel hoses etc anyway, so I can just swop engines then.
Will report how the transaction and shipping goes with familygokarts.

Ok so the first thing I'm not thrilled about is this ridiculous 5 page long form they require everyone fill out and scan or fax back or email, I would have cancelled if I was not in a good mood tonight;

STEP 2: LIABILITY RELEASE: If you have not already done so, please make sure to review the LIABILITY RELEASE FORM you have received via email as soon as possible. Just click the link, read the document and accept the agreement using the button at the bottom of the form. If the window does not readily open when you click the link, make sure you do not have pop-ups blocked in your browser. You can also download the LIABILITY RELEASE FORM at the following link: www.familygokarts.com/manuals/atv_liability.pdf, sign and fax it to 877-513-4171 or scan and email to [e-mail]. All orders are placed on "hold" status until the liability release is received.

[90GTVert]

I don't recall having to fill that out when I bought my 2013 there. That's CYA and then some. It would be easier to provide a page that says simply; "Sh*t happens. It ain't our fault. It's yours now. Leave us alone." and require that you sign it.

[\\-olf]

Guess stuff happens since 2013, just more bs!

[\\-olf]

OK, here's my experiance on this so far, first, they didnt have the color I wanted, then the "free shipping" came with a $19 and change "fuel surcharge" and a $69 "Access" charge which was reduced when they credited the $19 and change "residential delivery charge" that was added onto my order with shipping to an obvious business address with a loading dock as I had specified, ok, whatever, so the lady said on the phone she would send a paypal invoice for the $49 whatever charge, 5 minutes later 2 emails come from her about the delivery, no actual "paypal" invoice so I just logged in, paid the amount June 8th , put in the "notes" describing it was for order #_____ access charge.
It went thru, but then they kept sending me "reminders" to pay the invoice and then CALLED me at work, I told the lady I had already PAID it and how, then today yet another "reminder" comes in the mail demanding payment!
If the scoot hadnt already been picked up by the shipper today I would be cancelling and disputing this and going elsewhere.
You cant reach them on the phone, always busy every time I tried, you send emails and they obviously dont even read them, posting on their public FB page or filing a dispute is about the only way to get them it seems.
You can't do ANYTHING about the invoice sent via paypal, cant cancel, dispute or anything, and the resolution center is useless on that, so it just sits there.
More details and the conclusion in a few days, scheduled to deliver Friday

[\\-olf]

Ok an update on this...
The very next evening after I posted about- my enitre work place burned to the ground June 15th, leaving me with 2nd degree burns on my arms, almost 2nd degree on my scalp and forehead, I had to get skin grafts on my arms 5 days later.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd_GJNiffw0

Of course the loading dock was no longer available so I had to call the transport and have them deliver to a local electrician who has a shop and a forklift and volunteered to get it off tyhe truck for me and store it until I could go over, assemble it and bring it home.

I wound up deleting the email forwarding I used for the order because these clowns at familygokarts couldnt seem to figure out I already PAID the charge they had tacked onto their "free" shipping, that stopped the constant "reminders" to pay that.
The scooter arrived in good shape and Friday I went over and assembled it, put gas in, changed the oil and rode it home.

Today I put in the NGK plug, swopped the carb from my old scoot, changed the fuel line, put the windshield on and did some more to it
Photo from the other day before I did the work on it

imgur.com/a/qOwRjky

[90GTVert]

Sorry to hear about the fire and your injuries, but at least I'm glad that you received the scoot and you're up to working on it now.

[\\-olf]

Jul 12, 2021 18:29:29 GMT -5 90GTVert said:

Sorry to hear about the fire and your injuries, but at least I'm glad that you received the scoot and you're up to working on it now.

Thanks a lot! I'm still recovering at home, and then we had a tornado go thru town the other day, geez!

Meanwhile the clue-impared people at familygokarts are STILL mailing me "reminders" to pay their stupid invoice I paid June 6th!! it got to the point where I had to delete my email forwarder off my domain to stop their damn emails.

Backer-Wencecl Incorporated <[e-mail]>
On 7/11/21 6:58 PM, Backer-Wencecl Incorporated wrote:
> Hello, [e-mail]
>
> Please pay your invoice
>
> Backer-Wencecl Incorporated would like to remind you to pay invoice xxxxxxxxxx.
>
> Amount due: $49.80 USD
>
> Due on receipt
>
> View and Pay Invoice [https://www

To recap- the $49.80 was some BS "access charge" on their "free" shipping even though it was going to a business loading dock.
I will never deal with these people again, big mistake.

[captincvmn]

Damn man, I just scrolled down through this thread.
Pipe organ builder. Once upon a time I was a pipe organ service guy. Working for my dad and his business in Baltimore Md. We worked with Möeller pipe organs mostly and we installed the last organ to come from the factory before the shutdown in ‘91? I think there was a brief revival after that but then it went for good. Both my parents went to Peabody in Baltimore and I grew up with pipe organ music and parts all around. Wonderful fantastic machines. Hopefully Dobson can come back from this. The artisans who build organs are unique to their trade.

[\\-olf]

Jul 16, 2021 11:22:09 GMT -5 captincvmn said:

We worked with Möeller pipe organs mostly and we installed the last organ to come from the factory before the shutdown in ‘91

Very cool! yeah Ive been the trade, same workplace here 23 years, and in fact I have a highly modified Moller with additions in my residence.
I'm still recovering from my injuries and likely will be for an unknown number of weeks yet.

[\\-olf]

OK final resolution to-day, first, familygocarts tried to blame ME for "randomly" paying them with paypal that they didn't get notifications of!
Forget that I repeatedly sent them screen shots and transaction details proving I paid and they never responded to any of those other than to send more "reminders" to pay the invoice I never got.

"

"Notes from merchant" :

If you would have paid via the invoice we sent instead of randomly sending payment that we don't get notification of, we wouldn't have this issue.

I never GOT an "invoice" all I was told on the phone by their girl was she was sending an invoice for the amount, minutes later 2 emails came in- both had only the shipment tracking and details, there was no "paypal" invoice, so I paid the amount due to their email address and added the order number and details into the "notes" section and paid June 8.
They pissed me off one time too many with all this and I filed a claim with Paypal, not demanding or expecting a refund but Paypal issued me a refund for that suspect "access charge" on the "free" shipping. $49.80 added for shipping is NOT "free" shipping!! Especially since I did not ask for or need any special obviously chargeable items like residential liftgate or "white glove" delivery, it was business dock pickup to business dock delivery

Case closed in your favor

We (Paypal) reviewed the case you filed on July 11, 2021 and have decided in your favor.

We've issued a refund of $49.80 USD to you. It may take up to 5 days for this refund to be reflected on your PayPal account or bank. If you paid using a credit or debit card, the money will be refunded to your card. Depending on your card issuer, it can take up to 30 days for the refund to appear on your card statement.

Dispute case ID PP-D-xxxxxxxx
Transaction amount $49.80 USD
Dispute amount $49.80 USD
Transaction date June 9, 2021
Seller name Backer-Wencel Incorporated
Transaction ID xxxxxxx

So my opinion I will never deal with these people again, if someone else wants to buy from them feel free, the scooter arrived in good condition (not that THEY had anything at all to do with that, it was drop-shipped from Tao's Texas warehouse) I wanted orange but it was not available, that's TaoTao's inventory at fault for that, I have no experience with the warrantee or anything of that kind and won't.
Just be aware that "free" shipping from these people comes with add-on fees, first my total had a residential liftgate charge on it which I had to call and get removed, they credited that and added an "access charge" to come up with the $49.80 due

Here's a screen cap tonight from their web site, note it says "FREE SHIPPING" yet they charged me a BS "access fee", this is false advertising;