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This article again deals with unscrupulous dealers, both online and in person. This is a dirty little secret that too many users are falling for.

The first issue is parts, repairs and warranty. Most dealers don't mention the fact that they do not sell parts. Since most dealers sell via auction sites or websites you never see the shop they use or their inventory. Customers have to know that they will be supported in their purchase.

Auction sites such as ebay are the worst for this type of behaviour. The dealers are simply dropshipping the bikes and not even mentioning any type of parts or warranty.

We have seen this type of behaviour in stores as well. When you walk in they have a dozen bikes, but not one part on the wall or on a shelf.

As for warranty, dealers typically do not have one. Some of them will replace broken parts during shipping, but those are the exception and not the rule.

The second issue after parts is maintenance. Users need to know how to fix their own bike or at least keep it tuned. We have seen bikes with 10 times more oil than they should have and the owner wonders why it won't run. They simply weren't told how much oil to add or have no way of measuring the oil.

The "manual" that comes with a pocketbike is so highly inadequate that you might as well just use it for kindling. There is no mention of how to start the bike, or even the simplest operation of the choke. The dealers job is to teach the rider how to start and operate their bike. You won't get any of this assistance from most dealers.

In the end, the moral of the story is to make sure the dealer you are buying from actually can supply you with parts. If they can't, then either find someone who can sell you parts for that particular bike before you buy it, or find a new dealer.


This article was written by Bruce Peresky for pocketbikeforum.com. Copying is permitted provided you give credit to http://www.pocketbikeforum.com

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