Whats up with Scoot Richmond?

10gallonhat · Post by **10gallonhat** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:03 pm

I placed an order about a month ago with Scoot Richmond. Since then I have heard nothing from them. After the first week went by, I found the parts elsewhere and was hoping to cancel the order. I have called at all times of the day, both the toll free number and the local number. No one has ever answered the phone and I have called probably 15 times in the past 3 weeks. I have emailed with no reply as well.

Then they updated their website - and none of the online store is there anymore. So, I can't track my order and have no idea what is going on.

A bit frustrated to say the least. Are they still in business?

UPDATE: Looks like a whole lot of people are having this problem - found this thread at Stella Speed
http://forums.stellaspeed.com/viewtopic ... 1&p=108376

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:15 pm

If you are going to cancel you order anyway, I'd suggest you contact your credit card company as a precaution and stop payment to Scoot Richmond so you are not charged for something you do not need.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:10 pm

I noticed the change to their website. Weird that they would do this but not answer the phone. Are they moving locations or something?

arrowman · Post by **arrowman** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:16 pm

Yeah, I noticed the website change too. From a cool, full service site, to a crappy, better come to the store page? Doesn't make much sense.

Sorry I can't help more. Good luck with your order.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:31 pm

arrowman wrote:Yeah, I noticed the website change too. From a cool, full service site, to a crappy, better come to the store page? Doesn't make much sense.

Sorry I can't help more. Good luck with your order.

Maybe they changed because they couldn't fulfill Internet orders and keep up with the shop. The rise in scooter sales may have meant that they suddenly got much busier. I once had a business fail due to being too successful. Ah, irony.

10gallonhat · Post by **10gallonhat** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:35 pm

It seems if that was the case they could hire some summer help to answer the phones, etc... I would have no problem if they were too busy - but I certainly would like to know that is the case. Seems strange to just disappear completely from phone and internet service.

Oh well, hopefully, there is a simple and straightforward explanation for it. Mostly I just don't want to be charged 6 weeks from now and have parts I no longer need show up at my door.

twoscoots · Post by **twoscoots** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:53 pm

They're there - they're just really busy, I think. I went by yesterday because when we bought our scooters they were out of racks and locks and I can't really do anything except toot around town until I get those. I didn't get an answer either when I called, but I have the advantage of being five minutes away. [Chelsea's told me that there are times they're all out check riding or taking care of in-store customers (or getting lunch or using the potty or whatever) so there's not always someone to pick up the phone.] Our racks were in, but the shop was too busy to put 'em on so I made an appointment for tomorrow to have the front ones installed. The little shop key-hangy box was overflowing with keys. They want to get orders out, but they also have people like me that show up literally at their front door wanting stuff too.
I think they only have two or three full-time employees and one (very new) part-timer, plus a couple of shop guys. Their local business has exploded since the beginning of the year (e.g. selling more scooters in one month than the entire preceding year) and they're trying to balance local and internet sales.

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:57 pm

The website page does show they are updating it to better keep track of inventory on hand, etc.

Maybe try a phone call at a different time.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:15 pm

Did you read this post on the Stellaspeed forum? I'm betting that has a lot to do with it.

gtsteve wrote:They're still getting parts shipments from wholesale. That's what I know.

I will guess that they are taking care of the customers that walk in to the shop and want to buy scooters. No real excuse, but missing a $3000 sale to talk to someone about a clutch cable....

If I get time this week, I'll swing by and say hello to Chelsea, but I don't want to distract her from doing the stuff to make the money that keeps her in business.

Apiarist · Post by **Apiarist** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:48 pm

no matter what the reason, i am confident scoot richmond will do right by you given the time to do so.

edited: also, i dig the front end design of their site much better than before. my guess is it will get functionally better over time.

10gallonhat · Post by **10gallonhat** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:27 pm

I still have to say - if business is that good they need extra help to have someone at the phone - or be able to have an hour a day to return phone calls and emails. 3 weeks with no return on a voicemail does not look good for a business.

dru_ · Post by **dru_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:40 pm

10gallonhat wrote:I still have to say - if business is that good they need extra help to have someone at the phone - or be able to have an hour a day to return phone calls and emails. 3 weeks with no return on a voicemail does not look good for a business.

While I don't disagree, hiring means training, and that hour a day right now is hard to come by. I know that all of the shops around here are overwhelmed and working hours beyond closing time just to handle the foot traffic. Shops that were turning service work around in 2-3 hours are taking a week to do the service work. I'm doing some part time work for a local shop as an extra body. They've got 4 more of me in part timers that are helping out. All are customers willing to do a couple of days a week to help out. They still can't find enough hours in the day, and it's getting worse. Prices keep rising and the people keep coming.

Scoot Richmond isn't the only one, this seems to be rampant throughout the community and there just aren't that many people that know scooters well enough to hire off the street.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:40 am

Just give them some time to catch up with everything. I dont think anyone expected $3.75+ gas prices, hence anyone selling economical transportation is getting hit with extra business. I will go back to ScootRichmond when its time to upgrade scoots or order parts, besides, I like playing with the dog.

voodoosix · Post by **voodoosix** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:59 am

ill be buying an SYM from them in a few months, hopefully theyll get the mail order thing straitened out. ill take a trip over there next week maybe.

for anyone whos been there recently... what did they have on the floor? are they pretty much wiped out too?

twoscoots · Post by **twoscoots** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:11 am

I think they have a bunch of 50s left, a couple of Rattlers, a Roughhouse, and maybe 20 scooters in back with plastic on 'em. They have at least one of each of the Int'ls, too. No telling how many of them are spoken for, though.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:15 am

Keep your mitts off the dark blue SYM HD200!, if its still there. Im seriously thinking of selling my car, and thats exactly were some of the money is going. You can get red HD or that RV250 instead. I have not been in awhile but maybee next-next weekend I might pop over there. I thought about a Vespa-GT200-but I get a bad vibe from the car dealership that sells them. Plus, Ive seen first hand what happens when you low speed spill a Vespa. Every one on the showroom floor had been dropped during a test ride! They hold up better than a plastic fantastic but I would rather just order a new panel than deal with bodywork.

voodoosix · Post by **voodoosix** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:27 am

youre safe from me on the HD, im going for the Vogue 125. im going to get some cash in there so i can hopefully get the color i want in the 1st shipment.

Apiarist · Post by **Apiarist** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:08 pm

something very supportive goes here normaly

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:23 pm

voodoosix wrote:youre safe from me on the HD, im going for the Vogue 125.

...and both of you keep your hands off the Citycom 300 whenever it arrives. That bad dog is mine! All mine! Bwahahahhahaha...

Okay, back to being your friendly neighborhood moderator. Nothing to see here. Move along.

twoscoots · Post by **twoscoots** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:56 pm

I went in today to get our racks put on and have my headlight de-wiggled (one of the nice thing about having two scooters is being able to say, "Is this supposed to be doing this?" and having another one just like it to compare. They replaced the headlight because some clip was broken, so I'm glad I said something.). Chelsea told me they sold 50+scooters last month. What I want to know is, where ARE they? I see one parked on N Blvd every time I go that way (why aren't you riding it, Red Buddy with Topcase Person?) but otherwise that's it.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:00 pm

twoscoots wrote:Chelsea told me they sold 50+scooters last month. What I want to know is, where ARE they? I see one parked on N Blvd every time I go that way (why aren't you riding it, Red Buddy with Topcase Person?) but otherwise that's it.

Funny you should mention that. I was at MCV this week, and I couldn't believe it. Can you say, Buddy Invasion?!? There was a Buddy chained to every lamp post, every bicycle rack, everywhere! Just unbelievable. And that was on the MCV campus. Imagine what's going on over at VCU Main campus!!!

twoscoots · Post by **twoscoots** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:59 pm

They must all be at the MCV campus, then, because I haven't seen diddly at VCU. My husband is a student there and he hasn't seen any either. Of course, MCV is more of a year-round thing than VCU is, unless you're trying to cram in a few extra classes over the summer.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:28 pm

What I find funny is when someone buys a two wheel vehicle for commuting but then they wont ride it when its to hot or to cold. They just let it sit. I know Im not the only one who rides in the heat (today was upper 90's!) and I did stare at my girls car (COLD AC) but I figured out how to carry a Budda box cat litter box just fine, in the heat. I guess we are just true to the cause, or plain crazy.

twoscoots · Post by **twoscoots** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:50 pm

I went by Costco yesterday and bought two of their camelbak knockoffs. I'll ride when it's hot, but I don't enjoy feeling like a raisin when I'm done!

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:12 pm

That reminds me, to get back to the original topic, Scoot Richmond, I went down Thursday night to poke around. Wow, did they have a lot of scooter stock on the floor. They had at least one of every color Buddy 150, 125 and 50! I think they had one of everything else Genuine in every color and both colors of the SYM HD200, too. I also noticed that they have two of the green Stellas that are so hard to come by.

I didn't get a chance to talk to Chelsea because she was busy (guess what?) sellling a scooter, but I did find out that there is a news page on the new Scoot Richmond site that says the mail-order parts business is down, though local cash and carry parts are still available. For sure, I'd go elsewhere for mail-order parts for now. Sorry.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, they have one 2007 Blur on the floor.

OScoot! · Post by **OScoot!** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:51 pm

I called Scoot Richmond on Friday and Chelsea answered the phone. Told her about the forum thread asking about "what's up" and basically, they're just busy as can be. I actually called for the purpose of setting up an appointment to get my 2000 mile service done and wanted to find out how long I would have to leave my scoot there. Based on what I was reading here, I thought I should try to get on her schedule for an appointment 3 weeks from now! Well, she told me that they had hired some new folks and were training them, but that if I called her a couple days ahead of when I wanted to bring the scoot in, that I could probably wait on it to get done!

So....just so you all know....she's still there...business is booming....and all is well.