Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Internet... not just for Porn

Because I am bored I am going to give you a selection today:

Check that seat for crabs

Those pointy pink things can scratch

Spray-on Tan = Hose-off Scooter

ack!

She looks crabby, and I don't mean moody.

Anyone who has ever purchased a product in at least the last 5 years, has gone to the internet to do a little, "recon".

There is so much available out there if you need information on a product and half of the fun of purchase is doing the research.

With scooters we have a variety of forums, reviews and press releases available. With Ebay and Craigslist, it is wonder that dealers are still making money.

The Internet can be a blessing and a curse, because every time I think I have narrowed down a "great deal" on a cool scooter, a little research on the product shoots it down!

Ding Dabbit! Why are all of you out there so eager to destroy my wee dreams with your sensible talk and detailed information!

Last year my BF & I wanted to purchase a cheap scooter for his 16 year old son. I also put $$$ towards the purchase, thinking he would find a good used Vespa, Piaggio or Kymco or Aprilla.

He found a Roketa Bali 250cc for only $900.00 with about 600 miles on it. He found it on Craigslist and it was close to my house. He did not do the research and bought it anyway. To him, it was a "deal" that could not be passed up. So when I found out what he had done I was a bit peeved.

I mean a ROKETA!!!! Holy Moley, one of the most unholy of unholyiest of plastic scooters out there!

Even I had heard about this scooter via forums and reviews. Sure it's a scooter and it works, if you have the time, skill and $$$ to keep up with all the plastic engine parts melting, cracking and vibrating apart.

And don't tell me I am wrong — because we let his son ride with us, and after only 39 miles, it started SMOKING! and the acceleration fell off. We limped back home.

Turns out during the ride, some plastic bit in the engine melted and some plastic hoses popped off and so on and so forth. The engine looked like it was made from chewing gum, crazy glue and old nail polish.

What were we to do? Who could help us in our time of need!!!

TO THE INTERNETs! Swooooooosh!

After gleaning the Roketa forums, we identified the melted bit and the loose hoses. We then bought new plastic pieces on Ebay and after a week or two the scooter was fixed and working again. We even had extra plastic bits in reserve.

His son used it for about 6 months and then went to live with his mother. My BF sold the scooter for $600.00.

We did not lie about the scooter to the purchaser. He knew full well how much tinkering he would have to do to keep it running in good condition. He had done his research.

Still, he was pretty happy and I felt pretty good about the entire experience.

Because even tho we got a less than ideal scooter, it helped me learn so many things.

So THANKS INTERNETS! U ROK!

"The Internet will never amount to much.
It is nothing more than the CB Radio of the 90's"

— The dude I met while walking my dog, back in 1998


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