I only want the white one

[Larky]

Hey folks, I’ve been a lurking for sometime now and am getting closer to making a purchase. I’m interested in the taotao tbr7, but I only want a white one. I noticed on many of the websites offering that bike they have a second color choice. If I call those dealers and told them I’m only willing to accept a white one, how accommodating would they be? I would literally refuse shipment if it was the wrong color. What are your thoughts? Am I being a jerk making this request?

Thanks for you feedback

[culcune]

Am I being a jerk making this request?

Yes you are...according to the dealers. So many members have gotten another color they didn't order and weren't told of the change that there is nothing wrong with your thinking. The problem with many of them is the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing (or worse, they DO know) and will promise you a white one and a blue one will arrive. Now, these are worse case scenarios when supplies are low(er), but I wouldn't necessarily rule it out if you plan to order from one of the numerous online sources.

[Larky]

Thanks for your response. Do you think they would try to charge a restocking fee? They shouldn’t , a wrong item is a wrong item. I don’t intend on making enemies, but if I’m the one with the money, i call the shots to some degree.

[culcune]

The online retailers generally get a few choices out of you so they can send whatever they have in stock or whatever they can get to; or more likely what they drop ship. So, in essence, because of drop shipping, you won't get the color you choose IF the distributor does not have the color you specified. Hence the multiple choices. My friend distributes a Taiwanese line of scooter called TGB. However, his company used to deal in Taotao and other Chinese products. His nephew managed the company and had a relationship with specific people at Taotao's California warehouse and could order and dropship directly from there. They weren't an online dealer, but could get most any product on top of their TGB lineup. The nephew left the company, and my friend does not have any relationship with Taotao, so you would be pressed to deal with one of the large mail order firms who drop ship most likely out of Taotao's hq in Dallas. And might not get your bike in white. Not to discourage you, but that is how they work.

[Emerikol]

The whole reason why you're required to pick a second choice color is so that they can send you what they have available for a quick turn around on the sale without any liability. If you try to refuse the shipment because it's your second color choice and not white, they will absolutely charge you a restocking fee, and on top of that, you'll be responsible for return shipping costs. Just to add some more doom and gloom to that scenario, I can pretty much guarantee that when the crate gets back to the distributor, there will mysteriously be a couple hundred extra dollars in damage that they'll charge against your credit card. So here's a potential solution that will ensure you get a white bike: Team up with someone else that would be interested in owning one of these motorcycles, but isn't necessarily as hung up on color options. Have them buy the bike with white as the first choice and whatever other color they may like as a second choice. When the bike arrives, if it's white, buy it off of them for the price plus a hundred bucks or so for their trouble. Then they'll have enough money to do the purchase again, and a smile because they got a few extra dollars and can treat the missus out to a nice dinner. The added benefit is that if and when they decide to purchase the second bike, you instantly get a riding buddy. That scenario will in effect give you two chances to get the bike color you want, at a very low risk. Hope that helps. -E

[JerryHawk250]

Just pick 1st and 2nd choice as white. That way if they sent you any other color you can refuse. You clearly stated you wanted white as 1st and 2nd choice. Be sure to take a screen shot as evidence in case you have to get an attorney involved. ;)

[Larky]

Guys, thank you so much for your reply’s. This type of conversation was what I was hoping for. I’m not well versed in credit card purchases. If I order a bike and it comes in the wrong color, and also refuse delivery, doesn’t the credit card company protect me as customer? I’m hoping that none of this will happen, and I get the bike I want, but I just can’t trust these dealers to treat their customers with respect. I’d wait a few weeks for the correct color, if it was a definite thing, and they were being honest with me.

[JerryHawk250]

Just make sure you read all the fine print before you purchase. Good example is TXpowersports. Pretty much states that they can send you whatever they want and not be liable. https://www.txpowersports.com/Articles.asp?ID=4

[krat]

They are all white.

Any other color you get will be painted over the white plastic.

[Emerikol]

Just pick 1st and 2nd choice as white. That way if they sent you any other color you can refuse. You clearly stated you wanted white as 1st and 2nd choice. Be sure to take a screen shot as evidence in case you have to get an attorney involved. ;)

I didn't think you could select the same color as first and second choice, that's why I didn't mention it. If you can, just do that! :tup:

[Emerikol]

Guys, thank you so much for your reply’s. This type of conversation was what I was hoping for. I’m not well versed in credit card purchases. If I order a bike and it comes in the wrong color, and also refuse delivery, doesn’t the credit card company protect me as customer? I’m hoping that none of this will happen, and I get the bike I want, but I just can’t trust these dealers to treat their customers with respect. I’d wait a few weeks for the correct color, if it was a definite thing, and they were being honest with me.

Credit card companies are notoriously hard to get money back from. What they usually do is credit your account the amount you're disputing, and then do an 'Investigation' (Insert eye roll here). They call up the merchant and ask what happened. The merchant then tells them that you refused the product that you agreed to buy (see terms and conditions), but that they don't have it back yet, so if they (the credit card company) claw the money back, the motorcycle company will sue both them and you for theft and breach of contract. The only way that would work is if you expedited return shipping back to the sales company (again, at your own expense), and you could prove they had the bike back before you called the credit card company. So after the 'Investigation' (Insert another eye roll here), the credit card company will return the charge to your account, and oh yeah, there's going to be interest there, too. The problem there is that A, you're out the money for return shipping, and B, even expedited return shipping may put you outside the 45-day dispute window with your credit card company. If that happens, you're out the bike, the shipping money, and the purchase price! If you're ready to buy, I would say make a call to whichever company you'll be purchasing from, and explain to them that you only want white, and you're willing to wait for it. Then I would call your credit card company and get a set of single-use card numbers for the purchase. That way the sales company can't charge you back if things go sideways and you have to dispute the product. Hope this works out for you, and I really hate that you're picking up everyone's dissatisfied baggage with the companies that sell these super cheap, super fun motorcycles. I think you'll find that overwhelmingly, people are happy with the ownership of these things, but have a unanimous loathing for the companies selling them. -E

[Larky]

Thanks again guys for all your help and advice. I just find the other color choices repulsive. I guess I will call a few dealerships that advertise this bike and just talk to them about what I want. I’ll choose the one that sounds most sincere and order from them. As we all know, they can’t be trusted. Fortunately I have a backup plan. I work for an educational (vocational) organization that teaches high school students how to paint and repair vehicles. I could ride the bike over the summer and and tear it down and have them paint it over next winter. Luckily they have state-of-the-art tools to do their work, and a very knowledgeable instructor. The risk there is lost or damaged parts. They are just kids, they like to raise hell. I can’t criticize them for that. :)

[franque]

Just remove the parts and get a vinyl wrap/leave it to the kids to paint just the parts! That way there's a limited risk of loss.

[AJboughtamoto]

Give them a call 1st and make sure of what colors they actually have in stock. If they don't have the one you want or say you might get another color don't order from there. I ordered my Brozz from Peace Motorsports.And he was straight up with me about what colors he had, and gave me no doubt about what color I would get.

[culcune]

Give them a call 1st and make sure of what colors they actually have in stock. If they don't have the one you want or say you might get another color don't order from there. I ordered my Brozz from Peace Motorsports.And he was straight up with me about what colors he had, and gave me no doubt about what color I would get. The advantage of Peace is they are the importer/distributor AND retailer. They have the luxury of having their own inventory. The online retailers drop-ship.

[MooDog]

Hey folks, I’ve been a lurking for sometime now and am getting closer to making a purchase. I’m interested in the taotao tbr7, but I only want a white one. I noticed on many of the websites offering that bike they have a second color choice. If I call those dealers and told them I’m only willing to accept a white one, how accommodating would they be? I would literally refuse shipment if it was the wrong color. What are your thoughts? Am I being a jerk making this request?

Thanks for you feedback

Just a thought.. :p

[Darkrider]

Another option is simply looking online for a spare set of plastics in white. Or as said above have it wrapped or painted.

[Leo T]

Yeah; no sh*t. When I finally pull the plug and order a dual-sport, I don't care WHAT color it is because I'm repainting it olive-drab anyways. Pulling the plastic off and shooting it with Krylon Fusion for plastics is NOT the end of the world.

[helogene]

In my mind, if you're ordering a GROM clone, just put your first and second choice of colors, and IF you don't get the color you want, just order the GROM body panels in the color you want from Thailand. That way you get a BETTER QUALITY part, and the color you want.


Then, sell the cheap China plastic parts to someone who wants that color.


Cheaper than paying to ship it back.


Just my opinion.....