Budget Bikes Steven Keene owner Do NOT Purchase From This Business Alvin Texas

This report comment from the guy named "Brad" is bogus. We only had one customer named Brad in 2014, and he bought a dirt bike. Furthermore, we did not sell UTVs until 2016. Clearly this report comment is false and was probably added by a competitor.

I too purchased a UTV from Budget Bikes. After about 2 months, the unit started running rich and would not idle. I called service and could never get an answer. I even went by there one day and stood in the 'service' area while he was busy selling new units. Steve, the owner, did not seem interested in helping me. He said to bring it in and he would get to it in about 1 week. I did. After a week I called and he said they had not looked at it yet and that he was backed up. After 2 more weeks I called and left a message for service. I finally called the main number for Sales and BINGO, he picked up immedialetly. I told him I was needing a status on my UTV which had now been there 3 weeks. Once he knew it was for service, he got agitated and said to never call the Sales number for service work. So, I just went and picked my non-running, UTV back and am attempting to find someone to fix it.

This company is great at the sale but is obviously not interersted in fixing anything they sell. I am a business owner and service is my #1 key. He could be making even more $ if he would service the equipment he sells.

I feel for the guy with the smoke issue. I truly believe these are not well built (from China) and I should have just paid the extra $$ for a Ranger for my boy. I actually ended up doing that (paid double) but it runs perfectly and can be serviced anywhere. It's true, you get what you pay for.

As a business owner I feel bad that the owner of this business has not followed through on a core part of his business. He could probably double his business if he had a good mechanic on-site. From the looks of his service department, not much work goes on there.

I would advise friends to steer clear of this establishment until they get a proper service department.

Here are the simple facts and then I'll get into more detail: I bought the Kart with a 6 month warranty on the engine. I meticulously did the proper maintenance. It started smoking. I bring the Kart in, the owner won't communicate anything to me (still hasn't for 6 weeks now). When I post to the Better Business Bureau the facts, the owner responds but he won't stand behind his warranty and he shifts the blame to me.

I totally understand a shop like this not standing behind their warranty. I've come to expect that in life. I fully antipated that Budget Bikes would shift the blame to me by saying it was my fault and charge me something. The fact that Steve the owner is doing this is not even my issue. Read on.

By the way as a side note: I have been around small engines my entire life. I would never fill an engine with the amount of oil that is shown in the youtube video. The proper amount of oil should always be within the hashmarks of the dipstick, preferably at the top of the hashmarks and no more. Obviously, the engine had oil added to it as shown in the video to make it look like it was overfilled by me. I did not do this.

One more thought before my real issue: The owner, in his rebuttle, interpreted my initial post incorrectly. After 6 weeks of use, it started smoking, then it wouldn't start immediately after. I assure you I changed the oil with Castrol Synthetic 20-50 just as the owner recommended on the day I bought it. I then checked the oil level everytime before my daughter drove it. I even have my original reciept for the oil I purchased on the date I purchased the Kart. The go-Kart started smoking with me keeping the perfect amount of oil in it at all times. It is defective. 

Here is the real issue though: What completely baffles me is how Steve (the owner) has time to make youtube videos defending himself, has time to respond to my Better Business Bureau report on Budget Bikes, has time to respond to my post here on Ripoff report (don't forget to respond to Yelp reviews too) - yet everytime I've called him for the last 6 weeks he says, "I am ringing someone up right now, I'll call you back". He has never, ever, not one time to this day - has he called me. The last time I called him he hung up on me saying, "I don't have time to go into this with you". I am only reviewing him negatively ("smear campaign" as he calls it, because the guy won't communicate with me honestly, clearly, and with respect. I am only now slowly gaining some kind of perspective on the status of my repair as I read his responses to my reviews! 

I emphatically assure you with 100% confidence that if Steve would have called me within the first week or some resonable amount of time after I dropped the go-Kart off, (like a normal repair shop would) and would have told me upfront that it would be a couple of months before he could get to it, ALTHOUGH i WOULD HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED, I WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THIS AND WOULD HAVE AGREED TO WAIT - I would had too wait. I would not have had another choice. It's a go-Kart for crying out loud. It is not a life or death, my daughter doesn't have to have it right now, next week or next month.

I only want to be treated with respect, with honesty, and with clear communication. That is why I am giving him negative reviews. But all Steve is capable of doing is saying "I'll call you back", or "my employee cut off his finger so we've lost a month, so let me call you back", or "I need to run and pick up some parts, I'll call you back in two hours", or "you shouldn't be calling the sales dept., call the service dept. and leave a message, we'll call you back" (while he's operating out of a 300 sq. ft. shed). Zero integrity,no communication, - he just puts you off, shifts the blame on you, and will not tell you anything. I am not the only one who has complained of this on the internet about Steve at Budget Bikes. His BBB rating is a "D". Look at Yelp reviews too.  

I am not on a smear campaign, but the only way Steve will talk to me about my broken go-Kart is through these forums and through youtube videos that he has time to shoot. So, Steve now that you are communicating with me here - how was your Thanksgiving? Mine was good, thanks for asking. Hey, while I got your attention could you MAYBE GIVE ME A CALL AND POSSIBLY GIVE ME SOME KIND OF AN IDEA WHEN THE SILLY GO-KART MIGHT BE READY?

I was extremly kind and patient with you for the first 6 WEEKS you left me in the dark (you've had the Kart for over 6 weeks to this date with still no call as to when it might be ready, not 3 weeks as you say). But you continue to leave me no choice but to have conversations with you over forums like this and next in the civil court of Brazoria County. 

You said (on the BBB forum I think, and on this one) that there may be a small fee for repairs if it it turns out to be my fault. Ok, perhaps that is reasonable, but can we talk about it like grown men and have a conversation? If I have to pay a little something, its cool. I understand that EVERYTHING may not be covered under a warranty. This is how repair shops are -  But if you can't call me and give me some kind of date or some kind of something, I guess we'll have a conversation in front of the judge, maybe you'll tell me something then. By the way, the court informed me that I can't sue for "you to fix it". So, I'll sue for the entire amount I paid, plus court fees and you can keep the Kart.    

Attached is a Youtube video that documents the improper maintenance that resulted in Mr. Stanley's go kart rings being damaged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GErEJT1cv6I

Mr. Terry Stanley of Waller Texas has launched a smear campaign in an attempt to bully his way to the front of our service line, and in an attempt to force us to declare the damage resulting from his abuse of the vehicle to be warranty service.

Budget Bikes has been in business for five years as of November 2013, servicing more than 8000 customers and supporting sales in the millions of dollars. Unfortunately any business will eventually run into one or two customers who are completely unreasonable and demanding and will attempt to use internet smear campaigns to get their way. We are very proud of our record, and if we can only please 7998 out of 8000 customers we think we are doing pretty well.

As Mr. Stanley's own report states, "After the go-cart began smoking excessively and stopped operating about 6 weeks later" ... we considered this to be an obvious sign of abuse and neglect. It is akin to getting a flat tire, and driving your car until the rim falls off, and then demanding a new rim from your dealer. Our warranty clearly states that it is voided by abuse, like any other warranty. We have informed Mr. Stanley that we will perform the forensic study to verify this, and if we find any sign of manufacturing defect we will repair the go cart for free. However, the problem appears to be worn rings from either not changing the oil as instructed or continuing to drive the vehicle even after obvious signs of trouble appeared. We have NEVER (not once) seen rings get damaged as a result of manufacturing defect on these vehicles. While there may be a first time for eveything, we have to assume that this instance will follow the indications presented by Mr. Stanley's own story and the facts presented, and that this will be a case of abuse.

In a case of abuse, we do not move the service order to the front part of the line as we do for warranty, even if the customer threatens to smear our business and even indidvidual persons on the internet. It is treated like any other service request. Also, we generally close our service department during the holiday season, accepting only warranty work, because our staff is busy building the hundreds of vehicles that will be sold during that season. We believe that three weeks is a reasonable time for a top end engine rebuild in the height of the holiday season. We are sorry to hear that Mr. Stanley does not agree.

We welcome ANY customer to come by and review details of Mr. Stanley's file, including his nasty voice mails and certified letters, etc. over the two week period. Again, we are proud of record of serving the other 7997 customers and while we wish we could please everyone, we recognize that this is not possible.

Steve Keene

President