The Sea Scooters were great. But after returning them, we received a phone call saying that both of the Sea Scooters were mysteriously broken in half, and were unusable, even though neither of them was broken when we returned them, and they both worked great. They said we would need to pay $200 + $200 = $400 (which later turned into $250 + $250 = $500 including shipping), and that we were getting off easy. So we took time away from our trip to go all the way back there. It was a good thing we had taken a photo of the contract, because that and our videos both clearly showed that one of the broken Sea Scooters was not even rented by us. (Their log book would have showed that too, but they somehow couldn't find it to verify.) They eventually acknowledged that and the fact the other Sea Scooter only broke AFTER we had already returned it, but still maintained we would need to pay for it regardless. So literally zero of the Sea Scooters were broken when we returned them, and they both worked perfectly, but we were still asked to pay $250. We reluctantly agreed to pay $200 (which then turned into $218.42 because "tax" was added, as if we were purchasing something instead of covering damage). We noticed another reviewer reported a similar incident eight months earlier. The company agreed that breaks are usually the result of prior damage, and that they really should factor the cost of wear and tear into their pricing. But they said they won't do so because the company is too new (according to the Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs' Business Registration Division, it incorporated 2.5 years ago in November 2020). Beware that you may be pressured to pay for damage caused by others.
Odpowiedź od gospodarza
Apr 2023
Mahalo for your review. We have a policy and a contract like many other companies, if you break it you buy it. One of the scooters you used had a handle that was broken in half when you returned it. Due to the severity of the break, yes you would be asked to pay half $200 plus tax for the cost to replace it. However, I understand that this is not the outcome either of us would have liked. These scooters are made to take a beating. Only pure negligence would cause such a break. I hand out the gear in working order as I state to every customer and I expect them back in working order. I was so distraught over losing a Sea Scooter, that I set the contract to the side under my notebook. I found your contract in a matter of seconds. I would never hand out broken equipment that had prior damage from some ones else's negligence. How would that ever make any sense? As a former KPD Forensic Scientist everything I do is documented. If they were returned in working order you would not have to pay for a broken scooter and I would not be out so much more money. I will go months waiting for a replacement scooter, so yes you are getting off easy at $200. I opened my business in November 2020 and received my 1st customer in July 2021. Mahalo for your concern about when I started my business.