Other LanguagesLawsuit aims to put the skids on company’s deceptive sales practices
GOLDENDALE – A Klickitat County couple who sold motorcycle parts on the Internet are accused of taking their customers for a ride. The Washington Attorney General’s Office alleges Slade and Shawna Kitchens, of Dallesport, violated the state’s consumer protection law by failing to ship orders, provide refunds or obtain required business licenses.
“The Kitchens cooked up a Web site to sell motorcycle parts but overlooked a few important ingredients, including the state-required business licenses and good customer service,” said Assistant Attorney General Mary Lobdell.
The state filed its suit Tuesday in Klickitat County Superior Court in Goldendale. According to the complaint, the Kitchens operate their business under several names including Jeff’s Cycles, Hood River Cycles, Prospect Cycles, PTC Telecom and Denver Monahan Parts. They sell engines, transmissions, seats and other parts online at www.jeffscycles.com and www.cycleparts2007.com.
Between March 2006 and February 2008, the defendants allegedly accepted payments between $45 and $474 from at least 44 consumers nationwide, but failed to ship their orders. Other customers sometimes received wrong or defective parts. Despite promising a money-back guarantee, the Attorney General’s Office says the defendants haven’t provided refunds to consumers who returned parts or never received their orders.
The suit also alleges that the Kitchens are operating without a master business license or a state-required license for vehicle wreckers. The statute applies to businesses and individuals who buy and sell secondhand parts from dismantled vehicles.
The Attorney General’s Office is seeking civil penalties, restitution for affected consumers and injunctive provisions to halt the deceptive business practices.
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Media Contacts: Kristin Alexander, Media Relations Manager – Seattle, (206) 464-6432
Mary Lobdell, Assistant Attorney General, (253) 593-2256