The "Real" Lemon...Aide
I'm going to point out myself that this reply is a long way off from the original post, and that some on this site discuss the "rules" of necroposting, etc. However, while the original posts may be old, these advice pages are still hit here in March 2009, when one does a Google search. Therefore, in the interest of providing clarity and accuracy, here is my post:
First, off, those of you claiming to be providing free "legal advice" should be careful unless you are an attorney. I'm not talking about anyone who posts answers. I'm talking about those who actually state that they are providing "legal advice." Providing legal advice, even for free, is practicing law without a license in many states. Yes, even for free...IF one actively or by implication holds themselves out to be a lawyer. I'll leave it to y'all to decide if "I'm here to provide free legal advice not necessarily to agree with you" makes that jump to "implication." I mention that individual only because, with all due respect, he/she has many, shall we say "strong" answers regarding legal issues, but then I saw something about antifreeze, so I started wondering and worrying if this wasn't a place for strong-willed attorneys and their advice, but for strong-willed know-it-alls. Now before someone jumps me for those comments, please understand that in my own way I am a know-it-all. That's not to say that I don't have two professional degrees, one that starts with M and one that starts with J. But nevertheless, I'm a know-it-all too. If I were not, I would not be posting this. So I'm not better than anyone else.
More importantly, not just that one example, but many of the dominant players on this site are very sure and smug with their answers. When someone points out a chink in that armor, these players are quick to say "go back and read the question." But oftentimes the discourse is expanded and during that expansion, sweeping generalities posing as answers sneak in which to the forum may seem harmless, but to a Google searcher looking for a quick answer, they may do damage if incorrect.
So let's "go back and read the question" here:
The forum was asked about a California Lemon Law, and whether it applies to an expensive microscope. The answer is no. The answer "the California Lemon Law only applies to automobiles" is incorrect. Because the California Lemon Law applies not only to automobiles, but also to recreational vehicles (RV's / motor homes), motorcycles, boats, and some "other consumer vehicles" qualify as well. A correct response to the QUESTION would be "no" because a microscope in now way approaches any of these categories of vehicles. But if we are going to expand the answer as has been done, then the correct answer is what I've written above ("applies not only to automobiles, but also...) or, in the alternative, "the California Lemon Law applies only to "vehicles" (but that would leave a layperson struggling to figure out what a vehicle is--is it powered only? a bicycle? etc).
So the most straightforward answer being "no," the alternative answer, for those of you in 2009 who are Googling about California Lemon Laws or "my boat is a lemon*" now have the correct data.
*generalization of actual search by relative, who then was directed to this page.
