WHERE TO BUY E-SCOOTERS IN GLASGOW
Written by Ed Wiles, Scootered Founder
Key Points
What is an e-scooter?
Electric scooters, such as those in the new Xiaomi range, are powered transporters suitable for adults and older teenagers. They came to prominence in North America and then Europe when scooter hire companies Bird and Lime put thousands of them on city streets. They remain controversial in the UK (as of March 2020) due to not being legal on public roads. Police Scotland claim they are unable to access any information regarding their policing of e-scooters, but there have been no reports of the police seizing e-scooters anywhere in Scotland. Police Scotland did seize some electric mopeds on the Isle of Cumbrae in 2019 after they recorded speeding. So Glasgow, like the rest of Scotland, would seem to be safe for e-scooter riders (indeed only London police forces have taken any real action) and research suggest journey times could be cut in half if people switched from cars to e-scooters in Glasgow.
Where to buy e-scooters in Glasgow?
There are very few bricks and mortar stores selling electric scooters in Glasgow (or elsewhere in Scotland). Halfords is the main store selling them in the city, and their store in Rutherglen currently has a Xiaomi M365 on display (although it is not available for testing). Argos also sells some cheaper, less well-regarded scooters (as does Halfords) but do not display any of course. The other option for Glasgow residents looking to buy an e-scooter is to buy from an online retailer like Scootered. Of course, you may wish to see or try out an e-scooter before buying one and, as the dockless hire schemes are only available in London, the best option may be something like Fat Llama. If you were visiting London, Bird is hiring them in the Olympic Park, using the Xiaomi M365, and charging £1 to unlock them.
Why Buy From Scootered?
Scootered was founded in 2019 with the aim of offering the best e-scooters at the best prices with a reassuring two-year, UK-based warranty. England has been our biggest market but there is no reason why residents (and students) in Glasgow should not benefit from our discounted scooters too. Of course, if you are buying online you could argue that it does not matter where the company is based and this is essentially true: the most important things to bear in mind are where the stock is held (it is best if the stock is housed in the UK), the warranty offered with the e-scooter and that the company is UK registered (in case something goes wrong).
The Xiaomi 1S
Conclusion
Although more stores selling electric scooters may pop up in Glasgow, it is also worth noting that High Streets are transforming across Scotland as consumers increasingly purchase goods online. The cost of renting a shop means that real-world retailers are forced to sell at a higher price to cover their costs, which is why so many High Street retailers have struggled against e-tailers. This is why we believe you will struggle to find a better deal in Glasgow for well-regarded electric scooters, such as the Xiaomi 1S or Pro 2. Added to this, you have the peace of mind of dealing with a UK company offering full warranties.