WHERE TO BUY E-SCOOTERS IN MANCHESTER
Written by Ed Wiles, Scootered Founder
Key Points
What is an e-scooter?
E-scooters, such as those in the new Xiaomi range, are personal transporters suitable for teenagers and adults. They came to prominence in North America and then Europe when scooter hire companies Bird and Lime put of them on the streets of cities across those two continents. They remain controversial in the UK (as of July 2020) due to not being legal to ride on public roads (unless hired). Greater Manchester claim they have not recorded whether or not they have taken action against e-scooter riders but the vast majority of police forces have not taken action so one might assume you can ride an e-scooter around Manchester without problems. As reported by the Daily Telegraph, users in Manchester would benefit the most from their use in cutting journey times within the city. The city is also one of the proposed Future Mobility Zones, where the government will trial new forms of transport, including e-scooters.
Where to buy e-scooters in Manchester?
At the time of writing, there are very few brick-and-mortar stores selling electric scooters in Manchester (or its various suburbs). Halfords in the White City Retail Park is the only store I could find that has any (in this case the Xiaomi M365) on display. Otherwise, Argos sells some less popular electric scooters, but does not have any on display of course. The other option for Manchester residents looking to buy an electric scooter is to buy from an online retailer like Scootered. We sell the newest Xiaomi models and the Segway. If you want to test out an e-scooter before buying it, it will involve some traveling (or persuasion)! For instance, you can test out an M365 in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Bird is the company hiring them and they cost £1 to unlock.
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. The southeast has been our biggest market but there is no reason why residents and commuters in Manchester 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 some electric scooter brick-and-mortar stores may pop up in Manchester (when the law changes), it is also worth noting that High Streets are transforming across the country, including in Manchester and its suburbs, as consumers increasingly purchase goods online. The cost of renting a shop (plus the accompanying business rates) means that brick-and-mortar 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 Manchester for well-regarded e-scooters, such as the Xiaomi 1S or the Pro 2. Added to this, you have the peace of mind of dealing with a UK company offering full warranties.