WHERE TO BUY E-SCOOTERS IN SHEFFIELD
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 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. However, as with the vast majority of police forces, South Yorkshire police do not appear to have taken any action against e-scooter riders so it is safe to assume you can ride an electric scooter around Sheffield without issue and, as reported by The Star, commuters would "reap significant benefits" from their use in the city.
Where to buy e-scooters in Sheffield?
At the time of writing, there are few brick-and-mortar stores selling electric scooters in Sheffield (or anywhere else in South Yorkshire). The usual benefit of buying from a real-world store is the ability to see the items on display but even Halfords on Queens Road, which sells them, does not have e-scooters on display. Argos sells some less well-regarded e-scooters but none are on display of course. The other option for Sheffield residents wanting to buy an electric scooter is to buy from an online retailer like Scootered. Of course, you may really want to see or try out an e-scooter before buying one and, as this is not currently possible in Sheffield, you may wish to consider visiting London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park . Bird is hiring them in London, 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. The southeast has been our biggest market but there is no reason why residents (and students) in Sheffield 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 real-world stores selling e-scooters may pop up in Sheffield, it is worth noting that High Streets are changing across the country, including in Sheffield, as consumers increasingly purchase goods online. The cost of renting a shop 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 Sheffield for well-regarded electric scooters, such as the Xiaom 1S or Pro 2. Added to this, you have the peace of mind of dealing with a UK company offering full warranties.