Everyone wants and needs to save money today. Budgets are crunched and dollars are stretched to the limit. So it's natural to want to save as much money as possible on things that cost a bit more like bicycles, skateboards, sporting equipment and electric scooters. More and more people are choosing to buy used and/or reconditioned items to save money because it's not uncommon to save more than 50% of the cost of the items when they were new. But when it comes to a child's electric scooter, going cheap may be a bad idea.
One of the biggest risks you face when buying anything used is that you don't know just how used the item is. An item that's 5 years old can be in fabulous condition while the same item that's only a year old could be about to break down. Buying a 20-year-old car from an elderly person who's driven it gently and stored it in a garage can easily turn out to be a much better bargain than buying a much newer car from someone who has driven it 50 miles to work each day, or who hasn't had the oil changed in 2 years. You really have no way of knowing how well the owner took care of it, and whether it was gently used or abused.
The "luck of the draw" factor in buying anything used, including youth electric scooters, means that you
could be wasting your money. Even if it's only 50% of the new price, half-price for something that putters out after a week is no bargain. And it's unlikely that the seller is going to make you aware of any potential problems because the seller's goal is to get you to buy it, after all.
Even if you were to get lucky and get a cheap, used electric scooter that's been well taken care of and will last for years, buying used still might be the less desirable option. If you choose to purchase a new scooter, you can choose from all the varieties, sizes and colors available. The selection of used scooters is naturally going to be much more limited. And since you're buying used to help your budget, you're going to be highly motivated by price.
The tendency may be to find the best price without looking at other factors. Be sure to consider things like whether or not your child would like a stand-up scooter, a stand-up scooter with a tall seat or a sit-down, Vespa-style model. Which color will your child like best, and is it even available in a used model? What about speed, weight capacity and deck width? Those can all affect how well your child can balance the scooter.
Fortunately, even brand-new electric scooters are budget friendly, with stand-up models that can reach 15 mph starting out at about $150. Even sit-down scooters can be purchased for less than $300. You can find just the right model, features, color and style for your child no matter how small your budget might be. Don't sacrifice safety, style and your child's long-time enjoyment of an electric scooter by purchasing a used one that might not be right for your child and might not be worth the lower cost.
