Why the Cheapest E-Scooter Can End Up Costing You More

Think you're getting a deal? Think again - here’s why cheap scooters often come with a hidden price tag.

Let’s face it - when you’re shopping for an electric scooter, it’s tempting to jump on the cheapest deal you can find. The specs look solid, the price is half of what others are charging, and the product photos look just like the more expensive brands.

But here’s what we’ve seen, time and time again after almost a decade of importing selling and servicing scooters in NZ:

Cheap scooters can cost you big in the long run.

Here’s why that “bargain” scooter might actually be the most expensive mistake you make this year.

1. 🔧 Low-Quality Components Break Faster

That budget scooter might look the part—but underneath, it’s often using:

• Low-grade batteries that degrade quickly
  
  

• Fragile plastic housings and frames
  
  

• Weak controllers or cheap motors
  
  

• Poor quality brakes or dodgy cabling
  
  

These aren’t just cosmetic issues—they affect safety, performance, and longevity.

👎 We’ve seen scooters that literally fall apart within months, with no available parts or service options. That’s not saving money. That’s setting it on fire...

2. 🧩 No Parts? No Problem? Actually… Big Problem.

One of the biggest traps with low-cost scooter brands is non-existent parts availability. Things like brake pads, tyres, tubes, and throttle cables wear out—they’re supposed to. But many retailers don’t stock replacements

So when a basic part fails? You’re out of luck. You either:

• Wait months for a generic part from overseas (that may not fit)
  
  

• Pay more to get it custom fixed
  
  

• Or just throw the scooter out and buy again
  
  

🔁 That’s how people end up replacing “cheap” scooters every 10–18 months. At that point, you could’ve just bought a quality model once—and still had change.

3. 🤔 Deceptive Marketing Tricks Fool First-Time Buyers

It’s becoming common for fly-by-night brands to inflate or misrepresent specs in order to grab attention:

• Quoting peak motor power (e.g., 800W) without mentioning nominal (e.g., actually 350W)
  
  

• Listing battery voltage, but not capacity (Ah or Wh)
  
  

• Avoiding any mention of water resistance, max load, or warranty coverage, or having a big warranty statement - but the devil is in the details as to what is actually covered
  
  

These tricks make the scooter look powerful and durable on paper—but they fall flat under real-world riding conditions.

⚠️ Don’t get caught out. If a spec sheet feels vague or “too good to be true,” it usually is.

4. 🛠️ Poor After-Sales Support = DIY Repairs (or None at All)

When something goes wrong (and eventually, something always will), you want a team you can call. A physical store. A real person. A proper technician.

But with cut-price sellers? You're lucky to get an email reply, let alone proper service.

At Storm Rides, we’ve built a reputation for:

• Fast, NZ-based support
  
  

• In-house workshop repairs
  
  

• A full stock of common parts
  
  

• Expert advice from actual riders
  
  

🛠️ And we service what we sell. Many cheap sellers can’t say the same.

5. 💸 The Total Cost of Ownership Tells the Real Story

Let’s break it down:

It’s important to note that ‘Cheap’ doesn’t just refer to absolute price paid.  A cheap scooter might still cost you $2,000-3,000k to purchase, ‘cheap’ refers to the quality and what it costs versus the specs it promotes.  You can get a high quality scooter for $800 and a ‘cheap’ one for $1500, Cheap refers to the actual VALUE you are getting for the price you are paying..  

🛡️ When You Buy Right, You Only Buy Once

We get it—budget matters. But when it comes to your ride, safety, and satisfaction, value always beats price.

Storm Rides only stocks brands with proven reliability, long-term support, and thousands of satisfied riders globally. Brands like Kaabo, InMotion, and Coopop didn’t get popular by accident—they’ve been tested, trusted, and improved over years.

👊 We’ve been doing this longer than most sellers have been in business. And we’ll be here when you need us.

STORM RIDES has a Cheapest Electric Scooter collection, but the products are from global brands with proven track records. We Import them and we Support them so you can't go wrong.

💬 Talk to the Team That Rides What They Sell

Not sure which scooter is right for your lifestyle? Come in for a test ride, talk to our crew, and feel the difference a quality build makes. We'll help you get the most out of your investment—and enjoy the ride, not regret it.