Balancing scooter becomes one of the most popular products in the world since 2015, and lots of customers want to import this product by asking us to source products from China.
Our last blog introduces some basic information on how to import balancing scooters from China. In this article, we will emphasize the problems you have to deal with when importing balancing scooters from China. By knowing this, your business may be smoother.
1.Patent Issue When Import or Sell Balancing Scooter
Last September, a US company “Segway” applied to the USITC (the United States International Trade Commission) for starting “337 Investigation”. USITC accepted and started “337 Investigation” last November.
Segway is the manufacturer of the world’s first balancing scooter, also the only manufacturer located in the US. It holds over 600 patents of balancing scooter. So the application to USITC is aiming at several Chinese balancing factories for patent infringement. The final result of this investigation will directly determine whether made-in-China products can keep selling in the US
Actually, the fundamental cause is that Chinese balancing scooters are too popular among young Americans with their fashionable design and affordable price. As a native company, Segway feels much pressure and wants to evict these Chinese companies out of the US.
Importing large quantity balancing scooters to the US is very difficult now, but this situation only exists in the US so far. Other countries (such as UK, Canada, and Germany) do not have this kind of patent issue. So if you are planning to import to these countries, do not worry about this problem.
This remains me of loom bands, the most popular toy in 2014. The patent is held by US Company Rainbow Loom, and it sued against other competitors for copyright infringement regarding its clasp system. Almost all Chinese loom bands suppliers cannot export their products to the US, so they choose other countries instead.
2. Shipping Problem When Import Balancing Scooter from China
Being a hazardous article, the battery is always difficult to ship by air. Because of the fire disaster cause by lithium batteries on airplanes, recently all airlines won’t ship any battery that is over 100Wh.
The battery of balancing scooters is around 150Wh which makes it not possible to ship in bulk by air. In the future, the airline may not ship any kind of lithium battery in large quantities. So for balancing scooter importers, sea shipping is and will be only solution when you buy in quantity.
Although sea shipping must take more time, it’s safer and more legal, which is necessary for all businesses.
3.Too Many Chinese Retailers on Internet, Will You Have Profit?
There are already existing thousands Chinese suppliers selling this on sites like eBay, Amazon, and Aliexpress. They sell as low as $320 with free shipping to Germany, however, we don’t know the battery quality. People start to worry about will they still have profit in market of their countries. (You may find $250 on Aliexpress, but the price is not including shipping. $310 is the lowest free shipping price I can found on Aliexpress now)
As the air shipping problem mentioned above, Aliexpress sellers will pay at least a $120 express fee each. Even there are no much express company accept the product now.
However, if you import more than 10 units from China, suppliers usually offer $130-$160 each for 6.5” type (price will be different by battery type), and Sea Freight shipping by LCL or FCL to Germany will cost $6-$12 each. It means you still have good profit, even sell in your country same price as Aliexpress sellers.
With a reasonable price, a reliable shop, and commendable service, customers will certainly choose you rather than online shops.
4.How to Choose High-Quality Balancing Scooters?
Being one kind of electronic bike, the battery is the key point of balancing scooters. It will decide how long distance it goes and the power it performs.
Suppliers usually offer two kinds of batteries: 2.2Ah and 4.4Ah, these represent different battery capacities. Besides, Battery can be divided into LG, Samsung brands, and non brands (most are of poor quality). The price difference is around $20.
So it is very important to know what kind of battery the supplier offers when you get his quotation. Some suppliers may scam you by quoting a high price but using poor quality no brand batteries. Be careful when you are looking for suppliers, and do not only focus on price.
Searching on Alibaba or Google is a better way to find wholesale suppliers, and do not go to Aliexpress. Balancing scooter’s factories are mainly gathering in Shenzhen and Yongkang City, so suppliers from these two cities are most possible to be factories. The former is China’s capital of electronic products, while the latter is the capital of scooters and hardware.
