Hard-knock life: E-scooter operator offers ex-rentals for purchase

It's been a tough old life for some rental e-scooters - being kicked aside when they're blocking the middle of the pavement, getting biffed into the harbour or literally thrown on the scrapheap as "end of life" after only six months.

There are few of us using them, too. Anecdotally, there seem far fewer buzzing along footpaths since the pandemic.

And, in actual terms, there are fewer: Auckland Council crimped numbers from 3200 to 2490 for its latest licensing period, for the 12 months from September 4 (perhaps curiously, in the context of the buy-local focus with Covid, the council kicked out local contender Flamingo and brought back Lime - which during its time of exile had bought Uber's Jump brand).

Now Singapore-based Beam, which saw its allocation chopped from 880 to 730 e-scooters for the new licensing period, is some of its ex-rentals on the market for purchase.

A spokesman said Beam was selling some of its stock because it had upgraded to new Generation 3 models that had hot-swappable batteries. The models for sale are Gen 2

You can pick up a Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max, stripped of its Beam badging and painted black, for $575, plus a $25 delivery fee if you can't pick up from central Auckland.

The Max (which dominates the e-scooter rideshare industry) has a 25km/h top speed, a 60km range and 10-inch pneumatic tires. It takes six hours to charge and is non-foldable.

The Ninebot Max costs US$849 ($1129) from Segway's site in the US and sells locally for between $1400 and $1550 - though many retailers list it as out of stock as pandemic shipping delays compound the usual Christmas crush.

Beam, which launched in Auckland in January this year, says the products have "been rigorously tested, refurbished and reflashed for retail use. All vehicles are approximately one year old."

The Beam spokesman said they have done an average 700km.

"We welcome people to inspect and test drive vehicles prior to purchase. They can do this by visiting our Newton Road headquarters in Auckland central in business hours," he said.

He added, "We provide a one-month warranty. If a customer is unsatisfied with a purchase we will accept a return within 30 days."

Regardless, the Consumer Guarantees Act says a second-hand good should be safe, free from defects and last for a "reasonable amount of time" relative to its price, age and condition.

Beam is also looking to goose things along with new short-term rental options.

Its normal pricing is $0.45 to unlock yhrn $0.45 per minute.

But you can now also hire one of its e-scooters for 30 days ($99), 60 days ($190) or 90 days ($280). A series of Beam "Shuttle" plans for business have the exact same pricing.

Beam says unlike rivals, its multi-day rentals let you ride a Beam as if it's your own. That is, you can ride anywhere rather than being restricted to inside geo-fenced areas.

Rival Neuron (also Singapore-owned) offers a three-day rental for $25, a week for $33 and a month for $89.

Lime's Jump offers a day pass for $15 plus an unlock pass for $5 per month which negates the need to pay the $1 unlock fee per ride.

Beam Solo rentals and ex-rental purchases are available at rentalsnz.ridebeam.com.