How to import self-balancing scooters from China: A complete guide

Is it too late to jump on this hot product? How does one find the right supplier? This article answers these questions and more.

By Zhu Jing

Recently, many customers have been e-mailing us for help selecting self-balancing scooter suppliers.

I have to say that self-balancing scooters are one of the hottest products in the world now. Google Trends show the product growing steadily in popularity from the start of 2015 and there are no signs this will stop. Self-balancing scooters are particularly popular in the US and the UK. With interest spreading to Australia, Canada and Europe, it seems like everyone wants a self-balancing scooter for Christmas.

This article gives you a complete guide to importing self-balancing scooters from China, while a follow-up article will offer several solutions to problems you might encounter during sourcing.

1. Is it too late to start a self-balancing scooter business?

Last month, a customer from Germany wanted us to help him source self-balancing scooters because they are so popular in the US and the UK. He was, however, worried that it might be too late to venture into the line just now.

Conversations with partner shipping companies and recent Zhejiang customs figures show the US and the UK have been importing self-balancing scooters from China since end-2014. Shipments to other countries, meanwhile, have grown steadily over the past two months.

This means that for importers in the US and the UK, it really is too late to start a self-balancing scooters business now. You will only face a lot of competition there. Moreover, a big US brand has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against self-balancing scooter makers, making it harder to import the product.

It's still a good time for importers from other countries, though. There are only a few competitors but plenty of potential customers so entering the self-balancing scooters business is worth a try.

2. Choose the right product

China-made two-wheel self-balancing scooters can be classified according to tire size and battery power. Tires usually range from 6.5 to 10in, with the 6.5 and 8in types the most popular.

Being an electronic product, the battery is the most critical factor that determines self-balancing scooter quality so importers need to pay extra attention to the type of battery used in the scooters they plan to source.

China suppliers usually offer twobattery capacities, namely 4.4 and 2.2Ah. Batteries can be from LG or Samsung, or unbranded, with the price difference between branded and unbranded types reaching $20.

Self-balancing scooters with a Samsung or LG battery are high-quality while those fitted with unbranded types have a short lifespan and can even be unsafe. Just recently, news broke out of a self-balancing scooter exploding while it was being charged.

3. How to find good suppliers of self-balancing scooters in China

Self-balancing scooters are not that difficult to produce. Small factories can purchase wheels, enclosures and circuit boards from different vendors then put them together with the battery. This is why there are thousands of suppliers selling them online, and why finding the right one is tough work.

If you want to import in bulk, B2B platforms such as GlobalSources.com are the way to go, You can also search for volume exporters on Google but this will require even more patience and care.

Remember as well to make sure where in China the supplier is located. Self-balancing scooters are mainly produced in Shenzhen and Yongkang, China's electronic products hub and the scooters and hardware capital, respectively. Suppliers from these two cities are most likely actual factories.

4. How to ship self-balancing scooters

Because of airline restrictions regarding shipping batteries that exceed 100Wh power, air freight companies and international express couriers such as FedEx, HDL and UPS do not ship self-balancing scooters. There are a few international express agencies that can ship one or two units, but at a high price.

This leaves the sea as the easiest and safest way to ship self-balancing scooters. Your total shipment volume, however, should be at least 10 units or about 0.5m3. If the quantity is too small, you can ship the self-balancing scooters with your other orders. Sea freight is only 10 percent of air freight fees.

Zhu Jing is the founder of jingsourcing.com, which helps small businesses source products in China. The company is based in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, the biggest wholesale center in the world. Connect with Zhu Jing on LinkedIn or send him an email at info@jingsourcing.com.