Buyers undeterred by ban as demand for hoverboards surges

The demand for smart balance scooters, or hoverboards, in Qatar has remained high despite a ban by a number of malls in the country.

Many airlines, too, have banned passengers from carrying such products on aircraft over safety concerns.

However, such restrictions have not deterred people from buying these portable battery-powered vehicles, as is evident from the large stocks available in hypermarkets around Doha.

A sales superviser at a prominent shop in Doha told Gulf Times that they just replenished their stocks and dozens of hoverboards had to be displayed during the weekend.

After prices came down by almost 50% for some brands, a number of customers (mostly parents) started coming in to enquire about smart balance scooters for their children, he said.

Earlier, a standard smart balance scooter would cost over QR1,000, but the prices have dropped significantly, depending on brand and specifications. Sources said that some hoverboards are now available for as little as QR500-600.

“We ran out of stocks at one stage because of the high demand,” the superviser added. “This is one of the reasons why most shops are displaying dozens of items to tell people that they now have more stock.”

He said they had initially expected sales to drop after several malls banned the use of hoverboards on their premises late last year. Also, people did not have the option of buying them as gifts for family members in their native countries as airlines imposed a ban.

However, the demand for smart balance wheels remained high despite the restrictions, with children using them in open spaces such as parks, it was found.

A salesperson at a leading hypermarket in Doha confirmed that they had to order for additional items from their supplier to replenish stocks.

“Our sales have been increasing every month; you will see families coming and looking for hoverboards that suit their budget,” he said.

“Competition is really high due to the increasing number of stores selling these items,” a salesperson at a Doha store said, adding that they expected prices to reduce further. “We’ve to launch some promotions to entice more customers to buy from us.”

The Aspire Park and Museum of Islamic Art Park are two of the preferred destinations where children can use their smart balance wheels, it is learnt.

Some children could also be seen using smart balance wheels on internal streets though some people expressed concern over this practice, urging kids to be careful to avoid accidents.

Courtesy: gulf-times.com