‘Zero’ or slow sales of PMDs since e-scooter ban on footpaths, say several retailers

SINGAPORE — Sales of personal mobility devices (PMDs) have plunged since e-scooters were banned on footpaths last Tuesday (Nov 5), several retailers told TODAY, and some businesses might have to fold up. 

Others said that during the annual Singles’ Day sales event on Monday, they did not even sell a single device. 

With business performing poorly and stockpiles of unsold goods not moving, some 40 retailers have collectively submitted feedback to the Land Transport Authority in the hopes that it would address these and other concerns, TODAY understands. 

In the meantime, they have to grapple with dismal sales. 

One retailer, Mr Joseph Poh, 32, said: “There have been zero e-scooter sales since the sudden decision (to ban e-scooters on footpaths). We expect sales to stay this way for the rest of the year.”

Mr Poh, who runs cubeRpedia, which has two outlets at Tampines and Jurong, said that he brought in 40 e-scooters for the Singles’ Day sales. 

In the lead-up to the sales extravaganza, he spent about “hundreds of dollars” on Facebook advertising and sponsored posts on the social media platform.

He added that if sales do not improve, he will likely have to close down one of the two shops he owns.

“I don’t wish to (retrench workers), but due to the circumstances, I might need to lay off half of my team (of about six workers).”

For now, Mr Poh said that he and his business partner have opted not to receive their salaries.

‘DOWNSIZING’ CONTINUES

Another retailer, who did not want to be identified, told TODAY that he has made no sales since the ban and has laid off “a few” workers.

The shop typically sold about 40 units during past Singles’ Day sales. This year, he brought in hundreds of e-scooters, but the e-scooters remain in his warehouse.

He added that he “is in the midst of downsizing” manpower further.

Ms Kushoo Kumari, 38, has not sold any e-scooters since the ban either.

She declined to name her shop but her business offers repair services for e-scooters as well. Such jobs have dwindled drastically, she said. “We used to make about a few thousand dollars a week from e-scooter repairs. Now we make less than S$100 a day.”

For Mr Ifrey Lai, 49, managing director of Mobot, sales are lagging at the moment. “Orders are still coming in, but the pace has slowed down quite a fair bit.”

Mr Lai told TODAY in a past interview that he brought in “S$400,000 worth” of stocks just for the Singles' Day sales. He said that those who have continued to buy e-scooters are mostly “living near to park connector networks or shared paths”.

The move to keep e-scooters off footpaths was aimed at curtailing the growing number of accidents involving PMDs. 

Pedestrians and other road users have suffered injuries or have died from collisions with PMDs, and the public has been calling for the authorities to clamp down on reckless riders. 

After the ban, food-delivery riders and retailers who were caught unaware could not carry on with their jobs or were faced with an oversupply of stock. 

Although e-scooters can still be used on cycling paths and on park connectors, there are gaps along riders' routes that they cannot take due to the lack of infrastructure.

The Government then stepped in with a S$7 million grant for riders working for food-delivery companies Foodpanda, GrabFood and Deliveroo, to provide some money for them to switch from e-scooters to electric bicycles, personal mobility aids or bicycles.

However, they are not biting yet.

MOVING CAUTIOUSLY

While some retailers have considered stocking up and selling e-bikes, they are cautious about getting burnt again.

Mr Poh said: “We are planning to bring in e-bikes, but even if we do, it will take time.

“We are very cautious… and are ordering in very small amounts… maximum 50 pieces.”

He is afraid that similar regulations prohibiting the use of e-bikes might be put in place should things get out of hand.

Unlike e-scooters, e-bikes can be used on roads, but many riders have pointed out that PMD users may likely cause congestions or accidents on roads as well because they are not savvy enough.

Mr Denis Koh, chairman of Big Wheel Scooters Singapore and a member of the Active Mobility Advisory Panel, told TODAY that the footpath ban has dealt a “severe” blow to businesses.

“(But it’s) not a collapse of the industry just yet… perhaps a tsunami. Some retailers will not be able to withstand this period, but some can change their business direction. This cannot be done overnight and there will be challenges, such as cash-flow issues.

“Many of them are also still in a state of shock and are still thinking about how to reconfigure their businesses.”