Aussie Hoverboard Company Weighs in on Ban

Melbourne, Australia, April 6, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​Hoverboards have been flying off the shelves lately, but not due to a surge in sales.

The popular transport device is being pulled from some stores due to a federal government ban imposed two weeks ago on certain unsafe brands.

The Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer imposed a 60-day interim ban on the supply of unsafe hoverboards from March 19, citing advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that there were imminent fire safety risks from defective electrical circuitry and substandard lithium-ion batteries in some hoverboards.

Now one of the only companies left in Australia offering an approved hoverboard for sale has weighed in on the ban, saying while it was a win for industry transparency and for companies complying with the rules, the legislation was poorly worded.

Marc Goodwin, manager of online retailer Easy Rider self balancing scooters, said the ban was a positive step in identifying unsafe units skirting national safety standards, but the government needed to improve communication.

"Consumers have a right to feel safe, and by identifying unsafe hover boards being sold in the Australian market, the regulators are doing a good thing," Mr Goodwin said.

"However, in announcing this ban, the government has not reiterated the important fact that there are small Aussie businesses which are still making reliable and safe units."

Mr Goodwin said he simply wanted to clear up any consumer confusion.

"Just like the dodgy phone chargers and washing machines we have seen in the news lately, we don't condemn all chargers and machines, we just focus on the offending models and ensure they are taken off the market," he said.

He said the scooter industry came under the microscope after the community saw how dangerous dodgy products could be over the Christmas period when many were given as gifts.

"There have been stories of consumers experiencing problems with brands other than Easy Rider, including electrical fires linked to the charging process - especially with generic 'no name' batteries.

"With Easy Rider products, each scooter is supplied with an SAA Australian certified battery charger and Samsung battery, incorporating automatic cut-off when the battery is fully charged to prevent overheating."

And while online discounters and big-box stores will have to remove offending units, Mr Goodwin said sellers on online auction sites could still flout laws.

"I would recommend that consumers don't buy from eBay unless they can verify the source of the product."

Mr Goodwin said buyers who suspected their board was faulty should immediately stop using it, unplug it and visit the ACCC website, and if their model was on the list, seek a refund.

He said the company will continue to work with the consumer watchdog to ensure compliance and people can continue to order Easy Rider products from the online store: erselfbalancingscooter.com.au