Six Things to Know Before Buying a Hoverboard

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Buying a Hoverboard

Hoverboards were once considered to be a device from the future. However, since the 1905s, when Hiller Aircraft produced the first “flying platform,” various companies are trying their hands in manufacturing hoverboards. They gained popularity several years ago when a video showing Mike Tyson falling off a hoverboard captivated the Internet. 

While hoverboards are certainly not yet the technology shown in movies such as Back to the Future, they are still novel ways of mobile transportation. If hoverboards appeal to you, here are six things to know before buying a hoverboard.

Safety Instructions

One of the very first things you should look at are safety instructions online. You should know if it is recommended that you buy special protective equipment. You should also see the ages that a hoverboard is intended for. 

Other important information to be found on safety instructions include how to start and stop the hoverboard, how to get off the hoverboard safely (unlike Mike Tyson), and how to ride the merchandise. 

Consumer Reviews

Just like many other devices in the world, not all hoverboards are created equal. Different hoverboards work differently than others, and many do not perform as well. You should check consumer reviews of the best blue and red hoverboards  you are looking for to make sure that you are not getting a bad deal.

You should read the negative reviews very carefully. Some will state that the wheels might get stuck or might not work at all. Positive reviews are also important as they will verify that the product works as it should. As always, if there are more negative reviews than positive reviews, you may not want to purchase the hoverboard you are interested in and opt for another one instead.

Manufacturer

As is also the truth about devices, not all manufacturers are created equal. Some manufacturers have a horrible reputation for making defective devices, while others make quality products. As is the case with consumer reviews, you should also check online to see whether the manufacturer has any issue. After all, if they have a reputation for making defective devices, chances are that you might be purchasing a defective device yourself.

Safety Recalls

Safety recalls are especially important to research and go hand in hand with reading consumer reviews and researching the manufacturer.  When settling on a hoverboard, you should research recall websites, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States.

These websites will inform you of recalls on similar hoverboards, so that you will know the warning signs and can detect if your device is defective. You should also always return your product if it has been recalled for safety issues.

Researching safety recalls beforehand will help you identify companies that have had issues in manufacturing the devices before and should be given equal weight alongside consumer and manufacturer reviews. 

The Place You Are Ordering From

While the retailer that you are ordering from is not one of the more important things you need to research, you should always consider the source. Websites that look unprofessional, for example, are probably not the websites that you should be ordering from, even if they promise you a great deal.

You should stay with trusted retailers in your area, such as Walmart, and trusted online retailers, such as Amazon. If you buy from a trusted source, you can be assured that the hoverboard will likely be genuine one, and not a forgery.

Scams

Scams, such as phishing scams, are all over the place on the internet. Before buying, you should make sure that the website is secure. You can tell if it does if you see a lock on your web browser around where the address bar is. If there is no lock, then that means that scammers can easily take your money as well as your personal financial information.

Additionally, a hoverboard manufacturer or retailer will rarely contact you with an offer if you have not signed up to get deals from them. So, if you get a suspicious email purporting to be from a hoverboard manufacturer and retailer, and you have not heard of them, chances are they might be scammers. 

Conclusion

Retailers, scams, safety recalls, consumer reviews, and safety instructions are all things that you should know before you buy a hoverboard. Hoverboards can be exciting and a fun experience to all, but they are awfully expensive. Therefore, you should get as much information as you possibly can before committing to an investment in a hoverboard.