My SmartScoot Research, Experience and Review in Australia (alternative spelling for google to find: Smart Scoot)

Hi reader! 

Part of this info was originally in an email I sent to somebody who was curious about my SmartScoot. I've posted it here online for anyone else who may find it helpful. 

I'd like to acknowledge the generosity of the very kind owners of SmartScoots, both here in Australia and overseas, who helped me enormously in my purchase decision by patiently answering my many questions.  

The short version is that there are currently two types of very lightweight scooters available in Australia. A SmartScoot (mine) and a TravelScoot. Both are made by US companies. 

Some relevant links:

www.smartscoot.com SmartScoot website

www.travelscoot.com  TravelScoot website

http://travelscootaustralia.com.au/scooters/ The Australian TravelScoot website

https://ilcaustralia.org.au/products/5769 Independent Living Centres Australia, where you can view and try a TravelScoot

https://www.smartscoot.com/comparing-mobile-scooters/ 

http://www.activemsers.org/gear/reviewtravelscooters.html 

http://sunponyranch.blogspot.com/2015/10/mini-mobility-scooters.html

http://www.sunponyranch.com/documents/Mini_Mobility_Scooters.pdf This is an amazingly detailed and excellent comparison chart from the author of the above blog post, highly recommended!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElizabethsTravelScoot/ This is a facebook group primarily for owners of TravelScoots, though there are also some SmartScoot owners, you may be able to ask other owners of either scooter questions about their experience here. 

Now for the longer version!

The SmartScoot and TravelScoot are very similar scooters, including final cost. Brace yourself, because in Australia, taking into account dollar conversion, shipping fees and import tax, the final cost of a SmartScoot is hefty. Around $4000 total including all shipping and taxes, and yes, this absolutely did deter me...for years. For me it was very much worth it, as it has given me so much improvement in quality of life, however, I do note, these are a huge investment.  

To buy a SmartScoot, you need to order online from the website in the US. The purchase price is listed on the website as $2299 USD. 

There is a $400 USD shipping fee and a $438.98 AUD customs import fee which FedEx billed me for before releasing it for shipping. 

You can try a TravelScoot at an Independent Living Centre in any major capital city in Australia, which is a huge boon - and you may also be able to apply for funding to help purchase one available locally, via ACAT. This may help offset the price of a Travel Scoot. You can then order through the Australian distributor or through the Independent Living Centre in your capital city. You cannot do this with a SmartScoot.

I researched the differences between the TS and the SS for a long time, including speaking to owners of both - and in the end, although I could not try one in real life, which was nerve-wracking for such an enormous purchase, I bought the SmartScoot online. This was a hard decision, because as far as I'm aware, I could not apply for funding for it because it's not local, and it will take me a long time to pay off. I do not regret it, it has been excellent for me and meets all my needs. 

The essential big design differences are that the SmartScoot has front wheel drive (safer for slopes), and the TravelScoot has rear wheel drive. The SmartScoot also has one central bar underneath, the TravelScoot has two in a triangular shape and this also gives you an area for the basket to hold your belongings. The TravelScoot has many excellent accessories available as well, which look well-designed and helpful if you need them. Personally I am prone to falling, and was concerned that the triangular shaped bars may be a tripping hazard for my circumstances, which played into my choice for a SmartScoot. 

The main reason I opted for a SmartScoot however is because the SmartScoot is good at coping with slopes due to the front wheel drive, and I happen to live on a mountain! I had heard first-hand reports of people tipping over backwards in a TravelScoot when trying to deal with slopes, due to the rear wheel drive. I have heard that if you’re going up a hill and the SmartScoot can’t cope, it will just stop. If you’re going up a hill on the TravelScoot and it can’t cope, it may possibly tip. For me personally, due to the geography of my location, the front wheel drive and therefore the ability to handle slopes was critical. If you live on flat terrain, either may be a great option, although I have never tried a TravelScoot and can't vouch for it personally.   

Since buying my SmartScoot I have taken it to a school on a weekend to try it out comprehensively, and it can easily get up surprisingly steep hills and over mown grass on an oval. It's very strong and powerful. However if the grass was long or muddy it would not be a good idea. You can walk it along like a bike, so this may be an option for some users, if the user was ambulant and briefly encountered inhospitable terrain. 

I also did look at the scooters at the mobility shops which are large and stable, and can be broken down into smaller parts to put into a car.  I was not confident I could manage it, the individual components are still heavy, and there were 3 - 4 heavy bits for each scooter and I’d have to lift each component, and I couldn’t do that every time I needed it. Also, I’d like the option to take a scooter on a flight for example, if I needed it, and I want to leave room in our car boot for other items like bikes etc, so a smaller, portable scooter is better for me. Plus, I really wanted something I could zip around with when I’m with my family, not a massive hulking thing. So a portable scooter such as a SmartScoot or a TravelScoot is better for my needs.  

I have not been using the back rest on my Smart Scoot because I see it as an extra item to deal with, even though it’s light, at this point in my life, with a young family and minimal time to fuss around, I am after maximum portability and the greatest speed of assembly. There is nothing wrong with the back rest, that's just my preference at the moment. 

I can lift the body of the scooter in and out of the car myself. You can also take the battery off which makes it a fair bit lighter. 

For me, the Smart Scoot is one of the best investments I’ve ever made - it has given me back so much independence. I never go anywhere without it! In fact, I’ve put some wing decals on the battery at the back, because it’s truly given me wings. 

I love being able to get around my child's school, which I could rarely do previously, and going to the shops and zipping around - it’s the most amazing feeling. And I love that it’s pretty good looking! I’m sure either the SmartScoot or the TravelScoot would be similar in terms of enabling independence so these comments would be relevant to users of either. 

Just in case you are not aware, in many larger shopping centres in Australia at the Customer Service counter it is possible to borrow or hire a heavy, non-portable mobility scooter, so this is worth researching in case this is an option to assist you. 

I have found that the battery life is excellent. I've never come close to running out. In 3 months I've actually only charged it three times! I do not use the SmartScoot all day long, just for short periods, but the battery life is great. 

I have found that the seat is very well padded and comfortable to sit on. I really like that you can change the rear wheel width. I keep it set narrow for in shops, but like having the option to set them wider if I chose to outdoors. 

It comes with a silver metal folding basket, however I grabbed a $10 black basket from Kmart which sits on the front. The metal folding basket would be very helpful if travelling, as you could fold it flat and keep it in your luggage. It also comes with a small silver luggage rack. I will add photos to this note when I get a chance. 

While this is no reason not to get one, the main downside that I would identify - is that it is vulnerable to theft. Its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness - it is just so portable. As there is no key locking mechanism, if you left it unattended, it is possible to lift, it's possible to wheel it away with the motor off, and it's also possible for someone else to ride it away if they release the brake. 

This is all slightly tricky but there are some ways to work around this. The first is, don't leave it unattended. Stay on it or keep it close by you. Another is that you could hypothetically take the battery out if you needed to leave it for a longer period of time. Personally I find the battery quite heavy and would not have it in my handbag, but for some people that would be an option. Another is that apparently there are handbag alarms that you can place in the basket or attach to the SmartScoot, which emit a very loud noise if somebody moves the scooter. Personally, I would totally forget the alarm was activated and terrify myself, so that's not really an option. 

What I have done is two things: I have insured it under my home and contents insurance, and I also try to keep it very close to myself, especially in a public situation such as at a shopping centre. Do not leave it unattended! Somebody has tried to steal mine once, a young lady in Bunnings, who put her bag in the basket and hopped on the seat ready to go for a nice ride far away from its rightful owner. Fortunately I had someone with me who went over and sorted things out, but this taught me a big lesson. 

However, none of this is inherently a fault of the product, unless you count the lack of locking key mechanism. To my mind, it's just the price you pay for a very portable, lightweight mobility scooter, you need to be aware that you should keep an eye on it. 

I keep mine in my car at all times in case I suddenly need it, and have not had any difficulties. I fold it up, lock the brakes so it doesn't move around much in the boot, and put it in. On days when I am extra unwell I would not lift it, but most of the time I can. I do like to have some room beside the car to assemble it, and this is where access to a disability parking space is helpful if possible, so if you don't already have a parking sticker, get onto that.

It takes about a week to arrive in Australia from America. It was reasonably easy to assemble when it arrived in a huge box in the mail (a very exciting day!). I managed it, and I'm not a handy person at all. It is also easy to assemble on a day-to-day basis. There is a little trick with folding down the front steering wheel, and I'll edit this document shortly to add this info in, but if you remember that, it's a very simple experience. 

The company are excellent to deal with. I found them very helpful, patient, detailed and prompt in their email replies. I was a little unsure during the ordering process what exactly it came with (the website could do more to make this clear), but the company are responsive when you contact them. I do have confidence they would be helpful if I had any issues in future. 

For reference, mine came with the scooter body, the seat, the back rest, a basket and a travel rack. I ordered lights (although I have not yet used it at night). The basket and travel rack are packed flat so be sure not to miss them in your box when you receive it. 

When I was first getting used to driving it, I found that it jerked a little on take-off. The handle is an accelerator similar to a motorbike. I was initially quite concerned, but over time I have become accustomed to being very gentle when I turn the handlebar towards myself. It still jerks a little but that's because it has such a strong pull, which is very helpful if you are starting off on a slight slope. Just something to be aware of. 

If you have issues holding the handlebar rolled towards you to keep it moving forward, I have heard that there is something called a 'Cramp Buster' which you can add on (see Amazon), which can hold it in an 'on' position. I have not tried one of these so can't add further info.

One more note - after I purchased mine I became aware that there is a referral scheme, if an existing owner helps another person decide to purchase one, they receive a small amount. While I completely understand why the company are rewarding existing customers who are kind enough to be helpful to potential new customers, and it's nice to be recognised for that, I don't personally feel comfortable with this approach. The reason is, I feel it potentially diminishes the credibility of the owner. I don't want to rave about my scooter to someone, they buy it, for them to then feel that I possibly raved about it so I could receive a referral fee. I want people to know that any info I share is totally unbiased and objective, so I don't personally feel comfortable with this scheme and prefer not to be a recipient of a referral fee for this reason. I'd rather the scooter was just cheaper by the amount of the referral fee for all buyers instead.  

Some reviews online mention a beeping sound when it reverses, this was in earlier models and my model as of 2018 does not do this. It does have a button you can press to make a beeping sound if need be. Be aware of this when putting it in your car, position the handrest so it doesn't activate the beeper accidentally. Early on I had a few car trips with a symphony of beeps when I went around corners.

Overall I highly recommend the SmartScoot. It is a magical little scooter and I can't wait to enjoy many adventures together. 

I will add to this info and review over the coming days as I think of more, I'm just posting it ASAP to share info with others in Australia who may have queries.  

If you have questions, leave a comment with your question and email address (I won't publish either) and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for reading!