The Pitfalls of Buying E-Scooters and E-Bikes from Online Marketplaces

Wondering why our prices differ from those on online marketplaces? Please read this article to understand how EU regulations impact pricing for legitimate retailers like us.

Online marketplaces like AliExpress, Alibaba, and Geekbuying lure many consumers with rock-bottom prices on electric scooters and e-bikes. Every year, millions of such products flood into Europe – over two billion small parcels (valued under €150 each) arrived from non-EU countries in 2023 alone [3]. However, those “too good to be true” deals often come with serious hidden pitfalls. Buyers may find themselves dealing with:

• Unknowingly skirting import taxes.
• Receiving incomplete documentation.
• Getting no real warranty or support.
• Facing costly repairs on their own.

This article explains these risks in detail and strongly recommends a safer alternative: purchasing from reputable EU-based sellers (such as evolt.eu) that provide proper invoices, compliance, and warranty support.

Import Duties, VAT Evasion, and Missing Invoices

Suspiciously low prices often mean import taxes aren’t being paid. Most sellers on platforms like AliExpress and Alibaba do not include EU import duty or VAT in the price. If an item is shipped directly from China without proper customs declaration, you as the buyer may be hit with VAT and fees upon delivery [1]. Some overseas sellers even mis-declare shipments to slip under tax thresholds – for example, marking a €500 e-bike as a €20 “gift.” The EU explicitly warns that undervaluing goods to avoid duty/VAT is illegal and can result in the goods being seized or fines for the buyer [2]. In short, if the price seems improbably low, it may be because required import taxes are being dodged.

The invoice (or lack thereof) is a telltale sign. A legitimate EU purchase should come with a proper VAT invoice. According to EU rules, a valid invoice must include [2]:

• The seller’s registered name and address
• A VAT identification number
• An itemized description of the products
• The price
• The VAT amount/rate applied

Many marketplace sellers fail to provide this. Often buyers receive only a basic receipt or no invoice at all. In one discussion, AliExpress support told a customer to “consult the seller” for a tax invoice – and the seller replied, “Sorry, we cannot provide a VAT invoice” [5]. Similarly, business buyers trying to reclaim VAT have found that AliExpress “invoices” show VAT charged but list no VAT number of any seller or intermediary [4]. An invoice without a VAT ID suggests the tax was never properly accounted for. The takeaway: if you ask for a proper EU invoice and the seller can’t produce one, it’s a red flag that import duties/VAT were not paid (and you could be held liable later).

“Cheap” E-Rides and Their Trade-Offs

The ultra-low price of these products comes at a significant cost in other areas:

• Poor Quality and Safety Risks. There’s a reason brand-name e-bikes and scooters cost more: they invest in quality components and compliance. Many products on Alibaba/AliExpress are made as cheaply as possible by unvetted manufacturers. Critical parts like batteries, motors, and frames may be substandard or even used/refurbished. One industry review noted that many low-cost e-bikes use cheap materials that “fail prematurely or compromise rider safety,” including motors that can fail after minimal use [6]. Indeed, London’s fire department recorded a 78% surge in e-bike battery fires in 2023, many traced to unregulated cheap battery packs from online vendors [7].
• No Real Warranty or After-Sales Service. Most sellers on these marketplaces do not offer meaningful warranty coverage. Unlike reputable EU dealers, which provide 1–2 years warranty, many bargain sellers make empty promises that are practically unenforceable across borders [7]. A Reddit user observed that after-sales support is “almost nonexistent” [8]. This lack of support is likely “why they can sell their e-bikes at a lower price” in the first place [8]. Another source notes bluntly that buying direct from China means you should assume “you will never be able to use any stated warranty… all of the work post-sale will need to be done by you” [9].
• Hidden Long-Term Costs. The attractive sticker price is misleading. If a product arrives defective, international return shipping of a bulky e-bike can cost hundreds of euros, with no guarantee of reimbursement [7]. One person who bought a $900 (~€840) scooter ended up with €300 in repair bills within four months [10]. Another buyer never even received the scooter they paid for [9]. The initial “bargain” can quickly turn into a sunk cost.

Early Failures and No Recourse: Customer Stories

Real customer experiences illustrate how risky these purchases can be. Batteries and motors often fail after only weeks of use, and sellers frequently refuse to help. One owner’s new e-scooter motor died after two and a half weeks; the seller still refused to provide a refund or replacement, despite the product being under 30 days old [10]. In another case, a rider noted that a cheap e-bike’s battery might “die within a month” of light use, leaving them with no support [11]. Technicians confirm this, noting that when a component fails, the customer must foot the bill to fix it [6], [7].

Local shops report an influx of people seeking spare parts for these imports. We at evolt.eu have seen customers come to us with nearly-new scooters that already have dead batteries or burnt-out motors because the original seller won’t respond. While we can supply parts, we cannot offer warranty coverage on someone else’s product. This is a common problem, as buyers of ultra-cheap, off-brand models often struggle to find compatible parts at all [6]. Some bike shops even refuse to service e-bikes that weren’t purchased from them [7]. If your imported device breaks, you may be left with an expensive paperweight.

The True Cost: Repairs and Replacements

How much might those out-of-warranty fixes run you? A high-quality e-bike battery replacement can cost anywhere from €300 to €1000 [13]. A motor replacement could be another $300 for the part plus $100 in labor [12]. By the time you’ve replaced a failed battery and motor, you might have spent more than the original price of the scooter.

One analysis compared the 5-year ownership costs of a bargain e-bike versus a reputable brand. The “cheap” bike ended up costing over €3100 in five years, whereas the higher-quality bike (with proper warranty and support) cost about €2450 in the same period [7]. This confirms the old saying: “buy cheap, buy twice.”

Buy Smart: The Benefits of Choosing Reputable EU Sellers

For true savings and peace of mind, it is better to buy from a trustworthy local retailer that follows EU regulations. Here’s what you get:

• Full Legal and Tax Compliance. When you purchase from an established EU-based seller like evolt.eu, you get a real EU invoice with all duties and VAT paid. You won’t later receive a surprise customs bill or face legal issues for tax evasion.
• Genuine Warranty and Customer Support. Evolt.eu provides a 1 to 2-year warranty on its products. If something goes wrong, you have a local point of contact that will repair or replace the item in line with EU consumer protection laws [7]. Reputable sellers also maintain spare parts and service centers, minimizing your downtime [6], [7].
• A Safer, Smarter Investment. You are assured the product meets EU safety standards and is legal to use on public roads. The long-term benefits of going with a trusted seller (safety, support, durability) far outweigh the short-term allure of a rock-bottom price [7].

Conclusion: Don’t Let a Cheap Price Blind You to the True Cost

Purchasing an electric scooter or e-bike from AliExpress or similar sites is a high-risk gamble. You might save money initially, but you are likely forfeiting proper tax compliance, warranty, and support. The case studies show these “bargains” can end up far more expensive and stressful in the long run.

We strongly recommend buying from a reputable EU-based retailer. You will receive a fully compliant product with transparent pricing, a valid invoice, and the backing of a real warranty and customer service. When it comes to e-mobility, you truly “get what you pay for,” and paying a fair price to a legitimate seller will save you money and trouble over time [6], [7].

References

1. European Commission. (n.d.). Buying goods online coming from a non-European Union country. Taxation and Customs Union – European Commission. Retrieved from https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/buying-goods-online-coming-non-european-union-country_en
2. European Commission. (n.d.). VAT Invoicing. European Commission website. Retrieved from https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/taxation/vat/vat-businesses/invoicing_en
3. Khushi, A. (2024, July 3). EU takes aim at China’s Temu and Shein with proposed import duty, FT reports. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/eu-takes-aim-chinas-temu-shein-with-proposed-import-duty-ft-reports-2024-07-03/
4. UK Business Forums. (2024, August 8). Has anyone received a VAT receipt from AliExpress with a real VAT number? [Forum discussion]. Retrieved from https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/threads/412487/
5. Reddit. (2023). VAT Invoice – button not available? [Online forum thread]. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/Aliexpress/comments/1jsd0wo/vat_invoice_button_not_available/
6. Ranjbar, S. (2023, December 29). The pitfalls of purchasing electric bike conversion kits from Amazon, Alibaba, and AliExpress: A cautionary tale. EbikeBC Blog. Retrieved from https://ebikebc.com/blogs/articles/the-pitfalls-of-purchasing-electric-bike-conversion-kits-from-amazon-alibaba-and-aliexpress-a-cautionary-tale
7. Big Cat Electric Bikes. (2024, December 3). Why buying a low-cost e-bike from unreliable websites can cost you more in the long run. Big Cat Bikes Blog. Retrieved from https://www.bigcatbikes.com/blogs/big-cat-bikes-blog/why-buying-a-low-cost-e-bike-from-unreliable-websites-can-cost-you-more-in-the-long-run
8. Reddit. (2021). aliexpress ebike is it safe? [Online forum thread, r/ebikes]. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/1hziuya/aliexpress_ebike_is_it_safe/
9. Reddit. (2021). Is it safe to order electric scooter from aliexpress? Any good or bad stories? [Online forum thread, r/ElectricScooters]. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricScooters/comments/m5pg4v/is_it_safe_to_order_electric_scooter_from/
10. Reddit. (2024). Are iScooter good? [Online forum thread, r/ElectricScooters]. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricScooters/comments/1ekjaiq/are_iscooter_good/
11. dogman dan. (2017, May 26). Re: Reliable aliexpress battery pack? [Online forum comment]. Endless Sphere Forums. Retrieved from https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=88528#p1293132
12. HaveBlue. (2016, April 18). Re: Has anyone had to replace their motor? [Online forum comment]. Electric Bike Review Forums. Retrieved from https://forums.electricbikereview.com/threads/has-anyone-had-to-replace-their-motor.3299/#post-29803
13. Tom. (2025, March 3). How much does an electric bike battery cost? (2025 prices). Doctibike Blog. Retrieved from https://doctibike.com/en/blog/how-much-does-an-electric-bike-battery-cost-2025-prices-n76