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Scooter Sales Skyrocket...Sent Soaring By Gas Prices!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Pipeline, Inc.

What was once considered a novelty by motorists and cyclists alike is now a HUGE deal!

I was in the market for a scooter a few months ago and checked out this machine.  Nice ride...cost around $5k. 

As gas prices have risen, my curiosity about this bike again surfaced.  So, I headed down to ScooterVille here in Missoula to see about getting my hands on a new ride.

NO DICE!!!

They are sold out.  SOLD OUT!  As in, I cant buy one even if they have one!  In fact, they are sold out until OCTOBER!!  (I dont know how much you know about Montana...but October is NOT scooter-friendly around here...LOL!

So, I did what any good red-blooded American would do...I gave the manager a $500 cash deposit (refundable) on the next available scooter that matches my criteria to come in the door...which would probably arrive in November...and I got back into my F-250 with the 4 inch lift kit and 26" mudders and drove off in a cloud of exhaust fit for a king...or a tug boat.

I guess I can just house the scooter til Spring...Sheeesh.

Comments (16)

Randall Schrader
Competitive Insurance of Dundee - Dundee, FL

What are you going to do with a scooter though?  We have 2 smaller ones with a 3 mile range that we tool around the neighborhood with.

Jul 08, 2008 05:10 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

VLS -- I just need one to get from the office to home.  I hate the fact that I use more gas to start my car than I would use on an entire round trip on a scooter...LOL.

Jul 08, 2008 05:11 AM
Pam Joffe
Solaris Realty - Tampa, FL

Hi Clint - That is a nice looking scooter. What are you going to use it for? Someday who knows we could be carting customers around on one.

Jul 08, 2008 05:13 AM
Ray Henderson
Weichert Realtors' Northeast Group - Saratoga Springs, NY

good idea. I see more and more scooters around town and also bicycles. I see lots of cars by the road for sale also. We are all changing our ways with gas the way it is.

Jul 08, 2008 05:16 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Pam -- I like it...I like the dual front wheels...and the independant suspension.  I just want one to use for buzzing around town and getting from the office and home.  Luckily I dont have to worry about hauling around customers.  But, that would make for an interesting listing appt, wouldnt it?  LOL!

Jul 08, 2008 05:16 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Ray -- Yeah, Im too fat and lazy for a bicycle....LOL!  Im still talking my wife into letting me get a motorcycle, but she keeps telling me to grow up...LOL!

Jul 08, 2008 05:17 AM
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

Hi Clint,

I have a feeling this is happening everywhere right now.  Probably a good idea to get your deposit in.  Have a great week.  Michael A. Caruso

Jul 08, 2008 05:31 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Michael -- Actually, I just saw an article on CNN about this very thing last night.  That is what prompted me to write this.  :-)

Jul 08, 2008 05:33 AM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

There is a guy who takes his english bulldog to the dog park on his vespa in a side car.  He has a helmet and goggles for the dog and it is hilarious!  I just bought a really nice bicycle and am looking for a baby trailer to take it to the grocery store and toodle the boys (my italian greyhounds) around in.

I look at it as saving gas and getting in shape, a nice double whammy!  The bike store (and it was a specialty small shop, not a big box store) said bike sales are WAYYYYY up!  I am sure it is different in Montana where there isn't a restaurant, gaming, retail or grocery within a two mile radius like us. Weather here is a plus where the bike can be ridden 9-10 months out of the year.

It's really nice to see people fighting back and changing their attitudes by changing their habits.

Jul 08, 2008 05:54 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Renee -- That is AWESOME!!!  I would sooo do that...both the sidecar and the trailer....LOL.  Im sure bike sales are skyrocketing also...I will have to check with my guys at the Bicycle Hangar about that...I need a bike.  LOL>

Jul 08, 2008 05:57 AM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Hi Clint Nice ride too bad it was out of stock.  I think everyone will be changing attitudes a little bit with the gas situation.  Hope it get's here before winter.  Nice to see the pic is there. How is the comment thing working out? 

Jul 08, 2008 07:54 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Paddy -- Yeah, I liked that one.  Agreed on the attitude change.  One thing I just saw on CNN was that oil prices could hit $200 per barrel by the end of the year...so, I think it is going to get worse before it gets 'better'.

Comment thing...Well, I dont notice a difference as of yet.  But, I will be monitoring it as I go along.  :-)

Jul 08, 2008 07:57 AM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Check out Duane He thinks he can hide behind that logo forever and now he has a bunch of Cheryls  protecting him.

Jul 08, 2008 08:33 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

LOL...Thats not gonna happen.  Picture up, Duane!!!

Jul 08, 2008 11:39 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

 

Clint...

Grabbed this 1990 Miata last summer for $3K and am I ever glad I did. Saves a fortune going back and forth, and I can only carry one person at a time!

Jul 08, 2008 12:42 PM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Richard -- Nice Miata!  Yeah, I bet that saves a boatload on fuel costs.  Good score!

Jul 09, 2008 12:35 AM