In this current world of innovation, electric skateboards are the latest craze that is sweeping college campuses and metropolitan areas. These “last mile” vehicles are ideal for getting around your neighborhood, downtown, or school without expending energy or breaking a sweat.
While there are a lot of electric boards to choose from, the Onewheel has gained a lot of popularity due to its unique design which stands out from the competition. With a patented “one wheel” design, it harnesses a single large wheel in the center of the device with two footpads on either end.
The benefit to such an innovative design is the Onewheel can be easily maneuvered using weight distribution (instead of a traditional hand remote). The large wheel can traverse all sorts of terrain including off-road (even on sand or snow) all while offering the ability to carve like on a snowboard.
Many consumers have picked up a Onewheel to date, but the issue for a lot of prospective buyers is how expensive the devices are. The newest Onewheel Pint model is more affordable at $950, but the Onewheel XR their flagship sells for a whopping $1,799.
An easy way to score this innovative transportation device for cheap is by purchasing a used Onewheel. While Onewheels aren't always the easiest items to locate in preowned condition, there are a couple of online resources which will help you discover used Onewheel models:
Where To Find Used Onewheels Online For Cheap
eBay
A household name that has been around since 1995, eBay is the largest online marketplace with an excellent reputation. People sell all sorts of items on eBay, including used Boosted Boards and used Onewheels. Going through eBay means you'll get a more extensive assortment of people trying to sell their used Onewheel, but you'll have to deal with potentially expensive shipping costs.
A benefit about eBay is that you'll be dealing with a secure payment processor (most use Paypal) and have some recourse if the seller doesn't deliver as expected. Also, as a buyer, there are no additional fees beyond the auction price/buy it now price (the seller pays these).
There is also an extensive feedback system that allows you to research the seller before buying. This helps to ensure they are legitimate and offering a used Onewheel that meets the condition given in the seller description.
In terms of the availability of a pre-owned Onewheel, you'll find the best selection on eBay as it is a global marketplace. As a result, at any given time, you'll find dozens (there were a whopping 246 available for sale on eBay when we last edited this article) of Onewheel models for sale on eBay including the Onewheel XR, Onewheel Plus, and Onewheel Pint.
Facebook Marketplace
A newer way to buy and sell stuff locally is through Facebook's Marketplace, which is their version of classifieds through the social media giant. Since Facebook's user base is so large, you have a lot of people posting all sorts of products for sale.
Facebook is the largest social media platform globally, so you'll have access to a huge number of sellers who often post on the Facebook marketplace over other sites like eBay due to the lack of any seller fees to place an item listing.
Similar to eBay, this results in a wide assortment of used Onewheels. Depending on your location, you may be able to find someone close by who is willing to make a deal. You technically can pay through FB, but we'd recommend another safer method, especially if it's an in-person transaction.
Given that you'll likely be meeting in person if you buy a used Onewheel through the Facebook marketplace, you should be allowed to give the unit a test drive to ensure it is in good working order before purchasing.
Onewheel Subreddit
Reddit is one of the largest collective online communities for people to collaborate and discuss their hobbies, skillsets, or passions. Consumer electronics are popular topics among Redditors and the one Onewheel community subreddit is pretty popular with over 31.8K members.
While the general day-to-day discussion on the group isn't usually of a transactional nature (it is mostly focused on your standard Onewheel rider discussion), once in a while a member will post a Onewheel that is available for sale to another Reddit user.
The beauty of this community is they will often sell their used Onewheels to another Redditor at a lower discount than they'd sell on eBay or another classified/marketplace. There is no method of processing the transaction through Reddit so you'll need to resort to another safe payment method and you should always take necessary precautions before doing business with a stranger over the internet.
OfferUp
Modern smartphone apps like OfferUp (LetGo was recently purchased by Offerup) or any other competing mobile classified marketplaces are other places to check. Depending on your location, you might not find any available for sale locally as these apps are relatively new, and the active users aren't as high as Facebook or eBay.
However, you only need to get lucky once It's worth checking before buying elsewhere as you might be able to score a deal on Onewheel that's used but in good condition. We don't have a ton of experience purchasing through these sorts of apps, so you'll have to use your judgment.
Craigslist
While it's more of an old-school option in today's world, Craigslist is still a viable option to consider. The interface is clunky, and it isn't the easiest way to communicate or vet the legitimacy of potential sellers, but you never know what you can find.
Just be cautious when dealing with anonymous sellers on Craigslist and use safety precautions to protect yourself from being taken advantage of. Craigslist is notoriously full of scammers, especially on the seller's side, so you are best off meeting someone locally in a public place to carry out the transaction in person.
Never send a payment to someone on Craigslist before meeting them and examining the Onewheel for yourself. As always, we recommend a test ride in person before buying to ensure the used Onewheel is functioning properly.
Additional Things To Keep In Mind When Buying Used
While you can score a great deal by buying a pre-owned Onewheel, you still need to be cautious when dealing with an unofficial seller. Here are some things you should keep in mind:
- Use good judgment when vetting a potential seller. Avoid someone who seems shady, is unresponsive or you feel like is telling you things that are too good to be true
- Be sure to ask plenty of questions before purchasing and request detailed photos of their used Onewheel, explicitly highlighting any potential damage or issues.
- Check the pictures for any missing accessories such as the charger or extra accessories like rail guards
- Try to get the original Onewheel receipt from the owner as this will prove it is not stolen and will help you if you run into warranty issues later. In some cases, the unit may already be out of warranty so be prepared for potential repair costs down the line when you buy a used Onewheel
- If purchasing outside of eBay, make sure you meet in person to carry out the transaction in a public place and take a test ride to ensure the Onewheel is in working condition
- Always use the safest payment method you can, we like Paypal. There are other decent methods of payment (Apple Pay, Venmo, Check) should something go wrong with the transaction
- Be sure to invest in a proper helmet to protect your head as Onewheels are dangerous devices that can cause harm should you fall or hit another vehicle or pedestrian while riding
We hope this guide helped you find a used Onewheel!
