When a customer comes to them for stronger batteries, Mr Tay said he advises them that modifying their AMDs is illegal.
He also tells customers if the batteries they want can support the electrical appliances they have – whether it be AMDs, drones or robots.
“More people are putting things together on their own. … I have observed a trend with very young people, from as young as 13 years old to 15 years old,” Mr Tay pointed out.
“By right, they’re not supposed to have PMDs or PABs. The minimum age is 16 years old. However, there is a subculture already – in secondary schools, they like to ride bicycles … these youngsters, they may not have a lot of money of their own to spend.”
Mr Bobby Lai, head of business development at Singapore’s largest AMD retailer Mobot, said tighter enforcement is needed online to decide who is approved to sell AMD parts and what types of listings show up on e-commerce platforms.
He also flagged ways for riders to keep themselves safe in the second-hand market. For example, Mobot does trade-ins and helps customers to sell their old devices.
“We will always do a check first before we sell these second-hand devices,” he added.
“For the consumers, it’s much more preferred that they come to a reputable shop, even if they are looking for a second-hand device, and not go online and just buy anyhow.”
