I need something convicing

[houstonseg]

I need something convicing to convence my mom to get me an HT,post something


thanks

-xavier lozano

[opti6600]

Xavier, how old are you and what do you plan on doing with your HT? ~$4000-5000 is no small sum for something to be used for trifle errands and such for a teen.

[houstonseg]

I plan useing my HT for tooling around my neghiborhood,and when we go on vacation(ie;europe,canada),or when we visit our famly in kinda rugged land in florida.
Iv also riden two(i first time,p second) at segway of texas.

-xavier lozano

[maperrye1989]

Same. My parents are being annoying about it. I have the money but they said that i can buy it when i'm 16 and that is in a year and a half! Its too long to wait and i have wanted one for a year and a half now!! How can i convince them?

M.P.

[opti6600]

quote:Originally posted by houstonseg

I plan useing my HT for tooling around my neghiborhood,and when we go on vacation(ie;europe,canada),or when we visit our famly in kinda rugged land in florida.
Iv also riden two(i first time,p second) at segway of texas.

-xavier lozano


Xavier, frankly, unless you're willing to front the money yourself, I'd recommend foregoing the Segway. It's not worth the investment for your parents, since there wouldn't be much gain to it. Also, consider shipping costs of the HT, be it either a p-Series or the i, if you're going to be using it on vacation so often.

I'm a firm advocate of using a HT for everything possible, but there are some scenarios in which $4000-5000 is not a feasible amount to spend on it, given the situation. This is certainly one of them, Xavier, and I personally agree with your parents.

Maper, the same thing kinda goes for you, but with two notable differences. One, you're a bit young, although I won't say it's necessarily a reason to not go after a HT (I was 15 when I got mine), just something to keep in mind - your parents or a legal guardian will have to purchase the Segway, and most likely attend training with you, if not in lieu of you. Two, I think your parents are a bit concerned over you being so anxious to spend your money in that amount. If you -really- have a good reason, like using it to commute to school, a job, or something along those lines, then present the data to them versus a car, things of that nature. Otherwise, you're in the same boat as Xavier - wait a few years, wait until the price goes down, and then consider buying one for whatever neesds you may have then.

Best regards,
Jordan

[Neelix]

Ditto what Jordan says. If all you're going to be using an HT for is for tooling around, as a toy, I wouldn't get one, or, if I still REALLY wanted one, I'd go for the P series. If you're not using it for a serious application, an HT isn't going to be a good purchase for you.

edit:
John, exactly. I forgot to add that in there. Don't bother mommy and daddy about it, especially if its going to be a toy.

-------------------------
Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.

[opti6600]

quote:Originally posted by JohnM

Hey kids,
Here's a wacky idea: Get a job, save your money and buy a Segway without hassling your parents.

JohnM: Parent of two teenagers


Well, John, harassing your parents is one thing if you have a good reason for the harassment. Mine was purchased for me because I had for months and months before launch compiled information comparing the Segway to a car in Miami, plotted out prospective routes, and determined a plausible course of action with my school and the community. Also, since the launch (and the eventual shipping date) happened to fall well before my 16th birthday, it made sense to get some method of allowing me to get to and from school, and for errands around the neighborhood, without reliance on third-party transit of some sort.

So far I'd say the investment has paid off in my case quite well just in gas and insurance since I received my HT. It has paid off tenfold if you include the experiences I've had as a result, people I've met, and opportunities that have arisen, all thanks to this little Human Transporter.

Neat the way things work out sometimes.

Best regards,
Jordan

ps...umm...apparently the post was deleted afterwards, but since it made a valid point, I'm going to leave the quote in th ere unless John has a problem with it.

[dudeman0501]

I'm kinda in the same boat. I'm 15 and I really want a Segway. I had planed to save my money and and buy one for use in college. (3 yrs. should be enough time to save $5,000). The problem: my parents will not let me buy one, even for college. They say I can just ride a bike. I plan on going to the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!), which is a very hilly campus. How can I convince them to let me get one. Anyone have any ideas?

[stuart]

I think $5000 is too much to pay for a teenager to just mess around on it. I don't think it's practical to take to Europe (I'd see what the people who took their Segways to SegFest think about traveling with them). If I were you, as cool as the Segway is, and it is COOL, I'd use that money for a car.

And for dudeman, if it's your money you saved and you're 18 then I think you can spend it any way you want. Just my opinion.

Stuart

[Sunday]

You can join the millitary at 18 without a permission slip from your folks, right? Same goes for tattoos. Seems to me, you might not need anyone's permission when you reach 18. In the meantime, tell them you've changed your mind about the Segway. Now, you've decided to get a motorcycle from a buddy of yours that has to sell his because it goes too fast:)

If they still won't let you get one, organize a FIRST team. Then, you'll be so busy working on bots that they won't have to listen to you talk about Segways.

And of course, tell them that after much reflection, you have realized that they are right, and that you are glad that they are looking out for your best interest. They love that kind of stuff. And be sure to donate blood on your mom's birthday. You'll be giving the gift of life to a stranger, on the day that someone gave you the gift of life. They eat that stuff up!



Sunday

Segway-more fun than you can stand!

[segwayowner]

i'm in our position. The only difference is that i was given one for my BM. i think that for you at this time is isnt practical.

DES: Segway owner

[houstonseg]

my moms willing to get me one but we just dont have the $$$.I will porbley have one later this year.

-xavier lozano

[opti6600]

quote:Originally posted by houstonseg

my moms willing to get me one but we just dont have the $$$.I will porbley have one later this year.

-xavier lozano


Umm...Rule #1 for Segway Enthusiasts...don't buy a Segway without the means to do so!

[Neelix]

quote:Originally posted by opti6600

quote:Originally posted by houstonseg

my moms willing to get me one but we just dont have the $$$.I will porbley have one later this year.

-xavier lozano


Umm...Rule #1 for Segway Enthusiasts...don't buy a Segway without the means to do so!


Hehe, true dat!
=)

-------------------------
Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.
Chris Knight

[houstonseg]

I bought my Powerbook G4 with my own money and it cost:$3,516.00.



-xavier lozano

[opti6600]

quote:Originally posted by houstonseg

I bought my Powerbook G4 with my own money and it cost:$3,516.00.

-xavier lozano


Umm...*twirls finger in air*...and what does that have to do with a Segway you want your mom to buy you, exactly?

[q]

just exactly how old
are you?

kthxbye.

q.

http://www.pcisys.net/segway/jpg_segway_08312003_sunday_3a.jpg

//

[houstonseg]

im 11 years old

-xavier lozano
http://homepage.mac.com/xavierlozano/segways

[dexter]

>>The only difference is that i was given one for my BM.

I'm pretty tired here, and it took me a moment to realize that "BM" probably means Bar Mitzvah, yes? Because the first thing that popped into my mind was that you received it as a gift for having a bowel movement. I was just about to go into a tirade about how spoiled kids are today, how we had to live in a hole in the ground covered with a piece of tarpaulin, etc.

Sorry, but it was a pretty funny image in my head for a few moments there...

:)

Dave C.
me: www.idexter.com
work: www.idealjacobs.com
play: www.nyline.org

[Neelix]

Xavier, I really, really, really really hate to say it, but I don't think you need a Segway at 11 years old. You're a bit too young to be going far from home yourself.

-------------------------
Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.
Chris Knight

[houstonseg]

well I will only be riding it around the negiborhood,and when were on vacation like I stated above.

-xavier lozano
http://homepage.mac.com/xavierlozano/segways

[q]

quote:Originally posted by q

just exactly how old
are you?

kthxbye.

q.

http://www.pcisys.net/segway/jpg_segway_08312003_sunday_3a.jpg

//


//

oh, i see from your other
post that you're 11 years
old. (i just had left-
overs for dinner older
than that, but that's
beside the point.) btw,
i don't doubt that
you're incredibly mature
for your age.

but, unless your parental
unit buys you gifts of this
nature, you probably have
a "tough sell" for a seg.

maybe the money could be
better used for college?

"'mother' knows best"(?)

nevertheless, luck.

q.

http://www.pcisys.net/~qwhew/segway/jpg_segway_sfest_08312003_sunday_3a.jpg

//

[Jeff Allen]

quote:i was given one for my BM

Nice trade!

Onward!
Jeff Allen

[jdrive]

I for one applaud having sizable goals at such a young age. When I was eleven I really wanted a cool new ten speed (I'm old enough now for that to have been all the rage back then....). My net worth at the time was maybe $80.

I spent an entire summer washing cars... cars in the morning, cars in the daytime, cars at dusk, cars cars and more cars. Can still feel the calluses. I would actually have dreams about washing cars, then would wake up, and guess what? I'd wash cars.

At the end of the summer, I bought the ten speed. It cost $490. By the way, that was 1973. I charged 50 cents a car (though usually got a buck or two except for cheapskates). Incidentally, in todays dollars adjusted for inflation that's about two grand. Not quite a Segway perhaps, but then I bet you can do better than a buck or so a car!

PS Four months after I bought the bike, it was stolen. Never saw it again. No lie.



=== Glide On ===>

[toybuilder]

I dunno. As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm, I think an 11 year old (unless he is EXTRAORDINARILY mature) is not ready for the Segway. It's a wonderful piece of technology, but I worry about safety, security, and value.

I can't think of any parents (especially mine) that would let a 11 year old go around with a very visible $5,000 item in hand...

http://www.pasadenasegway.org/

[Auri]

Awww .. let them have some fun. Just remember guys, just like I told my little brothers and sister... you'll get one, and then you might get tired of it. A $5,000 thing you just show off around the neighborhood... well, that doesn't make much sense :)

Seriously. Here's the big concern I have: When you're 11, 15, whatever, you have friends that want to ride it... many times friends that don't have the money to fix it and then they try something stupid.

That's what I've had to deal with... my siblings (7, 9, and 11) all ride it, and ride it well. But it's very tempting when mom and dad aren't around to let your friends ride it... man it sucks if they break it and then just run away, leaving you with the bill :)

But either way, I'm for kids having access to them... altho owning them is a separate story (cost and responsibility issues again).

I use mine all the time, though... going to Starbucks, going out to eat, going to my sibling's house, the thing just goes everywhere... and I don't have to spend a dime on gas :)

Best,

-Auri
http://auri.net


---
T.A.G. - We Are I.T. (tm)
aurigroup.com

Check out my new PocketPC Program: Trippin' Future Trip Organizer: http://futuretrips.net

[opti6600]

quote:Originally posted by toybuilder

I dunno. As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm, I think an 11 year old (unless he is EXTRAORDINARILY mature) is not ready for the Segway. It's a wonderful piece of technology, but I worry about safety, security, and value.

I can't think of any parents (especially mine) that would let a 11 year old go around with a very visible $5,000 item in hand...

http://www.pasadenasegway.org/




Yeah, even my dad, when I was 11, would have balked at the idea of me with $5000 total of equipment on me, mobile around the outside world, without supervision, let alone a $5000 transport device. This is in stark contrast to now, where even without the HT I usually have about $5k worth of tech gear on me somehow (most other geeks on the forum can find similar situations with themselves!).

Hmm...the old guy is installing moulding at midnight...this is a weird picture....

Auri: Actually some of my friends I trust enough to let wander on yellow key for a bit without supervision (helmet of course!). It's a combination of a) we're in yuppieville, and b) you don't let a demo rider go any further than they're able to.

[Blinky]

quote:Originally posted by dudeman0501

I'm kinda in the same boat. I'm 15 and I really want a Segway. I had planed to save my money and and buy one for use in college. (3 yrs. should be enough time to save $5,000). The problem: my parents will not let me buy one, even for college. They say I can just ride a bike. I plan on going to the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!), which is a very hilly campus. How can I convince them to let me get one. Anyone have any ideas?

dudeman0501, When you are ready for college you won't need your parents permission to buy a segway :)

just don't tell them I said so..



http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/Blinky/Blinkyblink.gif http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/Blinky/mrblinky.jpg

[god1138]

Hmmm... here's my advice.

So far, some very valid points have been raised by others... Xavier, there is no doubt you're passionate about the technology that makes the Segway unique. I have no qualms at all with your desire to embrace this new and amazing machine. There is a huge propensity for people to gather around you anywhere you go, and people will nearly force themselves upon you to try this machine out. I can honestly say that at times I have been overwhelmed by the number of requests I've had at one time on many occasions. This situation is probably a little too much for you to take at such a young age. I admire your intelligence and your passion for the Segway very much... but something tells me that the magnetism of the Segway will probably cause many uncomfortable situations for you. When I was 10 years old, I once tried to open up a mini pizzeria out of my house. I went to a great deal of effort to figure out how to open a restaurant -- such as calling the Health Department to see how I became licensed and permitted, advertising, the whole nine yards. Try as I might, I never had a single customer! I tried this for a week, then gave up. This shows you how I, like yourself, am a very outgoing person and especially so at such a young age. It also shows a major difference -- the Segway has drawing powers and qualities to it. It attracts a crowd, anywhere it goes. And it doesn't matter who is riding it -- young or old, it all comes out the same. Had I been 10 and owned a Segway, it would've been far too much to handle.

You've definitely got to consider (and, even moreso, have your mother consider) just what the causality of buying a Segway may be -- and trust me, there are some very strange people out there who are not always in their right mind when talking to a 'glider' -- I know this for a fact. Put aside the obvious 'demos' that you would give to friends your age. The Segway will, nearly in a mystical and magical sense, draw people to you, and at such a young age, you could be just the kind of prime target a perpetrator of the law might pick upon.

You've certainly got to weigh this possibility. The Segway is so new and revolutionary, so UNLIKE a bicycle (which are commonplace and no one looks twice at!), you might be encouraging the wrong kind of attention. Sure, you consider the fact that you won't be leaving the neighborhood, but sooner or later you will (this sort of stuff happens, for sure) and you may be placed into a very uncomfortable situation.

In addition, and I in no way doubt you are mature and responsible, right now the Segway needs to be seen in the public eye as a viable form of alternative transportation (which it needs in order to thrive... it is a very serious device which is really fun on the outside, but you must absolutely be able to recognize the level of responsibility that comes attached to it), and I don't know how the general public would perceive an 11 year old using it to get around the neighborhood. I'm a little biased and it's hard to maintain objectivity given my intense knowledge of the Segway and my very intimate perspective of it, but something tells me if it is to be taken seriously, and this is only in the perspective of the public eye, 11 year olds using it for fun or leisure will not greatly impact those chances for widespread acceptance.

I'm so sorry if this breaks your heart to hear, and I don't know what kind of situations you intend to use it for specifically, but I'm trying to tell you as someone who very much feels overwhelming responsibility toward the Segway that I don't know if you having a Segway, at least for now, is a great idea. Xavier, your enthusiasm and knowledge of the Segway is probably much more in tune than 99% of the people your age, and I greatly appreciate you wanting one and wanting to embrace the technology wholeheartedly, but I just don't see how this would cause anything more than a bit of trouble for you and your family. Not to mention, if someone steals it (I once had 75 CD's and a "boom box" stolen from me at school when I was in Jr. High!), it will likely devastate you. I know $5000 is not laying around for most people just waiting to be spent, and I know that a lot of your friends will likely envy you to a great degree. Envy leads to jealousy and greed, and sooner or later you will probably be hit with the loss of it (this is really only an age thing -- and trust me, at your age, there's a lot of people who won't think twice about stealing it)... I just don't want you to have to be faced with that possibility.

Again, I hope my comments don't cause you any grief. I tried my best to provide reference enough to get you to see where I'm coming from on this. I really appreciate, once more, your enthusiasm for the Segway. Keep your chin up, though. By the time you're able to handle yourself in a crowd of strangers, perhaps the Segway will be more commonplace and less expensive should it ever be taken from you.

All my best,
Robert

[GlideMaster]

Excellent advice god1138 and toybuilder. Plus I think if the parents owned one and he had access to glide around the house it might be OK, but his alone at age eleven? No way. One must always remember one important thing when riding a Segway.

<center>Responsible Riders Ride Segway </center>
<center>And Segway Riders Ride Responsibly</center>

<center>http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/avatars/glidemaster.gif</center>

quote:Originally posted by god1138

Hmmm... here's my advice.

So far, some very valid points have been raised by others... Xavier, there is no doubt you're passionate about the technology that makes the Segway unique. I have no qualms at all with your desire to embrace this new and amazing machine. There is a huge propensity for people to gather around you anywhere you go, and people will nearly force themselves upon you to try this machine out. I can honestly say that at times I have been overwhelmed by the number of requests I've had at one time on many occasions. This situation is probably a little too much for you to take at such a young age. I admire your intelligence and your passion for the Segway very much... but something tells me that the magnetism of the Segway will probably cause many uncomfortable situations for you. When I was 10 years old, I once tried to open up a mini pizzeria out of my house. I went to a great deal of effort to figure out how to open a restaurant -- such as calling the Health Department to see how I became licensed and permitted, advertising, the whole nine yards. Try as I might, I never had a single customer! I tried this for a week, then gave up. This shows you how I, like yourself, am a very outgoing person and especially so at such a young age. It also shows a major difference -- the Segway has drawing powers and qualities to it. It attracts a crowd, anywhere it goes. And it doesn't matter who is riding it -- young or old, it all comes out the same. Had I been 10 and owned a Segway, it would've been far too much to handle.

You've definitely got to consider (and, even moreso, have your mother consider) just what the causality of buying a Segway may be -- and trust me, there are some very strange people out there who are not always in their right mind when talking to a 'glider' -- I know this for a fact. Put aside the obvious 'demos' that you would give to friends your age. The Segway will, nearly in a mystical and magical sense, draw people to you, and at such a young age, you could be just the kind of prime target a perpetrator of the law might pick upon.

You've certainly got to weigh this possibility. The Segway is so new and revolutionary, so UNLIKE a bicycle (which are commonplace and no one looks twice at!), you might be encouraging the wrong kind of attention. Sure, you consider the fact that you won't be leaving the neighborhood, but sooner or later you will (this sort of stuff happens, for sure) and you may be placed into a very uncomfortable situation.

In addition, and I in no way doubt you are mature and responsible, right now the Segway needs to be seen in the public eye as a viable form of alternative transportation (which it needs in order to thrive... it is a very serious device which is really fun on the outside, but you must absolutely be able to recognize the level of responsibility that comes attached to it), and I don't know how the general public would perceive an 11 year old using it to get around the neighborhood. I'm a little biased and it's hard to maintain objectivity given my intense knowledge of the Segway and my very intimate perspective of it, but something tells me if it is to be taken seriously, and this is only in the perspective of the public eye, 11 year olds using it for fun or leisure will not greatly impact those chances for widespread acceptance.

I'm so sorry if this breaks your heart to hear, and I don't know what kind of situations you intend to use it for specifically, but I'm trying to tell you as someone who very much feels overwhelming responsibility toward the Segway that I don't know if you having a Segway, at least for now, is a great idea. Xavier, your enthusiasm and knowledge of the Segway is probably much more in tune than 99% of the people your age, and I greatly appreciate you wanting one and wanting to embrace the technology wholeheartedly, but I just don't see how this would cause anything more than a bit of trouble for you and your family. Not to mention, if someone steals it (I once had 75 CD's and a "boom box" stolen from me at school when I was in Jr. High!), it will likely devastate you. I know $5000 is not laying around for most people just waiting to be spent, and I know that a lot of your friends will likely envy you to a great degree. Envy leads to jealousy and greed, and sooner or later you will probably be hit with the loss of it (this is really only an age thing -- and trust me, at your age, there's a lot of people who won't think twice about stealing it)... I just don't want you to have to be faced with that possibility.

Again, I hope my comments don't cause you any grief. I tried my best to provide reference enough to get you to see where I'm coming from on this. I really appreciate, once more, your enthusiasm for the Segway. Keep your chin up, though. By the time you're able to handle yourself in a crowd of strangers, perhaps the Segway will be more commonplace and less expensive should it ever be taken from you.

All my best,
Robert

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

quote:Originally posted by Blinky

quote:Originally posted by dudeman0501

... 3 yrs. should be enough time to save $5,000 ...

dudeman0501, When you are ready for college you won't need your parents permission to buy a segway :)

just don't tell them I said so..



... AND in three years the price won't be anywhere near $5K.

Good luck with your saving/investing!

Stuart Bloom - Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike High School "RoboDevils"
AND NOW A SEGWAY OWNER ! :D
“Who goes out and says, ‘You have a better probability of winning the state lottery than making a nickel in professional sports. And by the way, last year two million exciting technical jobs went unfilled in this country because you weren't there to take that job. And it pays you 10 times as much as flipping burgers, and it's fun and it's exciting and you get to create things and build things and help make the world a better place and help make yourself a better living.’ Who tells them this?”
Dean Kamen, founder - FIRST Robotics

[brina]

I have to agree with god1138, im 18 but look like im 12 and often enough when i take it out people dont show me the same respect as ive seen them show torwards our elders, aside from those incedents like the egging that took place recently.

maturity plays a major role in being able to hanle such occurances, but u might be able to handle this.

there is also the fact that some uninformed dork that really wants a segway would consider an 11 year old easy pickens...enough said about that.

what it basically comes down to is that if ur parents cant afford it, its not going to happen

if your parents dont think ur old/responsible enough, its not going to happen

so my advice to u is sit down and think of how ur going to use it, where ur going to take it and how often, i dont use mine everyday and frankly i wouldnt have to use it every week, but some people do, but they also had the resources to buy it.

so if after considering what everyone has said and u still feel that this is the right time to buy it, when the price may be dropping and perfomance raising in a few years, then plead ur case to ur parents and then its strickly up to them, and be sure to not beg and whine, it never works for me.

[Lock]

Xavier-

Could you compromise on an electric scooter for now? I am not sure about any age restrictions for drivers in Texas, but here're a couple of pages of info about scoots in Texas:
http://pixievagabond.blog-city.com/read/167143.htm
http://pixievagabond.blog-city.com/read/164454.htm

There is a pretty good selection of *quality* electric scooters out there now which have some of the same characteristics as the Segway (speeds and range) but are a fraction of the cost to buy.
Perhaps a smaller scoot might be better suited to your height and weight than a "full size" Segway also? A kick scoot with a motor assist also folds down readily to take in the car for trips?

Finally, the "right" scooters, you can upgrade and fix yourself, and they can be an exciting tuition about personal electric vehicles and what makes `em "tick"...

Regards

Lock

[pdantic]

Maybe it's because I'm about to "celebrate" my 46th birthday, but I have to agree with the other folks who say an 11 year old should not be cruisin' around on a Segway. No offense, Xavier, but there's a lot to be said about waiting for some things in life instead of getting everything you want NOW. Frankly, I like the method my well-to-do sister and brother-in-law use with their son; if he wants something "non-essential", he earns the money and saves it. It makes him appreciate his expenditures a lot more.

When I was 11 years old it was a much different world - it was much safer for young people, for one thing. I pretty much had freedom to roam on foot and on my bike over a 4-5 mile radius, but in the late 60's there wasn't too much to worry about. I just don't think that an 11 year old alone on a $5,000 HT in 2003 is a good idea.

While you're 11 years old and have tons of energy, USE IT! You'll miss it when you get older - trust me. If you're absolutely dying for an expensive high-tech way of moving around, take a look at the BiGHA bike (http://www.bigha.com) - it's $2,000 less than an HT, it has some sophisticated electronics built in, AND it's a fun way to get out and use all of that youthful energy you have. I'd hate to see the Segway HT get a reputation as the "vehicle of choice for lazy 11 year olds".

If you were 16 (Segway LLC's minimum purchase age, by the way) and you were telling your folks that you wanted this instead of a car, I could see that as a valid justification. But you're not.

Just...be...patient. You'll be 16 before you know it.

Steve
The Joy of Segs: http://www.joyofsegs.com