Ginger scooters cause headaches for Amazon

Amazon customers who signed up to be notified of the availability of "Ginger" have received a disappointing piece of news from the e-tailer telling them "the Segway Human Transporter will not be available in the foreseeable future".

While customers are understandably dismayed the announcement has come as a surprise to the people at Segway.

Segway spokesman Tobe Cohen said: "Amazon never had a distribution agreement with us. Nothing has changed. We will continue with our deliberate and measured deployment into the consumer market."

Despite Segway's denial of any existing distribution agreement, Amazon issued an email which said: "We've recently learned from our supplier that the item you requested to be notified about, Segway Human Transporter (also known as "Ginger" or "IT"), will not be available in the foreseeable future.

"We're sorry not to have better news for you."

Amazon representatives confirmed yesterday that the message was sent in error to a small number of customers and issued a second email which read: "You recently received an email from us regarding the Segway Human Transporter (also known as "Ginger" or "IT"). This email was sent accidentally by an automated system and the information in it is incorrect.

"In fact, there is no new information on Segway's availability. Consumer versions of Segway Human Transporters are currently being piloted in various communities throughout the US. The Segway HT is expected to be released to the general consumer market in 2003.

"We apologise for the confusion."

Segway's Cohen added that the transporters will begin to trickle out to consumers at the end of the year, with large volume shipments expected by the middle of next year.

By Will Sturgeon and Richard Shim