New mobile repair trend.

elmore leonard · 04-12-2015, 10:55 PM

I noticed today in the paper this new mobile bike repair service. I think they sell franchises.
Here's their website and their fancy Mercedes repair vans.
http://www.velofix.com/
I thought this may interest some

nfmisso · 04-13-2015, 11:07 AM

nice idea; their pricing seems to be too low to support the overhead, but is competitive. The van and tools have to be over $100K.

elmore leonard · 04-13-2015, 11:25 AM

(04-13-2015, 11:07 AM)nfmisso Wrote: nice idea; their pricing seems to be too low to support the overhead, but is competitive. The van and tools have to be over $100K.

I think it will be a tough sell for many people. However a lot of people are taking up cycling. I'm sure this will be a welcomed by the $400 an hour accountants and lawyers and other highly paid professionals.. The other thing is they do not pay any store front rent and if they lease the Vans, the up front outlay, other then the franchise fee may be affordable. I don't know. I do know the lawn mower sharpening/ bike repair store in our area went mobile this year as his rent increased to $3500 a month. He bought a larger, used, big square hydro/gas company style van. He also laid off a bike mechanic and the girl that ran the front of the store. So this may be a trend in big cities now. Much like the roadside food cart stands that have popped up in the big cities because of unaffordable rents.