Ride 2 Work Scheme question

Mr Bajokoses

Hi
The company I work for has R2W running with a national chain of bike shops. There is a LBS near to work which stocks the Cube road bikes which, to me, look fantastic. Two things:
1. The national chain does not stock Cube bikes. I rang them and they only supply bikes shown on their website.
2. The LBS has a Ride To Work scheme sticker in its window.

The question: can an employer have R2W running with more than one vendor? Has anyone had experience of setting this up. I know that my employer had some trouble with the admin of setting up with the national chain and does not want even more hassle. Could setting up another account be done without a lot of admin hassle?

Thanks in advance

NorwegianBlue

There is quite a bit of work to set up the scheme and the LBS probably aren't going to want to go through it for the sake of a single sale, but don't lose heart. I've heard of people managing to work this out by getting the LBS to invoice the R2W partner.

Alternatively have you spoken to more than one branch of the chain?

Mr Bajokoses

Thanks Norwegian Blue. What would be the sequence of events for LBS invoicing the national chain? I'm guessing something like:

1. I choose a bike from LBS and get written quote
2. Employer gives me voucher for national chain
3. I pass the voucher to LBS and collect the bike
4. LBS gives voucher to chain and asks for refund

If this is on the right lines I will approach the LBS and ask if they will entertain this cunning plan!

Any other suggestions out there? (I spoke to chain's head office R2W dept)

NorwegianBlue

Mr Bajokoses wrote:

Thanks Norwegian Blue. What would be the sequence of events for LBS invoicing the national chain? I'm guessing something like:

1. I choose a bike from LBS and get written quote
2. Employer gives me voucher for national chain
3. I pass the voucher to LBS and collect the bike
4. LBS gives voucher to chain and asks for refund

If this is on the right lines I will approach the LBS and ask if they will entertain this cunning plan!

Any other suggestions out there? (I spoke to chain's head office R2W dept)

I'm not saying it would definiteley work in your case, but in the case I heard of the employer cleared it with the R2W partner first. Then the employee approached the LBS who agreed to invoice the R2W partner for the bike.