Mobile Cycle Mechanic......

chewitt11

Hi All,

Just playing with ideas, have constructed a site can you please take a look and give me your feedback and ideas ....

Prices and things really.

Thanks loads

Chewitt11

http://www.swbikemedic.co.uk

Chunkers1980

Quite like it - all seems to be there. Apart from...

Some shoddy editing.

No mention of insurance levels ect.

Say I needed a new Deore rear mech which I could get/got on-line for £20 - how much would you charge to fit it?

Included in the rate or you charge me the rate and what you paid for the part or your selling price for the part?

What if I said my rear mech was trashed on the phone - you turn up at my place 20 miles from W-S-M and find it's my mech hanger that's bent and you don't have one in your Van - what happens then?

chewitt11

Hey thanks for the input,

The charge to fit would depend on distance, if fitted within the first 30mins no extra that attendance fee.

If I was required to get part then I would charge my price for part and the attendance. If it turns out to be hanger I would call back with part and fit.

I would have full public liability insurance of course.

More input, does this help?

Stu Coops

Personally I don't see how you'd make any decent profit if it did bike shops would offer it, you'd need such a vast array of stock as people don't really like waiting for parts to be ordered also most LBS don't charge for fitting if it's a minor job as they want repeat custom, doub't you'd get the discount from suppliers the shops would.
Don't mean to sound negative but I just don't see how it could pay as you would have to pass on the fuel cost to the customer as the price of it is horrendous and you are covering a large area, advertising can cost a lot of money and takes a long time to get established.

Just my opinion

chewitt11

Hey Stu,
Again thanks for the input, I have put loads of research into this and contacted people who make a comfortable living doing the same thing. I have sat down and done a buisness plan which covers advertising and fuel, van hire, tools all the usual stuff. It works out all ok.........

Spares I have already arranged bulk buy discounts and even see buying from CRC as a cheap way of buying spares.

Anyway we shall see it will be part time for the start and see where it goes.

Again thanks for the input

Chewitt11

supersonic

Have to ask - how good are you?! How much experience as a mechanic?

chewitt11

Hi,

Well have riden bikes most of my life and always repaired my own bikes, built from scratch...

I will be cytech 1 & 2 trained, worked in bikes shops / workshops along time ago but never been far away from the scene.

Rusty yes I am, hence retraining....

But hey we have all gotta start somewhere.... :roll: :?: :roll:

nicklouse

TBH don't bother with parts other than what is needed for the commuter bikes. But provide a fitting service for ustomer bought parts.

chewitt11

Thanks nicklouse,
I think it is the commuter market it will be aimed at, most serious bikers repair their own steads....

But I am thinking th hourly rate s cheaper than bike shops, no problem with having to take bike into town to the shop could be an idea?

nicklouse

Yes but often the serious biker may not hav the tools. And even then many don't actually know how to use them.


Another thing to think about is wheels. Something to do when it is not too busy.

Stu Coops

chewitt11 wrote:

Hey Stu,
Again thanks for the input, I have put loads of research into this and contacted people who make a comfortable living doing the same thing. I have sat down and done a buisness plan which covers advertising and fuel, van hire, tools all the usual stuff. It works out all ok.........

Spares I have already arranged bulk buy discounts and even see buying from CRC as a cheap way of buying spares.

Anyway we shall see it will be part time for the start and see where it goes.

Again thanks for the input

Chewitt11

Really hope it works out for you

chewitt11

Cheers stu,

We shall see, Nick wheels do you mean building or repairing?

1mancity2

chewitt11 wrote:

Cheers stu,

We shall see, Nick wheels do you mean building or repairing?

Both.

Kaise

Its a great idea and the website is well put together. Along with what has been mentioned above regarding missing information on qualifications and experience, here is my constructive critique;

Get someone to proof read your front page, the language you use doesn't come across in the most professional manner, just two examples;

People nowadays are buying more and more bikes online, they come in a box and you need to put them together and adjust the brakes and gears. It needs to be Professionally set up / PDI a service that is what we specialise in....

Any parts you purchase on the internet most if not all bike shops, don't like fitting parts so we will happily do this.

If you intend to make a business out of this you need to concentrate on the detail, and things like grammar in your lead page can either make you or break you. If i read that i would be asking, If they cant spend the time to get their website right are they going to be able to take the time to look after my bike, my expensive bike!? (obviously talking about someone who visits the site hasnt been recommended to you by a previous customer.)

This goes for your entire site having gone through some of the links.


Having used a service like this when i was commuting to bath i found it useful that they were are at set locations every week, but then would collect the bike if needed.
These guys seem to have it nailed in terms of service and price; http://www.tayloredcycles.com/
they charge £45 for a service and they do it well, evans charge £49.95 and i have had to pull them up on bad service quality when i used them previously.

hope this helps

diy

I think your pricing structure is a little complex. I can see where you are going, but IMO its better to have a call out fee which includes initial diagnostics and then an hour rate by volume price, with perhaps one or two fixed price packages.

You do not have a terms and conditions page, therefore your entire site becomes your contract - probably not what you want. You must draft something that includes obligations on the owner etc.

You also really need to be careful about the language you use:

"The safety check service ensures your bike is safe for use on the road or trails" asking for trouble by ensuring a bike is safe to ride.

For me these things are all about the experience and expertise of the mechanic. I'd look to get engaged with some clubs and events as their mobile mechanic, then you will build a reputation and associate yourself with the cycling elite which will give you credibility.

I assume you are looking in to liability insurance?

As with all business ventures. Set out your fixed and variable costs. tools, van, insurance, consumables fuel etc. Work out how many jobs you will need to make a living wage and then consider if that is realistic.

chewitt11

Kaise & diy,

Thanks very much for your comments....

diy, I have done a breakdown on costs and or the first year I wanted to keep hourly rate low. But all things considered £30 p/h seemed ok, this is how I came up with the attendance fee part. With looking at all other mobile sites they all offer free collection & delivery but a much higher hourly rate. Maybe I should just do Free collection and stuff and charge by the hour with set job prices???? .

Kaise, I have checked tayloredcycles and yes a very good site, I had heard of cycle hub which has given me ideas now. May even cut the area down 10-15 miles?. I will review my home page and think I will look at the pricing structure as well.

Hey Guys thanks for your input, I am doing the site and everything myself so all a learning curve. Leaflets are being dropped in the new year to hopefully get the name around.

Cheers

Pudseyp

It's a good idea, however I do not think it will make you rich.

The website needs a good look over by others to correct some mistakes...on the "how it works" page you have "we come to you" where you also go on about "collection" and "while-u-wait" these need different headings.

Your pricing doesn't make sense...you rate is £30 an hour

On site work for half an hour is £25, but if I have the collection and delivery service for a job taking half an hour it would be £5 for collection and delivery and £15 labour = £20 !!!! plus it will take you longer as its your time to drive to collect and deliver (4 journeys) on site less travelling and only 2 Journeys...also the miles thing doesn't work for me as I could pay and extra tenner for living 10.5 miles away !!!

I would look at a one off call out charge of say £35 within a 25 mile radius inc the first half our so £15 labour and £20 for fuel and time...amortising the price stops confussion. I would also do the same for collection and delivery and say £15...flat fee.....£5 for upto 10 miles is far too cheap knowing bristol...it can take an hour to do 20 miles !! plus fuel costs.

Look at other sites to give you ideas, get your costs right as you want to make profit but still be competative...keep it simple !!

Take a look at these
http://www.finelytunedride.co.uk/servicing.htm
http://www.the-bike-tech.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.bicyclerepairs.org/

chewitt11

Hi Pudseyp

Thanks for input, I am after the last 2 comments re-doing the whole price thing and yours has convinced me as well. Your £35 I think is great but if your were within 10 miles would that be to expenssive?.

I was thinking of putting rate up, pricing jobs and doing collection, delivery & callout free ?????

Think the how it works page and services is going to be re-vamped...

Thanks Again
Chewitt11

diy

http://www.the-bike-tech.co.uk

The above is how to do it imo.

- you quickly get a view that you are dealing with a highly qualified trained bike mech.
- his pricing is nice and simple, his upsell on parts is tucked away nicely.
- his language does not leave him over exposed to negligence claims. (he says what he will do, not what you can infer from what he has done). i.e. you don't need to call something a safety check to ensure its safe to ride, you just need to call it check over service and describe what you will do.
- I think the breakdown and mobile fix service is gold dust to a business like this and probably the best way of recruiting customers.
- he's missing terms and conditions, which is a huge deal since some of the language could lead to time of the essence contract claims - but its not obvious to the non-legal minded.

Personally I'd approach someone like this guy and see if he is open to franchising conversations. I reckon your 1st year turnover will be higher as a result. If you were careful about the franchise agreement and up front about your long term objectives I think it could be a win/win for both.

I would rethink the moneytisation too. Better to have a blog section on your site with moneytised ads in rather than lose your £60 customer on the first page for 20p click thru.

PS - Its quite clear from your diary that you only started this in November are probably worth robbing while you are away skiing and wont be trained up until the start of January at the earliest, when you start your course.

chewitt11

I have contacted bike-tech (cycle-tech) for their help but he is on annual leave until Jan next year. So he was going to be a first contact...

It s his site (blog) that showed me how to break down costs, to get the hourly rate.

I do appreciate your comments and am working on the site now to try and take what you say on board..

Thanks again...

Chewitt11

chewitt11

diy wrote:

I would rethink the moneytisation too. Better to have a blog section on your site with moneytised ads in rather than lose your £60 customer on the first page for 20p click thru.

quote]

All changed...
Cheers

miss notax

chewitt11 wrote:

most serious bikers repair their own steads....

Hmmm, I don't necessarily think this is true! MTBing is my main hobby but I certainly don't have the skills, right tools or inclination to start repeairing my bike myself! Notax is the same.... Our free time is precious and quite honestly I want to be riding my bike, not messing about trying to fix things on it

I think the idea is great though

diy

I have to say:
http://www.the-bike-tech.co.uk
http://www.swbikemedic.co.uk

are not great domains.

A quick search shows:
bicycle-mechanic.co.uk
cycle-help.co.uk
cycle-expert.co.uk
bicycle-buidler.co.uk

I can't see why anyone would go with the - bike - tech when http://www.bicycle-mechanic.co.uk was available. The two most likely words to be googled for this kind of service imo.

chewitt11

Thanks miss notax.....

chewitt11

I can't see why anyone would go with the - bike - tech when http://www.bicycle-mechanic.co.uk was available. The two most likely words to be googled for this kind of service imo.

Got it.......

diy

good luck with this - glad my suggestions were helpful. Don't underestimate the impact of what I said about careful use of language. In my line of work "marketing and sales messages" are the single biggest contributor to legal claims.

chewitt11

diy, (sorry dont know your name)

Thanks very much for all your help, just figuring ouy now how to get bicycle-mechanic keyworded up know. If you type it into the address bar it re-directs to swbikemedic.

Spent all last night doing improvements on your advice, I think it works better....

Thanks again, I hope it works to...

Colin

lpretro1

There are plenty of mobile servies in the trade now - see www.cyclefix.net
It is probably best to speak to these established businesses to get the best advice about setting up. All, of those listed on there are qualified and insured people - they have to be to become listed on there. Each business will differ from the next as it very much depends on the area they serve - those in the cities are very different from those in rural locations. Charging rates vary equally as much depending upon the area - London based can charge eay more than someone up north. Stock you carry likewise will depend on whether your customer base is mainly commuting or perhapos mtbing. There are so many variables.
You can make a decent living as a mobile if you are prepared to put the hard work in to establish your business. My own mobile service is over seven years old now and going from strength to strength. The first two years were the hardest.

chewitt11

Ipreto,

Hi, thanks for input. I have contacted Cyclefix and cycletech one of the same I think Martin is the guy. But he is on annual leave until Jan I will contact him then for advice.
Well done to you and hope all goes well in the future..

Pudseyp

chewitt11 wrote:

Hi Pudseyp

Thanks for input, I am after the last 2 comments re-doing the whole price thing and yours has convinced me as well. Your £35 I think is great but if your were within 10 miles would that be to expenssive?.

I was thinking of putting rate up, pricing jobs and doing collection, delivery & callout free ?????

Think the how it works page and services is going to be re-vamped...

Thanks Again
Chewitt11

Thing is keep it simple, don't over complicate the potential customer with different tarifs and charges and costs, as they become bamboozled with numbers, and are not sure what they will actually pay.

I would not go down the three zone (miles) price structure as sometimes it could take you as long to do 10 miles as 25...I do not see an issue with a flat call out of £35 inc half an hours labour. Most businesses do this such as plumbers etc..as it's your time and fuel to get there and back ...plus then they are getting half an hours labour...

So you may loose a few quid in time and fuel but some you will win so it will average out.

chewitt11

Hmm,

I have changed the service link on ge website now which completely goes against what you have just typed. But was done before you replied.....
Ok £35 bit much for puncture maybe, how would we get round that?.....

Have gone (so far) with the no call out min charge £15, also cut down to 15 miles.

This is the hardest decision, no call out or flat charge then £15 for every half hour????