Good point.  We have a "NO BUY" policy too

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----- Reply message -----
From: "Affordable Bikes Re-Cyclery" <affordablebikesrecyclery@gmail.com>
To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Subject: [TheThinkTank] New community cycleworks need top tips!
Date: Wed, Oct 17, 2012 09:29


Our (new, similar) project is located in a low-income neighborhood. We opened in the late summer -- so, after the heavy sales season -- but we find that we receive far more requests from people for us to buy bikes from them than for them to buy bikes from us. We could go broke buying bikes. This has fortified our "no buying bikes" policy, toward which we were already leaning. It also keeps us from strengthening the stolen bikes business, and protects us from the ire of stolen bikes victims. 

On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 7:24 AM, Stewart Vanns <stewartvanns@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,
We are in the process of setting up a community cycle project in south east London, Uk.

I just wondered if you guys & gals could pop down 3 top tips you learnt in your set up phase to help us avoid the common pitfalls.

We are planning to build a not for profit enterprise, with a 5 year business plan, focusing on recycling donated bikes, repairing bikes and doing this with young people and young adults.

The bikes will be given to trainees or sold very cheaply to local residents of low income.

We also plan to do outreach work at local schools to educate children in basic cycle maintenance.

We have funding, a venue and a steady flow of interested people.

Thanks in advance,

Stewart
Burgess community cycleworks.


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