I've been following this discussion with great interest. We are a new (licensed but not yet opened) shop in a low-income part of Cleveland, pondering how to deal with this sort of issue since we are really aiming more at community mission than high profit. I thought of bartering for work on cleaning bikes, etc. (something people could do even if they are not highly skilled, but would still aim towards potential revenue generation), OR even be part of a larger community bartering situation. Has anyone found that helpful? (One of the earlier posts mentioned bartering work.) I like the idea of being in the habit of bartering.

Thanks,
Nozomi

On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 9:45 AM, Tegan Moss <tegan@communitybikeshop.org> wrote:
At B!KE, most of our used parts are by donation, some are higher end things which we tag accordingly.
We also have a selection of new retail parts and our sales are key to keeping us open. 

I have recently noticed the particular issue presented by people who are unable to contribute financially needing new cables and housing. How is it that you address this issue? There is a cost to the shop for these items, how do you address someone with no money needing new parts?

Thanks, 
Tegan 

On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 9:40 PM, Yellow Bike Action <yellowbikeaction@gmail.com> wrote:
yupyupyupyupyup
 


 
On Sun, Apr 15, 2012 at 2:39 PM, charle roberts <charle_roberts@yahoo.com> wrote:
we at austin yellow bike project are on the same program as yellow bike programs check us out at austinyellowbike.org or email our collective at austinyellowbike@gmail.com

--- On Fri, 4/13/12, Yellow Bike Program <bikerbfk@rapidnet.com> wrote:

From: Yellow Bike Program <bikerbfk@rapidnet.com>

Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] No suggested donation
To: "'The Think Tank'" <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Date: Friday, April 13, 2012, 12:11 PM



We at the Yellow Bike Program and Reconditioned Bikes for Kids, Inc. out
of Rapid City, SD have always worked as donation only.  Some items we
have a suggested donation price but most things including bikes have
been what they feel it is worth.  Most people are pretty good about
leaving a donation.  Other people think it is owed to them to get it for
free.  It has always worked out pretty good for us.

Dale Bishop



-----Original Message-----
From: thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org
[mailto:thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org] On Behalf Of Sam
Haraldson
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 9:50 AM
To: The Think Tank
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] No suggested donation


> Does anyone here have experience with having no suggested donation?

Paul,

At the Bozeman Bike Kitchen we have a list of suggested donations but
they are not clearly displayed for the public to see.  Instead, our
volunteer staffers almost always use a phrase that suggest people pay
whatever they can afford.  This often means they donate five or ten
dollars more than we might have suggested.  If the individual then asks
if a volunteer of "X" dollars is enough we may then inform them that the
"suggested donation" is "Y" if they were hoping to give too little.  We
are always very quick to point out that we are an organization that
operates regardless of ones financial standing and that no donation of
any sort is required.  We typically turn our backs to some other matter
and let the individual make the donation to our donation jar on their
own so they do not feel any pressure. This system typically works out
for the best but occasionally we have people come in who are simply
cheap and give us $5 for something we would normally get $15 for.

Cheers,
Sam
Bozeman Bike Kitchen _______________________________________________
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--
Yellow Bike Action
Kingston, Ontario
http://yellowbikeaction.googlepages.com/

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-- 
B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop
336 Rubidge St, Peterborough ON
(705) 775-7227
communitybikeshop.org


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