I normally only use the ThinkTank as random reading material, but never chime in.
Community Cycles in Boulder, generally does the same thing with Walmart bikes. We might keep the seat/pedals/shifters (especially the gripshift mrx model!) but otherwise we do strip/recycle most of these bikes. The bikes we put into our recycle trailer go to any number of things; I know we have at least 2 scrappers that take it for cash, but we also have many artist-types coming by to take random parts for whatever
project they are working on.
I have moved up in Community Cycles, from a volunteer to the head mechanic to shop manager. And I will never forget a few of the tune-ups I took on as head mechanic. Normally things we wouldn't touch, but in these instances I did. I did more than I should have, but that "cheap" wal-mart bike performed better than it ever would have, and the customer was extremely happy with it. Sure, BSO's need a little more time and a little more love than most other bikes, but it is possible. I wonder if wal-mart would donate bikes and money (the money donation along with the bicycle is HUGE) to other
non-profits so that others could investigate into selling a "lesser bike" to help fund what we all love to do? Or would other non-profits even want it? I'd be interested in doing a wal-mart-refurbish thing, but I know it add's another layer into the already trying world of non profit bike shops...
Jason
Shop Manager
Community Cycles, Boulder
www.communitycycles.org
From: Andrew L <breathingplanet@gmail.com>
To: Doug Franz <doug@coatesvillebikeworks.org>; The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Deal with the devil!
wow. interesting.
our scrapper George (a local scrapper who brings us random stuff and takes our scrap steel on a weekly basis - no cash exchanged) gets bikes from wal-mart from the scrap yard. he reported with confidence that they come to the scrapyard from Wal-mart by the trailer truck load !!!
the bike he had salvaged was in perfect condition minus being poorly assembled. the gyro brake was seized (pretty common, as you all know).
he suggested talking to someone there, and i nodded, but placed it pretty far down on my mental to do list.
we are swamped with bikes... but dont turn anything away. wal-mart sending a check with the bikes! whoa.
a
_______________________________________________
Thethinktank mailing list
Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.orgTo unsubscribe, send a blank email to
TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.orgTo manage your subscription, plase visit:
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org