Dear Joel,
I don't usually chip in much to this list, but I think this is an area where NBW is doing pretty well. I also want to do what YOU just did regarding one of our local higher education providers, but that's another story I'd like talk about. (We are working with Temple in Philly, but we need to get something going with the University of Pennsylvania like you have.)
I think we do better with bike shops because we are a youth program. If you do a youth program it's clear that you are doing something other than just providing a place that is an alternative to a bike shop. I don't know if you work with kids, but making that part of the mission will get more people on board. (NBW went in the other direction, starting with a youth program and then collaborating with an adult coop) Likewise, if it's clear that it's a place where people can work on their own bikes rather than a conventional bike shop then I think people understand that they don't want the person who is using your facility coming over to their shop and bugging them to borrow a cone wrench. In that sense you can be sure that you are doing shops a favor!
As for selling bikes, we have had people ask us not to sell bikes too cheap, and we have complied. We do sell "as is" bikes cheap, but we don't undercut shops with bikes that have been worked on. We are careful not to do this. Like you we also send people to shops CONSTANTLY and tell patrons to make sure that shops know we sent them.
Another mollifying tactic is that we don't sell high mark-up staples such as locks and inner tubes cheaply (our tubes are the highest priced in Philly) or at all (locks) In fact we don sell any new accessories out of the coop location. Now, we are starting a more conventional retail operation but it includes a partnership with a local bike shop, and we are going to be careful not to compete directly with them. For instance, we are selling used bikes, they only sell new. We are specifically marketing to neighborhood residents, where they are targeting college students as customers etc. It sounds like the person objecting to your operation is also selling used bikes so you have more of a problem there.
Of course it may be easier here in Philly because things are really booming. But I dare say there's going to be hints of that everywhere, so perhaps your adversary will end up with so much work anyway.
BTW, I'm sure the FBI doesn't have time for this stuff. The IRS might, but I doubt it, and as long as your income is mission-related you are allowed to sell things. (as for local laws I don't know, but at NBW we do pay local and state sales tax and have a Philly business license) Obviously if someone is complaining about you it would be best to make sure that or the equivalent in your municipality is in order.
Hope this all works out. I feel bad that someone is up in arms about a bike coop. I think that there's a rising tide right now that can float a lot of boats.
Andy
Joel Gillespie wrote:
/I'll apologize up front for the large amount of exposition to come. If you'd prefer to thin-slice, my question is this: What conflicts have other collectives encountered with "shade tree" mechanics and other unofficial LBS's, and what are reasonable steps to take to avoid unnecessary competition with them?/