Shop BIG LOTS or another closeout Store. I have seen u locks for $8.00 that retail for $30.

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----- Reply message ----- From: "Dylan Thies" dylan.thies@lostorienteerer.net To: "The Think Tank" thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] Any luck with bike recipient organizations covering u-lock and light expenses? Date: Tue, Sep 4, 2012 9:41 am It depends on how active the crime is in your area, if it is like NYC wear the thieves  are wheeling around plasma cutters than my solution is not for you. That being said you can buy chain by the foot at most hardware stores and if you buy in bulk it gets cheaper by the foot, and simple padlocks don't costs that much money 5$? I think at home depot i got chain 20 ft of chain at 1.20$ a foot and 10 padlocks for ~5$ a lock totaling around 75$ which could be ten chains and locks at 2 ft for a price of 7.50$. all prices are USD hope that could be a solution for you

On 1 September 2012 12:15, Ryan Feller - Suncoast Community Bikes ryan@suncoastcommunitybikes.org wrote:

Hi all, I and some other folks are starting a bike collective-esque organization here in Southwest Florida. We're working with existing nonprofits to distribute the bikes we collect and refurbish, and it seems that demand for our bikes will far outpace supply.

We consider it necessary to include a basic u-lock and lights on every bike we distribute, but we also wish to keep our expenses down, so we can focus more on collecting/distributing bikes and less on selling them as a fundraiser.

Even at wholesale cost through J&B (with quantity discounts), it'll cost us around $16 to equip each bike. We would like to test the waters a bit and see if any recipient organizations would be able to cover some or all of these costs. Perhaps it's a stretch, as these organizations are just as cash-strapped as we are, but have any other bike collectives had success with this?

Also, is there any cheaper place to find u-locks and lights (perhaps some supplier sells them cheaper or offers super-high-quantity discounts)?

Many thanks!