Reflecting on 12 years of bulk buys

As we get started on the latest iteration of the electric bulk buy, I thought it would be a great idea to look back into the archives and reflect on the bulk buy and what we’ve achieved collectively by doing it.

Switched on Cycles, established in 2008, has run the bulk buy with SEE change at least once (and often twice) a year since 2011! It’s a well-established partnership which has seen many people buy an electric bike and get riding with all the well-known benefits that getting out of the car and riding more brings. 

Being part of the bulk buy gives SEE changes members a 15% discount on Switched on Cycles bikes and kits, if more than 10 people sign up, in addition to the 10% discount that SEE-change members already receive. During the last 12 years, we’ve given SEE change members the opportunity to access our e-bikes designed for Canberra, at even better prices than normal. This is an opportunity that, over the years, many SEE change members have taken up, sometimes more than once! It’s been a win/win for SEE change and SEE change members with the membership base normally increasing during the bulk buy. It’s been a win for us at Switched on Cycles as we’ve generally sold more bikes than we would have otherwise.  

At Switched on Cycles, we’ve worked hard to keep these bikes on the road while also providing bike servicing in as sustainable way as we can. For example, not only do we replace batteries and other parts, but we test them before replacing them and don’t replace any unless the parts are worn out. This may seem obvious, but this is not always the norm in the industry (where selling more bikes is often the only goal). We also always repair and reuse where possible. This is more sustainable environmentally (and our bikes don’t end up, like many ebikes, as scrap metal because a battery or parts can’t be sourced and the bike can’t be repaired for want of a part). This approach also keeps costs down for our customers.  

On top of this, if our SEE change customers no longer need their bike, we are always willing to give advice on what they need to do to sell their bike and what price to sell it for. We will also re-sell the bike for them (not something a normal bike shop has any interest in doing). We do this as we want to get more people riding as an alternative to driving, more often. And this includes people who might not otherwise be able to afford an e-bike. It’s not always easy or advisable to get a second hand e-bike, if the history of the bike and the battery is unknown, but if it's one of our bikes that has been regularly serviced, we know that it will be reliable.

The success of the relationship forged with SEE change through doing the bulk buy was also the catalyst for the establishment of the Canberra Bike Library with SEE change. When the Bike Library idea was put forward, there was no doubt in my mind that the community would best be served if the Bike Library was established as a partnership between industry and community. Further, we knew that SEE change would be the right organisation to partner with to make that happen. And the evidence to date from the Bike Library suggests that this is the case.