Extra cash

[Wigsie]

Male Escorting, pimping and drug dealing aside, boot fair season is upon us! you can pick up 2-3 bikes at most of them for between £5-£20 then clean them up a bit.

I would think the key is not to to major work dont replace anything spend 3 days to make £30 (no offence Mr Pig) just clean everything well, oil etc even clean walls of tyres with that car tyre cleaner then stick them in the paper or chain them up outside with a sign on them and make £10 - £15 a bike profit. Its basic business maximum turnover and maximum GP - think about the time you are putting in to source the bikes, clean/fix them then sell them £30 for 3 days work, you may aswell move to India and work on the banks of the gangees collecting litter.

 

[FBOAB]

You have not given your location. If you search for "Recycling Bicycles in (your county)" you may get an organisation like the one you describe. I found "Edinburgh Bike Station" for someone, and also one in Sussex. There is one in Worcester - www.motov8.org.uk. Go to their projects page, (otherwise you might think they just do cars).

Ah, yes. Many apple-ogies, I live just outside Halesowen in the West Mids. I've had a look around and the nearest ones I can find are Back2Bikes in Stafford and one that seems to be connected to a retired volunteer scheme in Dudley with another in Kidderminster. I've contacted and visited the Back2Bikes scheme and the chap runnung it, Steve Kean, was extremely helpful and showed that, although it wouldn't make a mint, would be a worthy thing to do. I contacted the scheme in Dudley to be courteous as I didn't want to trample on their toes but they haven't got back to me as yet.

A worrying thing is that there are a number of good bike shops around here. I wouldn't want to take their trade; in fact, I want to work with them to increase their customers by introducing people to bikes then when they are into it and want to commit a little more, send them to the bike shops. Alot of people, including myself, are intimidated by bike shops as they are seen as the preserve of the 'serious cyclist' and so those people go off and waste money buying BSOs, hate them and never cycle again.

 

[Mr Pig]

Erm, does that mean that you do want to spend three days fixing an old bike to make £30?

Nope. Even with a crap job I wouldn't bother doing that, which is why I don't believe you have a good one! ;0)

 

[bikepete]

Ah, yes. Many apple-ogies, I live just outside Halesowen in the West Mids. I've had a look around and the nearest ones I can find are Back2Bikes in Stafford and one that seems to be connected to a retired volunteer scheme in Dudley with another in Kidderminster. I've contacted and visited the Back2Bikes scheme and the chap runnung it, Steve Kean, was extremely helpful and showed that, although it wouldn't make a mint, would be a worthy thing to do. I contacted the scheme in Dudley to be courteous as I didn't want to trample on their toes but they haven't got back to me as yet.

A worrying thing is that there are a number of good bike shops around here. I wouldn't want to take their trade; in fact, I want to work with them to increase their customers by introducing people to bikes then when they are into it and want to commit a little more, send them to the bike shops. Alot of people, including myself, are intimidated by bike shops as they are seen as the preserve of the 'serious cyclist' and so those people go off and waste money buying BSOs, hate them and never cycle again.

There's one in York doing something similar too, friendly people who I'm sure wouldn't mind chatting:

http://www.yorkrecycling.net/index.php?id=84

 

[Arch]

A worrying thing is that there are a number of good bike shops around here. I wouldn't want to take their trade; in fact, I want to work with them to increase their customers by introducing people to bikes then when they are into it and want to commit a little more, send them to the bike shops. Alot of people, including myself, are intimidated by bike shops as they are seen as the preserve of the 'serious cyclist' and so those people go off and waste money buying BSOs, hate them and never cycle again.

The courteous and clever thing to do would be to a) talk to local shops to try and get them on board to help and not clash with their clientele. If you want to do up bikes to sell to people for £50 or whatever, those people are unlikely to go into a bike shop whose cheapest bike is £200. Avoid selling consumables like tubes, or stuff like lights, and give people a list of local bike shops instead.

We have a very successful scheme in York, BikeRescue. They've got to the point where they are liaising with the council over projects, and getting access to bikes from the tip and so on. I think you have to be prepared to start small and spend a lot of time growing gradually. And there's stuff to consider like setting yourself up with tools, spares etc...

Edit: I see Pete beat me to it!

 

[accountantpete]

Careful selling stuff on eBay - the Revenue do a trawl for traders selling the same "private" belongings on a regular basis.

 

[Tel]

Nope. Even with a crap job I wouldn't bother doing that, which is why I don't believe you have a good one! ;0)

Touche! Well I guess its a matter of perspective anyway, perhaps my job isn't all that I know that I never have enough money...

I think that slaving over an old heap for a few days to make a buck is doing it for the wrong reasons I'd have to do it for the joy of making something good out of what would otherwise fill a landfill, pretty much like zzpza does.

So not many genuine money making ideas then.

 

[Wigsie]

So not many money genuine making ideas then.

I thought there was a few ok ones amongst the pimping, drug dealing and selling yourself.

Just need the initial drive/motivation.

 

[peanut]

prostitution ?

I've got loads of ideas I want to try when my current contract ends next week. Might be weeks or months until I get a new job but I ain't gonna tell you lot am I ?

 

[Hover Fly]

When I was between jobs I made quite a bit by finding and selling mineral and fossil specimens, also opening the gate (now a cattle grid) at the bottom of Hardknott Pass for motorists, I made £80 on one Sunday with that lark.

 

[FBOAB]

The courteous and clever thing to do would be to a) talk to local shops to try and get them on board to help and not clash with their clientele. If you want to do up bikes to sell to people for £50 or whatever, those people are unlikely to go into a bike shop whose cheapest bike is £200. Avoid selling consumables like tubes, or stuff like lights, and give people a list of local bike shops instead.

We have a very successful scheme in York, BikeRescue. They've got to the point where they are liaising with the council over projects, and getting access to bikes from the tip and so on. I think you have to be prepared to start small and spend a lot of time growing gradually. And there's stuff to consider like setting yourself up with tools, spares etc...

Edit: I see Pete beat me to it!

Thanks Arch and Pete! I think a recycling scheme would work around here and be able to fit in below the regular cycle shops as a first step. Community interest company seems the way to go too. Anyone know how to set one of those up? Time for a new thread me thinks...

 

[swee'pea99]

If you choose carefully and have the basic skills necessary, and are in the right sort of area (big city) I reckon you could double your money turning decent old bikes (£40-£50) into fixies (£80-£100), buying and selling on ebay. Probably only take an hour or two apiece once you've got the hang of it.