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> In Amsterdam staan boze klanten voor de deur omdat ze hun fiets niet kunnen ophalen die ze voor reparatie naar VanMoof hadden gebracht. (Angry customers can'
by mcv 3y ago
> In Amsterdam staan boze klanten voor de deur omdat ze hun fiets niet kunnen ophalen die ze voor reparatie naar VanMoof hadden gebracht.
(Angry customers can't pick up the bikes that they'd brought in for repair.)
This is particularly nasty. Not only do they lose access to repairs and other services (like unlocking), some people have already lost their entire bike. If the company isn't already bankrupt, it'd be nice if they could at least finish the repairs that are in progress, and return all the bikes to the customers (I hesitate to call them "owners").
Of course that's a problem that can occur with any bankrupt repair service. The designed lock-in making customers dependent on a bankruptable company for everything from repairs to unlocking their bike, is more unique to this business model, but it should be a big warning against these lock-in driven business models that make customers too dependent on a single company.
It's of course tempting to trust and believe that companies never go bankrupt, but they do.
- Freak_NL 3y agoThat's just because the physical shop closed in the course of the bankruptcy proceedings, not because the bicycles were repossessed. If VanMoof does go tits-up, these bicycles will still belong to their owners. It sucks not to be able to get at them right now, but that will sort itself out.
- fatfingerd 3y ago> that will sort itself out The court assigns an administrator who, if effective, will work with what there is.. The bikes many people get back may be worthless as many parts were apparently custom so there are no other shops to complete the unfinished repairs.
- Cthulhu_ 3y agoI read they closed the shop for the safety of the employees, because they had angry customers demanding their bike / money back.
- WeylandYutani 3y agoAs I understand it only official van Moof dealerships have the tools and parts to fix these bikes so even if they get them back they're screwed.
- mcv 3y agoThose parts should probably be open sourced or something. But even then, someone has to make them. I doubt 3D printing will be strong enough.