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For those who don't know, this company was a bit special in that they apparently employed "bike hunters" to go and steal your e-bike back if it was stolen [1].

For those who don't know, this company was a bit special in that they apparently employed "bike hunters" to go and steal your e-bike back if it was stolen [1]. It's quite an interesting dynamic considering that police in many places won't bother retrieving your bike even if you have GPS tracker on it, simply telling you to let insurance handle it. [1] https://www.vanmoof.com/en-SE/peace-of-mind https://www.vanmoof.com/en-SE/peace-of-mind

markvaneijk 3y ago
This is a smart marketing move and also a possibility to create extra funds for the company upfront. But as it turns out, unfortunately the company had its finances not in order.
achikin 3y ago
Many people didn’t lock their vanmoofs because of that. It made no sense to steal, but now when thieves know that vanmoof went bankrupt - they are stolen in enormous amounts.
- roel_v 3y ago
  Why would they? The resale value has plummeted because they're both prone to breakage and basically unserviceable.
  - vanderZwan 3y ago
    I wonder if they're really stolen or just reported stolen.
    - achikin 3y ago
      100% stolen. Two were stolen from my neighbours in Amsterdam this month, one of them just yesterday.
      - vanderZwan 3y ago
        That's so strange, why steal a bike that is going to brick itself?
  - achikin 3y ago
    It's 2000-3000 eur worth. You can sell it for less or take out the proprietary details like battery or automatic gear shifter and sell it. Or you can steal it just for fun, because they are usually left unchained and unlocked all over the city. Easy target.
tcfhgj 3y ago
Also interesting: > VanMoof’s e-bike ad banned in France for creating a ‘climate of anxiety’ https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308117/vanmoof-ebike-ad-banned-france-cars-climate-change https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308117/vanmoof-ebike-ad...
- cianmm 3y ago
  My take on that at the time was that vested business interested didn’t want to see a direct connection made between cars, pollution, congestion, and wasting of space. I also suspect that VanMoof hoped to cause a stir to get more articles written. Their QA may be shoddy, but their marketing is on point.
  - appplication 3y ago
    Maybe I’m just naive, but I would never have predicted that ad would be controversial enough to be banned. It seems like totally reasonable messaging for an e-bike company - why not play to your strengths? Maybe in the ad space it’s more clear where the invisible lines are and they really did mastermind that this would elicit a huge negative reaction that they could play up for marketing purposes. When clicking on that link I was expecting to see some Italian Job inspired ad about their bike retrieval service. Camera opens on two slim but imposing men in adidas jump suits and dark sunglasses, looking down at an iPhone with a flashing red dot on a map. The lighting is dark, the feeling gritty. They look at each other with unspoken affirmation before kicking down a door in narrow European tenement hall. Inside the apartment is littered with clearly stolen bike parts. The bike thief looks up from his chop stand, VanMoof eBike leaning against a wall beside him, and makes eye contact. Without a word, the thief grabs the bike, hops on it and bolts out the window. The two men each grab bikes in some half-state of disassembly and follow him out. A bike chase across European roofs follows. Sounds of a helicopter above. The thief is eventually cornered on a rooftop, the two men close in, camera fades out. The camera opens now, to the same two men holding the bike, in front of another door. Except this time the lighting is bright sunshine, think classic happy retail commercial. They’re wearing khaki shorts and polos, looking like basic, friendly big box retail employees. The door opens to a woman who face is initially concerned, then upon seeing the bike, she is relieved, and hugs the two men. Scene fades out. “VanMoof Theft Recovery Service. We’ll get it back.” That I could see getting banned.

markvaneijk 3y ago

This is a smart marketing move and also a possibility to create extra funds for the company upfront. But as it turns out, unfortunately the company had its finances not in order.

achikin 3y ago

Many people didn’t lock their vanmoofs because of that. It made no sense to steal, but now when thieves know that vanmoof went bankrupt - they are stolen in enormous amounts.

roel_v 3y ago
Why would they? The resale value has plummeted because they're both prone to breakage and basically unserviceable.
- vanderZwan 3y ago
  I wonder if they're really stolen or just reported stolen.
  - achikin 3y ago
    100% stolen. Two were stolen from my neighbours in Amsterdam this month, one of them just yesterday.
    - vanderZwan 3y ago
      That's so strange, why steal a bike that is going to brick itself?
- achikin 3y ago
  It's 2000-3000 eur worth. You can sell it for less or take out the proprietary details like battery or automatic gear shifter and sell it. Or you can steal it just for fun, because they are usually left unchained and unlocked all over the city. Easy target.

tcfhgj 3y ago

Also interesting: > VanMoof’s e-bike ad banned in France for creating a ‘climate of anxiety’ https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308117/vanmoof-ebike-ad-banned-france-cars-climate-change https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308117/vanmoof-ebike-ad...

cianmm 3y ago
My take on that at the time was that vested business interested didn’t want to see a direct connection made between cars, pollution, congestion, and wasting of space. I also suspect that VanMoof hoped to cause a stir to get more articles written. Their QA may be shoddy, but their marketing is on point.
- appplication 3y ago
  Maybe I’m just naive, but I would never have predicted that ad would be controversial enough to be banned. It seems like totally reasonable messaging for an e-bike company - why not play to your strengths? Maybe in the ad space it’s more clear where the invisible lines are and they really did mastermind that this would elicit a huge negative reaction that they could play up for marketing purposes. When clicking on that link I was expecting to see some Italian Job inspired ad about their bike retrieval service. Camera opens on two slim but imposing men in adidas jump suits and dark sunglasses, looking down at an iPhone with a flashing red dot on a map. The lighting is dark, the feeling gritty. They look at each other with unspoken affirmation before kicking down a door in narrow European tenement hall. Inside the apartment is littered with clearly stolen bike parts. The bike thief looks up from his chop stand, VanMoof eBike leaning against a wall beside him, and makes eye contact. Without a word, the thief grabs the bike, hops on it and bolts out the window. The two men each grab bikes in some half-state of disassembly and follow him out. A bike chase across European roofs follows. Sounds of a helicopter above. The thief is eventually cornered on a rooftop, the two men close in, camera fades out. The camera opens now, to the same two men holding the bike, in front of another door. Except this time the lighting is bright sunshine, think classic happy retail commercial. They’re wearing khaki shorts and polos, looking like basic, friendly big box retail employees. The door opens to a woman who face is initially concerned, then upon seeing the bike, she is relieved, and hugs the two men. Scene fades out. “VanMoof Theft Recovery Service. We’ll get it back.” That I could see getting banned.