A closer look at what really counts

In the last two years international shipping costs have increased significantly and we decided to take a closer look into how to make a container load more profitable for each sister shop. Once a donated bicycle reaches it’s final destination, it is sold through our sister shops. A portion of the profit is used to refinance the shipping costs of a container. To ensure regular supply, each sister shop needs to keep their account in order. Mike’s Bikes sister shops change lives in their communities in many ways. Each shop creates multiple direct employment opportunities. Economic activities involving bicycles create many other opportunities too. Our job is to ensures that the bicycle value chain remains sustainable.

We managed to implement a new packing method in August 2022 resulting in the loading of 400 (or more) bicycles per container. This is up by around 100 bikes or approximately 33%. Apart from bicycles, the remaining spaces in each container are filled with various other donations such as cycling gear, spare parts, tyres and tools. The economic value of the content of each container has a big impact on the ability of each sister shop to refinancing the shipping costs and keep stock coming in.

“If it's not worth a dime in the US it's probably not worth shipping it around the globe.” Exceptions confirm this rule, e.g. a higher value bicycle with broken/damaged frame but valuable / reusable parts attached to it. E-bikes, burner-bikes and very old or rusty bikes are not accepted as donations and the MB store will point the donor to the next recycling center.