An idea worth considering?

[John Boy 616]

Ill keep it simple and welcome opinions.

The idea is to offer a fully insured transport service for motorbikes / quad bikes. A long term view would be to expand into covered car transport.

Thinking long distance UK work as well as Europe if need be.

Thoughts??

[Frimley111R]

Have you googled it to see you competition? Are you going to transport it? How?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=transport+motorb...

[John Boy 616]

Basically metal hoops attached to the floor of the van, also points on the side of van in order to strap into place using wratchet straps

Yes googled competion and have a fair ide on pricing

[hornetrider]

John Boy 616 said:

Yes googled competion and have a fair ide on pricing

I just got my bike recovered 250 miles for £150, which I thought was cheap seeing as RAC told me £540 as I was broken down at the roadside

When the alternative was me getting a lift home on mates bike, borrowing a trailer and driving back to get it (a 500 mile round trip) I figured in petrol alone I'd be shelling out about £100, so frankly I don't see where the major money is.

[boyse7en]

There are quite a few companies providing motorcycle transport - some for private owners buying/selling from ebay/Gumtree/Biketrader and some do it between dealerships.

What would your business offer that the existing ones don't already?

[John Boy 616]

hornetrider said:

I just got my bike recovered 250 miles for £150, which I thought was cheap seeing as RAC told me £540 as I was broken down at the roadside

When the alternative was me getting a lift home on mates bike, borrowing a trailer and driving back to get it (a 500 mile round trip) I figured in petrol alone I'd be shelling out about £100, so frankly I don't see where the major money is.

True enough, the only major money would be long distance work and the most likely woupd require transporting larger stuff i.e cars

Not looking to be a millionaire this time next year

[John Boy 616]

boyse7en said:

There are quite a few companies providing motorcycle transport - some for private owners buying/selling from ebay/Gumtree/Biketrader and some do it between dealerships.

What would your business offer that the existing ones don't already?

Well i suppose there in lies the problem, what would be the usp be, im not sure on the answer. short of spending big money amd have a tracking service etc which would not be viable

[Doofus]

John Boy 616 said:

True enough, the only major money would be long distance work and the most likely woupd require transporting larger stuff i.e cars

Not looking to be a millionaire this time next year

I got my Mercedes 124 coupe transported from Germany to Warwickshire for six hundred quid. I could barely drive it back for that money. I accept that somebody was earning a living, but it's not what I'd call "major money".

BTW; my car arrived on a four-car covered transporter, and got to my home at around 6:45am, the day after it was picked up, so I assume that particular run didn't earn any money from anyone else.

[John Boy 616]

Doofus said:

I got my Mercedes 124 coupe transported from Germany to Warwickshire for six hundred quid. I could barely drive it back for that money. I accept that somebody was earning a living, but it's not what I'd call "major money".

BTW; my car arrived on a four-car covered transporter, and got to my home at around 6:45am, the day after it was picked up, so I assume that particular run didn't earn any money from anyone else.

Hmm i suppose when you put it like that be lucky to have made 200 quid profit from your example.

its good to hear real life examples for want of a better term.

[Frimley111R]

Essentially you would be in a 'race to the bottom' of pricing. This kind of thing is mostly who can do it the cheapest.

[iguana]

Doofus said:

I got my Mercedes 124 coupe transported from Germany to Warwickshire for six hundred quid. I could barely drive it back for that money. I accept that somebody was earning a living, but it's not what I'd call "major money".

BTW; my car arrived on a four-car covered transporter, and got to my home at around 6:45am, the day after it was picked up, so I assume that particular run didn't earn any money from anyone else.

You'd assume incorrectly, ferry, tolls, fuel all add up to considerably more than £600, possibly he was empty back & that car back paid the ferry at least, but not outward.

Is a plethora of sites out there folks can get stuff shifted for next to nothing, bit of a menace & destroying an industry, as great for a punter but when everyone wants a back load price who pays the proper price then?

In the case above at least it was a proper set up, are so many goons doing stuff for peanuts, usually van couriers plus a trailer without proper insurance & undercutting everyone, can't believe what some of them will do jobs for.

Op- I've run my own firm for 10 yrs, UK & EU car transport, I do very few bikes tho, lots of firms that specialise in them, its bloomin' hard graft if you want to make a crust, particularly if you rely on the back load market, lots of expenses chap who did work for me set up on his own, 100k miles a year, always working or fixing stuff & really struggled with the low prices, gave up after 3 yrs at it as was near broke & now drives for someone else.

Me =

Lizardlogistics.com

Edited by iguana on Thursday 30th April 19:10

Edited by iguana on Thursday 30th April 19:12

[John Boy 616]

iguana said:

You'd assume incorrectly, ferry, tolls, fuel all add up to considerably more than £600, possibly he was empty back & that car back paid the ferry at least, but not outward.

Is a plethora of sites out there folks can get stuff shifted for next to nothing, bit of a menace & destroying an industry, as great for a punter but when everyone wants a back load price who pays the proper price then?

In the case above at least it was a proper set up, are so many goons doing stuff for peanuts, usually van couriers plus a trailer without proper insurance & undercutting everyone, can't believe what some of them will do jobs for.

Op- I've run my own firm for 10 yrs, UK & EU car transport, I do very few bikes tho, lots of firms that specialise in them, its bloomin' hard graft if you want to make a crust, particularly if you rely on the back load market, lots of expenses chap who did work for me set up on his own, 100k miles a year, always working or fixing stuff & really struggled with the low prices, gave up after 3 yrs at it as was near broke & now drives for someone else.

Me =

Lizardlogistics.com

Hi iguana

That you for your detailed reply, i appreciate it. I see your point also and its good to hear from someone who is actually doing it.

Ill explore other ideas i think. I still like the idea of it but if the money is not there then difficult to justify.

Regards

Edited by iguana on Thursday 30th April 19:10

Edited by iguana on Thursday 30th April 19:12