Possible New Buiness Idea Feedback Please
Discussion
HI.
My wife is always breaking her car remote body of for Vauxhall Astra Tourer. It always breaks around the pin part. With Vauxhall dealers charging over £250 for a new key and independent auto locksmiths charging £100 for a new key programmed into the car. With her now needing a replacements I have google searched for a rebuild kit and Amazon sell a rebuild for £20 which is arriving tomorrow. Assuming this works I was wondering about offering this service to people who can't do it themselves. I Would source replacement parts for overseas to be cheaper. I could also do a Shopify website for online orders as I've done a couple of them before.
Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
My wife is always breaking her car remote body of for Vauxhall Astra Tourer. It always breaks around the pin part. With Vauxhall dealers charging over £250 for a new key and independent auto locksmiths charging £100 for a new key programmed into the car. With her now needing a replacements I have google searched for a rebuild kit and Amazon sell a rebuild for £20 which is arriving tomorrow. Assuming this works I was wondering about offering this service to people who can't do it themselves. I Would source replacement parts for overseas to be cheaper. I could also do a Shopify website for online orders as I've done a couple of them before.
Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
MarkGArgyle said:
Why wouldn’t you try it! Minimal outlay and sell for £50-60. Worst that can happen is that you get left with some stock that you can sell for cost price.
.Thanks for the feedback. I've also been put on part time hours for work so looking for something to fill the time and keep me occupied.
RammyMP said:
Is there much demand for this? Will you advertise the service and get people to post their keys to you, might work.
I’d try it and see if you get much trade, my nieces husband fixes iPhone screens, started by fixing his own and now does loads.
It will have a Shopify website as I can do them my selfI’d try it and see if you get much trade, my nieces husband fixes iPhone screens, started by fixing his own and now does loads.
StevieBee said:
Given the outlay, it's probably worth a stab at but I would keep your expectations in check; look at more as a side-line hustle rather than your route to untold riches.
There's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
For the second bit do you think having positive Google/Trustpilot reviews would help? As I could get some mates to give 5 star reviewsThere's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
Defcon5 said:
Are you intending to only fix Astra Tourer keys, or all make/model keys?
How do you envisage the customer journey?
My key is broken.
I google and find your store.
I pay online and post you my key
(Key is lost in the post - what happens here?)
Key arrives with you, you fix it
(You can’t fix it, what happens here?)
(You lose the immobiliser chip, what happens here?)
You fix and return the key
(Key lost in post, what happens here?)
Key arrives back with me, all good
I think the turnaround time is gonna make this unviable. Lots of people only have one key, meaning they would be without a car for a week by you fixing it, and if they do have a spare they will just use that instead until it breaks at which point they will panic buy a local replacement.
One lost key and you are on the hook for a new key+coding at dealer prices which will wipe out the profits of 100 successful transactions
Thanks for the heads up. I could start by only doing people visiting me and then see how problematic is. Before allowing a post in service (which will use fully tracked service to hopefuly cover the lost in post bitHow do you envisage the customer journey?
My key is broken.
I google and find your store.
I pay online and post you my key
(Key is lost in the post - what happens here?)
Key arrives with you, you fix it
(You can’t fix it, what happens here?)
(You lose the immobiliser chip, what happens here?)
You fix and return the key
(Key lost in post, what happens here?)
Key arrives back with me, all good
I think the turnaround time is gonna make this unviable. Lots of people only have one key, meaning they would be without a car for a week by you fixing it, and if they do have a spare they will just use that instead until it breaks at which point they will panic buy a local replacement.
One lost key and you are on the hook for a new key+coding at dealer prices which will wipe out the profits of 100 successful transactions
Hoofy said:
As in teaching others to do it? How about setting up a franchise? People pay you for training and licence. You'll have to establish yourself first and get good at doing it.
No learning car key repair from companies/manufacturers. I've only fixed one key so far. I'm hoping that the keys are all basically the same in what they are.. Like different mobile phones all the same component.Just waiting for the insurance quotes.
DSLiverpool said:
Your idea is close to a gig but not a gig imho.
People won’t want to post you their keys.
What If it gets lost? What if you’re sent a duff key then accused of breaking it?
My take on this.
Model it on wheel refurbishing companies, offer it to dealers and the public locally.
Learn what makes and models have the worst keys and get kits in for those, then go round the dealers with a sticker and a card.
Call it “Keyhero” or something memorable.
It’ll build up to a nice little biz you could possibly franchise.
Don’t forget insurance ??
Thanks for your feedback There are using the post companies posting already doing this charging |£50.00 so to start with I'm to not offer postal service just personal callers to see how difficult the ideas is.People won’t want to post you their keys.
What If it gets lost? What if you’re sent a duff key then accused of breaking it?
My take on this.
Model it on wheel refurbishing companies, offer it to dealers and the public locally.
Learn what makes and models have the worst keys and get kits in for those, then go round the dealers with a sticker and a card.
Call it “Keyhero” or something memorable.
It’ll build up to a nice little biz you could possibly franchise.
Don’t forget insurance ??
StevieBee said:
Just a thought.... could you offer the service to local second-hand car dealers? I would have thought they often receive cars with broken keys and would unlikely have on-site facilities so are already buying in the service. If you can offer something cheaper and just as good, I would have thought there would be potential there.
Having many orders from fewer customers is better than singular orders from many customers.
Thanks for the great idea. As I don't drive it will it will have to be local dealer!Having many orders from fewer customers is better than singular orders from many customers.
MattsCar said:
Not worth the effort.
To reach the target audience, which is extremely niche, you will have to spend A LOT on advertising to reach the top of Google.
However, if you do it very cheaply and integrate yourself with a Facebook group specific for the car, you might get some recommendations and make a few quid out of it.
Keys through the post is asking for trouble, make sure people send by RM Special delivery and ensure their terms and conditions will cover the cost to replace an entire set of locks if they only have one set. As someone who sends thousands of items a year through RM, things will get lost and delayed.
Just my opinion
Thanks for the feedback. I have already decided not to postal based order due previous posters. I will be doing local customers only
To reach the target audience, which is extremely niche, you will have to spend A LOT on advertising to reach the top of Google.
However, if you do it very cheaply and integrate yourself with a Facebook group specific for the car, you might get some recommendations and make a few quid out of it.
Keys through the post is asking for trouble, make sure people send by RM Special delivery and ensure their terms and conditions will cover the cost to replace an entire set of locks if they only have one set. As someone who sends thousands of items a year through RM, things will get lost and delayed.
Just my opinion
Thanks for the feedback. I have already decided not to postal based order due previous posters. I will be doing local customers only
Edited by MattsCar on Saturday 11th May 21:31
Hi the repair kit arrived and watched the video on YouTube from the seller. All went well till lost the small spring included in the kit you put in as one in reassemble.
Have contacted the seller about the spring size to see if they can supply or me size me
Have contacted the seller about the spring size to see if they can supply or me size me
Edited by jbswagger on Tuesday 14th May 21:15
Hi,
Am half way to fixing my wife's key as the remote parts is working but the key is not until installed after work. Had to order a new flip remote form Amazon as permantley damaged the battery spring.
Still no insurance quote so will chase. I've also thought of a replacement service to add the keys and mobile/tablet repairs and thought is domestic appliance servicing/repairs.I'm after feedback on what to call the service as was going to call key part as keyhero but can I call the other 2 services the same? Or should I call the whole service as repair god or something similar?
Thanks for all help
Am half way to fixing my wife's key as the remote parts is working but the key is not until installed after work. Had to order a new flip remote form Amazon as permantley damaged the battery spring.
Still no insurance quote so will chase. I've also thought of a replacement service to add the keys and mobile/tablet repairs and thought is domestic appliance servicing/repairs.I'm after feedback on what to call the service as was going to call key part as keyhero but can I call the other 2 services the same? Or should I call the whole service as repair god or something similar?
Thanks for all help
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