Created in 2021, Buycycle has quickly established itself as a leader in the online sale of used bicycles, but also parts in recent weeks. Theo Golditchuk, co-founder and CEO of Buycycle, spoke with Velo 101.
Buycycle is a used bicycle sales platform created in 2021 and based in Munich, Germany. While sales of new bikes soared at the end of the Covid period, manufacturers experienced stock problems, leading to significant delays in obtaining a new bike. It is in this context that Buycycle was created by three friends Jonas Jäger, Florian Senoner and Theodor Golditchuk. The latter, CEO of the site, spoke with Velo 101.
From left to right, Jonas Jäger, Florian Senoner and Theodor Golditchuk.
“The new bike market has completely exploded. My co-founders and I said, OK, this is the perfect time, now or never.”indicates Theodor Golditchuk. The site was launched in the summer of 2021 with a clear objective: to allow enthusiasts to be able to sell or buy a used bike at the right price and in complete safety across Europe. “We are a site where we pay attention to payment, shipping the product and even buyer protection”assures the co-founder of Buycycle.
New: sale of components
Since the end of October, it has also been possible to sell and buy the various bicycle components on Buycycle. “It was a kind of request, both from customers, but also from our employees. We always wanted to create a marketplace for second-hand bikes, but also all things related to cycling”continues Theodor Golditchuk. In just a few weeks, there are already nearly 5,000 ads for used parts online on the German site.
In addition to components, Buycycle's ambition is to allow consumers to sell or buy anything related to cycling. The German company will continue to innovate very soon with a new service. “I will say in the next few weeks. The idea is to expand the marketplace with not only the components, but also everything that goes around the bike such as home trainers, the different bags that can be put on the bike, etc. We want to make sure that everything what is related to cycling is available on Buycycle »expose Theodor Golditchuk.
In case of problem during the sale?
But what happens during the sale in the event of a problem (crack on the frame, photos that do not conform to the product, etc.)? We asked Theodor Golditchuk the question. “First, fortunately most of our sellers and buyers are really cautious. But of course, sometimes there are problems. What happens when you have a broken bike for example, you contact Buycycle and we have a dedicated team who will contact the seller and nearby stores to find a solution. If no solution is found, the bike is returned and the buyer is refunded,” assures the co-founder of the platform.
Where Buycycle differentiates itself from its competitors is its presence throughout Europe and internationally which allows it to have more offers with buyers and sellers who come from all over Europe, and even the United States. United. “On Buycycle, you can find a bike not only in France, but in 29 countries in Europe. There is more supply and we can sell more quickly”explains Theodor Golditchuk. This advantage also applies to sellers, who can sell their products internationally and therefore reach a wider audience. “In 70% of cases, the buyer and seller do not come from the same country”continues the German.
Partner stores throughout Europe
In the event of a problem, Buycycle can intervene quickly through its partner stores, which are located throughout Europe. “When we have to check the bikes, we have many partners in France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, etc. All across Europe with whom we can work. This means that if we have a local problem and want to check a bike, we can work with our partners”says Theodor Golditchuk. These partner stores can also be useful for buyers on the site who want to make sure everything is OK on their bike before using it.
After Germany, where the site was born and where the head office is located, and the United States, where offices are also located, France is the third largest Buycycle market in the world. “France represents around 15% of our turnover. It's increasing, let's say 20% soon. 1/5ᵉ of our business is in France, which makes it a very important market” assures the CEO of Buycycle.
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