Online bike marketplace BikeExchange (BEX) – fresh off its merger with Kitzuma Cycling Logistics – has introduced an initiative for its clients: All North American-based BEX clients will receive a year’s free membership to the Professional Bike Mechanics Association (PBMA), helping ensure proper training and certification for their mechanics among other benefits.
This action reinforces BEX’s support for brick-and-mortar retailers as well as direct-to-consumer manufacturers, while it promotes thel importance of qualified mechanics for retailers’ service business.
The offer is worth anywhere between $75 for individual mechanics, $150 for single stores and $500 for retailers with five or more stores (other levels are also available). BEX clients will receive a one-year membership, and if the retailer is a member of PBMA, BEX will extend the membership by a year. This initiative also covers tuition for one mechanic from every member shop to attend PBMA’s Bicycle Mechanic Certification program.
The benefits of the initiative are multifold, helping the consumer, dealer and individual mechanics: First, by offering the free membership, BikeExchange – with its global online marketplace for traditional retailers and DTC bike brands – helps dealers gain recognition for their mechanics, which provides added value for their shop and improved service for their patrons. The program also helps the mechanics. The high-level training from PBMA and resulting certification – which is nonexistent on a national level – means better training and recognized accreditation for the individual mechanics.
“The PBMA is the perfect organization to link with our dealers, and it’s something we think all dealers should belong to, because it ensures consistency and credibility for their shop and mechanics. It’s really a win-win for all sides, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to help everyone reap those benefits,” said Derek Colfer, North American CEO for BEX.
“Although we’re an online marketplace, we are still very much aware of how big a part the dealer plays in consumer purchases, including on the service side,” Colfer continued. “We want to help give dealers all the tools they can get to thrive, especially with the ever-changing landscape of the bike industry. BikeExchange is a powerful way for dealers of any size to have an online storefront with national reach, and this partnership with PBMA makes it even more powerful.”
For more information about BikeExchange, email: sales@bikeexchange.com. For information about the PBMA, contact Jenny Kallista: jenny@probma.org.
