Brompton launches £1 a day subscription service
Brompton appears to be the first big name bike brand to have launched a subscription service for customers, through the Brompton BIke Hire arm of the business.
Speculation that a bike brand would eventually try such a service has been ongoing for some time – CI.N’s ‘Ask the Trade’ pundits discussed the topic back in April 2019. Indeed, since then the founders of subscription pioneer Soundcloud invested in an e-Bike subscription service in Berlin. Vanmoof launched a shop-based subscription service in 2018, while Rapha has been working on memberships and subscriptions for a number of years.
With the new scheme, the public will be able to hire Brompton bike on a monthly or annual basis, from “late summer”. Keen punters can get on the Priority Access list, which is now open.
No deposit is required, insurance for theft and damage is included, with free maintenance and a free loan bike if repairs need to be made. Subscription holidays can be taken for pregnancy, health issues or a change in employment status. The annual subscription works out as less than £1 per day, we’re told.
Brompton Bike Hire MD, Julian Scrivens, said: “There is a significant shift towards cycling now more than ever, but not everyone wants to or can afford to buy a bike outright. Our pay-as-you-ride schemes are already enormously popular, but we wanted to give the public another option which allows them to keep a bike for longer periods.”
“This new Subscription service will revolutionise the way people own a bike, giving them a premium product without the upfront price tag. It’s an option to make everyone’s life easier, whether you’re a commuter, student, family or just want to cycle on the weekends but don’t want to commit or have the space to own a bike forever.”
The Brompton Subscription monthly and annual options will also provide a viable option for businesses who want to help their staff get back to work safely.
Brompton Bike Hire already lets users hire bikes on a daily basis from its 50+ pay-as-you-ride hubs nationwide. The Bike Subscriptions will be available on a limited basis for an initial launch period, with new memberships being exclusively released each month.
