Anyone who has ever taken a closer look at Ortlieb products will have noticed that many of them can be unscrewed or otherwise removed. There is a reason for this. All of the bag specialist's products are designed so that individual parts can be easily replaced. Holes can also be repaired. Ortlieb has been offering a repair service since the company was founded in 1982. You can tell that the topic of repairability is close to the company's heart.
We repair around 18,000 products a year at our site in Heilsbronn, where all products are also manufactured - Martin Esslinger, Ortlieb CEO
CEO Martin Esslinger explains: "We repair around 18,000 products a year at our site in Heilsbronn, where all our products are manufactured. Sustainable management is essential, it has always been part of Ortlieb's DNA and is also our aspiration. Responsible use of the resources we have also means ensuring that products are as durable as possible. In addition to using durable materials and replaceable plastic parts, we therefore train both our distribution partners and retailers and are gradually expanding this network."
The Ortlieb repair service
Ortlieb's repair service has been continuously expanded over the years. If you need a spare part, you can find the right replacement on the website. Products with holes or in need of repair can be sent in - or you can go to one of currently 53 service partners in Germany. They are trained to repair bags on site. There are also specialist retailers and sales partners worldwide who have been trained by Ortlieb as repair professionals and can repair defects on site.
Ortlieb Repairweeks 2023
Black Friday is almost synonymous with fast consumerism. Buy first, think later - the main thing is cheaper. Ortlieb took this as an incentive last year and organised Repair Week for the first time. In 2023, the manufacturer of all kinds of waterproof backpacks, bike and travel bags and its partners around the world also want to focus on this kind of waste of resources.
In Germany, this means that there will be a 40 percent discount on repairs from 13 to 26 November. At Ortlieb and its service dealers. More information about the service dealers is available on the website www.ortlieb.com/de_de/servicehaendler.
Ortlieb Repairweek tried out
How fitting that two bikepacking bags in need of repair have been waiting to be repaired for a long time. So on 13 November, I made my way to Globetrotter in Munich, one of Ortlieb's service dealers. I received a friendly welcome at the service counter, unpacked the bags and pointed out the holes.
A handlebar bag has a hole in it because it wasn't properly lashed down and rubbed against the tyre. A saddle bag affectionately referred to as an "arse rocket" - my favourite saddle bag - has got a hole after countless tours and perhaps due to sometimes less loving treatment. Both defects should finally be repaired.
The defects were noted, my contact details were taken and I received an order confirmation. If the holes can be repaired on site, I will be notified in about a week. If the bags need to be sent in, I will also be notified, but it will take longer.
The result of the repair at Ortlieb
We will report on the results of the repairs here.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
