JobRad Loop sales manager: "Those who opt for refurbished often make their choice more consciously!"

BIKE: Car leasing or car hire companies often have to deal with the phrase "Don't be gentle, it's a rental" when using their fleet. What is the situation with leased bikes? In what condition do they usually come back and how time-consuming is the reconditioning?

Marc Mielau: A very differentiated picture emerges for leased bikes. Many bikes are used with care, as they have a personal value for the users and are used consciously both in everyday life and for leisure. At the same time, we also receive bikes that are more worn out or whose condition no longer makes refurbishment worthwhile. At the end of the leasing contract and before returning them to the refurbishment process, the condition of the bikes is carefully checked. As JobRad Loop, we work together with our sister company Wunderfix, which carries out an in-depth assessment of the completeness, maintenance condition and technical quality of the bike together with the customer via video call. Only bikes that fulfil all the defined criteria are reconditioned according to our quality standards. Wearing parts such as brakes, chains or tyres are replaced if necessary, and e-bikes are also subjected to comprehensive battery and software checks. Finally, all bikes are thoroughly and carefully cleaned and photographed in high resolution for the online shop. In this way, we ensure that only high-quality bikes arrive reliably, safely and ready to ride to their new users and are returned to the cycle.

BIKE: What quality standards must be met when reconditioning the bikes and what specific warranty and service features does Jobrad Loop offer? Would you also like to take a look at the differences between used bikes offered by private individuals?

Mielau: At JobRad Loop, all bikes undergo a seven-stage refurbishment process in our own production facility in Germany. Safety-relevant components are rigorously checked and wearing parts are replaced with high-quality spare parts if necessary. E-bikes also receive comprehensive battery and software checks. Specifically, customers benefit from a professionally checked and refurbished bike, have a 14-day test ride period and enjoy a one-year statutory warranty. The key difference to buying from private individuals lies in the trustworthiness of the offer: while private offers usually come without a guarantee, with an unclear history and without standardised quality checks, JobRad Loop offers a tested product with clearly defined quality standards and services, such as availability after purchase.

BIKE: What role did the growing awareness of sustainable mobility solutions play in the idea of JobRad Loop?

Mielau: The growing awareness of sustainable mobility was a key driver in the development of JobRad Loop. The idea of returning bicycles to the cycle after their first phase of use contributes directly to the extension of product life cycles and the conservation of resources. Refurbishment is not a sacrifice, but a conscious decision in favour of both quality and sustainability. The aim is to keep high-quality bicycles usable for as long as possible and at the same time give more people access to affordable bicycle mobility.

BIKE: Can statements about CO₂ savings or extended product life be derived from the sales figures for JobRad Loop?

Mielau: Basically, the following can be said: Every remanufacturing process significantly extends the service life of a bicycle and avoids emissions that would be generated by new production. Specific CO₂ savings depend heavily on the type of bike, the period of use and the components replaced. Nevertheless, it is clear that refurbishment makes a measurable contribution to conserving resources - especially when compared to the energy and material-intensive production of new bicycles.

BIKE: What are typical customers who end up at JobRad Loop and how has demand developed? What are the top sellers, which bikes are difficult to sell?

Mielau: JobRad Loop's customer base is very diverse. It ranges from price-conscious everyday cyclists and sustainability-oriented consumers to beginners who are specifically looking for a high-quality branded bike, as well as experienced cyclists who want to purchase a second or specialised bike. The demand for refurbished bikes has risen sharply in recent years and continues to develop favourably. E-bikes in the city and trekking segment as well as high-quality branded bikes with good equipment are particularly popular. However, very specific models or highly customised bikes that only appeal to a small target group are more difficult to sell.

BIKE: Are there any differences between prospective buyers or buyers of a refurbished bike and buyers of new bikes?

Mielau: In principle, there are overlaps between buyers of new bikes and refurbished bikes, but there are also clear differences. Those who opt for refurbished often make their choice more consciously and are more focussed on price, quality and sustainability. While the latest model or certain technical features often take centre stage when buying a new bike, refurbished bikes focus more on an attractive price-performance ratio, tested quality and the opportunity to use a high-quality branded product in a sustainable way.

BIKE: Bicycle manufacturers are constantly pushing new models and model updates onto the market in very short cycles. Against this backdrop, what challenges, but also opportunities, do you see for the refurbished market?

Mielau: The ever shorter model cycles in the bicycle market pose challenges for the refurbishment sector - particularly in terms of price positioning and comparability with discounted new bikes as well as spare parts procurement. At the same time, however, this also creates clear opportunities: many bikes lose market value after a short time, even though they are still technically of a very high standard. This is precisely where refurbishment comes in, by making these bikes accessible again. A structured refurbishment market creates transparency, extends product lifecycles and helps to make bicycle mobility more efficient and sustainable overall.

About JobRad Loop

With the rebranding to JobRad Loop in April 2025, the company Bravobike GmbH - a wholly owned subsidiary of JobRad Holding SE - wants to move closer to the core JobRad brand. However, the core business will remain unchanged: bringing professionally refurbished bikes from leasing back onto the cycle path via the online shop. The move to a new production and logistics site near Leipzig in spring 2025 is intended to form the spatial basis for JobRad Loop's targeted growth. In future, up to 100,000 used bikes per year can be professionally refurbished here and returned to the market as used bikes in line with the circular economy.