If you have a bike you’d rather not donate, we’ll take it in on consignment. Just tell us how much you’d like to receive, and how low you’re willing to go. If it needs some repair, we’ll fix it up and deduct the cost of repair from the amount received on the sale. We’ll list your bike here on the web, and may promote it through Facebook.

Our consignment rate is 10% of the proceeds, or 1% per month of consignment, whichever is greater. You agree that we’re not responsible for damage while on the premises for sale. You may put your bike in and out of consignment with us as often as you like, as long as you pick it up immediately upon withdrawing it from sale. We’ll try to sell it for as much as we can, as that benefits us both. However, if it has not had any interest for several months, we may negotiate to your bottom-dollar price (if you provide one) with any potential buyer.

Many of our clients would like us to buy their bikes from them, rather than donating or consigning them. We understand that it represents cash in your pocket faster than consignment, but its not viable for us. In most cases, the bikes we’re being asked to buy need so much work that we would be upside down on the sale. In the few cases where this is not the case, our putting money in your pocket quickly means we’re out the money instead – liquidity is important for us, too. We cannot know how quickly even a valuable bike will sell.

Even so, because children in certain age ranges outgrow bicycles quickly, we do offer a buy-back program. See the section below for details and obligations.

We love to restore old bikes, whether they are donations or your everyday ride. However, with donor bikes, we have no way to know the history of the bike before we received it. Was it ridden abusively? Was it involved in an accident? Was it backed over in the driveway? We simply don’t know.

Therefore, all used hardware from complete bikes to individual components are SOLD AS IS, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FITNESS FOR ANY USE OR PURPOSE. THE BUYER ASSUMES ALL RISK. We know that’s absurd – I mean, we sell used bikes, right? Yes, but we do not possess an X-ray machine to inspect the welds of the frame or wheels; we don’t know how much fatigue any bolts, nuts, or screws have sustained. And even if it was new, WE wouldn’t warrant against manufacturers defects, which – if any – are likely aggravated in a used bike.

That said, if you buy a lemon or just don’t like apricots, we’ll accept a return of any bike (in the condition it was sold) for a full refund within 3 days (72 hours, minus holidays) as the law requires. We warrant our repair work for 90 days – not because its only good for 90 days, but because we assume you’re out riding it, and that causes wear which will lead to new repairs down the road. Of course, after purchase, if you need something tweaked, just swing by any time and we’ll tweak it at no charge; we want you to be happy with your purchase and enjoy your cycling experience.

Provided you, the buyer, 1) store the bike under cover from rain, sun, and snow when not being ridden and generally operate it with common care without abuse, 2) bring the bike in (to us or another bike shop with receipt/proof-of-service) for service every 6-9 months so we can maintain it in good working order, and 3) bring it in for repair at the first signs of a problem, Bret’s Bike agrees to buy-back the bicycle, a) minus tax paid and b) the cost of a tuneup and any repairs needed at time of return, for 1) store-credit toward another bike at the sale price minus 2% per month of ownership, or 2) cash at 50% of the amount of store-credit.

Common sense, but not legally-binding explanation: We’re going to charge you for a minimum of 1 tuneup during your time of ownership. We do this so people don’t treat it as a form of long-term rental. And obviously, we’re not repaying any tax collected. However, if you take good care of the bike – and bring it in about once a year so we can verify that fact – we’re going to help you get your child into the next-size-up bicycle. Or get you into a cruiser or tricycle if your health takes an unexpected turn.

We may make you aware of this program at time of purchase, or we may forget. You may see evidence of the buy back program in store or online, or you may not. We may send you reminders, or not, or they may get lost during delivery. In all cases, it is entirely up to you to make sure you comply with your provisions of this agreement if you wish to sell the bike back, whether or not that was your intent when you purchased the bike. Otherwise, see the above item on why we don’t buy used bikes.

Our current building has a rich and varied history in Plainville, and we love the character and our location.

But this building is an energy-eating nightmare.

We can’t afford to heat and cool it. There’s no insulation, and the brick walls turn the place into an ice box or an oven, depending on the season. So we take breaks to warm up or cool down as needed. Some days, its just too hot or cold to be inside.

The other thing is, Michael and Bret both work other jobs, and Michael has a school-age family. Family is important, and the other jobs make it possible to provide the bike shop to the community.

Most of the time, if you call us, we’ll come down and meet you at the store — even if its not our normal business hours — if it is at all possible. If you’re coming from some distance, its a good idea to call first, or check our Twitter feed.

We like to keep it casual, but there’s a few things we need your help implementing so that everyone has the best Bret’s Bike experience, including us!

1. If you’re dropping off a bike or anything for repair, don’t leave without a claim check that shows we have the correct contact info for you. Because many times, we forget which phone number is yours, and because sometimes we can’t tell repair bikes from donations.
2. If you don’t make arrangements to pick up your bike within 7 days of repair completion, we’re going to charge you for storage. This is because we have very little space, and we need you to get your bike quickly so it doesn’t get damaged or damage another bike.
3. If you fail to make arrangements – like, we can’t get ahold of you – for four months, we’re going to put your bike on consignment sale. Because we need the space, and we need to cover your bill.