Halfords to sell second hand bicycles

The market for second hand bicycles in the UK is soaring. In common with other items, the price of new bikes has been on the rise following increases in steel and shipping costs. Many bike manufacturers have found themselves short of models following supply problems at coronavirus-hit factories, too few lorry drivers and disruption to shipping. However, despite shortages of some models, as traffic levels dropped many commuters swapped cars and public transport for bicycles.

The increase in prices in the value of the bike market in Britain growing by 45 per cent to £2.3bn in 2020.

Such is the demand for bikes that Halfords has announced it's to start selling second hand bicycles, offering its customers up to £250 in vouchers for trade-ins. The company plans to then sell the bikes via its network of shops.

Graham Stapleton, the retailer's chief executive, said: “With demand for bikes so high, well-publicised supply chain constraints, and a cost of living crisis on the horizon, it can’t be right that so many perfectly good bicycles are being left to gather dust in sheds and garages.”

Halfords has yet to confirm how it will check the provenance of traded-in bicycles. With no global register of stolen bikes, there is a risk that any trade in second hand bicycles may involve stolen property.

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