How the Battery Tester changed a bike shop.
The Tweewielers shop in Heeten uses a battery tester, a tool that shows the condition of an electric bike's battery. Store manager Bryan de Groot is passionate about the subject.
"I don't need to take the consumer's word for it when it comes to changing a battery. The tester and the test report leave no room for doubt. "
It can't be missed by any customer, the battery tester in Bryan de Groot's shop is clearly visible. The device is compact, about the size of a shredder, and sits between the workshop and the sales area.
Above the shelf, with the tester, is a laptop computer. It allows test results to be read off, and a printer and billing device allow test reports to be printed out. "We've been using it for almost a year now," says Bryan. "My conclusion? Fantastic! The tester removes ambiguity about the state of a battery and prevents hopeless discussions. Because my customers know that the battery tester never lies. If a test report says that an electric bike battery has been technically tinkered with, then it has."
Clear diagnosis of battery condition
Bryan de Groot mainly uses the tester to map the condition of batteries when customers want to exchange an electric bike. "If you ask consumers about the condition of the battery to be exchanged, almost all of them say that the battery is in good condition, with good range and so maintain a high price. "
De Groot gives an example. "A customer with a six-year-old 'Giant' brand bike said he could easily cycle sixty kilometres on the battery. Before exchanging it, I tested it for a while. It turned out that the battery only had 4 amp-hours. That's a loss of assistance after just ten kilometres.
The first discussion on the diagnosis is still to come
Customers always agree with the battery tester's findings, noted De Groot. People say: 'I didn't expect the battery to be in such poor condition, but it is'. Of course, there are also cases where the battery is better than expected. This is a village. I don't want a resident to trade in his bike at too low a price and his neighbour to buy the same bike with a significant price difference."
Why is investing in a battery tester worthwhile?
- No calculation errors when reselling or taking back bikes
- No discussions with customers about battery quality
- Higher selling price for used bikes thanks to the report
- Customers invest more quickly in a new battery or in reconditioning
- Saves time because battery problems are solved immediately
- Increased customer loyalty
- Possibility of additional customer service
- Image of expertise and thus differentiation from competitors
The Battery Tester ensures a positive image
If the test result is positive, the customer can also choose to continue using their current bike for longer. Even if they have had the idea of buying a new electric bike. In such a case, De Groot misses out on a turnover. But, according to the entrepreneur, this is only noticeable in the short term. "You might think: if I hadn't done the battery test, I would have sold a bike. On the other hand, I gained a customer for later. Because in a year and a half, he's still ready for a new electric bike. And in the meantime, he has told the story of our business to ten neighbours. This way, I've got a nice sideline. "
Used now sells more easily
Using the battery tester is simple, says Bryan de Groot. "You have the battery, you connect it to the tester via a plug. Because the tester comes with various test sockets, you can test many different batteries. There's an advantage and a disadvantage to almost every battery. If these signs don't appear and you connect the tester incorrectly, there's no problem. The tester signals this perfectly and you don't short-circuit. "
Further testing of the battery isn't a matter of higher maths either. Bryan says: "You switch on the tester, press the start button and the test begins. When it's finished, a message appears on the screen. "De Groot displays the report of a test carried out with a Bosch battery originally rated at 400 watts. Duration of the test: one hour and 37 minutes. "You press a button again and the receipt with the results comes out. Or you open the on-screen diagnostics. Either way, you see that this battery has a capacity of 288 watt-hours."
A complete diagnosis for every bike
Customers who buy a used electric bike from De Groot always receive a receipt with the latest diagnosis. "The tester makes it easier to sell used bikes, because the consumer knows exactly what the battery capacity is and what he is buying. If the battery provides insufficient capacity for its intended use, the consumer can take another bike. Or they choose to buy a new battery at an attractive additional cost. "
Bryan de Groot doesn't just use the tester for exchanged bikes. He also uses it for repairs and maintenance. "There are a lot of customers who come to for reasons of unidentified battery malfunctions. "I pedal, then cuts out" "the battery diodes are flashing" we hear. But yes, what does it matter? Only the display or the whole rack? By testing the battery, you can rule out the causes and concentrate more on solutions. "
The battery tester highlights the maintenance devoted to the product
In the event of a repair request, the battery tester regularly exposes the customer's poor management of the battery. "Some people don't operate the battery correctly. They have a range of up to 70%, then put it back on the charger. As a result, the battery sometimes gives the wrong indication of the battery on the bike. People shout: "My battery is bad". I then test it once or three times, during which time I drain the battery to 100%. If you see an increase in amperage, you know that the battery is recovering. You can reassure the consumer at some point that there's no problem. I see it as a service. "
Quick return on investment
De Groot knows that other two-wheeler companies ask for money for a battery test. He just doesn't do it consciously. "My revenue model is different. Thanks to the test device, I can avoid miscalculations on the bikes to be exchanged. Thanks to the test, I don't estimate the value of the bike too low and I don't have any losses. What's more, I can offer my customers something extra with the condition measurement, so that they consciously choose my case or change two-wheeler specialists. "
Within a week, Bryan de Groot had recouped his investment. "Suppose you trade in an electric bike for €750, a very common amount. If it turns out later that a new battery needs to be fitted, a further 500 euros will be added to the price. That's not worth a bike like that at all, so you're left with a bike that's hard to sell. If you swap ten bikes a week and half of them turn out to be less efficient than expected, you'll see this financially. Even if you think you've got a safety element built into the price. "
