Possible New Buiness Idea Feedback Please
Discussion
HI.
My wife is always breaking her car remote body of for Vauxhall Astra Tourer. It always breaks around the pin part. With Vauxhall dealers charging over £250 for a new key and independent auto locksmiths charging £100 for a new key programmed into the car. With her now needing a replacements I have google searched for a rebuild kit and Amazon sell a rebuild for £20 which is arriving tomorrow. Assuming this works I was wondering about offering this service to people who can't do it themselves. I Would source replacement parts for overseas to be cheaper. I could also do a Shopify website for online orders as I've done a couple of them before.
Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
My wife is always breaking her car remote body of for Vauxhall Astra Tourer. It always breaks around the pin part. With Vauxhall dealers charging over £250 for a new key and independent auto locksmiths charging £100 for a new key programmed into the car. With her now needing a replacements I have google searched for a rebuild kit and Amazon sell a rebuild for £20 which is arriving tomorrow. Assuming this works I was wondering about offering this service to people who can't do it themselves. I Would source replacement parts for overseas to be cheaper. I could also do a Shopify website for online orders as I've done a couple of them before.
Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
MarkGArgyle said:
Why wouldn’t you try it! Minimal outlay and sell for £50-60. Worst that can happen is that you get left with some stock that you can sell for cost price.
.Thanks for the feedback. I've also been put on part time hours for work so looking for something to fill the time and keep me occupied.
RammyMP said:
Is there much demand for this? Will you advertise the service and get people to post their keys to you, might work.
I’d try it and see if you get much trade, my nieces husband fixes iPhone screens, started by fixing his own and now does loads.
It will have a Shopify website as I can do them my selfI’d try it and see if you get much trade, my nieces husband fixes iPhone screens, started by fixing his own and now does loads.
Anyone looking to save money on this will just google the same kit that you have. Anyone looking to save money but not savvy enough to find said kit probably also won't find you. There is a reason why people charge 100 quid. After you have paid tax and declared your 40 quid profit you will be left with 20. Not worth it.
Given the outlay, it's probably worth a stab at but I would keep your expectations in check; look at more as a side-line hustle rather than your route to untold riches.
There's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
There's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
Post on local FB groups, just asking if anyone else is having problems with their similar keyfobs. Don't mention you're starting a business because that could get your post removed. This way, at least you'll know if others are having the same problem... or you need to find the receipt for your wife and get a replacement. 
StevieBee said:
Given the outlay, it's probably worth a stab at but I would keep your expectations in check; look at more as a side-line hustle rather than your route to untold riches.
There's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
For the second bit do you think having positive Google/Trustpilot reviews would help? As I could get some mates to give 5 star reviewsThere's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
Are you intending to only fix Astra Tourer keys, or all make/model keys?
How do you envisage the customer journey?
My key is broken.
I google and find your store.
I pay online and post you my key
(Key is lost in the post - what happens here?)
Key arrives with you, you fix it
(You can’t fix it, what happens here?)
(You lose the immobiliser chip, what happens here?)
You fix and return the key
(Key lost in post, what happens here?)
Key arrives back with me, all good
I think the turnaround time is gonna make this unviable. Lots of people only have one key, meaning they would be without a car for a week by you fixing it, and if they do have a spare they will just use that instead until it breaks at which point they will panic buy a local replacement.
One lost key and you are on the hook for a new key+coding at dealer prices which will wipe out the profits of 100 successful transactions
How do you envisage the customer journey?
My key is broken.
I google and find your store.
I pay online and post you my key
(Key is lost in the post - what happens here?)
Key arrives with you, you fix it
(You can’t fix it, what happens here?)
(You lose the immobiliser chip, what happens here?)
You fix and return the key
(Key lost in post, what happens here?)
Key arrives back with me, all good
I think the turnaround time is gonna make this unviable. Lots of people only have one key, meaning they would be without a car for a week by you fixing it, and if they do have a spare they will just use that instead until it breaks at which point they will panic buy a local replacement.
One lost key and you are on the hook for a new key+coding at dealer prices which will wipe out the profits of 100 successful transactions
jbswagger said:
StevieBee said:
Given the outlay, it's probably worth a stab at but I would keep your expectations in check; look at more as a side-line hustle rather than your route to untold riches.
There's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
For the second bit do you think having positive Google/Trustpilot reviews would help? As I could get some mates to give 5 star reviewsThere's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
I would be starting local initially, local as in people being able to pop round. Personal interaction builds trust which you can the use as the basis of growth.
jbswagger said:
Thanks for all comments especially about not making a fortune. For medical reasons have been I have been put on part-time hours and have loots of spare time to fill
Give it a go mate. It might not turn into anything, but you will certainly learn from it, which could lead to bigger things. jbswagger said:
StevieBee said:
Given the outlay, it's probably worth a stab at but I would keep your expectations in check; look at more as a side-line hustle rather than your route to untold riches.
There's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
For the second bit do you think having positive Google/Trustpilot reviews would help? As I could get some mates to give 5 star reviewsThere's two things you need to consider:
The first is insurance. Even as a sole trader you will need cover. Imagine someone using a key that you've fixed but you inadvertently did something to it that shut down the customer's car's electrical system. I know that's unlikely but insurance covers the stuff that will never happen until it does. Business insurance isn't cheap.
And secondly, you need to think about overcoming concerns people may have about sending a stranger on the internet the keys to their car, along with their address.
Defcon5 said:
Are you intending to only fix Astra Tourer keys, or all make/model keys?
How do you envisage the customer journey?
My key is broken.
I google and find your store.
I pay online and post you my key
(Key is lost in the post - what happens here?)
Key arrives with you, you fix it
(You can’t fix it, what happens here?)
(You lose the immobiliser chip, what happens here?)
You fix and return the key
(Key lost in post, what happens here?)
Key arrives back with me, all good
I think the turnaround time is gonna make this unviable. Lots of people only have one key, meaning they would be without a car for a week by you fixing it, and if they do have a spare they will just use that instead until it breaks at which point they will panic buy a local replacement.
One lost key and you are on the hook for a new key+coding at dealer prices which will wipe out the profits of 100 successful transactions
Thanks for the heads up. I could start by only doing people visiting me and then see how problematic is. Before allowing a post in service (which will use fully tracked service to hopefuly cover the lost in post bitHow do you envisage the customer journey?
My key is broken.
I google and find your store.
I pay online and post you my key
(Key is lost in the post - what happens here?)
Key arrives with you, you fix it
(You can’t fix it, what happens here?)
(You lose the immobiliser chip, what happens here?)
You fix and return the key
(Key lost in post, what happens here?)
Key arrives back with me, all good
I think the turnaround time is gonna make this unviable. Lots of people only have one key, meaning they would be without a car for a week by you fixing it, and if they do have a spare they will just use that instead until it breaks at which point they will panic buy a local replacement.
One lost key and you are on the hook for a new key+coding at dealer prices which will wipe out the profits of 100 successful transactions
jbswagger said:
HI
Doing some market research there are post-in key services already charging around £50. They have a one working day turn around and probably have much more experience than I do.
I'd rather pay £60 to drive to your door (assuming you're only say 20 minutes away) and have you do it at an agreed time.Doing some market research there are post-in key services already charging around £50. They have a one working day turn around and probably have much more experience than I do.
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