I promise to update you guys regarding my solar system performance in the Spring, but for now I have a need for the kind of nerve-soothing that only the clear-eyed deep thinkers of this forum can provide.
My stupidly expensive bike needs a new battery. These batteries are stupidly expensive. I am not complaining about the stupidly expensive bit. I'm here, cap-in-hand, because I fear I'm too stupid to read the signs.
Why would my e-bike repair-guy be suddenly wanting me to pay cash for the new battery? I rarely walk around with more than 100 bucks in my wallet at a time, but this dude want's me to wander the savage streets of Schweiz with over two thousand bucks.
I'm not really concerned about being mugged or anything. I just want someone to tell me a decent reason why this guy, who in the past has let me pay for services etc with ATM or credit card, would want me to pay in cash?
Because he imported the battery without declaring it, or it's stolen....ask him if a 'bank transfer' will count as cash. Certainly I can understand if he does not want to let you use a credit card to pay....
It's a battery made by a Swiss company (Stromer battery for Stromer bike), so he hasn't smuggled it across the border.
I've emailed him asking why, but no reply yet. The offer (over email) was new battery with 3-year warranty at full price, or new battery with no warranty for 10% discount. The thing about paying with cash was only mentioned today.
Why is it a red flag ? He fits the battery, you pay him, end of story.
Have you looked on AliBaBa Express, all the batteries are made in China these days, Dyson "original" (made in China) Chf 100.-- AliBaBa Express Chf 30.-- (made in China) including postage
It is totally irrelevant if you have Chf 10k in your pocket or Chf 100.--, if nobody knows, why do you think there is far more risk in getting mugged on the particular day you have Chf 10k as oposed to only Chf 100.-- ?
Competitors usually try to at least meet each others offers, so a new battery for an e-bike with not manufacturers warranty would be the red flag for me. Could it be a second hand or a "seconds" one.... I'd stop at that never mind having to pay cash.
My local independent bike mechanic only very grudgingly accepts credit card payments, and prefers cash or bank transfers for all transactions. If everyone pays by credit card, the extra few % charged by a credit card company ends up being a lot of lost money that would otherwise have ended up in your mechanic's pocket. If he is struggling to break even, this is a big deal.
Just make sure you get a receipt and some kind of proper warranty, because without having a record of a credit card transaction, if something went wrong with the battery, I think he could potentially try to deny the problem if there is no record of you paying him for that product and service.
So can't you find a different bike guy ? I saw Zurich is full of these kind of shops...
And yes, what a previous member said: why don't you try Ali express / baba --> worst case scenario : you loose 100-200 chf / best case --> you don't need to withdraw and save some "cash"
With cash you have no recourse if the battery is junk. Credit cards offer some protection. Why not contact Stromer directly? The website is even in English: https://www.stromerbike.com/en/dealer/flagship-store
This is the one. The guy got back to me and basically said the above. Hates the percentage loss through the credit card. Gave me his IBAN though, so I can maintain a documentation trail if I need it.
The red flagging was (for me) that it seemed like a sudden change in behavior.
People suggesting I get a battery for cheep through alibaba or whatever, the money's not the issue and I cant be bothered with rappen-pinching schnäpschenjäger nonsense. Besides, warranty has helped me enough times before for various other things that I tend to run with that option anyway.
My wife arranged some car hire and agreed to pay cash. It was a mistake, although we did get the car for one of the weekends it was booked; the lender failed to provide a car for the 3 subsequent occasions.
It turned out to be far more expensive car hire.
I tell you're repair guy you pay with a bank transfer, if indeed you want to do business with someone who is maybe dealing with stolen goods.
It's an unnecessary cost, essentially money thrown out the window. I would think CC is rarely used for larger bills, if at all, so the apparent change may have been triggered by the realisation of your intent.
However the 2nd hand battery offer (no warranty, no guaranteed capacity percentage, only 10% rebate) makes no sense at all. Could this be a matter of "lost in translation"? Stromer themselves offer 6 months warranty with at least 90% capacity for at least 20% rebate (more rebate for their "smaller" ones) for the few ones they have.
I assume the "pay with cash" was not on his email. This was a verbal request. Now you asked in written form about "paying with cash".
I think about three possibilities. First one is payment by card terminal costs between 1-3% of sales price. Maybe this guy wants to avoid this cost and increase his profit. Second one is under-reporting income. Cash is spent by him in daily life and this income never existed. Third one is human nature, specifically laziness...lots of work to include this in the shop accounting when mos of the money goes to the battery seller anyway.
Since you asked by email you'll never know the reason. There is no way this person will explain by email why he's asking for cash
I'd say don't worry. But politely reject that offer of 10% discount with no warranty.
Why? Battery is quite probably made in China and branded here. Sometimes the deals between manufacturer and branding/distribution people go sour. Manufacturer ends up with a few thousand units already finished and cannot sell them anymore under the original brand. Once again, human nature strikes: it takes some effort to place a new sticker on them. To avoid this huge effort and get cash rather quickly.....sell product with no warranty.