Incentives on two wheels, half disaster.
Rome mess from Maremma almost impossible to get discounts
Grosseto. Bicycling is good for the environment and health but the road chosen by the Ministry of Environment to provide an incentive to buy - even in Maremma - is proving to be a flop. From April 22 because the ministry has made available a fund of 8 million and € 750,000 with which to finance, for the first time without obligation on the customer to scrap an old scooter, the purchase of "environmentally friendly vehicles." Www.minambiente.it on the site is a list of 2,900 models of 63 different brands of city bike, and high-end bicycles "with pedal assistance." For each bike is given in the list price and assume that the Government will contribute up to a maximum of 700 €.
The problem is that the practice of eco-incentive for the grant must be registered online and the Ministry's website is inaccessible for days, if not during the night.
"It's a big problem for us, we do not know when we anticipate that the contribution to the customer, and for those who buy, because we are prejudiced in thinking that there is a catch. So much so that some choose not to take advantage of the incentive and buy the product at full price to avoid wasting time, "says Marcello Botarelli, bicycle dealers in Marina. According to him many things have not worked. In particular, an advertising campaign and information inadequate and predicted that it would not have been so many accesses to the server within a few days. But in Maremma
sales increased? 'Whereas in May: we still sold more bikes. If they wanted to help, the economic incentives were made between November and February when the market is firm. "
same complaints come from the store, "Atala" whose owner has just talked to a customer who has terminated the purchase of the bike. "For a customer is lost but failed to improve practice. " In an unusual time, the third night, because "the site is always locked and I'm fifteen and twenty practices are suspended bikes sold."
"The idea itself is good - says the owner of" Bicilandia "- but what if the bike path to be taken for granted is so complicated, things change."
same answers even from "Tommasini cycles" where an employee is returning from some nocturnal awakenings to try to access the server from them as there are at least fifteen practices to improve the site. In any case, there was a surge in sales: "The initiative was apparently managed poorly designed and in a season of sales for us is still good, with or without State funding. "
Some people like Louis Scorza, craftsman repair but also small retailer, said the flop "social" initiative by the government. If you wanted to buy a bike to help those who can not make it to arrive later this month - said - was all wrong: "He has enjoyed the contributions of people who took high-end bikes and also knew that in time, perhaps because of the initiative Internet. So the richest people and advanced technologies available. "
Scorza explains that if you book the bike had to pay immediately. But a person who has little money by taking a bike maybe pay the economic provided that it immediately available. In theory, however, the bike can not be delivered if the practice is not complete. And if the site got crazy, the sales jump.
A proof that the transaction helps the little "needy"? In Grosseto average discount is around 200 €: the majority were therefore purchased a bike "luxury", because the discount is 30% of list price.
Sara Landi Il Tirreno
Sunday, May 17, 2009
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