Saddle renovation/restoration. Should I take it further?

Should Peachy offer saddle restoration to a wider audience?


  • Total voters
    40
Over the past few years I’ve had some fun developing saddle restoration ideas, born from not wanting to pay California prices for NOS/NIB saddles but still wanting something “Show presentable” and or still rideable.
Happy customers during this time (off the top of my head - sorry if I’ve forgotten/missed someone)
Include @Hotwheels. @Joe*Pro @Repacker @Once A Hero
Now up till now I’ve been quite happy doing this for the pleasure with a mates rates charge which tbh normally works out at below minimum wage as an hourly rate, which is not a problem if I’m doing it for the brotherhood, like I said I genuinely get a kick out bringing a Flite or a Pro-long back to life.
But… if I was to take the next step an offer a service via the many Facebook groups and maybe make a dedicated FB page I’d need to up the charge to make it worth my time.
So the question is do you think there’s a market out there?
For a price example a typical refurb includes;
1. clean of the plastic under side
2. Prep/re-spray rails black + lacquer
3. Re-glue skin to underside
4. Glue & fill cuts & splits
5. Deep clean leather surface
6. Re-dye leather (multiple coats sanding to 800 between coats)
7. Detail/freshen up text with leather dye
8. Multiple coats of flexible leather lacquer
9. Dress underside plastic

I normally charge around the £30 mark depending on how bad the saddle is and will only advise on the suitably of the saddle being fit for riding or “show only” once I’ve inspected the saddle first hand.
If I was doing this on a bigger scale I’d need to at least double this to £60 or even £80.
I’m wondering if this is starting to get into the replacement budget ballpark?

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just wow,,
 
For me, the issue is more "Do you want your hobby to become a job" - paid sufficiently or not is a different matter. I get that we all want to make this hobby try and pay for itself. We would be foolish if we didn't.
Every job I've ever had was a hobby that turned into a side business, job or even career. It is a great way to make a living, and sometimes a real decent one too. Either price your work right, or keep it as a side hustle and recognise it is still a hobby. That way you won't be disappointed.
 
Hi
I found this interesting, as many many times when I had more time, I would do someone a favour and wait and see what they deemed the result worth i.e whiskey, cider or car mates giving me niche parts I would love etc.. if they were way off I didnt help them again...!
Retrobike seems a lot like the classic car world, good mates understand whats envolved they hang out enough to see how long stuff takes, and they talk to lots of people and realise how well some people are able to do things as a hobby is unusual. ( I can restore bodywork, fabricate panels etc no english wheel the hard way.. , paint, pretty much anything old car as I learn rather than farm it out.. )
Casual friends neighbours, colleagues etc definately do not appreciate or value time wisely often, and get phased when you enquire what there hourly rate is at work.. i.e. what your time is worth in there world!

So I got to resent taking time and not feeling rewarded unless it was what a my other half now calls a ' REPAIR SHOP' job.
the pleasure in repairing something of huge sentimental value rather than simply useful is impossible to price and worthwhile.
Like repairing a Datsun 240z for a friend who got nasty suprises on a lifelong dream purchase. He payed what he could afford and i got to repair his dream, and drive a car I lust after.. that was major instant karma... as a for instance, and I see him enjoy that car still makes me beam...

So I guess my point of view is , leave it all more visible on here or similar places, the right people will approach you I suspect where as advertising more widely is much more prone to someone being a pain in the ass, or having something fixed to sell rather than enjoy themselves etc.

The results by the way are incredible, I am suitably impressed, and I have a couple of saddles that I am planning on using that are not bad, but more of a case of limiting future degradation in use, on user bikes , I fed with auto leather cream etc but ages ago with some success, but I will now go find your guide.

kind regards
Ben
 
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