We don’t often come across news that seeks to push back against consumerism. Bike brands are generally in the biz of getting people to buy new gear, but the German bag/pannier/backpack/etc. maker Ortlieb has an answer to Black Friday and buybuybuy, which is to offer a sale on repairs.
You read that right: a deal on repairs.
The sale began on November 18th, but the good news is they can’t possibly sell out of this product line: They are offering a 40 percent discount on all repairs to their gear.
Their term for gear needing repairs is “aggressively loved.” In German, that’s aggressiv geliebt.
Meaning no disrespect to Ortlieb, there’s an aspect of this offer that is vaguely laughable: The idea that Ortlieb products could receive so much barbaric affection that they might need a repair. Obvs, you can break anything, up to and including coffee, I hear, but people buy Ortlieb because they offer a level of durability that is tough to match.
For U.S.-based riders, you can go here to learn more about getting your Ortlieb gear repaired. The 40 percent discount seems less like an actual benefit than the perfect marketing pitch for their durability. I’d love to know just how many repairs they do in a year. Is it even a tenth of a percent of what they sold in the last five years?
The “sale” runs through December 1st.