Making Profits, Secondhand Bicycle Market Revives During the Pandemic

Kapanlagi.com - The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed been one of the most shocking things in 2020. People all over the world, including Indonesia, are required to live a healthy life to be free from the COVID-19 virus that can strike at any time. And one of the healthy lifestyles that is currently popular among the Indonesian people is cycling.

This trend has attracted the attention of many people, not only ordinary people but also celebrities and even government officials are following this cycling trend. This has allowed bicycle traders to earn income and thrive during this pandemic.

One of the highlights is the Gappsta secondhand bicycle market (Gabungan Pedagang Perantara Sepeda Yogyakarta) in Yogyakarta. It started from a bicycle community that wanted to preserve bicycles, and eventually they found a place to sell bicycles. This market has become one of the targets for bicycle enthusiasts who want to follow the trend during the pandemic.

The Gappsta bicycle market has been established since 1967 and is still surviving until now. Mr. Bagyo, one of the children of the community founders and the Gappsta bicycle market, has shared many stories about how the community members struggled at the beginning of the pandemic and how the bicycle trend has helped them sustain their lives during this pandemic.

1. Becoming a Dead Market

credit: Dhia Amira

At the beginning of the pandemic, Mr. Bagyo and his friends had to struggle to survive from the phenomenon that drastically changed their lives. They did not earn any income due to the tragedy that forced many people to stay at home. He also said that the Gappsta bicycle market was like a dead market with no activity at all.

"At the beginning of the pandemic, we couldn't do anything, no one came at all. It really felt like a dead market. But we were still helped by other communities who raised funds and provided assistance in the form of basic necessities," said Mr. Bagyo.

Yes, it is undeniable that the beginning of the pandemic was quite surprising for the Indonesian people, including Mr. Bagyo and his friends. Many of them relied on bicycle sales, some had side incomes, but still couldn't make a living during this pandemic.

2. Bangkitnya Pasar Sepeda di Kala Pandemi

Pada akhirnya mereka sepakat untuk membuka pasar kembali agar mendapatkan penghasilan di kala pandemi. Setelah 2 bulan pandemi akhirnya tren bersepeda mulai muncul. Hal ini tentu disambut dengan baik oleh Pak Bagyo dan teman-teman. Bahkan mereka mendapatkan keuntungan yang luar biasa, karena harga sepeda di pasaran yang melonjak naik.

"Sebelum pandemi kita membeli sepeda dengan harga yang relatif murah. Tapi saat pandemi harga sepeda naik, jadi kita ikut menjual seperti harga di pasaran," lanjut pak Bagyo.

Tentu saja hal ini menjadi sebuah keuntungan bagi para penjual sepeda dari berbagai tempat, salah satunya pasar sepeda Gappsta. Bahkan karena permintaan pasar yang tinggi, para penjual sepeda bekas ini sampai tak cukup memenuhi semua keinginan.

3. Rare Products

credit: Dhia Amira

After the bicycle trend during this pandemic became very popular and loved by many people. Many people are running to find bicycles, from new bicycles to used bicycles. Even with high prices, they are willing to buy for the sake of a healthy life and following the trend during this pandemic.

Unfortunately, this makes the products they want unable to be fulfilled. The reduction of employees in bicycle factories is also one of the reasons for the decrease in bicycle production and the inability to meet market demand. This is also one of the challenges for bicycle traders, especially the Gappsta bicycle seller community.

Mr. Bagyo also said that it is not only new or used bicycles that are difficult to find, even bicycle parts are difficult.

"I searched everywhere, searching for bicycle parts is also difficult. Very difficult. The problem is also that the factories are not producing. Only the stocks available in stores and in the market are circulating," said Mr. Bagyo.

4. Empty Market Returns

Due to the soaring prices of bicycles and the scarcity of goods to be sold, the condition of Gappsta market has declined once again. Although at the beginning of the bicycle trend, many people came to buy bicycles. But now the market has returned to being empty of buyers.

This is because the goods needed by the community are not fulfilled, which eventually becomes one of the reasons why the market is empty again. Mr. Bagyo said that there are certain types of bicycles that are popular in the market during this pandemic bicycle trend. And those types of bicycles are mountain bikes and folding bikes.

Although at the beginning of the bicycle trend, the market was crowded with visitors, even more crowded than usual. But this time the market conditions have declined and visitors are scarce. Some people have returned to the market, but to sell their bicycles. And even though there are people who come to sell bicycles, these bicycle traders dare not buy the bicycles because the selling prices they offer are high.

5. Preserving the Market during the Pandemic

credit: Dhia Amira

Gappsta Market was created with the aim of preserving bicycles in Yogyakarta. Even Mr. Bagyo said that, although he and his members also sell bicycles through online media. But they are not too focused on online sales, because everything is for the sake of preserving the Gappsta bicycle market.

They sell through online media because they follow the current trend. However, Mr. Bagyo and other gentlemen still have the goal of preserving the Gappsta market that has been built since around 1967.

Mr. Bagyo and his friends are happy with the cycling trend during this pandemic. Because of this, indirectly, the community also helps preserve bicycles and the Gappsta bicycle market in Yogyakarta. However, this has not happened completely, because according to Mr. Bagyo, the market is crowded only because of the cycling trend. In addition, there are still many people who prefer to make purchases through online sites, because it is more convenient for consumers to buy.

From all the struggles faced by Mr. Bagyo and other bicycle sellers in the Gappsta market, they are still grateful for whatever happens during this pandemic. And they continue to strive to preserve the Gappsta bicycle market that has been built for a long time until now.

(kpl/dhm)