Yes, this post is basically to clear certain things being said from our direct competitors in Ecuador. We think there are far more important things to do for our clients instead of starting a media fight (though our competitors love it).
In 2016, Ecuador Bike Rental by Sleipner was founded by an Ecuadorian globetrotter eager to showcase his country to the world. At first, the company counted with 4 used motorcycles. Later, they increased it through self-funding to 24 brand-new bikes and 4-wheel drives of all sizes.From 150cc scooters to 1300cc monsters in the main market brands: Honda, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph, Royal Enfield, RAM, Ford, etc.
This entrepreneurial adventure, with its ups and downs, has developed enough to extend operations to neighboring countries Colombia and Peru. It has provided the satisfaction of great motorcycle rides and unique adventures to more than a thousand national and international clients.
Throughout 7 years of service, we have dealt with numerous problems that were resolved almost immediately, except for unfair competitors who, up to now, have not found a way to deal with a newcomer in the market. They have resorted to all sorts of unfounded allegations. The need of this blog is to clear this false allegations.
SEO VS. COPYCATS
The definition of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) states: “the practice of orienting your website to rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP) so that you receive more traffic. The aim is typically to rank on the first page of Google results for search terms that mean the most to your target audience.” This being said, it was paramount the use of descriptive texts and website domains that could describe the nature of the motorcycle company in Ecuador and the service provided, therefore Ecuador Bike Rental by Sleipner.
With this in mind, and with the necessary care of our branding (logo and name) in every piece of advertisement, we use our legal name (patented in 2018 by the Ecuadorean Bureau SENADI) to let people know about our existence and trajectory. Other companies in the same field use domains that relates the same i.e. bookmotorcycletours.com. Worth to mention that our legal name is nothing related to what our competitors have as theirs.
A Copycat, would be a company that imitates directly shape and form of another. Same logo, same fonts, same structure, same business model, same motto, etc. Our competitors broadly states that we have copied their names, their logo, their modus operandi, where in reality, we use our domain to specify directly what our service states for. Freedom Ecuador, an old motorcycle tourism company based in our country, is the one stating this “unfair facts” against them. We are no one to teach people about SEO, or try to prove we are not doing anything wrong to someone that loves present themselves as victims.
Witnesses
A true accusation about stealing someone’s work is in fact what Freedom Ecuador uses as artwork on their bikes without any authorization nor consent of our friend and local artist Juan Sebastian (Apitatan).
We spoke to him after identifying his art on their motorcycle vinyls, and he made it clear that nobody approached him or requested permission for its use. He’s pretty well aware of it now and obviously mad about this grievance.
DEFAMATION STRATEGY FROM OUR COMPETITORS
Since the beginning, when we started operations, public blogs like advrider.com have attacked us with pure defamation related to tax and legal compliance.
Ecuadorean laws. Our way to fight back these allegations, is not to engage in direct confrontation with Freedom Ecuador (which we think is a waste of time). But instead, to prove everyone that we stand by our service quality.
The “Quito Q batch” award, the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award for 6 years in a row, and ATTA are some of the awards earned by hard work, commitment, and endurance from everyone on our team.
And last but not least, Freedom Ecuador calls us Copycats, when they are the ones following our social media. They search what we do, to do the same. For example, our interviews after every tour with our clients.
We don’t follow them to avoid using them as any source of ideas.
CLIENT’S SATISFACTION PRIORITY
From the beginning, our motto has been: “Custom tailored adventures, enjoy yourself”. Flexibility has been our main objective as part of show Ecuador the way it is. What our customers like and what they feel comfortable with, is paramount to us. Ecuadorian staff offer tailored experiences showcasing the country’s highlights, matching each rider’s preferences perfectly. This is our way to conduct business, and this is our main differentiator.
CUSTOMERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Customers who’ve sought quotes elsewhere before coming to us often ask the same question. “What makes you guys different from Freedom?”. This implies that, due to our marketing, logo, and the way we talk to people, they know we are different. New customers are driven by the use of certain brands we have in our fleet, like KTM and Royal Enfield. We are the only rental company using these in Ecuador.
After explaining the difference in what we can do for them, they take their decision on their own. With this, we avoid engaging in a price fight, or how the competitors like to call it: “price match guaranteed”, and 80% of the time, they go for Ecuador Bike Rental by Sleipner.
After every tour, we improve on feed back provided by our clients. We take into account every single thing they point out to make it better next time.We continuously update our fleet, enhance lodging, and directly support our community as our way of giving back.
Despite customers labeling Freedom Rentals as a “no go,” we learn from their experiences without repeating our competitors’ mistakes. Whether this is because of their excessive cash penalties, or overcharge on motorcycle repairs in case you fall, charge for speed alerts, or simply because of their way to force customers to do what Freedom Ecuador’s management want them to do in their tour.
We refrain from resorting to dirty tactics, such as tarnishing a company’s reputation by labeling them as fraudulent or deceitful. Freedom has employed tactics over the years to discredit and damage the reputation of other moto rental companies in Ecuador. And this is one of the reasons why they are not welcome by many local suppliers in the country.
IN SUMMARY.
Now that this has been mentioned not once, but several times to them, WE ARE NOTHING LIKE THEM. All we have mentioned, has been with evidence that they are not fair players. They’re bigger and more recognized in the moto tour industry due to their longer time in the field. However, revealing these facts, makes you wonder how they got there in the first place.
Bottom line: We don’t want to be like them, we don’t copy them. We don’t use other people’s artwork as our own without authorization. And most of all, we don’t fool people victimizing ourselves. This is not the way we conduct business. We are a complete different company, unrelated to them (thank Goodness!), and with our own identity. Accused of name theft, we anticipate further claims, possibly alleging motorcycle tour copying.
Our priority is our clients and friends’ opinions, not what Freedom “loves to play victim” Ecuador thinks of us.
Contact Us: sales@ecuadorbikerental.com | WhatsApp: +593939812831 | Addres: Quito, Ecuador. From epic rides in Ecuador to our constant struggle agains defamation.