|
eCarServices.com launched its beta site today as the first internet company to help car owners save time and money on their car repairs by offering an extensive database of auto repair parts and labor estimates.
LOS ANGELES (Business Wire EON) May 19, 2008 -- "Have you ever wondered if your mechanic is charging you a fair price for your auto repair?" This question nagged Paul Kim, co-Founder and CEO of eCarServices.com until he mentioned this to his own trusted mechanic and friend, Tommy Lee. When they realized there was no simple solution for consumers, a business idea was hatched and eCarServices, Inc. was born.
When a mechanic quotes you a repair estimate, you typically find yourself doing one the following:
Assume he is charging a fair price. Assume he is ’ripping you off’ but agree to the price anyway. Try to negotiate for a better deal without any pricing information. Opt not to have the repair done and drive a compromised vehicle. "None of these options are reassuring, especially for repairs that can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars," says Paul. That is, until now. According to Paul, "The main problem is the lack of price transparency in the repair business - consumers cannot easily confirm a repair quote’s accuracy because there are no reliable or effective pricing sources on the web."
But pricing is not the only issue. Getting the right diagnosis is another pain point that eCarsServices.com addresses with a feature called "Ask Tommy" which allows users to ask repair questions directly on the site. In addition, users can register a vehicle profile to share and validate their own repair experiences with other users with the same vehicle. eCarServices.com also helps people find reputable mechanics through its mechanic search engine, which filters mechanics by proximity, user-generated reviews, and ratings.
The founders’ goal is to build a business that helps people. "A mechanic provides a specialized service in the local community like a doctor or dentist, and people should have better information to vet their repair needs and expenses." Paul’s mission is simple and clear: "Our goal is to be the most trusted broker of auto repair information. In doing so, we can protect car owners from ’getting ripped off’ and grant them peace of mind."
|
