Markets in Everything: Peer-to-Peer Car Repair
From the YourMechanic website:
"Our mechanics come to you! Think of us as the AAA of car mechanics. We help you find the right mechanic, find fair price of the services, book an appointment, pay for services, and get your car fixed at the convenience of your home or office."
"At repair shops and dealerships, mechanics make very little money ($15-$25 an hour) even though you pay anywhere b/w $80-$150 an hour. We connect you directly with independent mechanics. You pay less, mechanics make more and we get a small transaction fee. It is a Win-Win situation."
The video above highlights a satisfied YourMechanic customer.
From TechCrunch:
"YourMechanic, is a peer-to-peer car repair marketplace that enables mechanics to fix users’ cars at their home or office. It claims it will lower costs 30-50% from shops and dealers, offering an “Uber-like experience” where the mechanic visits you to service your car."
"YourMechanic offers mechanic profiles, reviews from customers, a fair price calculator “to ensure that you are paying a fair price,” and online repair records. They will also offer maintenance notifications on smartphone apps and via email, so you don’t forget to change your oil. Your Mechanic says its instant pricing engine, which uses half a billion data points, is an industry first."
11 Comments:
Love this. It's close to the system we use, which is word-of-mouth for the friend of a friend who fixes cars in his garage.
This system would also lend itself to being used for trading. Trade your motorcycle for an engine repair, for example.
With a little lobbying, we could have some State Automobile Repair Licensing Departments set up and get this business back into the hands of the dealers and service chains where it belongs.
I almost never go to a dealer unless there is no other option and that's rare and when it does happen, I'm prepared to "assume the position".
But I have found that most independent repair shops also use what is known as the "flat rate" book which lists out the time it takes to repair virtually anything you can think of.
Easy repairs can be done away from the garage but more than a few repairs need things like lifts and if the weather is crappy, doing the work inside is necessary.
repair facilities, lifts, special tools like alignment and balancing equipment require substantial up-front investment and when a guy aligns your car, you are not only paying labor, you are paying for the alignment machine as well as the garage.
That's my kind of sarcasm, Scott!
What are "half a billion data points"??
What are "half a billion data points"??
They are 500,000,000 observations. :-P
it's actually amazing how quickly you can get to a half a billion "points".
imagine 5 variables each with 20 possible values. 9.5 x 10^13 values.
half a billion sounds really, really low if you consider just basic services on common brands with hundreds of locations etc.
In my neighborhood, it's actually a deed restriction to work on a car in your driveway...and since my garage is usually about 110 degrees that's usually ruled out as well.
I'd complain, but I think complaining is also a deed restriction.
Larry
Seriously? I've the same mechanic for over 25 years now. He comes to where my cars or trucks are and does whatever needs doing. Over the years he's changed out engines and transmissions, re-built engines, done brake jobs, replaced wheel bearings, you name it and he's done all of it in my backyard.
What do you think mechanics did before there were lifts and alignment machines?
One of my brothers has a specialty garage but for the first ten years he was open he didn't own a lift much less any other specialized equipment.
@Rick
you have a winner!
have you ever tried to swap out a transmission without a lift, in winter or rain?
you can do it. Some guys can do it but most folks want a lift and to be out of the weather.
to each his own.
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