YourMechanic (YC W12) launches in South Bay (at TC Disrupt)
yourmechanic.com
yourmechanic.com
Fortunately, I remembered YourMechanic from when they were working out of the Hacker Dojo. I gave them a call, and a mechanic arrived within 30 minutes. He did an amazing job patiently troubleshooting different components in the engine and electrical system before determining the problem (busted ignition), implementing a temporary fix (new fuse), and helping me understand what we'd have to do for permanent fix.
One particularly awesome thing about my experience was that my mechanic (his name's Whitney, if you ever need to make an appointment) explained everything he was doing each step of the way. I learned more in about 45 minutes than in all my years referencing manuals/forums/friends.
I'd never expected to be delighted by an auto repair/maintenance experience, but these guys proved me wrong. I expect them to do very well.
One very obvious thing I'm sure YM considered was used car inspections; having a place I could sign up on a website to have a potential used car inspected would be killer.
Honestly for many cars there's not many jobs that require a lift. Even an engine swap can be done with a crane and some clever-ness/swearing. Granted working on an MR car (or poorly-designed front engine) may require dropping the engine out the bottom, but most cars you can get to most everything without lifting the car up more than a foot or so.
The claim was that it prevented toxic chemicals from entering the water table. Most folks seemed to thing it was to avoid the 'blight' of people leaving cars up on blocks in front of their house. Oh, and in case you're wondering there is also a rule that your lawn can't be more than 50% concrete :-)
My assumptions -
Fuel spillage - For oil, lay down a tarp or a tray. Gasoline, otoh, evaporates very quickly, even faster than water. No evidence, no problem.
Inclement weather - use a tarp, put on a coat, or just HTFU.
Yeah, but even with a tarp, oil and coolant has a way of reaching the pavement, especially on inclines (based on direct experience). Fortunately for me, the property owner doesn't care if I spill a little, so long as I make a good-faith effort to clean it up. On the other hand, this could be bad news in a parking lot, especially if there is a stormwater drain nearby.
It's not an insurmountable hurdle, but it's an issue I could see creeping up from time to time, especially if the service becomes popular.
I know from personal DIY experience there is a lot that can be done without a lift, but in a lot of cases, not having a lift may turn a 45-minute job into a 2-hour job :(
I'm curious as to how they handle fuel spillage and if they have to reschedule in inclement weather.
"2012-09-09 in Redwood City CA
Whitney worked on 2000 Ford Mustang to do Tail Lamp Bulb - Driver Side"
Whereupon I remembered that just like most people don't whip up a quick Perl script to "fix" things on their computer, there people who ring up companies and pay them to replace light bulbs.
When you're the sort of person who's happily scheduled a Saturday afternoon to pull the engine out so you can replace the clutch, it's easy to forget that even the most trivial of car maintenance tasks are things that many "regular people" choose to pay someone else to do rather than learn how to do it themselves.
(But I'm still thinking to myself "You paid someone to come out and replace a lightbulb? _Really?_)
Also, cars these days use the type of fasteners that most people don't have tools to deal with. Look under the hood of a new Chrysler, for example, and you will be amazed.
Seriously, I'm trying to imagine any scenario where ham-fisted attempts to change a brake light bulb could result in anything more dangerous than a mild surprise and a blown fuse if you manage to short the contacts. You are, in my experience, _much_ more likely to injure yourself kicking the cat 'cause you end up so frustrated having to remove 47 easily breakable plastic clips holding the shitty carpet/trim in the trunk to get to the bulb - than being in any danger from a 12V electrical system, live or not.
And, as someone who lives where out wall outlets provide 220V AC, and who's taken more than his fair share of belts from not only 220V but also 415V three phase power, I find it vaguely amusing when people are deadly afraid of puny 110V electrical systems ;-)
(Having said that, I have been personally responsible for screwing that up - "130W headlight globes, Sure! I'll just swap out the 15A headlight fuse for a 30A one! This wiring looks _fine…_" (So far as I know) I always got away with that, perhaps more out of luck and good engineering by the manufacturer, rather than having sufficient expertise to be able to make a correctly informed decision about whether the OEM loom was good for double the original current…)
Perhaps modern cars are build with significantly less margin-for-error than my experience dictates? My car-tweaking experience was mostly on late '60s / early '70s Volkswagon Beetles, and mid '70s Ford Escorts. I haven't owned a car since '95 (and the last one was a '72 SuperBug). I've been pretty much motorcycle-only since then.
I don't build websites for other people, but if I did, I would ideally provide the customer with a way to maintain their website, whether that's managing comments or posting articles. These are simple jobs the owner can do without paying a professional developer.
Similarly, replacing a light bulb on a car is a job the owner can do without the cost of a professional.
Ok here is where experience has taught me that your conclusions are wrong.
Similarly, replacing a light bulb on a car is a job the owner can do without the cost of a professional.
A lot of people cant do that. And I mean a lot. Same with wipers, and even windshield fluid. I even had people coming in to check their tire pressure.
Just because you can do something for yourself, does not mean others can do it. I cant, for the life of me, correctly sew on a button. Just cant. I pay people $15 bucks to sew on a 10 cent button. Am I dumb? Probably. But I can sew and they can. So I pay them whatever. Same with cars. I fyou can do it yourself, then more power to you.
And before I got the YM service I did call the dealer and a few other shops. The dealer would not quote me a price until I brought the car in, had the wheels taken off and "inspected", this despite the fact that I told him I need a quote for replacing all four brakes and rotors on car type x - it was such a turn-off. Especially when I asked what the inspection would cost - $150 if I don't get it serviced there.
Really glad to see a company improving my experience, saving me time, and saving me money on a chore I don't enjoy.
The biggest issue in this market are the clients trying to get money out of you for stuff you didnt break. Day in/da out. Its tiring. Reapir shops also go through the same deal, that is why most shops turn into assholes. People make mechanics lose faith in humanity.
If any of the yourmechanic.com guys is reading, shoot me an email. I ll gladly talk about what difficulties I had. maybe Ill save you some time/money.
I know this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigiain/6110973521/
As well as this the mobility of the contractors is really fascinating. The internet has really started to disrupt the need for retail-service premises; think of print shops (Printing.com), computer repairers (iCracked), florists (1-800 Flowers), real estate agencies (Redfin), education (ie TutorSpree). Interesting to see what verticals remain untapped.
I wonder the implications of completely opening up these sort of platforms entirely - ie allowing 'anyone' to complete a car repair job. [Obviously in the case of YourMechanic there are warranty implications :P]
But I live in Alameda - will you service my?
My car broke down, and its the only car we have - my wife is a stay at home mom and I bike to work and we have been trying to figure out the best way to deal with the car issue and as a long time HNer - I would far prefer to try and support your startup than randomly call unknowns and have the thing towed some place.