Wednesday 4th June 2014

New PH servicing partner

New partnership for WhoCanFixMyCar.com and PistonHeads; click here to find out how it all works

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PistonHeads and WhoCanFixMyCar.com have joined forces to help give you more choice and (hopefully) cut the cost of your car servicing, repairs or MOTs. To get started just click the WhoCanFixMyCar.com link via 'Servicing' under the 'Services' tab in the new homepage header.

Find the best combination of price and expertise

Before you do that here's a quick introduction to WhoCanFixMyCar and how the system works. Having registered on the site you fill in your registration plate, the database pulls up basic information on your car and you then use the menus to describe the nature of the work you want doing. It could be a basic MoT, tidying up a scuff or dent before putting the car on sale in the PH classifieds or something more involved. WhoCanFixMyCar then pitches your job to the 4,500-odd garages and repair shops currently on its books based on your location. These include independents, mobile operators, franchised dealers and 'fast-fits' such as Halfords Autocentres. From Sheds to supercars, it doesn't matter what you drive - if you're minded to shop around, the site can do the legwork for you with 33,000-plus drivers currently registered and offering feedback on the service they've received.

The approved operators get an email from WhoCanFixMyCar with the details of your job and respond with estimates based on the information you provided - this can include photos for things like bodywork repairs to help the workshop offer an accurate quote. Initially, garages are able to respond to you via the site's secure internal messaging system, they can follow up with a call to explain more about their business and the job that needs doing.

Having browsed the estimates you simply pick the one that you like the look of - ratings by previous users are all clearly visible - and book the job. WhoCanFixMyCar takes a small commission from the garage, you get to choose the repair that best suits your needs and budget. Easy! You can see a walkthrough of the process here.

 

[wemorgan]

reading some of the jobs that have been posted http://www.whocanfixmycar.com/mechanics/findjobs I pity the garages having to quote for them..........how long is a piece of string

[miniman]

Who quality controls this stuff?!

[900T-R]

Really rather more 'What car' readers' fare than PH, is it not?

It'll be a cold day in hell before I tender any kind of repair and servicing work on a coveted specialist car to some lowest common denominator online thingy... might work with insurance (to a point) but that's about it...

[renaultgeek]

900T-R said:

Really rather more 'What car' readers' fare than PH, is it not?

It'll be a cold day in hell before I tender any kind of repair and servicing work on a coveted specialist car to some lowest common denominator online thingy... might work with insurance (to a point) but that's about it...

Well isn't it just as well you're not in the UK where the service is based?

Also, is a diesel MG a specialist car now? Nobody's got a gun to your head.

[ducini]

wemorgan said:

reading some of the jobs that have been posted http://www.whocanfixmycar.com/mechanics/findjobs I pity the garages having to quote for them..........how long is a piece of string

twice the length from the middle to the end ;-)

[jackpe]

Really surprised PH is getting involved in promoting this kind of service. I can't really see this as a service which will improve quality so PH should not really be promoting it. Why not just run an advert rather associating yourselves with this?

[moebiusuk]

Systems like this are solely down how well the review process works. It needs to be solid. With a small team in the background to find fake reviews, give a chance for the mechanic to reply to reviews and have a public display of the job and it's cost for customers to compare.

It'll take time but in the end, people will understand that paying next-to-nothing price for a service will give next-to-nothing care and costs will balance naturally.


(I'm an optimist, not an expert)

[ecs0set]

I'd prefer "Who can fix my car after I attempted some DIY mechanics, bksed it up and now it won't move under its own power but I need it for work on Monday".

[Itsallicanafford]

jackpe said:

Really surprised PH is getting involved in promoting this kind of service. I can't really see this as a service which will improve quality so PH should not really be promoting it. Why not just run an advert rather associating yourselves with this?

One word, Money. Apparently it makes the world go around.

[EricE]

jackpe said:

Really surprised PH is getting involved in promoting this kind of service. I can't really see this as a service which will improve quality so PH should not really be promoting it. Why not just run an advert rather associating yourselves with this?

Money matters™

[Steve Richards]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Perhaps a new site called "Review the reviewer" is needed, then anybody giving an unjustified poor review can be listed and any garage or other having to use this service can refuse to give a quote

[Riley Blue]

I refuse to register to find out something I can Google.

[TankRizzo]

jackpe said:

Really surprised PH is getting involved in promoting this kind of service. I can't really see this as a service which will improve quality so PH should not really be promoting it. Why not just run an advert rather associating yourselves with this?

It's just more paid-for spam masquerading as a decent service.

[Rouleur]

PH sinks a little further

[FredClogs]

What is point whocanfixmycar.com?

What is point?

These businesses are making the poor assumption that people prefer to use the internet for everything all the time, we don't, we actually like going places and meeting real people and looking them in the eye when it comes to spending £hundreds on an uncertain service. Rated People seems to be an utter failure from what I understand, these internet brokering websites are nothing but hassle for everyone and drive down costs and quality at the end of the day and in the end everyone looses.

Take your car to three local garages and book it into the one which gives you a) The best price, b) The warmest feeling or c) the quickest availability.

Obviously that's just my opinion.

[Pommygranite]

When will people realise that PH is a commercial venture and the offset of free forums and content is this sort of thing.

[900T-R]

Rouleur said:

PH sinks a little further

Quite. But apparently I am not allowed to express my displeasure because I live just across the English Channel and have a diesel snotter for daily use in addition to my TVR (says the man with the '11 plate Renault Megane ).

Pommygranite said:

When will people realise that PH is a commercial venture and the offset of free forums and content is this sort of thing.

There's only so far you can stretch a brand before it loses its credibility.

Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 4th June 13:04

[gleeman]

I've just posted a job - need someone to replace both strut mounts on a knackered 206. Was going to buy some spring compressors and do it myself, but will see what I get quoted.

It could be useful, but you're right about vague quotes - it could be really difficult for garages.

[mocca]

Snappy name...

[scotstuscan]

OK then PH, what are you getting out of promoting this?