iCARumba.com Takes the Guesswork Out of Car Care
15 February 2000
iCARumba.com Takes the Guesswork Out of Car Care New Web Site Allows Consumers to Locate Service Shops, Diagnose Car Repair
And More
SEATTLE, Feb. 15 -- iCARumba (http://www.icarumba.com) today
launched the only Web site that empowers consumers to make confident car
repair and maintenance decisions. Through the site, car owners can find out
what may be wrong with their car, locate a service center near them, schedule
an appointment, keep their service records online and receive reminders when
it's time for routine maintenance work. Using the Internet, iCARumba.com
removes anxiety and uncertainty from the car service experience by providing
consumers with knowledge and creating an environment where good shop owners
are rewarded for excellent service.
"Through our experience in the automotive industry, we have found that
consumers need a trusted 'friend' to help them locate the right service shop
and service shops need a way to showcase their skills and services to local
car owners," said Ken Brookings, CEO and co-founder of iCARumba. "By using
the Internet, we are able to re-invent and improve the automotive service
experience for everyone and help customers make their car care decisions with
confidence."
Using Dr. CARumba, the site's online expert, car owners can diagnose car
troubles based on symptoms and get advice on maintenance needs along with
expected cost ranges for each service. Also, Dr. CARumba gives car owners a
list of smart questions to ask the automotive service provider prior to the
repair. To customize the service and maintenance advice, car owners can
create a profile for each of their vehicles.
After diagnosing a car problem, consumers can go to the myCARumba page to
schedule an appointment online with the iCARumba member shop of their choice
and have the opportunity to rate their service experience after it is
completed. Consumers also have the option of storing their cars' service
histories in their personalized myCARumba page, receiving automated
maintenance reminders and accessing information about their cars
iCARumba offers important benefits to shop owners, too. Service providers
have access to new customers, free advertising targeted to local customers and
the ability to bid for jobs posted by customers. Member shops pay a modest
set-up cost and then pay a small commission on each appointment set up through
iCARumba. Set-up fees are being waived for shops that sign up as charter
members. Those benefits have attracted more than 3,000 member service shops
and continue to attract new members.
One of the biggest problems for automotive service centers is managing
workflow. Often, there is either too much work or too little. iCARumba's
Value Exchange Center helps solve this problem and offers significant benefits
to car owners as well. Car owners can post non-urgent repair and maintenance
jobs on the site, and iCARumba shops respond with individual offers that
include incentives like lower prices for scheduling during a slow time or a
higher level of convenience for a higher price.
"With iCARumba everybody wins," said Debra Walker, co-founder and chief
marketing officer of iCARumba. "Consumers enjoy a free service that helps
them have a more convenient and rewarding service experience. Member shops
increase their productivity, balance their workflow and cost-effectively
attract new customers."
About iCARumba.com
Aiming to fill a gap in the automotive repair and maintenance industry,
iCARumba was established in 1999. The Seattle-based company provides a
necessary link among consumers, auto service providers and auto service
suppliers to improve the auto service process for everyone. iCARumba is
funded by a group of investors including ARCH Venture Partners, Madrona
Venture Fund and Cascadia Capital. iCARumba's web site is located at
http://www.icarumba.com.
