CarWoo is shutting down • Hacker News Board

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#101

Post by ryanhuff » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 5:27 AM UTC

bane wrote: post #93

ryanhuff wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Costco (supposedly) has pre-negotiated, no haggle pricing. I used them in the past, and the experience was great (except for the trade-in). Also, there are still car brokers that you can hire to do your bidding.

Can you provide more info on the brokers? I was not aware this existed!?

I really don't know much about them beyond my own limited experience as a shopper (about 6 years ago). I came to know of a local broker (southern California) via a referral at about the time I was looking to buy a new car, and decided to try the service. This particular broker charges an up-front, fixed fee (maybe $100? I don't remember), and he shops for the best deal in the region for your specific vehicle configuration.

Even though I hired him, I decided to also see what the local Costco deal was (wasn't completely confident Costco couldn't do better). The pricing the broker negotiated was a shade better than I could get through Costco (maybe $75 less, including the broker fee), but the big plus was that the car was delivered to my door, and the contracts were signed on my kitchen table. I never had to set foot on a dealer lot (minus my own Costco experiment). No "finance guy" circus. It was cleanest car buying experience I have had.

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#102

Post by ryanhuff » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 5:40 AM UTC

mzs wrote: post #29

mrfusion wrote: post #2

I was totally going to use them to buy a car next month! Are there any good alternatives? I can't handle anymore haggling and tricks.

Things like this have been around from at least the late '90s, I've used them twice, in both cases it was my credit union that recommended a company. I'd ask some credit unions.

Many credit unions that have a relationship with such a car-buying service typically advertise as such on their website.

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#103

Post by alan_cx » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 9:05 AM UTC

vinhboy wrote: post #24

The TrueCar homepage ( http://www.truecar.com/ ) looks like one of those generic 404/squatter page.

Yeah, you're not wrong.

Its quite odd, and fascinating, because it has the info you'd want to see, give it a second or two, and it does look purposely designed. But, yes, it looks like a parked domain page. Or at the very least, hints at one.

I guess its one of those instances where no one sort of blinked and saw it how we are seeing it... if you know what I mean. Same sort of thing that happens when a song writer writes a song they genuinely thought was original, only to find out they has dragged up something from their subconscious that they heard before. I bet if at some point someone said, hey, that looks like a parked domain page the designers would have immediately seen it too.

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#104

Post by alan_cx » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 9:15 AM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #26

uptown wrote: post #10

Am I the only one that doesn't mind the car-buying process? All it takes is the fortitude to sit through a litany of maneuvers trying to convince you to agree on a price - when you've got zero obligation to consent. Sure - it takes time, which is a scare commodity for many - but for the amount of money generally being spent, I've got no problem pushing a salesperson to get the price to where I want it.

I think a lot of people here, myself included, are introverts. Sitting in front of a salesperson who, if they aren't an extrovert are at the very least required to act like one, for a few hours while they see just how good of a deal they can make for themselves and their boss by talking sounds like a spot of hell. It's only marginally better than being stuck to someone like that on a plane; at least when buying a car…

Im kind of introverted and have no problem. I use another part of my personality, stubbornness. I have a price Im prepared to pay, and am always prepared to walk out if its not acceptable to the dealer. Last car I bought from a dealer was second hand, was advertised for, IIRC, £5k, (Might have been £6k, but I err on the side of caution) I paid £4k. I told them all I had was £4k. I even turned down £4,100 and got up to leave.

I think one problem is that people get wedded to the car before they go to the dealer, are too excited to be totally rational, and get swept along by the salesman. Being introverted might be an advantage.

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#105

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 9:30 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #100

sokoloff wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I predict that in that world, the buy it today, drive it home tonight makes would capture market share. Honda already does a great job of building just one or two configs (very limited option space, other than color) and sells a lot of cars that way. In an "Amazon Prime" world, few people want to wait 21 days for their new car is my hunch.

If I can't wait 21 days for a new car, I have some serious life planning issues.

[deleted]

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#106

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 10:25 AM UTC

gregpilling wrote: post #86

ovulator wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Armed with the knowledge of how much the dealer pays" That is key, most of us don't have that.

Knowing the dealer invoice price does not tell you how much the dealer makes on the car. Most of the dealers that my company sells to make their money from bonuses for moving units. More on how dealers make money is here http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/where-does-the-car-dealer-...

[deleted]

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#107

Post by pjc50 » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 10:32 AM UTC

bane wrote: post #91

tptacek wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those pages all do look super spammy to me. The Truecar one doesn't, at all. Weird!

I think once you start to scroll a bit you realize it's not, but the bit above the fold definitely looked like a domain squat.

I initially didn't notice that there was a "fold"!

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#108

Post by pjc50 » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 10:35 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #100

sokoloff wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I predict that in that world, the buy it today, drive it home tonight makes would capture market share. Honda already does a great job of building just one or two configs (very limited option space, other than color) and sells a lot of cars that way. In an "Amazon Prime" world, few people want to wait 21 days for their new car is my hunch.

If I can't wait 21 days for a new car, I have some serious life planning issues.

Quite often people need a new car because their previous one suddenly broke down or was involved in an accident, neither of which are plannable.

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#109

Post by pointernull » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 10:44 AM UTC

You know, I'm not really one that can take pleasure in the misfortunate of others, but good fucking riddance. I was deeply and incredibly wronged by members of the CarWoo team. It is incredibly gratifying to see this news, when I've done so great at keeping them out of my mind. When the court case is finally settled, I'm sure my appalling tale will be something we can all enjoy together.

Hey Tommy and Eric, remember when you told me you'd rather die than sell out? Enjoy your acquihire. Maybe next time you should try listening to customers (not to mention employees). Back to work on my startup. My users need my product ;)

I <3 Karma.

Re: CarWoo is shutting down

#110

Post by samgreen » Wed, Jan 22, 2014, 10:53 AM UTC

Ex-CarWoo employee. Really sad to see this, honestly one of the last things I expected to see on HN tonight. I know the founders are an incredible and versatile team. Can't wait to see what they do next :)