iCARumba.com Takes the Guesswork Out of Car Care
15 February 2000
iCARumba.com Takes the Guesswork Out of Car CareNew 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.