PRESS RELEASE:
Explosive Growth with 1,000 Trusted Auto Repair Shops Nationwide in the RepairPal Certified Shop Network
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–February 2, 2015–
RepairPal, the leading resource for consumer car care, is proud to announce the RepairPal Certified shop network now has over 1,000 trusted auto repair shops nationwide. RepairPal performs an intensive audit to verify a shop’s business practices, technical abilities, pricing policies and warranty coverage to help consumers find a quality, fair-priced mechanic. RepairPal estimates that less than 1 out of 10 mechanics will meet the requirements to pass their certification standards. With recent investments from USAA, Castrol and Cars.com, RepairPal continues to add new auto repair shops to its trusted network and plans to double the network size in 2015.
RepairPal aims to revolutionize the process of finding a quality mechanic, leveraging hard data and expert domain knowledge. “RepairPal protects consumers with the most rigorous technical shop evaluation process in the industry-no one else does this,” says RepairPal CEO Art Shaw, “We’re here to restore consumer confidence in auto repair by discovering great mechanics who charge fair prices.”
A Harris Interactive survey revealed that consumers value trust and certification as the primary factors for selecting a mechanic. The survey also showed that 75% of car owners over 30 are skeptical of online reviews, so they turn to recommendations from friends and family. RepairPal cautions that while friends mean well, they rarely have the knowledge to evaluate a repair shop’s technical capabilities. While most technical professions have demanding requirements, such as years of education and passing examinations, in most states there are no requirements for auto mechanics.
“What you don’t know can hurt you in car repair and there’s nowhere for consumers to access verified information from both experts and consumers,” says Shaw. Review-based websites that list local businesses have come under fire due to concerns of ratings manipulation and reviewer authenticity. “We make sure that every RepairPal Certified shop has highly trained mechanics, uses only quality parts and never overcharges – or we will refund you the difference.”
Consumer response to the RepairPal Certified shop network has been overwhelmingly positive and RepairPal’s website traffic has grown by more than 600% since the network launched. More than 3 million people each month, or approximately 10% of all in-market U.S. auto repair consumers, engage with RepairPal’s online and mobile tools. The company has big plans to accelerate traction in 2015, on the heels of their recent investment round.
About RepairPal
RepairPal’s mission is to take the mystery out of auto repair. Launched in 2007, RepairPal developed a patented auto repair price estimator that educated consumers about the fair cost of auto repair. Arming consumers with knowledge of this kind was revolutionary in an industry that is riddled with negative stereotypes and poor consumer satisfaction. RepairPal has since expanded its product offering to build a nationwide network of certified repair shops that strive for a better car care experience marked by transparency and trust. All RepairPal Certified shops are pre-screened for quality, tools, training, and a commitment to honor the price guidelines set by the estimator. Learn more at www.repairpal.com.
RepairPal
Abigail Murphy, 1-650-438-2312
abigail@repairpal.com
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