6 ms·

YC Demo Day Session 2: Midnox, 42Floors, Sonalight, Your Mechanic

endlessvoid94 15y ago
I think YourMechanic is an excellent idea.
- ipince 15y ago
  But what about the tools needed to repair the car? I wonder what percentage of car problems require non-mobile tools.. I would expect a lt of these visits to be of the form "your car needs x, but i cannot do that here you need to take it to the shop."
  - dwynings 15y ago
    You can see what services they offer: https://www.yourmechanic.com/works/#/services https://www.yourmechanic.com/works/#/services Common maintenance services: - Oil and filter change - 90K mile service - Basic Tune up - Master tune-ups - Spark plugs and tire replacement Common Inspection Requests: - Car is not starting - Check Engine light is on - Door locks are not working - Pre-purchase used car inspection - Car is shaking - Oil is leaking from under the car Common Repair Services: - Alternator replacement - Radiator replacement - Starter replacement - Timing belt replacement - Valve cover gasket replacement - Brake pad replacement - Oxygen sensor replacement
    - artag 15y ago
      Hey Guys - Art from YourMechanic. We can actually fix 75% of all car problems. We currently focus on a list of about 200 jobs (these are the things that your car needs most often).
      - FelixP 15y ago
        So, basically, all of the "jiffy-lube" type basic maintenance services, and not the "replace your entire engine" type stuff. Makes sense to me.
  - jcampbell1 15y ago
    The only tools that would be hard to bring are an engine hoist, and a real car lift. Most repairs can be done with jack stands, though it is a bit more uncomfortable. That being said, I have seen a transmission replaced by a friend without a car lift or an engine hoist. He just flipped the car on its side, propped it with tire, and man handled the transmission and engine. You won't find that technique in any repair manuals.
    - ismarc 15y ago
      Dropping the tranny in a rear wheel drive is easy with just jack stands, front wheel drive, not so much. That said, I have collapsable engine stand/block and tackle (can lift with block and tackle, remove 2 pins, rotate, lower onto stand) that works great for small blocks, never tried on a big block. When I go on roadtrips, I usually have all tools necessary to repair or swap parts for nearly any component on the side of the road. And I'm just a shade tree mechanic, not even a professional. It would amaze most people what you can fix with just a good socket set.
      - minimax 15y ago
        Starters, as I understand it, are particularly easy to replace. I think there's something about tinkering around on cars that appeals to the programmer mindset. I like working on my car, and fixing it gives me the same satisfaction I get from fixing a tricky software bug.
- charliepark 15y ago
  In general, I think any "get service provider X to come to you" is great. But, from the article: "Your Mechanic has had 90,000 transactions and recorded $20,000 in billings per month, saving each user an average of $200 per transaction." Saving an average of $200? I have a really hard time believing that. Not saying it's impossible (I haven't seen their presentation, product, anything), but either their numbers are wonky or their users had been getting gouged at their mechanics' shops.
  - FelixP 15y ago
    | their users had been getting gouged at their mechanics' shops I feel like this is a distressingly commonplace problem.
  - artag 15y ago
    Hey Charlie - Art from YourMechanic. It was supposed to be $90,000 in transaction, billing $20k per month now. I will request TC to fix this error. I wouldn't mind getting 90k transactions though :).
    - charliepark 15y ago
      Hey, Art. Thanks for the comment. Even $90K in transactions is great, and $20K/mo is excellent. Not the first time TC's borked numbers. :) Good luck with everything. It sounds like a good product, and I hope things go great for you and your team.
jerrya 15y ago
YourMechanic should provide some idea off the bat as to where they are providing service at this time, and perhaps a timeline as to when they expect to expand. A simple, YourMechanic is currently providing service to the San Francisco Bay Area, or something. After going through several steps in their chain: Select Service -> Service Details -> Provide Name, Address, Email, Phone The Mechanic Bids step failed with errno: erange "Sorry, we currently do not serve this location right now."
- artag 15y ago
  Hey Jerry - (Art from YM).. sorry about this. You are right. The reality is that our site is not supposed to be public yet, but I guess it was too easy to find out the internal pages! When we launch this, we will make sure it is super clear the areas we are serving.
lacker 15y ago
I can't wait until YourMechanic is available in the Berkeley area! That's definitely a service I will use.

I think YourMechanic is an excellent idea.

ipince 15y ago
But what about the tools needed to repair the car? I wonder what percentage of car problems require non-mobile tools.. I would expect a lt of these visits to be of the form "your car needs x, but i cannot do that here you need to take it to the shop."
- dwynings 15y ago
  You can see what services they offer: https://www.yourmechanic.com/works/#/services https://www.yourmechanic.com/works/#/services Common maintenance services: - Oil and filter change - 90K mile service - Basic Tune up - Master tune-ups - Spark plugs and tire replacement Common Inspection Requests: - Car is not starting - Check Engine light is on - Door locks are not working - Pre-purchase used car inspection - Car is shaking - Oil is leaking from under the car Common Repair Services: - Alternator replacement - Radiator replacement - Starter replacement - Timing belt replacement - Valve cover gasket replacement - Brake pad replacement - Oxygen sensor replacement
  - artag 15y ago
    Hey Guys - Art from YourMechanic. We can actually fix 75% of all car problems. We currently focus on a list of about 200 jobs (these are the things that your car needs most often).
    - FelixP 15y ago
      So, basically, all of the "jiffy-lube" type basic maintenance services, and not the "replace your entire engine" type stuff. Makes sense to me.
- jcampbell1 15y ago
  The only tools that would be hard to bring are an engine hoist, and a real car lift. Most repairs can be done with jack stands, though it is a bit more uncomfortable. That being said, I have seen a transmission replaced by a friend without a car lift or an engine hoist. He just flipped the car on its side, propped it with tire, and man handled the transmission and engine. You won't find that technique in any repair manuals.
  - ismarc 15y ago
    Dropping the tranny in a rear wheel drive is easy with just jack stands, front wheel drive, not so much. That said, I have collapsable engine stand/block and tackle (can lift with block and tackle, remove 2 pins, rotate, lower onto stand) that works great for small blocks, never tried on a big block. When I go on roadtrips, I usually have all tools necessary to repair or swap parts for nearly any component on the side of the road. And I'm just a shade tree mechanic, not even a professional. It would amaze most people what you can fix with just a good socket set.
    - minimax 15y ago
      Starters, as I understand it, are particularly easy to replace. I think there's something about tinkering around on cars that appeals to the programmer mindset. I like working on my car, and fixing it gives me the same satisfaction I get from fixing a tricky software bug.
charliepark 15y ago
In general, I think any "get service provider X to come to you" is great. But, from the article: "Your Mechanic has had 90,000 transactions and recorded $20,000 in billings per month, saving each user an average of $200 per transaction." Saving an average of $200? I have a really hard time believing that. Not saying it's impossible (I haven't seen their presentation, product, anything), but either their numbers are wonky or their users had been getting gouged at their mechanics' shops.
- FelixP 15y ago
  | their users had been getting gouged at their mechanics' shops I feel like this is a distressingly commonplace problem.
- artag 15y ago
  Hey Charlie - Art from YourMechanic. It was supposed to be $90,000 in transaction, billing $20k per month now. I will request TC to fix this error. I wouldn't mind getting 90k transactions though :).
  - charliepark 15y ago
    Hey, Art. Thanks for the comment. Even $90K in transactions is great, and $20K/mo is excellent. Not the first time TC's borked numbers. :) Good luck with everything. It sounds like a good product, and I hope things go great for you and your team.

YourMechanic should provide some idea off the bat as to where they are providing service at this time, and perhaps a timeline as to when they expect to expand. A simple, YourMechanic is currently providing service to the San Francisco Bay Area, or something. After going through several steps in their chain: Select Service -> Service Details -> Provide Name, Address, Email, Phone The Mechanic Bids step failed with errno: erange "Sorry, we currently do not serve this location right now."

artag 15y ago
Hey Jerry - (Art from YM).. sorry about this. You are right. The reality is that our site is not supposed to be public yet, but I guess it was too easy to find out the internal pages! When we launch this, we will make sure it is super clear the areas we are serving.

lacker 15y ago

I can't wait until YourMechanic is available in the Berkeley area! That's definitely a service I will use.