Cardoc breaking 'wall of distrust' in auto repair market
Cardoc CEO Lee Joon-noh speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times at the company’s in Seoul. / Courtesy of Cardoc
By Kang Seung-woo
Many Korean motorists do not trust automotive repair shops, wondering whether they charge to much to repair their cars.
In particular, lots of drivers of imported cars are afraid of consulting repair shops due to concerns that they may get cheated by mechanics.
Considering that, Cardoc is coming forward to broker for them reasonable prices and eventually break the wall of distrust.
Cardoc is a car repair cost comparison app provider and the mobile app enables users to upload photos of their damaged cars and receive instant repair estimates from auto shops. Along with the cost, users can also check reviews on each shop and their locations before making their final decision.
“A serious problem in the local auto repair market has been distrust between owners and repair shops regarding costs. Looking back on our track record, our biggest selling point, among others, is that we have addressed the distrust,” Cardoc CEO Lee Joon-noh said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.
Cardoc was launched in 2013 as an in-house startup of portal giant Daum Communications, offering free services, and after gaining extreme popularity _ in particular among imported-car owners _ it was spun off in 2014.
Despite its departure from the nation’s second-largest internet portal operator, Cardoc has put on a strong performance.
The number of app downloads recently topped 850,000 and that of repair queries is more than 11,000 every month.
“About 20 percent of the requests led to repairs,” Lee said.
In addition, the startup made a transition into paid services in late 2015 and posted sales of 1.5 billion won last year.
On the back of the firm’s steady growth, 80 percent of its 300 partnering repair shops have also enjoyed increases in sales. Some doubled their turnover, according to Cardoc.
Cheaper, quick engine oil service
Along with the repair service, it has launched “Cardoc Techshop” and “Cardoc Wash” services.
The former is for changing engine oil and filters, while the latter is for offering a premium interior and exterior car wash.
“Cardoc Techshop is targeting owners of imported cars whose warranties have expired,” Lee said, adding that domestic cars can have their engine oil and filters replaced easily at reasonable prices.
“Owners of such cars do not have to visit car makers’ official service centers and pay a high price for engine oil and filters.”
Lee stressed that those owners can replace engine oil and filters at 40 percent of what they pay at official service centers. He added that is not the only advantage of the Techshop service that currently runs 13 shops in Seoul and surrounding areas.
“If people want to change engine oil and filters at official service centers, they have to make a reservation about two weeks in advance and the work takes too long on the spot,” Lee said.
“But our service time takes only half an hour and people can receive service an hour after their reservations.”
According to Lee, 70 percent of queries for the Techshop service can be handled immediately.
“We can provide the Techshop service to 95 percent of cars that make a reservation,” he said.
In order to ride on the winning notes, Lee plans to expand its business portfolio in existing services.
“When it comes to the Techshop service, I plan to increase the number of shops to 20 that I believe can have a nationwide service network,” Lee said.
“As for Cardoc Wash, we will launch an express wash service, aimed at offering a 10-minute premium cleaning service.”