Wanted: Domain Appraisal new car repair costs site please take a look

[pugyrob]

Hi,
me and a partner are just launching a new site that is designed to tell people how much they should pay for car repairs. it uses data taken from around the country for repair jobs and tells you what you should pay for each job in your area.

Please take a look and let me know what you think. the url is www.shouldpay.co.uk

If you like it, be gratefull if you would digg it here

http://digg.com/autos/A_Brand_New_Car_Repair_Cost_Calculator_What_Should_you_Pay

Thanks for the feedback

Robert

 

[mat]

Works well. I tried a few different examples of work I have had done on a few cars and the prices were pretty much spot on.

I think that the page needs a bit more information on the actual white part as I was sitting there for a bit expecting more to load and then having to work out what im actualy ment to be doing.

Just something simple like "To start finding the repair prices in your local area first select the car model from the drop down list below"


Mat

 

[Edwin]

It would help if you could explain where the data is coming from i.e. why people should trust it. Also, too many pulldowns to see anything - I don't think new users will necessarily understand what they're supposed to do without very clear, step-by-step instructions.

 

[ScottJ]

Yes, could do with some text/explanation, also my model of vehicle isn't on the list X5 4.6is, nor is my last car a 7 series.

 

[pugyrob]

Thanksvery much for the feedback so far Edwin,Scott and Mat, will make the adjustments. Please keep them coming its all good to hear.

PS. Scott, cars like those arent supposed to go wrong so we didnt feel it necessary to add them Seriously though, it needs updating a bit car wise so will get on that also.

More opinions appreciated

Cheers

Rob

 

[retired_member32]

when it shows the price say for a merc c180 brake pads in devon you should try and find a local garage in devon to sponsor the result and give you a cut of the takings or at least google ads most main dealers are online now,as said above there is a lot of white space when looking for cars,you have the space not to use dropdown lists

how you making it pay rob?

 

[Paullas]

my 6 series bmw isnt on the list either

 

[aquanuke]

None of my cars where listed, interesting idea although the prices seemed very cheap.. maybe I used to stealership prices

 

[Admin]

You should try to add some garage affiliate links (if such a thing exists) at the end, relevant to the location, if I like the price of something I get a quote on it puts me into buy mode.....

 

[mat]

maybe I used to stealership prices

£120 an hour at bmw if I take it there

 

[pugyrob]

Thanks again for the posts.

you lot shouldnt have such new cars, anyone got a nice ford sierra or capri?.....

The cars will be updated within a week and the prices may be very slightly low right now as it was put together a few months ago and we are just testing it at the moment.

Agree with the affiliate thing generally but there is an overall plan that will be less affiliate orientated and hopefully alot more unique.

Cheers

Rob

 

[GreyWing]

Just to say I'm Rob's partner on this one.

Mat that was one problem mate, the database does have the ability to give dealer prices aswell which it will do shortly, so you will have independent garages and dealer prices in the results box. It's just we didn't have time to do the prices of parts for dealers, so we just started with independents.

It's a problem that will be fixed in an update shortly, plus new models and vehicle specs.

The database has 60,000 bits of information in it, it's due to be increased to 90,000 shortly. Took us 6 months to build and put together.

It's protected like a jam doughnut at a weight watchers convention.

Just got to plan the whole site out in Joomla, it's like we are working backwards and have to build things into it that we don't have yet. It's a pure head smasher.

I don't think Rob will mind me saying this, but it will have html banner / portal that others can put on their websites so people can have like a repair calculator on their websites. Obviously with a link back to our site.

It will be a simple piece of html code, just need to get the security of it sorted first.

But any further ideas would be appreciated or even criticisms

GW

 

[suzi]

Just a minor niggle: Hereford and Worcester haven't been a single County for about 10 years...

Suzi

 

[jacal1]

None of my cars where listed,

How many do you have??!! Want to buy a domain? Or 100 domains?

Anyway, I like the site. My guess is that if you add a lot more to the "common faults" section, and maybe even somehow direct someone to check that section out after they've received their price in case their may be a simple solution/explanation for their problem, that would lead to more bookmarkings.

Also, you could add a "are you in the US?" button at the end, and then automatically triple the price and cut the quality of service in half.

 

[pugyrob]

How many do you have??!! Want to buy a domain? Or 100 domains?

Anyway, I like the site. My guess is that if you add a lot more to the "common faults" section, and maybe even somehow direct someone to check that section out after they've received their price in case their may be a simple solution/explanation for their problem, that would lead to more bookmarkings.

Also, you could add a "are you in the US?" button at the end, and then automatically triple the price and cut the quality of service in half.

LOL.

youre dead right, we plan to increase the common faults section alot imminently and there will be a "fault diagnosis" tool on there also at some point very soon.

Thanks

Rob

 

[purg]

Rob,

Checked a few cars and the price is a good guideline.
(Alfa's cam cost me just over £150, your site shows £164)

As for the site design...
1 improvement you really should consider - make the form dynamic within the www/repaircosts/co/uk site. Might also be a good idea to hide the othersite via curl or other methods.

Nothing flash just old school javascript. Clicking next is so 1999 but being serious click next is tedious in such a form.

 

[WaftyCrank]

Nice site idea, worth the devlopment I'd say.
Need to add other cars such as Jeep Cherokee and other Chrysler brand vehicles.

Many road users have these cars (especially older models).
Would be handy to have an import section too as this sort of price is a grey area for many owners. A lot of garages tend to just charge what they want.

Another thing you could add would be costs of conversions to run on alternative fuels. LPG for example.

 

[pugyrob]

Nice site idea, worth the devlopment I'd say.
Need to add other cars such as Jeep Cherokee and other Chrysler brand vehicles.

Many road users have these cars (especially older models).
Would be handy to have an import section too as this sort of price is a grey area for many owners. A lot of garages tend to just charge what they want.

Another thing you could add would be costs of conversions to run on alternative fuels. LPG for example.

thanks for the feedback and very nice ideas btw. will look into all of them and definately worth doing.

Cheers

Rob

 

[pugyrob]

Rob,

Checked a few cars and the price is a good guideline.
(Alfa's cam cost me just over £150, your site shows £164)

As for the site design...
1 improvement you really should consider - make the form dynamic within the www/repaircosts/co/uk site. Might also be a good idea to hide the othersite via curl or other methods.

Nothing flash just old school javascript. Clicking next is so 1999 but being serious click next is tedious in such a form.

thanks alot for feedback,
i know nothing about programming, but ill show my partner your suggestions and he will be able to sort it out.

Cheers

Rob

 

[mat]

If it does do well then youve always got the option of in the future having...

car.repaircosts
bike.repaircosts.
computer.repaircosts
house.repaircosts

etc etc