Why and how we setup Carsnitch…

We’ve been in the car industry for the better part of a decade, not only as insiders but as everyday buyers too. We’ve noticed there’s a lot of hiccups when it comes to buying a used car, especially on classified websites. And this isn’t just a local issue – it’s pretty much a global one. Almost every classified website seems to bias  towards the dealer than the buyer.

As most if not all of these websites rely heavily on car dealers for revenue. This leads to a few issues:

1. They don’t usually post negative comments about their dealers. We’ve looked at over 2 million reviews from all around the UK, and guess what? On these classified websites, most dealers score 4-5 out of 5. But when you look at other sources, these same dealers score much lower. So a dealer might be more like a 1-2 out of 5, but on these websites, they’re great dealers…
2. The way they rate prices can be a bit misleading. One of the big classified websites here in the UK reckons they give an “honest” price rating. But on closer inspection, a “good price” tends to mean you’re paying a tad too much, and “fair” often means considerably overpriced.
3. Dealers end up hiking their prices because these websites charge a fortune. And those dealers offering lower prices? They might not even show up.
4. The website design can play favourites. If dealers pay extra, their ads get the prime spots, which makes it harder for you to find what you’re really after.

If a classified website is backed by car brands and dealers, then you’re dealing with all this plus a tendency to give higher scores to the brands that put their money in.

A lot of people have tried to shake things up in the car selling game, but most either fall into the same pitfalls or just don’t make it. So, we thought, “Let’s have a bash at this!” Here’s what we’ve done:

1. We created a website that can handle big growth but stay lean, keeping our overheads low so we don’t need dosh from dealers or brands.
2. We gathered reviews from every nook and cranny we could find.
3. We made it possible for you to compare any car – a feature that’s a bit of a first.
4. We added a feature for reverse searching any car. Pop in a number plate and see if it’s a good deal, even if it’s not on our website.
5. We found ways to generate revenue without needing a penny from any dealer or manufacturer.