[This is a paid feature by Carsome.]
A used car might not be as appealing as a new car, but there are a few advantages to it.
For one, a used car’s insurance is cheaper compared to a new one. A used car also makes more financial sense, especially if you’re a young working adult starting out in the corporate world, or a new parent who needs a more family-friendly car.
If you’re lucky, you could even get your dream car at an affordable price. But, a used car can be a mixed bag.
You could potentially spend extra money just for repairs and it might end up costing you more than a new car.
Eric Cheng, co-founder and Group CEO of Carsome said that their ‘New Way of Buying Cars’ gives prospective buyers who are worried about car quality and potential post-purchase problems peace of mind when it comes to buying a used car.
“There isn’t a system or standardisation when it comes to buying or selling used cars. Consumers are very much on their own, from visiting multiple dealerships to managing paperwork, and all at their own risk.”
Eric Cheng, co-founder and Group CEO of Carsome
Dealing With Trust Issues
A stereotypical second-hand car dealership might have manual processes that take hours to go through and it could be difficult to check on the car’s actual condition.
Carsome wants to change exactly that, to make you feel just like you’re buying a new car—and the experience starts from Carsome’s newly launched service site.
Note: Cars with the Carsome Promise tag on the site means cars that come with a 1-year warranty, 5-day money-back guarantee policy, and passed Carsome’s 175-point inspection checklist.
Let’s say you buy a car from Carsome. You bring it home and find out later that the boot has limited space for your upcoming road trips. Or if you prefer more leg room in the back seat area, there is the option to exchange for another car or get a full refund. No questions asked.
Take this 2017 Honda HR-V for example. If you’re a fan of this style you might not be able to get it new as it is off the market.
You have all the details listed along with the 175-point inspection checklist. The list will show you the damaged parts of the car and in this case, the front and rear bumpers are lightly scratched.
Within the 175-point inspection, it also includes a test drive. If the inspectors hear something abnormal, they’ll note it down on the list too.
On the site, you can also find cars with Carsome Certified tags. These cars have passed Carsome’s stringent 175-point inspection with no major accident, no structural and no flood damages.
Last but not least, the price of the car that you see on the site is all-inclusive:
- 1-year warranty
- Road tax
- Puspakom inspection service and fee
- Ownership transfer service and fee
- Loan application service.
What this means is that there are no hidden charges. What you see is what you pay.
“This is part of Carsome’s continuous effort in solving one of the used car industry’s biggest pain points—the lack of trust in buying used cars,” said Eric.
A New Way Of Buying Used Cars
Once you have a car that you’re interested in, all you have to do is book a test drive online and show up at the Carsome Experience Center in Kelana Jaya for your test drive.
Unlike a regular showroom, you won’t find any cars there.
Instead, you’ll be greeted by Carsome Consultants, along with iPads lined up all over the showroom. If you booked the test drive online, the consultants can get you the car in 5 minutes after you arrive.
If you’re looking for more options and if you’re keen on testing other models, you can test drive a different car right on the spot too.
And if you’re satisfied with the car and want to buy it, Carsome can handle all the paperwork for you. The team will take care of financing, ownership transfer and if needed, help out with loan applications too.
With Carsome’s comprehensive list of affordable vehicles, it’s easy to find a car that suits your needs without breaking the bank. Once you’ve made your choice, they can even deliver your purchase to your doorstep.
Tapping Into A US$40 Billion Industry
Drawing from their five years of experience in the industry, the Carsome team has successfully combined their knowledge and data insights to cater to customer preference, with its wide range of popular car models on the website.
Before COVID-19 struck, they were already in the process of digitalising the used car industry in hopes of consolidating a fragmented market worth over US$40 billion in Southeast Asia.
The pandemic accelerated the entire automotive industry and this helped with the movement to digitalise the used car industry.
Our sister brand, Clocking In also interviewed Eric and they have a discount voucher up for grabs too.
Eric then confidently said that the new normal will see an increased demand for personal vehicles, and these buyers will prioritise affordability and used cars purchasing will be a rising trend.
“The used car industry is an underserved market in Southeast Asia with high growth potential. Even with our transaction value of US$600 million to date, we have only penetrated about 1% of the SEA used car market,” said Eric.
- For more information on Carsome’s ‘New Way of Buying Cars, click here.
- Find out what we’ve written about Carsome in the past here.
Featured Image Credit: Carsome
