WASHINGTON — The idea of buying a used car without first taking it for a test drive seems ludicrous to some people.
Yet, the opportunity to save several thousand dollars makes the notion of “buy first, try later” seem desirable to others.
Beepi, a Silicon Valley startup, aims to lessen the hassle of searching for, negotiating, and buying or selling a used car.
Sellers of cars up to six years old, with fewer than 60,000 miles, and no accidents can post basic information and a few photos of their vehicle, and wait for a Beepi mechanic to visit.
The mechanics travel to the seller’s car, to conduct at 185-point inspection, which generally lasts approximately 90 minutes, according to the company.
If the car passes the inspection, Beepi says it will not only sell the car for you, but will buy it at an agreed price if it’s not able to sell the car within 30 days, according to USA TODAY.
Beepi sets two nonnegotiable prices — one for the buyer and one for the seller — to eliminate the haggling stress and gamesmanship on both parties.
Beepi takes the difference between the buyer’s and seller’s price, but never charges more than 9 percent, according to the company website.
Once a car is purchased, it is delivered free — with a bow on top — on a flatbed truck.
Buyers can return the vehicle within 10 days, with no questions asked, as long as it is in the same condition as when it was purchased.
Currently, Beepi operates in San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix.
The company says it eventually plans to be a nationwide service.
