Pep Boys to "certify" cars for eBay listings.
 

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2003--The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: "PBY"), the nation's leading full-service, automotive aftermarket chain, today announced that it will launch a pilot vehicle inspection program in 241 stores in California, Texas and Florida as part of a new relationship with eBay Inc. The program is expected to launch in April.
As part of the agreement, Pep Boys will perform a comprehensive mechanical and appearance inspection as well as perform requested repairs on any passenger vehicle that a customer wishes to sell on eBay Motors. Once the inspection is completed, the seller will be provided with an electronic Vehicle Condition Report that will be posted with the seller's vehicle listing for viewing by any of eBay Motors' nearly eight million users. As an added value for eBay users, anyone purchasing a vehicle inspection or a vehicle through eBay Motors will receive a preferred discount good on merchandise and service at Pep Boys.

Good idea on their part, but some pep boys are pretty sketchy...
 

I'm not sure I would feel all warm and fuzzy with that certification.

-st

I agree. There must be some HUGE disclaimers associated with the inspection.
 

For the inspection to mean anything, they need to stand behind it to some extent. The best outcome would be a 30 day warranty, but that would make the inspection very expensive.

I noticed, that mechanic inspections are not that good.
 

Basically dealers on the dealer auction spend ~20 seconds looking at the car and can give more or less good picture about it. Mechanic can spend an hour cheching stuff and will give the same info (may be he also will mention shot shocks and bad brake pads). I also noticed, that car can show no problems today and break tommowrow with Nk bill.