Even After Changing the Name, WECARS was Still BIG MOTOR.

As I mentioned before, I decided to sell my broken-down BMW (overheated) as I graduated from it, and I used a bulk assessment site for the first time. It was a site called MoTA, and while it was very easy to use, what I hated the most was:

Too many phone calls!

In modern society, where scam calls and sales calls are frequent, I have my phone set to only leave notifications without ringing for unregistered numbers. Moreover, getting called about 5 times in one day during working hours on a weekday... Can't they imagine the other person's schedule? I can't answer the phone while working.

First of all, I hate phone calls. They ring regardless of the other person's convenience, interrupting their work. This naturally means my work or train of thought gets interrupted. In an era where even SNS notifications stress some young people, a business flow that lacks such consideration felt unsuitable for me. The business model seems very good, but I probably won't use it again next time.

Now to the main point. On MoTA, the user explains the detailed condition of the car, and each company provides an upper and lower limit estimate. Unless the registered user has provided specifically false or fake information, it's a site that promises a purchase price within that range. Naturally, the price varies after a physical inspection on-site, which is where each company shows their skill. However, WECARS (formerly BIG MOTOR) in the title is different. They just offer a high price to get into the top 3 and secure an opportunity for direct negotiation with the customer. Then, regardless of the promise on MoTA, the company's assessment skill, or the actual condition of the car, they start negotiating from a 50,000 yen purchase offer.

Hey, an unjustified price reduction is a breach of contract with MoTA! But the salesman goes about persuading the customer as if that contract didn't exist. I listened, thinking a timid person might be pressured into selling. And occasionally, he'd call his boss to consult about the price, but I could hear the boss's arrogant attitude leaking from the phone... "It's fine! There's no change at that price!" stuff like that...

Now, I'd like to introduce the incident of why this WECARS (formerly BIG MOTOR) changed its company name.

Starting with internal whistleblowing in 2022, this company then known as BIG MOTOR (now WECARS, hereafter referred to uniformly as WECARS) became a social problem in 2023. The management team, including the representative, was revamped, and the business was transferred to Itochu Corporation in 2024. The contents of that incident were terrible...

Fraudulent Repairs

To earn repair fees, they engaged in a wide range of outrageous acts: putting a golf ball in a sock and swinging it to damage the car body, letting air out of tires with a flathead screwdriver, intentionally scraping the car body, and having unqualified personnel perform maintenance or making false reports, swindling insurance premiums from insurance companies. The total amount is said to be over 9 billion yen, conducted nationwide and systematically. Of course, the insurance companies don't lose out; they can charge users through increased insurance premiums.

Street Tree Problem

They also committed the barbarity of arbitrarily spraying herbicide on street trees because they obstructed the view of the signboard in front of the store, killing the trees planted with tax money. They shared information internally and did this at many stores.

Harassment Leading to Suicide

Intimidation and threats bordering on yakuza behavior by bosses and management, mounting and conditioning behavior using expressions like "death penalty" in LINE messages to new employees, and the suicide of a new graduate due to unfair dismissal and threats. It seemed like an organization far from being a sound company.

However, looking at WECARS' response this time, I deeply felt that even though the business was transferred and the name changed, the corporate culture hasn't changed at all. True, it's a broken-down car from overheating, but since it drove under its own power, was loaded onto a tow truck, and transported to my home, it's clear the engine will start if they bring a starter battery. Yet saying things like "Since it won't move, it's 50,000 yen." Enough with treating people like fools. The other two companies properly read the description on MoTA, brought starters, and confirmed the engine operation, you know? What about MoTA's promise prohibiting unjustified price reductions in the first place? Because they were so insincere, I asked for the official assessment price of the company on paper, but perhaps because it would become evidence, I was told, "We cannot issue it." (Dumbfounded)

That's right. In the end, even if they change the name, the WECARS DNA has already spread to every corner, and unless they have a legendary manager like Mr. Inamori during the JAL era (and even then, change takes years), nothing will change, unfortunately. What's frightening is that with a company like this, the problems surely aren't limited to purchasing.

No sincerity in purchasing, beating down the price. (Experienced this time)
High possibility of selling at high prices even if there are problems, or doing slapdash repairs. (It's a company that breaks cars to charge repair fees)

I understand the business of buying cheap and selling high. But in a small country like Japan, isn't trust the basis of business? Well, many foreigners take what they can get, though lol. Everyone, let's choose used car dealers carefully. Strict caution is required whether selling or buying.