Spinny sounds fun until you get stuck!

Purchasing a used vehicle is supposed to be fun, isn’t it? You can look through listings, look around for prices, and fantasize about your next ride. That’s what I expected when I set out to purchase a used vehicle from some renowned online platforms such as Spinny. I had read all the good things about their easy process, quality control, and stress-free experience. But what was initially a fun ride soon became a journey I was not ready for.

Like everyone else, I needed a good deal. I didn’t want some random car that would break down on the side of the road, and I wasn’t prepared to empty my bank balance on a shiny new set of wheels. Spinny appeared to be just what I was looking for, a carefully selected pool of certified used vehicles along with meticulous inspection reports. What could go wrong?

With a heart full of excitement, I scrolled through the advertisements, awed by the selection. Sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and so many options to choose from. After days of comparison, I zeroed in on a used Hyundai i20, a car renowned for its reliability, efficiency, and silky smooth ride. It was priced competitively, had a fair mileage, and the ad proudly displayed a 200-Point Quality Check label.

“This is it!”. “A steal!” how foolish I was. 

The whole first process was like a newly waxed coat of polish. The Spinny representative was timely, courteous, and more than happy to address every question I asked. The test drive was arranged, and I was able to get into the car itself. It was okay to drive, comfortable and did not provide any troubling sounds. The entire documentation process was smooth and the procedures were minimal. 

When the car reached my doorstep, I was ecstatic. A second-hand car never felt so classy and a seamless experience. I had been convinced that Spinny stood out in all aspects be it transparency, credibility, and bang for every buck. I was even boasting among friends about the simplicity of it all. 

But, as they say, the devil is in the details (Insert evil laugh here).

A couple of days after owning my new car, I started noticing something strange, the infotainment system would abruptly restart. At first, I tried to ignore it as a temporary glitch. And then I thought maybe it just needs an update. But soon the problem became recurrent, sometimes dropping me into cold silence while driving in the middle of nowhere. 

I contacted Spinny’s customer support. They were quite courteous and promised to investigate. Though I was impressed that they wanted to assist me, their response was disappointing “Try restarting it”. I did what they suggested, but the fault remained unresolved. 

A week later, the situation became even more downhill. One fine evening, while I was driving home, I could feel the car pause when shifting gears even though it was automatic, it seemed to be suffering from an identity crisis, whether to go faster or just breakdown in between. I contacted Spinny again. They recommended that I come into their service center for an official inspection. Reluctantly, I consented, even though I had presumed that their excellent pre-sale check would have spotted problems such as this. The mechanics did their inspections at the service center and said that the transmission was fine however a software update could be more effective. They also assured me if any issues came up again, I could go back on warranty. I was a little more hopeful as I left, feeling like maybe I had put this issue behind me.

Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.

CLICK ON NEXT TO FIND OUT WHY!

A month under my ownership, my certified car developed a severe habit, it began whining in a soft pitch from the engine compartment. At first, I dismissed it, but eventually, it became a backdrop to my daily rides. I went back to the service garage, where it was diagnosed to be possibly a belt problem. They tightened them up, and I was asked to leave.

The car was still there for a couple of days. Then the noise returned, louder and nastier this time. When I went back the third time, I had a new technician take it in and uncover that there was wear and tear on a pulley that was supposed to have been replaced at the time of sale. “But isn’t your 140-point inspection supposed to cover for this?“ I asked. 

By then, the excitement faded, and I was left feeling frustrated. I had opted for Spinny to have an effortless experience, and yet here I was, struggling with frequent visits to the service center.

The return policy, which had initially felt like a safety net, now seemed like an illusion. The 5-day return period had passed long ago, and I was stuck with a car that was technically fine but practically troublesome.

I now had a choice to either continue to push Spinny to get the car repaired under warranty or sell it and take a loss.

I eventually took the car to have it thoroughly inspected at an independent garage, which found a few additional overlooked problems. Spinny, as is the case with most used car websites, peddles convenience. And for most consumers, it gets the job done. But my experience showed that regardless of how high-end the branding and how sleek the process looks, I had a terrible experience. 

Would I purchase again from Spinny? Definitely not. My experience with Spinny was nothing but disappointing, from false assurances to substandard customer service. The car I bought had secret problems that were not revealed to me, and even with their alleged quality checks, I experienced several issues immediately after purchasing it. For a company that claims to offer a hassle-free experience, they certainly failed to deliver. I wouldn’t recommend Spinny to anyone looking for a trustworthy car-buying platform.