Chat with your seller on WhatsApp, straight from your phone. Every sale gets its own Carwow WhatsApp number, so your number and the seller's number always stay private.
Before you start: always message from your dealership's registered WhatsApp number. Messages from any other phone won't reach the seller. Not sure which number is registered? Ask your account manager. |
How to start a chat
1. Open the won listing and select Contact seller
You'll find the button in the Sale progress panel. The contact panel shows a phone number, a WhatsApp number and an email address. These are all secure Carwow details, not the seller's own.
2. Select Message on WhatsApp
WhatsApp opens with the Carwow number for this sale. This number belongs to this sale only, and every sale gets a different one.
3. Send your first message
We'll hold it for a moment and ask the seller to accept the chat. The contact panel shows you're waiting for the seller.
4. Start chatting
As soon as the seller taps Yes, we send your message. From then on, you can chat as normal, including photos and documents.
Waiting for the seller to accept
WhatsApp needs the seller's OK before we can pass on your message. We handle this for you. You can check where things are in the contact panel:
Before you send, it says: "We'll ask [seller] to accept the WhatsApp chat invite once your message sends."
After you send, it says: "Waiting for [seller] to accept WhatsApp chat invite"
If the seller hasn't answered after about two hours, we'll send you an update.
What the seller sees
The seller gets a WhatsApp invite with your dealership name and their car's registration, plus two buttons: Yes and No. They need to tap Yes before you can chat. WhatsApp shortens long messages, so the seller may need to tap "Read more" to see all of it.
If the chat goes quiet for 24 hours
WhatsApp closes a chat 24 hours after the last message. We then send the seller a short invite asking if they're still happy to hear from you on WhatsApp. If the pause was on your side, we'll send you a similar message. Just reply to it and any waiting messages arrive at once.
What if the seller says no, or doesn't use WhatsApp?
No problem. We'll let you know on WhatsApp with one of these messages:
If the seller says no: "Just letting you know your seller for SX10NUT has opted out of WhatsApp messaging. You can continue the conversation with them through Call or E-Mail." |
If the seller doesn't have WhatsApp: "Just letting you know we could not reach your seller for SX10NUT on WhatsApp, because their number is not registered with WhatsApp. You can continue the conversation with them through Call or E-Mail." |
In both cases, just use the phone number or email address in the same contact panel.
Can't see the WhatsApp option?
It only appears once the channel is ready for that sale and the seller has a WhatsApp number. If it's not there, use the phone number or email address instead.
Tip: every chat shows the name "Carwow". To see which car a message is about, check the "Re: [registration]" line at the top of each seller message. For more tips like this, read WhatsApp: known limitations and good to know. |