Mickanic — Multivendor Auto Repair & Real-Time Bidding Marketplace
Full-stack multivendor automotive service marketplace connecting vehicle owners with certified local mechanics through real-time job bidding, tier-based contractor subscriptions (Basic, Pro, Premium), and pay-per-lead Stripe credit purchases.
Marketplace
Real-Time Bidding • Pay-Per-Lead Credits • Contractor Tiers
React + Next.js
Client NDA
Project Overview & Scope
Mickanic is an end-to-end multivendor automotive service marketplace operating in Canada (www.mickanic.ca). The platform connects vehicle owners with certified local workshops and mobile mechanics through a transparent real-time bidding process. Vehicle owners post repair needs with diagnostic photos and budget parameters, while mechanics submit competitive quotes. The platform features a 3-tier contractor membership model (Basic, Pro, Premium), a Stripe-integrated pay-per-lead credit purchasing economy, and automated dispute resolution workflows.
The Engineering Challenge
Synchronizing real-time competitive bidding states between contractors and vehicle owners, architecting a secure digital credit wallet with Stripe payment webhooks for lead acquisitions and refunds, designing a multi-tier permission matrix (Basic vs. Pro vs. Premium) with custom lead discounts and search priority indexing, and ensuring cross-platform push notification synchronization.
The Architecture Solution
Engineered a responsive React/Next.js frontend styled with Tailwind CSS, backed by a high-throughput Node.js & Express API and PostgreSQL database with Prisma ORM. Integrated Stripe for automated credit bundle purchases and recurring contractor subscriptions, developed real-time push notification webhooks with Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), and deployed an administrative moderation dashboard for dispute handling and transaction monitoring.
Key Architectural Insights & Results
- Real-Time Bidding State Engine: Implemented optimistic UI updates and live state polling to ensure instant quote delivery without page refreshes.
- Pay-Per-Lead Credit Economy: Structured transactional database ledgers for Stripe credit purchases, deductions upon lead unlocks, and refund reconciliations.
- Tier-Based Monetization Matrix: Designed dynamic feature gates across Basic, Pro ($25-$75/mo), and Premium ($99/mo) contractor subscription tiers.
- Verified Review & Dispute System: Built automated post-completion review prompts and admin mediation tools to maintain platform trust.