Why most auto shops won't fix cars in the same day? (rental car, rental)

[PRND321]

It seems most auto shops around can't fix cars in the same day, even if a job isn't that time consuming (like half an hour labor)...A lot of times people don't have an alternative way of transportation and the issue needs to be addressed asap ( some fluid spray out of the hose...). Most shops won't even try to get it done the same day... I don't have problem paying more (reasonably, up to the cost of rental car?) but usually the shops dont seem to care.... even if you brakes failed, they will still tell you they can do it next week....
Why are they not motivated to do more same day job?

[WFW&P]

Because they already have work to do?

[SunnyKayak]

As WFW&P stated there other cars that need to be worked on. It a first come first serve business.
It not the auto shops responsibility because someone has transportation issues.
They are to fix the problem when they have the allotted time.
Also shops do not carry inventory of every part and it may take a day for the part to be delivered.
I know of two mom & pop type shops that I go to because they are the best, but if I dont arrive as soon as they open I can either wait all day or pick up the next day.
Some places allow keys to be left over night and if it a dealership they some times give a loaner.

[warriorfan63]

Originally Posted by WFW&P

Because they already have work to do?

there's not much else to say.

[attrapereves]

You should be glad they can't fix it the same day. That means they are busy. Busy places often mean that they do good work, enough for people to come back. My current mechanic often has a two or three day wait before they can work on my car.

[PRND321]

Originally Posted by attrapereves

You should be glad they can't fix it the same day. That means they are busy. Busy places often mean that they do good work, enough for people to come back. My current mechanic often has a two or three day wait before they can work on my car.

There were times my car had problems on a cross country trip. I guess I was lucky the shops I went to get it fixed in 2 hours in the afternoon... One was a dealership, the other was an independent shop. They didn't overcharge me even on the parts and the works was done pretty good.... But that's on the west coast......

Here shops usually don't bother to do it... Really how busy can they be that they don't have 30 minutes in 3 days? Patching a tire takes less than 10 minutes but still some shops won't even do it...

I think on west coast they are way more shops you can go to get it fixed the same day....

[Rich6896]

When I graduated college I briefly took a job at a manager trainee (their job title, my title was tow truck driver), at a rental car agency that specialized providing cars to people who were having their car repaired. Part of the business plan was to deliver gifts (donuts, beer, whatever) and get in tight with the repair shops. In return they would slow down repairs. If we knew that the customer had 30days of rental on their insurance, they never got their car back before that was used up. I think I lasted 3 months in that job.

[Feltdesigner]

Originally Posted by PRND321

There were times my car had problems on a cross country trip. I guess I was lucky the shops I went to get it fixed in 2 hours in the afternoon... One was a dealership, the other was an independent shop. They didn't overcharge me even on the parts and the works was done pretty good.... But that's on the west coast......

Here shops usually don't bother to do it... Really how busy can they be that they don't have 30 minutes in 3 days? Patching a tire takes less than 10 minutes but still some shops won't even do it...

I think on west coast they are way more shops you can go to get it fixed the same day....

I had a flat... Walmart fixed it in 1 hour.

[WFW&P]

Originally Posted by attrapereves

You should be glad they can't fix it the same day. That means they are busy. Busy places often mean that they do good work, enough for people to come back. My current mechanic often has a two or three day wait before they can work on my car.

Never having to wait or make an appointment can be a bad sign.

Originally Posted by PRND321

There were times my car had problems on a cross country trip. I guess I was lucky the shops I went to get it fixed in 2 hours in the afternoon... One was a dealership, the other was an independent shop. They didn't overcharge me even on the parts and the works was done pretty good.... But that's on the west coast......

Here shops usually don't bother to do it... Really how busy can they be that they don't have 30 minutes in 3 days? Patching a tire takes less than 10 minutes but still some shops won't even do it...

I think on west coast they are way more shops you can go to get it fixed the same day....

Dealerships are slightly different in the can afford to over staff the shop because they don't pay the mechanics a salary. Some shops might work you in if someone is waiting for a part and the mechanic is not working at the moment.
As for the tire repair if the shop doesn't sell tires most likely it doesn't have the equipment to patch a tire and many shops won't plug a tire due to the liability involved.

[crestliner]

Some shops try to help people in need of a fast simple repair by having several mechanics who spend most of their time doing "quick service" There should be no reason that a big job can not wait if a small job will only take one hour.