How do companies like this stay in business???

My apologies, but I have to fume a little today after a call I took earlier this week from a gentleman needing (he thought) a jump start. Now, this is something I do perhaps once a week; like tire changes and lockouts, it's not a huge % of my business, but it gets you remembered for the future. It's also not a big money maker; my current rate is $65, same as tire changes.

Here's where I start to fume. So, back to my customer. In the course of our conversation, he mentioned he was having a hard time getting someone out to jump him. Okay, I thought, towing companies can get busy; I don't always get to everyone either.

Now the (gut) punchline: He said the last company he called had stated they would only come out if he was going to be towed; they were not interested in giving him a simple jump-start. What?!?!

You've got to be kidding me. A towing company who ONLY does tows and NO road service? Do they say "NO" to tire changes, too? I suspect so. This is what passes as good customer service to some companies?

Still shaking my head over that one. Unfortunately, he was unable to remember the name of that company, but I could make a couple of pretty good guesses based on historic bits of information I've heard.