Imagine you’re on the road on a cold night. You stop at a coffee shop to get a latte to keep you awake. You come out, and your car doesn’t start. You call your roadside assistance company, which promptly dispatches a technician, only to find out that the car’s alternator needs a replacement, and he doesn’t have the specific one for your car.

We often find ourselves in similar situations with repair services for appliances, electronics, plumbing, air conditioners, heaters, and Wi-Fi service. Too often, the technician leaves without solving the problem because of missing supplies or necessary tools. It’s maddening when we have to wait for the repair person to arrive and then learn the service will be delayed because of poor planning by the service provider.

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