We’re all familiar with the boring experience of waiting at the mechanic until your car is actually done. But does hanging around the repair shop serve any practical purpose?

Some repairs take longer than others. Go in for an oil change, and chances are high that you’re going to be in and out faster than if you need a full engine replacement.

As your car gets fixed, you may wonder what you’re supposed to do with all this idle time. Some may opt to call an Uber back to their homes. While others may hang around and pester the workers until their car is back in proper order. But while all this happens, you may find yourself asking: Does my being at the shop pressure the mechanic to work faster?

Now, one mechanic on TikTok has the answer.

Should You Wait At The Shop Until Your Car Repair Is Done?

In a video with over 12,000 views, mechanic and TikTok user Jeremey Coté (@itaintfairjear) shows himself working in the shop.

“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if you come in for a seven and a half hour job and you decide to wait — you decided to wait at the [expletive] shop, I’m not gonna work faster or harder because you’re a dumb[expletive] and decided to sit here for a [expletive] 8 hour job,” he starts.

Instead of staying at the auto shop, Coté suggests simply “wait[ing] at home.” 

“I’m not gonna rush myself because you decided to stay here,” he concludes. 

In the caption, he adds, “Don’t do this.”

Do Mechanics Work Faster If You Hang Out In The Shop?

While Coté’s video is humorous in nature, it has some people wondering whether mechanics really do feel the pressure to complete the job faster if you hang around the shop.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any studies that show whether or not this is the case. However, many certainly believe it to be true — and this may come down to simple human psychology.

The “Hawthorne Effect” theorizes that people behave differently when observed. Either consciously or unconsciously, many people believe that by being present in the shop, they’re affecting their repair — and the speed at which it’s being done — just by being there and looking at their mechanic.

However, anecdotal evidence from car mechanics suggests that’s likely not the case.

Car Mechanics Weigh In

Much like how later research into the Hawthorne Effect showed that the impact of human observation may not be as profound as initially thought. Car mechanics on social media say the presence of a customer doesn’t always impact how fast their car is fixed.

Some say that, for quick repairs, hanging out in the shop may actually get your car repaired faster.

“We have to prioritize waiters over non usually. That’s why it can take longer for non-waiters,” wrote one mechanic on Reddit. 

“Service advisor here: Priority is always given to people who are waiting. Shops generally prefer you just leave it so they can just get to it when they have a chance and take their time on it,” another Reddit user added.  

Waiting Versus Not Waiting

Still, most agreed that this priority treatment largely disappeared when it came to larger, more time-consuming repairs.

“If you bring your car in for a coolant leak and tell them you are going to wait, you can kiss your day goodbye,” said a user. “Unless you happened to get lucky and show up when the techs backlog of work is all caught up, you are not getting your car looked at the same day. The advisors will probably push to get you to leave it and get you in a loaner.”

This doesn’t mean that car mechanics are simply ignoring your repair.

“At the end of the day, most shops don’t have a big surplus of hoists, so they want your car done and out of the way so they can put another car on,” noted a commenter.

Plus, if you really want to wait, the general consensus among car mechanics is that they really don’t mind — provided you don’t cause a scene.

Commenters Express The Same Frustration

Many commenters express their genuine connection to Coté’s sentiment in the comment section.

“THIS! Or they show up at 11 and expect it to be done by 5!” exclaimed a commenter.

“Some people just have the craziest audacity for things. They want amazing work done for cheap and super fast haha,” another shared.

“I’m fine if they wait. But it’s the constant asking how much longer or the service writer asking why I’m going to lunch because I have a ‘waiter.’ Bro, they all waiting. Just some are here and some are at home,” a third commented. 

MotorBiscuit has reached out to Coté via email. The story will be updated if he replies back.

@itaintfairjear Don’t do this ?#automotive #mechanic #technician ♬ original sound – It_aint_fair_jear