I'm gettin' tired of factory work and I was searching for jobs online. There was a field called "Automotive Service Advisor" and the pay is awesome. If so, what certifications do i need and how is the job like? it's hard to get info online.
Anyone here an Automotive Service Advisor?
- Thread starter Popinski
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Used to be.
1. Need to be thick skinned. Like to talk to people. Leave your work at work. Have or can get some basic automotive knowledge. Have or can learn some salesmanship. Be able to multi-task.
It pays well because the turnover is incredible, and if you don't have a manager thant will back you, it's pure [censored]. If you're good at it, you can always find a job at another dealer. A good, honest advisor is worth their weight in gold.
1. Need to be thick skinned. Like to talk to people. Leave your work at work. Have or can get some basic automotive knowledge. Have or can learn some salesmanship. Be able to multi-task.
It pays well because the turnover is incredible, and if you don't have a manager thant will back you, it's pure [censored]. If you're good at it, you can always find a job at another dealer. A good, honest advisor is worth their weight in gold.
Ohhhhh Nooooooo....
The job is not as great as you might think.
If you are an honest person and have integrity you DO NOT want that job.
Most all dealers service departments will press you to up sell service proceedures and such that are not needed by the customer.
The job is not as great as you might think.
If you are an honest person and have integrity you DO NOT want that job.
Most all dealers service departments will press you to up sell service proceedures and such that are not needed by the customer.
I know a service advisor at a large stealer and he always says if it aint broke fix it as long as you can charge good money...If you are honest in that field you wont last!
I did this for a while at a national chain, and I really had a lot of fun with it. The only downside is that EVERYTHING is your fault and you get it from every angle, customers, management, techs. It's a rough job if you let it get to you.
Been there and done it. Not a bad job but just look at the attitude so many people just here on this site have about dealers and those who work in service dept's. You will catch grief from at least 50%+ of the customers regardless of the situation. So many people just have it in their heads that all dealers are crooks that many customers already have an attitude before they even walk in the door. They think that you will try and screw them. Even if you are honest and decent. It was the biggest issue I had with the job. Hard to hold your tongue when all you are doing is your job, honestly, and the customer is hollering at you and accusing you of wrong doing.
Now, I am curious about one thing. Your "awesome pay" comment. I have never seen any job in the auto field short of mechanics and management, and body guys at times, who make even decent pay. I have done most of the jobs in the aftermarket and at dealers and even had some management positions and the pay stunk. The regular parts guys and regular service writers make squat around this area.
Now, I am curious about one thing. Your "awesome pay" comment. I have never seen any job in the auto field short of mechanics and management, and body guys at times, who make even decent pay. I have done most of the jobs in the aftermarket and at dealers and even had some management positions and the pay stunk. The regular parts guys and regular service writers make squat around this area.
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The service writers I worked with made plenty. It takes a special kind of personality to be a service writer at the NY dealerships I worked for. The turnover rate is very high.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Now, I am curious about one thing. Your "awesome pay" comment.
The company that I am going to applied for says the average pay is $50,000 plus full benefits. No weekend work and paid vacation pay. If I get this job, I can buy the house of my dreams.
Now, I am curious about one thing. Your "awesome pay" comment.
The company that I am going to applied for says the average pay is $50,000 plus full benefits. No weekend work and paid vacation pay. If I get this job, I can buy the house of my dreams.
Originally Posted By: Popinski
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Now, I am curious about one thing. Your "awesome pay" comment.
The company that I am going to applied for says the average pay is $50,000 plus full benefits. No weekend work and paid vacation pay. If I get this job, I can buy the house of my dreams.
WOW! They sure didn't pay like that when I worked in the field. Auto field employees in this state and the surrounding states are( were )paid horrible wages. Main reason I got out of doing it and went to work for myself. Long hours during the week( 7-5 ), weekends, poor benefits, and lousy pay. Thatw as working aftermarket, dealer, etc...
Good luck.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Now, I am curious about one thing. Your "awesome pay" comment.
The company that I am going to applied for says the average pay is $50,000 plus full benefits. No weekend work and paid vacation pay. If I get this job, I can buy the house of my dreams.
WOW! They sure didn't pay like that when I worked in the field. Auto field employees in this state and the surrounding states are( were )paid horrible wages. Main reason I got out of doing it and went to work for myself. Long hours during the week( 7-5 ), weekends, poor benefits, and lousy pay. Thatw as working aftermarket, dealer, etc...
Good luck.
Run away. The high turnover tells you that the stress is killer in this position.
A decent income won't help if you don't live long enough to enjoy it!
A decent income won't help if you don't live long enough to enjoy it!
As a service advisor your job is to sell, sell, sell, sell, sell. $50,000 is OK depending on the amount of hours , working conditions, benefits....etc.
Why leave your current job in these bad economic times ?
Why leave your current job in these bad economic times ?
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
As a service advisor your job is to sell, sell, sell, sell, sell. $50,000 is OK depending on the amount of hours , working conditions, benefits....etc.
Why leave your current job in these bad economic times ?
I'm just tired of factory work.
As a service advisor your job is to sell, sell, sell, sell, sell. $50,000 is OK depending on the amount of hours , working conditions, benefits....etc.
Why leave your current job in these bad economic times ?
I'm just tired of factory work.
I worked as a Service Advisor at our local Ford Dealer back in November & December of last year. I knew the GM up there and was looking for new work so he brought me on.
It was nothing like I had ever imagined. I was on a guaranteed pay plan for those two months and had I been there longer, I would have been straight commission. The service manager was nothing like the GM (a good guy actually). He was a dealership "lifer" that always preached selling value (because he knew they were ripping people off). The hours were long. 7:30 am to 6pm each day, plus a half Saturday every month.
After a few weeks, I realized why everyone (including myself) hates dealerships. The mechanics want to make your used car into a new car again by flushing and replacing everything except the paint. Then they yell at you for not selling it all or even just for looking at them the wrong way.
The service manager wanted to bend people over left and right. Charge someone $20 to put in a $2 light bulb that takes less 30 seconds and make them wait 2 hours to get it done. Or, replace a PVC valve right on top of the valve cover on a Lincoln 4.6L V6 for $45 labor and $35 part. Again, a 30 second job. That customer went down the street to the mom & pop place and got it done for $15 (he called me after having it done).
If I wasn't getting yelled at by mechanics, I was getting yelled at by customers. The dealership I worked for did the ole bate and switch by offering an everyday $19.95 oil change which was the cheapest in town by $5. Then, once the person was in there, they would "shake down" the car and come out with a list of things for the advisors to sell.
As if all that wasn't bad enough, the other 3 service advisors I worked with were constantly trying to steel my work, at least the good paying work. I guess that's what you get when it's straight commission.
Before I even started the job, the GM told me that the other 3 guys average about $45K/year. He said if you sit there and only sell oil changes, you'd make about $30K/year.
After 2 months, I couldn't take it anymore. I hit the road. It was by far the most stressful, chaotic, and demeaning job I have ever had.
So to the original poster, "buyer beware"!!!
It was nothing like I had ever imagined. I was on a guaranteed pay plan for those two months and had I been there longer, I would have been straight commission. The service manager was nothing like the GM (a good guy actually). He was a dealership "lifer" that always preached selling value (because he knew they were ripping people off). The hours were long. 7:30 am to 6pm each day, plus a half Saturday every month.
After a few weeks, I realized why everyone (including myself) hates dealerships. The mechanics want to make your used car into a new car again by flushing and replacing everything except the paint. Then they yell at you for not selling it all or even just for looking at them the wrong way.
The service manager wanted to bend people over left and right. Charge someone $20 to put in a $2 light bulb that takes less 30 seconds and make them wait 2 hours to get it done. Or, replace a PVC valve right on top of the valve cover on a Lincoln 4.6L V6 for $45 labor and $35 part. Again, a 30 second job. That customer went down the street to the mom & pop place and got it done for $15 (he called me after having it done).
If I wasn't getting yelled at by mechanics, I was getting yelled at by customers. The dealership I worked for did the ole bate and switch by offering an everyday $19.95 oil change which was the cheapest in town by $5. Then, once the person was in there, they would "shake down" the car and come out with a list of things for the advisors to sell.
As if all that wasn't bad enough, the other 3 service advisors I worked with were constantly trying to steel my work, at least the good paying work. I guess that's what you get when it's straight commission.
Before I even started the job, the GM told me that the other 3 guys average about $45K/year. He said if you sit there and only sell oil changes, you'd make about $30K/year.
After 2 months, I couldn't take it anymore. I hit the road. It was by far the most stressful, chaotic, and demeaning job I have ever had.
So to the original poster, "buyer beware"!!!
Originally Posted By: mshu7
I worked as a Service Advisor at our local Ford Dealer back in November & December of last year. I knew the GM up there and was looking for new work so he brought me on.
It was nothing like I had ever imagined. I was on a guaranteed pay plan for those two months and had I been there longer, I would have been straight commission. The service manager was nothing like the GM (a good guy actually). He was a dealership "lifer" that always preached selling value (because he knew they were ripping people off). The hours were long. 7:30 am to 6pm each day, plus a half Saturday every month.
After a few weeks, I realized why everyone (including myself) hates dealerships. The mechanics want to make your used car into a new car again by flushing and replacing everything except the paint. Then they yell at you for not selling it all or even just for looking at them the wrong way.
The service manager wanted to bend people over left and right. Charge someone $20 to put in a $2 light bulb that takes less 30 seconds and make them wait 2 hours to get it done. Or, replace a PVC valve right on top of the valve cover on a Lincoln 4.6L V6 for $45 labor and $35 part. Again, a 30 second job. That customer went down the street to the mom & pop place and got it done for $15 (he called me after having it done).
If I wasn't getting yelled at by mechanics, I was getting yelled at by customers. The dealership I worked for did the ole bate and switch by offering an everyday $19.95 oil change which was the cheapest in town by $5. Then, once the person was in there, they would "shake down" the car and come out with a list of things for the advisors to sell.
As if all that wasn't bad enough, the other 3 service advisors I worked with were constantly trying to steel my work, at least the good paying work. I guess that's what you get when it's straight commission.
Before I even started the job, the GM told me that the other 3 guys average about $45K/year. He said if you sit there and only sell oil changes, you'd make about $30K/year.
After 2 months, I couldn't take it anymore. I hit the road. It was by far the most stressful, chaotic, and demeaning job I have ever had.
So to the original poster, "buyer beware"!!!
Ok, that sounds like a nightmare. I totally changed my mind about this. Thanks.
By the way, I've always wondered why they allow business practices like that in America.
I worked as a Service Advisor at our local Ford Dealer back in November & December of last year. I knew the GM up there and was looking for new work so he brought me on.
It was nothing like I had ever imagined. I was on a guaranteed pay plan for those two months and had I been there longer, I would have been straight commission. The service manager was nothing like the GM (a good guy actually). He was a dealership "lifer" that always preached selling value (because he knew they were ripping people off). The hours were long. 7:30 am to 6pm each day, plus a half Saturday every month.
After a few weeks, I realized why everyone (including myself) hates dealerships. The mechanics want to make your used car into a new car again by flushing and replacing everything except the paint. Then they yell at you for not selling it all or even just for looking at them the wrong way.
The service manager wanted to bend people over left and right. Charge someone $20 to put in a $2 light bulb that takes less 30 seconds and make them wait 2 hours to get it done. Or, replace a PVC valve right on top of the valve cover on a Lincoln 4.6L V6 for $45 labor and $35 part. Again, a 30 second job. That customer went down the street to the mom & pop place and got it done for $15 (he called me after having it done).
If I wasn't getting yelled at by mechanics, I was getting yelled at by customers. The dealership I worked for did the ole bate and switch by offering an everyday $19.95 oil change which was the cheapest in town by $5. Then, once the person was in there, they would "shake down" the car and come out with a list of things for the advisors to sell.
As if all that wasn't bad enough, the other 3 service advisors I worked with were constantly trying to steel my work, at least the good paying work. I guess that's what you get when it's straight commission.
Before I even started the job, the GM told me that the other 3 guys average about $45K/year. He said if you sit there and only sell oil changes, you'd make about $30K/year.
After 2 months, I couldn't take it anymore. I hit the road. It was by far the most stressful, chaotic, and demeaning job I have ever had.
So to the original poster, "buyer beware"!!!
Ok, that sounds like a nightmare. I totally changed my mind about this. Thanks.
By the way, I've always wondered why they allow business practices like that in America.
Originally Posted By: mshu7
After a few weeks, I realized why everyone (including myself) hates dealerships. The mechanics want to make your used car into a new car again by flushing and replacing everything except the paint. Then they yell at you for not selling it all or even just for looking at them the wrong way.
The service manager wanted to bend people over left and right. Charge someone $20 to put in a $2 light bulb that takes less 30 seconds and make them wait 2 hours to get it done. Or, replace a PVC valve right on top of the valve cover on a Lincoln 4.6L V6 for $45 labor and $35 part. Again, a 30 second job. That customer went down the street to the mom & pop place and got it done for $15 (he called me after having it done).
If I wasn't getting yelled at by mechanics, I was getting yelled at by customers. The dealership I worked for did the ole bate and switch by offering an everyday $19.95 oil change which was the cheapest in town by $5. Then, once the person was in there, they would "shake down" the car and come out with a list of things for the advisors to sell.
For some reason, I don't see anything wrong with that. Cars need work, there are labor times and dealerships are businesses. Those practices sound like they apply to most auto shops, not just a dealership.
After a few weeks, I realized why everyone (including myself) hates dealerships. The mechanics want to make your used car into a new car again by flushing and replacing everything except the paint. Then they yell at you for not selling it all or even just for looking at them the wrong way.
The service manager wanted to bend people over left and right. Charge someone $20 to put in a $2 light bulb that takes less 30 seconds and make them wait 2 hours to get it done. Or, replace a PVC valve right on top of the valve cover on a Lincoln 4.6L V6 for $45 labor and $35 part. Again, a 30 second job. That customer went down the street to the mom & pop place and got it done for $15 (he called me after having it done).
If I wasn't getting yelled at by mechanics, I was getting yelled at by customers. The dealership I worked for did the ole bate and switch by offering an everyday $19.95 oil change which was the cheapest in town by $5. Then, once the person was in there, they would "shake down" the car and come out with a list of things for the advisors to sell.
For some reason, I don't see anything wrong with that. Cars need work, there are labor times and dealerships are businesses. Those practices sound like they apply to most auto shops, not just a dealership.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
For some reason, I don't see anything wrong with that. Cars need work, there are labor times and dealerships are businesses. Those practices sound like they apply to most auto shops, not just a dealership.
Come on, you know that there are auto shops which do NOT operate on that principle. I agree with you that their numbers are small but there are honest shops if one really looks for them.
- Vikas
For some reason, I don't see anything wrong with that. Cars need work, there are labor times and dealerships are businesses. Those practices sound like they apply to most auto shops, not just a dealership.
Come on, you know that there are auto shops which do NOT operate on that principle. I agree with you that their numbers are small but there are honest shops if one really looks for them.
- Vikas
I would not want to be a service advisor at any dealership. The pay is based on the amount of service you sell and yes the advisor does get crucified if the techs recommend a service or repair and the customer does not buy it. The techs are paid on a flat-rate commission type basis, the advisors get paid commission on parts and labor sales they write and it is a very cut-throat and stressful environment. Not to to mention the problem customers that yell/scream/cry/whine/threaten you with violence, parts availibilty problems, parts warehouse shipping the wrong parts which in turn creates a very upset customer, blistering heat in the summer, freezing cold in winter, service managers with absolutely no automotive repair experience, dealership bigwigs that don't have a clue how to treat employees, the list goes on and on.
I once spent a summer working in the service department at a Chrysler-Jeep dealer. There is no amount of money that would make me want to go back there or any other dealership again. It's a shame too, because if you really enjoy helping customers and fixing/maintaining cars, the dealership is the last place on Earth that you would really get to do that. Maybe independents are different.
One other thing is a lot of dealer managers will promise high pay rates but then later on after you have been there a while, you find out the manager flat out lied. I seriously doubt you could make $30k by just selling oil changes. OP is smart to stay far far away from the SA job.
I once spent a summer working in the service department at a Chrysler-Jeep dealer. There is no amount of money that would make me want to go back there or any other dealership again. It's a shame too, because if you really enjoy helping customers and fixing/maintaining cars, the dealership is the last place on Earth that you would really get to do that. Maybe independents are different.
One other thing is a lot of dealer managers will promise high pay rates but then later on after you have been there a while, you find out the manager flat out lied. I seriously doubt you could make $30k by just selling oil changes. OP is smart to stay far far away from the SA job.
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