This is scary - no experience needed at quick lube

[bdcardinal]

People have to start somewhere. What matters is their willingness to learn and someone to teach them.

I had a new counterperson start last month. He had no experience whatsoever with parts, he had worked at a sales porter at a dealership before. He is a quick learner, listens, is extremely helpful, and great with customers. What I really like is he will make a good effort to try and help someone but knows to stop and ask for my or my other counterperson's help before he gets in trouble. I literally could not be happier with him. I know doing parts isn't his life's calling, but he is putting in tremendous effort to do the best he can at the job and that is literally all I can ask. It is pretty cool being the one that people come to for help and I get to be that super knowledgeable parts guy that I looked up to when I started 14 years ago.

 

[slo town]

People have to start somewhere. What matters is their willingness to learn and someone to teach them.

I had a new counterperson start last month. He had no experience whatsoever with parts, he had worked at a sales porter at a dealership before. He is a quick learner, listens, is extremely helpful, and great with customers. What I really like is he will make a good effort to try and help someone but knows to stop and ask for my or my other counterperson's help before he gets in trouble. I literally could not be happier with him. I know doing parts isn't his life's calling, but he is putting in tremendous effort to do the best he can at the job and that is literally all I can ask. It is pretty cool being the one that people come to for help and I get to be that super knowledgeable parts guy that I looked up to when I started 14 years ago.

And it sounds like he’s fortunate to have you as a colleague!

Scott

 

[Number_35]

Ring Gear Bolts are left hand thread on a vast number of differentials, Fan Clutches as well....Which I have a trick for.....If the pulley is driven by the Grooved side of the belt, It's Left threaded. If it runs off the Smooth Side of the belt, It's Right threaded.

Wow, thanks, I learn something every day!

 

[Orthos]

Seriously, read that again. They want "retail or service" experience but couldn't care less if you know what you're doing. They want you to sell the gimmicks. That's all they care about. Think about that. And it's not just oil change bays.

Correct. Business model is "likely" that they don't make much/any money off the basic oil change.. which I always thought started at $60 or so and went up to ~$120. And that is just for 5 quarts. It is the upsell..

I loathe sales pressure, don't know how anyone does it, and shouldn't be put on the guy in the pit.

 

[CKN]

Correct. Business model is "likely" that they don't make much/any money off the basic oil change.. which I always thought started at $60 or so and went up to ~$120. And that is just for 5 quarts. It is the upsell..

I loathe sales pressure, don't know how anyone does it, and shouldn't be put on the guy in the pit.

There are different type of sales. A guy coming out and showing you an air filter/cabin filter or saying your car with self destruct if you don't put in the gas additive-are the easiest to say "No" to IMHO.

I was in a "consultive sales role" (in Industrial sales) in my career. It's was leading someone down a path to both parties mutual satisfaction. "Pressure" was the best way to lose a sale.

 

[The Critic]

I was in a "consultive sales role" (in Industrial sales) in my career. It's was leading someone down a path to both parties mutual satisfaction. "Pressure" was the best way to lose a sale.

Agreed. Gaining the position of "trusted advisor" in a business relationship is the key towards mutual satisfaction.

With that said, I think there are plenty of customers who have a similar relationship with their automotive service providers.

 

[CKN]

Agreed. Gaining the position of "trusted advisor" in a business relationship is the key towards mutual satisfaction.

With that said, I think there are plenty of customers who have a similar relationship with their automotive service providers.

I agree-HOWEVER That's
Blasphemy on this board...............

 

[Sam_Julier]

I suppose people have to start somewhere, but things are different today compared to when I started doing oil changes back in the late '60s. Oil pans were steel and had drain plugs that were nearly impossible to cross thread or strip. Today's aluminum oil pans are not so forgiving. My first job at a Texaco service station was a time for celebration (age 17). I'm not so sure these kinds of jobs are viewed the same way today. Now days people get four year degrees to become a barista, but most can't even change a flat tire.

Scott

And I imagine the owner of the Texaco station watched your every move.

 

[Contractor K]

Lefty losey…righty tighty is all the training you need.

Thats assuming they know left from right.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

Attitude means a lot.

I work at a diesel fuel injection repair facility. About four years ago we were in need of a junior technician we could train. We ended up hiring a quiet, pretty meek kid straight out of high school who literally did not know anything more than righty tighty, but had a good attitude, was responsible, and asked for a chance.

About 2.5 - 3 years later that kid became our head mechanical injector tech, and to be honest I was totally blown away at how little problems we had based on his eff ups, it was very few... And to his credit he doesn't try and hide anything, just tells when it went sideways and the problem gets corrected. I think that is more important than anything.

I like a good underdog story