DealersEdge Professional Forums

Hello, all you best and brightest!

I'd like your opinions on the following question:

Do you put your most experienced parts counter people at the technician counter, the wholesale counter (phones), or mix them up a bit?

I think you have to find out what they are better at. I had a counter person one time that was just horrible on the phone. But, was great with my techs. Unfortunately, it was a two person department and we had to do it all.

John

Personnel opinion, put them on tech counter that's where the best profit comes from. If you keep the techs busy with correct parts everybody makes more.

My guys do both, but I do have one that is dedicated to Body Shop, since they are our biggest account.

I have 3 with 30yrs + and 1 with 10. They all can work any counter. Used to have more but covid made me layoff 3 people. 1 counter 1 w/house 1 driver.

We all do both but if I had to choose I would put my best person at the tech counter. Service/Body are your best customers.

2 person department here. Me plus one other that started less than 1 month ago. So you can imagine what my day is like. Don't get me wrong they are a good parts person. Just no GM experience.

My rooky usually sells primarily Body Shop parts( they can take there time learning without pressure)
My best guy primarily Tech counter.
BUT
they all work on the same counter which is the Service counter.
Phones go crazy around here .
we all service the phone call within 3 rings.
we all service the Customer counter when the bell rings.

My parts people get paid individually on there own sales . They are hungry . not much down time when they are doing it all.
We come in at 8 and a few minutes later its lunch and then a few minutes later its time to go home.

this is before COVID 19 , Amazon , Home Depot, the local auto parts stores , delco Suppliers took all my business away.

Now it seems like we all sit around with our thumbs up our asses waiting to go home

I prefer to have the best on the technician counter, Keep the shop running smoothly. In my experience, as long as a person has good phone skills wholesale customers will often be patient with less experienced counter people. I've also had people with 20+ years experience with terrible phone skills who customers refuse to deal with.
I don't really do enough wholesale to keep people busy all day.

Survey time again boys. Let them have it!