DealersEdge Professional Forums

What is a good ratio for Service tech to Parts Counterperson? Right now we have 34 Techs and 3 countermen, gets a little hectic at times.

Big shop eh? If you can run 10 techs with one counterman then they are busting butt. But that's the way it's supposed to be, yes/no? When I was a young pup I used to run 14 techs "mostly" by myself with a little back up from the guy that handled the body shop. "If" you are not getting that many mistakes out of them with that volume then you had best take care of them!!!

Definitely add a couple more people if you are not able to get the efficiency you desire. If the estimates are handled quickly, the advisor has a better chance of making the sale while the customer is still in the building.

I've been givin the go ahead for 1 more person, trying to juggle a 6 day work week with no OT has been a challenge. This should make it easier.

I had to make my guy salary and commission because they wouldn't let me hire a 2nd guy and wouldn't let the one I have get OT.

We have a 5:1 ratio and about 60K gross/month. Service and Parts average about 210k/month. It gets very hectic, even at that ratio.

I've heard the 5:1 ratio mentioned for Service advisors to techs as well. And generally you should have the same number of Parts advisors as Service advisors. We manage 19 techs with myself and 4 counterpeople. I couldn't imagine being able to properly service 34 techs with my staff as is, and I have a great bunch of guys. BUT there's no comparing any two stores when you consider the layout and responsibilities assigned. Are your shop counter parts people waiting on retail too? Wholesale calls? Sales staff and Body techs too? Do they have to run to the back door to unload an LTL carrier and then carry all the FedEx packages to the front office? Do you have a cashier and/or receptionist?

What are the pieces/counterperson/day moved across the counter each day for five days running? Have you measured the hours of the heaviest demand at the counter; obviously it is in the first couple hours of the morning. With that information there may be a better answer than something canned out of thin air. Give me the data and maybe I can help.
Mike Nicholes