Service counter reps at car dealers get a commission on work done and parts sold?

[enipla]

My nephew works at a service desk for a major car manufacturer/dealership. He checks in your car and is basically the middle man between the customers and the mechanic.

Something he told me really surprises me. The service counter people get a commission on the work done/parts sold.

It is in his best interest to convince customers that work needs to be done. Be it new windshield wiper blades to a new battery.

Is this common?

[drachillix]

@enipla

My nephew works at a service desk for a major car manufacturer/dealership. He checks in your car and is basically the middle man between the customers and the mechanic.

Something he told me really surprises me. The service counter people get a commission on the work done/parts sold.

It is in his best interest to convince customers that work needs to be done. Be it new windshield wiper blades to a new battery.

Is this common?

Heh, yup. Don’t think of this guy as some kind of customer advocate, think of him as a specialized salesman, it will all seem clear if you do.

[Rick]

Count up all the car dealers in the United States. Subtract 27. The resulting number is the number of different pay plans offered to service advisors.
Yes some type of commission arrangement is quite common. The details vary from dealer to dealer.