In a message dated 1/30/2008 8:13:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
fonman4277@COMCAST.NET writes:

Another  common misconception about new car dealers
: the service advisor is your  friend who has your best interest at heart.
Bullsh*t!!! These guys are  commissioned sales people just like the guy who sold
you the car in the  showroom. The more repairs they "sell" you, the more
money in their  pockets.

I can't tell you exactly how the parts dept. pay works but I can speak to
the service advisors' pay. How is that? I am a service advisor. I work at a
local Honda dealership and our pay consists of about 40% salary and the
remaining 60% is commission on the total volume of sales that the department  does. Is
it wrong that certain professions rely on commissions as part of their
income? I don't think so. There are several factors to consider IMHO. First of  all
the service that we sell is based on the customer's request and the
recommendations of the manufacturer. The manufacturer is not going to suggest  more
service than the vehicle needs since this raises the cost of ownership  figure
that so many perspective buyers look at. The other way to look at this
practically is that our labor rate is posted plainly for all customer's to see;  at
least at my dealership. All work is quoted in advance with quotes based on
standardized labor guides like Chilton's, Alldata or Motors. If we were there to
"rip off" the customer we could only do that once and they would never
return.  Another way that most service advisors are financially compensated is based
on  the returned written and verbal surveys that the manufacturer randomly
sends  out. If the customer was satisfied with the quality, value, completeness
of  their repair or service and of the professionalism, friendliness and
helpfulness  of the service advisor this can result in additional income if all the
surveys  are above the average of the zone, region and national averages. Can
you be  ripped off by a crooked service advisor? Sure. Will that service
advisor be  around very long? Not likely. The incentive is for the customer to be
satisfied  and return again and again. There may be differences between
dealerships on the  way that service advisors are compensated and I am speaking of
the way that our  dealership operates. Honda has some of the highest owner
satisfaction and  customer loyalty in the business. Do I take my beloved 1990
Westfalia to the VW  dealership(required Vanagon content)? Not very often since
none of their techs  know much about Vanagons and cringe when they see one drive
into the service  lane. Besides, I get a break on Vanagon parts when I go to
my local dealership  since I work at the Honda dealership right down the
street and I have most all  the tools, lifts and other useful equipment available
to me at work. I can do  most anything that my van needs short of a full engine
or tranny rebuild or  major body/paint work. When you do go to the
dealerships service lane then you  might be paying for the benefit of experience of
factory trained techs and  original equipment parts. I can't tell you how many
times we have replaced a  timing belt after the local corner garage has botched
the job and   improperly adjusted a timing belt that  sings like so many
aftermarket  timing belts will or we have to replace the belt that is soaked with
oil because  the cam seal wasn't changed and started to leak oil right after the
timing belt  was changed. There are things that experience teaches you when
you have done a  particular job 500 or 1000 times. That's what you pay extra
for, experience and  a job done right the first time. Do what you want with
respect to your local  parts department and dealership service lane. YMMV. Just
keep in mind that when  no one else can find the original new part or fix your
car correctly even your  corner garage mechanic usually throws in the towel and
says, "maybe you better  take it to the dealership". I don't think any
offense was intended and I am  certainly not offended by your opinion. I just wanted
to explain a few things to  those who have had poor experiences at their
local dealership.

David Clarkson-Honda Service Advisor
90 Westy (246k)

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