Is anyone here a service writer/advisor at a new car dealership ?

[Wanderer]

I'm going today to talk to the service manager at a new car dealership that will be opening soon and was curious if anyone else worked in service at any dealerships in the area.

What kind of money do service writers make, realistically ?

Anything I should know ?

[Back N Black]

good friend of mine was a service writer for a Sewell dealership...be prepared for long hours, sometimes stiff pay and your manager to be up your ass a lot. He made decent money, but he said in the end it wasnt worth it.

[KBScobravert]

I wrote service for a few years. Money is totally dependent on the brand and how busy the dealership is.

A new dealership will obviously have zero customer history and I wouldn't start without a guarantee. Be prepared to sit around for a year while folks learn you are there. But still long days and Saturdays.

What is the brand?

[redrocket5.0]

I work here at Jim Glover Chevrolet here in the parts dept. I've been here since we opened the doors 3 years ago. We have gone through a few Service writers since. They make money, but you have to deal with so much, with all the GM recalls going on at the moment I wouldn't recommend it. lol. You will make some good money, we're in somewhat a small town and I took home over 40k each year. Last year I made just under 45K. I know the service writers make more than I do, but I'll stay right where I am.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Ive seen one or two with a fleet account or something that made pretty damn good money, and Ive seen some that had to borrow lunch money. I'd be leery of a straight commission, particularly at a brand new dealership.

It's not a bad gig, usually, but management and such play a role there too. It's a high turnover position, as many commission based jobs tend to be.

[Wanderer]

good friend of mine was a service writer for a Sewell dealership...be prepared for long hours, sometimes stiff pay and your manager to be up your ass a lot. He made decent money, but he said in the end it wasnt worth it.

I wrote service for a few years. Money is totally dependent on the brand and how busy the dealership is.

A new dealership will obviously have zero customer history and I wouldn't start without a guarantee. Be prepared to sit around for a year while folks learn you are there. But still long days and Saturdays.

What is the brand?

The dealership is a new store that is a branch of a very successful chain, so I'm not too worried about there being enough work. I would most likely start at another dealership in the area and learn everything there, then move over to the new dealership when it opens.

I work about 55 hours a week right now, so I'm somewhat used to working long hours and Saturdays, but I would like to get away from Saturdays, so I may pass on this deal. Especially if it's going to be as much, or more of a pain in the ass than my current job.

I work here at Jim Glover Chevrolet here in the parts dept. I've been here since we opened the doors 3 years ago. We have gone through a few Service writers since. They make money, but you have to deal with so much, with all the GM recalls going on at the moment I wouldn't recommend it. lol. You will make some good money, we're in somewhat a small town and I took home over 40k each year. Last year I made just under 45K. I know the service writers make more than I do, but I'll stay right where I am.

All good info. Thanks guys.

[03mustangdude]

50-60k but have to maintain cs survey and work stupid long hours. Better be a salesman for more pay.

[BP]

It varies dramatically by brand and location. If it's for Land Rover you'll be buying a new yacht soon but you'll work your ass off. If it's for Kia or Toyota you'll be writing up free oil changes all day.

[Wanderer]

50-60k but have to maintain cs survey and work stupid long hours. Better be a salesman for more pay.

Hmmmm, okay. That's about what I make now, so it doesn't sound like I would be gaining much.

[Baron Von Crowder]

FWIW, I dont think that working at a dealership is as good of a job today as it was ten years ago.

[jammeejamm]

cool thing about a service writer is you just have to be friendly and a decent salesman. at a busy dealer, it seems you just follow up with phone calls and keep people informed and you make okay money. most pay plans put HEAVY weight on your surveys.

actually the best part is you really do not have to know anything about cars, but just sound as if you do. your techs do most of the work for you everywhere i have been. this is all from my observations over time, for i have never been a service writer.

i would agree. all i hear about is how the pay plan is changing again and how the writers are getting fucked. dealership money is not like it was five to ten years ago.

[BP]

FWIW, I dont think that working at a dealership is as good of a job today as it was ten years ago.

It's all those damned big companies eating up all the little ones.

[Baron Von Crowder]

It's all those damned big companies eating up all the little ones.

I cant stand big companies.

[Wanderer]

FWIW, I dont think that working at a dealership is as good of a job today as it was ten years ago.

Why do you say that ?

cool thing about a service writer is you just have to be friendly and a decent salesman. at a busy dealer, it seems you just follow up with phone calls and keep people informed and you make okay money. most pay plans put HEAVY weight on your surveys.

actually the best part is you really do not have to know anything about cars, but just sound as if you do. your techs do most of the work for you everywhere i have been. this is all from my observations over time, for i have never been a service writer.

i would agree. all i hear about is how the pay plan is changing again and how the writers are getting fucked. dealership money is not like it was five to ten years ago.

How is the "pay plan" being changed ?

It's all those damned big companies eating up all the little ones.

This company is one of the big ones that eats little ones, by the sounds of it.

[mstng86]

The couple service writers I knew were making great money about 10 years ago. They have since moved on to other things but they were doing well for themselves.

I do know they were making money on the side with taking in side job repairs from people they knew and the mechanics in the shop. So I guess they had two gigs going at once you could say.