A Day in the Life of an Auto Parts Consultant
It can be incredibly frustrating when your car breaks down and needs a new part, especially for drivers who rely on their cars to get to work, or to drive their children to school. Working as an auto parts consultant means that you are in charge of ensuring that your customers get the replacement parts they need as quickly as possible.
If you plan to take an auto parts consultant program at automotive college, you’ll likely find work at large garages and dealerships after graduation. Working there, you’ll help ensure customer satisfaction by providing excellent service, managing the garage or dealership’s inventory and working side by side with the garage’s mechanics to provide accurate, timely repairs. If you have a knack for customer service, an in-depth knowledge of auto parts and manufacturers, and all-around love cars, this career could be for you.
Read on to discover what a typical work day is like in the life of an auto parts consultant.
How Auto Parts Consultants Assist Customers
In a service role such as parts consultant, it’s necessary for professionals to have excellent communication and customer service skills. On a daily basis, you’ll be listening to customers share their vehicle’s issues in order to determine which parts their vehicle requires. Depending on the repair, parts consultants might recommend certain parts for certain vehicle makes, years, or depending on the condition of the vehicle.
Parts consultants will also speak with customers over the phone, and face to face when taking an order, which means that a polite and friendly demeanor is a necessity. After all, customers who are treated with respect will be more likely to buy their parts from you!
Auto Parts Consultants Manage Inventory and Orders
The most technical component of an auto parts consultant’s job is managing the business’ inventory, invoices and orders. Graduates of automotive college know how to navigate and utilize electronic auto parts catalogues, maintain a computerized inventory, keep track of backorders, and respond to customer emails regarding auto parts.
Keeping an organized inventory is important, and having the most common parts constantly in stock helps mechanics perform day to day repairs quickly. When a customer needs a rarer part, perhaps for a foreign vehicle or a luxury car, it’s the parts consultant’s duty to accurately inform the customer of how many days it will take to ship the part from overseas. An accurate arrival date estimate helps keep customers happy, and prevents the garage or dealership from becoming backlogged.
Sales is Also a Component of an Auto Parts Consultant Career
Parts consultants should never forget that while being responsible for excellent customer service, they are also working in a sales position. Depending on where they work, professionals in auto careers may make a commission on top of their base salary. This means that selling higher-end and more expensive parts to customers can earn them a higher paycheck.
Are you interested in learning more about training for an auto parts consultant career? Check out the Automotive Training Centre website for more information, or to speak with an advisor.
