What does a counter sales representative do?
A counter sales representative is in charge of assisting customers in retail establishments, ensuring an efficient service for customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting customers to identify their needs, processing orders and payments, answering product inquiries, and offering other products and services when an opportunity arises. They may also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a counter sales representative, it is essential to maintain an active line of communication with staff and manager, coordinating at all times for a smoother workflow.
Counter sales representative responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real counter sales representative resumes:
- Manage accounts and create invoices via QuickBooks.
- Receive incoming calls, make outbound calls, and help walk-ins to assist customers with HVAC and plumbing products.
- Wait on in store customers, using POS.
- Help service technicians with questions and troubleshooting of HVAC products and equipment.
- Used prior experience to provide detail technical support and advice for HVAC repairs.
- Prepare meals, and meticulous detail to cleanliness and smooth functionality for daily use.
- Set up and break down the counter daily ensuring freshness and cleanliness of all products.
- Assist walk in customers with their plumbing needs and offer advice to help solve the customer's plumbing problems.
- Create orders for insurance companies and body shops using parts trader, used ADP to look up/price/sell parts to customers.
- Operate electronic and paper cataloging system, retrieving up-to-date parts information.
- Access electronic and paper cataloging systems to look up product information and availability.
- Prepare daily financial reports, POS register opening-closing procedures, conduct staffing and revenue analysis.
- Verify medicaid waive eligibility for non-emergency transportation.
- Composed/Prepare press kits, PowerPoint presentations, letters, etc.
- Serve food and beverages to customers, make fruit smoothies and protein shakes.
Counter sales representative skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Counter Sales Representatives are proficient in Taking Care, Continuous Improvement, and Good Communication. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Persistence, and Selling skills.
We break down the percentage of Counter Sales Representatives that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Taking Care, 18%
Job requires an extensive knowledge of auto parts and a belief in taking care of the customer.
- Continuous Improvement, 9%
Demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement in an ever-changing industry.
- Good Communication, 9%
Developed good relations with customers with the help of good communication skills.
- Class Customer Service, 9%
Greet customers and provide world class customer service, Answer questions and provide directions in a courteous and expeditious manner.
- Customer Satisfaction, 8%
Processed counter orders, answered phones and worked with customer service representatives and sales representative to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Customer Feedback, 8%
Recognized for exceptional customer service efforts resulting from customer feedback letters
Most counter sales representatives use their skills in "taking care," "continuous improvement," and "good communication" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential counter sales representative responsibilities here:
Physical stamina. A big part of what counter sales representatives do relies on "physical stamina." You can see how essential it is to counter sales representative responsibilities because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical counter sales representative tasks: "assisted the warehouse manager with daily cycle counts to ensure proper inventory was maintained as well as yearly full physical inventory. "
Self-confidence. Another common skill required for counter sales representative responsibilities is "self-confidence." This skill comes up in the duties of counter sales representatives all the time, as "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." An excerpt from a real counter sales representative resume shows how this skill is central to what a counter sales representative does: "construct and provide current improvised explosive device training aides for deployed security forces confidence training course military working dog pre-deployment course. "
Customer-service skills. Lastly, "customer-service skills" is an important element of what a counter sales representative does. Counter sales representative responsibilities require this skill because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." This resume example highlights how counter sales representative duties rely on this skill: "make sure every customer was happy with their rental experience at hertz and also work as a team. "
The three companies that hire the most counter sales representatives are:
- O'Reilly Auto Parts1,069 counter sales representatives jobs
- Ferguson Enterprises109 counter sales representatives jobs
- Genuine Parts63 counter sales representatives jobs
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Compare different counter sales representatives
Counter sales representative vs. Fleet service clerk
The main role of service clerks is to provide excellent service to customers. They are responsible for varied tasks, which include handling complaints from customers, processing register transactions, and promoting the company's services and products. It is also their job to take orders, maintain an organized and clean cash register, and scan information about bills and payments. To be qualified for this position, one should have a high school diploma, excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills, and attention to detail.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a counter sales representative are more likely to require skills like "taking care," "continuous improvement," "good communication," and "class customer service." On the other hand, a job as a fleet service clerk requires skills like "service aircraft," "de-icing," "hand tools," and "safety procedures." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Fleet service clerks tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,231. In contrast, counter sales representatives make the biggest average salary, $32,728, in the manufacturing industry.fleet service clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than counter sales representatives. In fact, fleet service clerks are 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Counter sales representative vs. Rental agent
Each career also uses different skills, according to real counter sales representative resumes. While counter sales representative responsibilities can utilize skills like "taking care," "continuous improvement," "good communication," and "class customer service," rental agents use skills like "reservations," "credit card," "service techniques," and "service charges."
On average, rental agents earn a lower salary than counter sales representatives. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, rental agents earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $33,318. Whereas counter sales representatives have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $32,728.In general, rental agents achieve similar levels of education than counter sales representatives. They're 0.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Counter sales representative vs. Services clerk
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from counter sales representative resumes include skills like "taking care," "continuous improvement," "good communication," and "class customer service," whereas a services clerk is more likely to list skills in "math," "basic math," "patients," and "slicers. "
Services clerks make a very good living in the retail industry with an average annual salary of $29,778. On the other hand, counter sales representatives are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $32,728.Most services clerks achieve a similar degree level compared to counter sales representatives. For example, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Counter sales representative vs. Counter
Even though a few skill sets overlap between counter sales representatives and counters, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a counter sales representative might have more use for skills like "taking care," "continuous improvement," "good communication," and "class customer service." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of counters require skills like "basic math," "pos," "math," and "pleasant dining. "
The transportation industry tends to pay the highest salaries for counters, with average annual pay of $31,126. Comparatively, the highest counter sales representative annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.In general, counters hold similar degree levels compared to counter sales representatives. Counters are 0.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of counter sales representative
Updated January 8, 2025
