What does a customer service retail associate do?

A customer service retail associate is responsible for providing the highest customer service for the store's customers by responding to their inquiries and concerns and recommending them goods and services that would fit their needs. Customer service retail associates support the marketing campaigns and promotional strategies of the store by offering and demonstrating products to the customers, as well as arranging stock displays, and monitoring the adequacy of inventories. They also escalate high-level complaints to management for immediate resolution and assist with product replacement and issuing refunds as needed.
Customer service retail associate responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real customer service retail associate resumes:
- Reconcile POS drawers on a daily basis, correct any problems accordingly and manage bank transactions.
- run the registerSkills Usedfork lift, reading, writing, math
- Perform cash handling duties, bag customers groceries, assist customers with groceries when necessary.
- Assist cashier in boxing groceries, stocking merchandise, reorganizing shelves, and performing inventory.
- Run the register of a small convenience retail shop .. Be accurate with money and math skills.
- Check out guests on the POS system in a quick and efficient manner with thorough understanding of processing payment procedures.
- Handle incoming calls from patients to process payment arrangements; update insurance information answer general questions pertaining to billing and insurance.
- Improve customer solicitation pitch to increase Kohl's credit card application solicitations.
Customer service retail associate skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Customer Service Retail Associates are proficient in POS, Customer Service, and Customer Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Selling skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Customer Service Retail Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- POS, 20%
Operated a cash register for cash, check and credit card transactions using a POS System.
- Customer Service, 16%
Trained associates in product knowledge and customer service skills while providing feedback to upper management on process implementation and goal achievement.
- Customer Orders, 13%
Prepared complex customer orders using order systems and provided detailed pricing information.
- Retail Environment, 10%
Demonstrated consultative behaviors in a retail environment to understand each customer's individualized needs.
- Bank Deposits, 10%
Handled cash management and facilitated bank deposits
- Product Line, 9%
Provided expertise in printing, signs and graphics, and shipping product lines.
Most customer service retail associates use their skills in "pos," "customer service," and "customer orders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential customer service retail associate responsibilities here:
Math skills. One of the key soft skills for a customer service retail associate to have is math skills. You can see how this relates to what customer service retail associates do because "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers." Additionally, a customer service retail associate resume shows how customer service retail associates use math skills: "run the register of a small convenience retail shop. Be accurate with money and math skills. "
Selling skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling customer service retail associate duties is selling skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers." According to a customer service retail associate resume, here's how customer service retail associates can utilize selling skills in their job responsibilities: "cashier customer sales-designed and displayed merchandise on floors- lift 25-50 lbs as needed-assisted with stock and inventory"
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for customer service retail associates to perform their duties. For an example of how customer service retail associate responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a customer service retail associate: "provided strong customer service, merchandising, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. ".
Customer-service skills. For certain customer service retail associate responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "customer-service skills." The day-to-day duties of a customer service retail associate rely on this skill, as "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what customer service retail associates do: "provided customer service and assisted with loss prevention. "
The three companies that hire the most customer service retail associates are:
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Customer service retail associate vs. Associate retailer
An Associate Retailer is responsible for keeping the sales area up to standard and assisting customers while inside the store's premises. Most of the tasks revolve around keeping items on shelves clean and well-organized, greeting and offering assistance to customers, responding to inquiries and locating products, and even providing suggestions or recommendations when necessary and in adherence to the store's policies and regulations. In other stores and retail outlets, the Associate Retailer may also process payments and returns while still putting importance to customer satisfaction.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, customer service retail associate responsibilities require skills like "product line," "fedex," "strong work ethic," and "retail customer service." Meanwhile a typical associate retailer has skills in areas such as "ladders," "customer issues," "pet," and "ross." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Associate retailers tend to make the most money working in the hospitality industry, where they earn an average salary of $29,543. In contrast, customer service retail associates make the biggest average salary, $32,384, in the finance industry.The education levels that associate retailers earn slightly differ from customer service retail associates. In particular, associate retailers are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a customer service retail associate. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Customer service retail associate vs. Retail clerk
A retail clerk is responsible for selling goods and services to the customers, recommending products based on their needs, and responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the product. Retail clerks assist with the store's marketing strategies, organize product displays, monitor inventories, endorse promotional discounts, and help customers on their checkout payments. A retail clerk must have excellent communication and customer service skills to handle customers' requests and ensure their highest satisfaction.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real customer service retail associate resumes. While customer service retail associate responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer orders," "product line," "fedex," and "strong work ethic," retail clerks use skills like "groceries," "basic math," "customer satisfaction," and "math."
Retail clerks earn a higher average salary than customer service retail associates. But retail clerks earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $30,316. Additionally, customer service retail associates earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $32,384 annually.retail clerks earn similar levels of education than customer service retail associates in general. They're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Customer service retail associate vs. Sales associate
Sales associates are responsible for promoting the company's goods or services. They are expected to provide exceptional customer service to prospective buyers. They should be familiar with all features of the company's products or services so that they can answer the customers' inquiries. Sales associates also assist customers in processing their checkouts, refunds, returns, and other needs. They should be customer-oriented, and they should have great communication skills. They should know how to sell their products or services to customers. They are considered the company's representatives on the ground.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, customer service retail associates are more likely to have skills like "product line," "fedex," "strong work ethic," and "work ethic." But a sales associate is more likely to have skills like "basic math," "cleanliness," "customer satisfaction," and "math."
Sales associates earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $31,917. Comparatively, customer service retail associates have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $32,384.sales associates typically earn similar educational levels compared to customer service retail associates. Specifically, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Customer service retail associate vs. Sales associate and customer service
Sales and customer service associates are employees who are responsible for closing out sales deals and attending to customer needs. They are in charge of selling company goods and services to potential clients, often citing the common needs of prospective clients to ensure sales. They also handle customer inquiries and complaints and try their best to mitigate any problems that would arise. They are expected to be experts on company products to ensure that they can provide the best service to customers. Sales and customer service associates should have strong interpersonal skills, customer service skills, and communication skills.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between customer service retail associates and sales associate and customer services, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a customer service retail associate might have more use for skills like "product line," "retail store," "fedex," and "strong work ethic." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of sales associate and customer services require skills like "plumbing," "sales associates," "phone calls," and "booking. "
In general, sales associate and customer services earn the most working in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $30,394. The highest-paying industry for a customer service retail associate is the finance industry.The average resume of sales associate and customer services showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to customer service retail associates. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of customer service retail associate
Updated January 8, 2025











