Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between merchandise processors and customer service representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a merchandise processor and a customer service representative. Additionally, a customer service representative has an average salary of $32,260, which is higher than the $31,092 average annual salary of a merchandise processor.
The top three skills for a merchandise processor include customer service, sales floor and basic math. The most important skills for a customer service representative are cleanliness, POS, and data entry.
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $31,092 | $32,260 |
| Hourly rate | $14.95 | $15.51 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,551 | 209,515 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Merchandise Processor works at warehouse facilities where they are in charge of preparing and processing merchandise. Their tasks typically revolve around monitoring inventory, organizing and labeling products, packing and tagging items, strategically arranging materials to maximize warehouse spaces, storing supplies according to protocols, and maintaining incoming and outgoing merchandise. There are also instances when they must inspect the product's quality and quantity, sort and price items, and produce reports. A Merchandise Processor typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and smooth workflow.
Customer service representatives are the first point of contact of the customers, acting as the frontiers of the company and help in driving customer loyalty and retention by leaving a great impression and resolving all of their concerns. They accommodate customer queries by providing useful and comprehensive information about any products or services. Some would use that as an opportunity to market and promote more sales. The most challenging issues they use to handle are customer complaints and processing of refunds and returns. They also assist in basic troubleshooting or accounts and payment setup with the use of specific guidelines or step by step procedures. At most, they help and solve customer issues on their own, but sometimes they would need support from supervisors or other departments.
Merchandise processors and customer service representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Representative | |
| Average salary | $31,092 | $32,260 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $37,000 | Between $25,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lombard, IL | Des Moines, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Steve Madden | Oracle |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a merchandise processor and a customer service representative in terms of educational background:
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Representative | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandise processors' and customer service representatives' demographics:
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Representative | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.0% Female, 56.0% | Male, 30.5% Female, 69.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |