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Shop assistant vs sales associate and customer service

The differences between shop assistants and sales associate and customer services can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a shop assistant, becoming a sales associate and customer service takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a shop assistant has an average salary of $31,216, which is higher than the $28,654 average annual salary of a sales associate and customer service.

The top three skills for a shop assistant include customer vehicles, CNC and customer service. The most important skills for a sales associate and customer service are customer service, plumbing, and sales associates.

Shop assistant vs sales associate and customer service overview

Shop AssistantSales Associate And Customer Service
Yearly salary$31,216$28,654
Hourly rate$15.01$13.78
Growth rate4%-4%
Number of jobs11,156298,588
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 34%
Average age3940
Years of experience412

What does a shop assistant do?

A shop assistant is primarily responsible for handling customers and maintaining the upkeep of a sales floor in a retail store. They are in charge of greeting customers, answering inquiries, offering assistance, recommending products, and handling complaints. A shop assistant also has duties that involve receiving, verifying, processing, and sorting shipments from suppliers, managing inventory, and re-stocking shelves while keeping them presentable. To maintain the sales floor's cleanliness, a shop assistant may also perform light chores and keep all equipment organized. Furthermore, it is essential to accomplish tasks while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.

What does a sales associate and customer service do?

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.

Shop assistant vs sales associate and customer service salary

Shop assistants and sales associate and customer services have different pay scales, as shown below.

Shop AssistantSales Associate And Customer Service
Average salary$31,216$28,654
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $38,000Between $21,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CitySpokane, WABellevue, WA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandConnecticut
Best paying companySteel DynamicsGEICO
Best paying industryConstructionManufacturing

Differences between shop assistant and sales associate and customer service education

There are a few differences between a shop assistant and a sales associate and customer service in terms of educational background:

Shop AssistantSales Associate And Customer Service
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 34%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Shop assistant vs sales associate and customer service demographics

Here are the differences between shop assistants' and sales associate and customer services' demographics:

Shop AssistantSales Associate And Customer Service
Average age3940
Gender ratioMale, 68.9% Female, 31.1%Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage4%7%

Differences between shop assistant and sales associate and customer service duties and responsibilities

Shop assistant example responsibilities.

  • Provide GHIN handicap services for the members
  • General shop maintenance Mig welding repairs and projects
  • Prepare envelopes and run address/post-mark mail machine.
  • Maintain GHIN handicap system for the golf course.
  • Shop support in embroidery, screen printing, and DTG printing.
  • Help other staff with printing, collating, binding and distribution of materials.
  • Show more

Sales associate and customer service example responsibilities.

  • Manage call center productivity levels by maintaining CSR schedule adherence.
  • Manage cash balances and inventory stock accurately; ensure cleanliness of all work stations and guarantee excellent customer service.
  • Investigate, analyze, and troubleshoot any issues with a particular delivery.
  • Elicit and record customer information and inquiries via customer relationship management (CRM) software.
  • Move to the CSR position selling and leasing name brand products at a guarantee low price.
  • Provide technical support, and troubleshoot online-base ordering system.
  • Show more

Shop assistant vs sales associate and customer service skills

Common shop assistant skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 10%
  • CNC, 7%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 6%
  • Machine Shop, 6%
  • Shop Equipment, 6%
Common sales associate and customer service skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Plumbing, 20%
  • Sales Associates, 19%
  • Phone Calls, 11%
  • Booking, 9%
  • Math, 8%

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