Techs on Commission?

An Anonymous Coward asks: "I've started seeing something over the last year in my local area - technicians at local service companies working on a base salary + commission basis. To me this would seem like a pretty sorry way of getting paid (if you're not a good salesman like some techs you don't get a big commission or the sales staff can screw the tech by giving the customer a Good Deal TM). My employer is not doing this currently but like any pointy haired boss fad I'm sure it will eventually be considered. Any one out there have any experience with this (as in does it work out good, does it cause high turn over, etc)?" The largest problem with this is that such a system is highly prone to abuse. I would think that lowering the average salary would also lower the incentive to do as good a job except on the most costly of repairs, while machines needing regular maintenance would lag in the queue. How do you all feel about such a system, especially those of you who may have just such a job?

Comments

My $0.02

[Starquake]

As a former hardware/software support tech, I have to say I would not want to work under that kind of pay system. I would probably have cut corners in most if not all areas of my work. Not to mention the fact that residential customers would never have gotten serviced. They tend to haggle about prices and often times refuse to let you do the work. Big corporate customers, however, might be very happy with their service. They tend to pay on time and don't haggle too much, as well as being a continual source of sales.

It depends what kind of person you are.

[duffbeer703]

I enjoyed being on commission. There is a certain thrill when you double or triple your salary for doing something you enjoy.

If you do not like to wheel and deal, go to a salaried job. If you want to make alot of money, take a commissioned job.