Commission vs Salary: How Technician Pay Structure Impacts Your Appliance Repair Experience

When you call an appliance repair company, you expect honest guidance, professional service, and repairs you can trust. But something most homeowners never think about is how the technician is paid, and how that payment structure can dramatically shape your entire service experience.

In the appliance repair industry, technicians are typically paid one of two ways: commission-based or salary-based. Understanding the difference can help you choose a company that truly prioritizes your best interests.

Commission-Based Technicians: The Pressure to Upsell

With a commission pay structure, technicians earn more money by selling more parts, more services, and sometimes even unnecessary repairs. While some commission techs are honest, the system itself creates pressure that can lead to:

1. Unnecessary Repairs

When a paycheck depends on the size of the ticket, it becomes tempting to diagnose every minor issue as a major repair. Customers may be encouraged to replace parts they don’t actually need or go through more costly fixes than required.

2. Higher Bills

Commission structures often reward high-dollar tickets. So the focus shifts from solving the problem to increasing the sale. Customers frequently end up paying far more than necessary.

3. Rushed Work

The more jobs a technician can squeeze into a day, the more opportunities they have to earn. That means less time spent truly diagnosing the issue, double-checking their work, or explaining the problem to the homeowner.

4. Sales First, Satisfaction Second

Commission techs tend to be measured by revenue, not reliability. Customer satisfaction becomes secondary to hitting daily sales goals.

Salary-Based Technicians: Repair-Driven, Not Revenue-Driven

A salary-paid technician is focused on one thing: providing honest, effective, and reliable service. Their paycheck doesn’t change based on how much they sell, which means you get a completely different, and far better service experience.

1. Honest, Transparent Diagnoses

A salary tech has zero incentive to inflate the problem. They get paid the same whether your repair needs a simple adjustment or a major part replacement. Their priority is solving the issue correctly, not making a bigger sale.

2. Customer Satisfaction Comes First

Since their performance is judged on repair quality and customer feedback, a salary tech is motivated to do the job right the first time. They want you to be happy, informed, and confident in the repair.

3. No High-Pressure Sales

Salary techs don’t need to “push” extra services or parts. They can confidently recommend repair options based solely on what’s best for you and your appliance.

4. Consistent, Professional Experience

Without the pressure of commission, technicians can take the necessary time to diagnose issues thoroughly, explain the repair clearly, and ensure everything is functioning properly.

Why This Matters for Homeowners

Your appliance repair experience should be built on trust, not sales tactics. The best repairs come from technicians who are focused on accuracy, efficiency, and integrity, not their next commission bonus.

When a company chooses to pay its technicians a flat salary, it’s making a statement: “We value honesty, quality work, and long-term customer relationships.”

And that makes a world of difference in the results you get.

Expo Appliance Service: Honest Repairs, Customer-Focused Technicians

At Expo Appliance Service, our technicians are paid a flat salary, not commission. That means:

• No upselling

• No pressure tactics

• No unnecessary repairs

  
  

Our techs are judged only by their repair efficiency and customer satisfaction, ensuring you receive trustworthy, professional service tailored to your actual needs, not your wallet.

If you want an appliance repair company grounded in honesty, integrity, and quality workmanship, Expo sets the standard. For the best appliance repair service in Columbia, SC or Lexington, SC and all surrounding areas, schedule online here or call us at 803-710-3976.