Anyone ever work for ARS ?

[Producer]

I went to recruiting event by ARS in the Chicago area. They say their service techs 50-80k and their home comfort specialist (salesman)make 80-120k .
Are these numbers accurate?
Has anyone held these jobs- why did you leave or stay?
I was kind of interested in the home comfort specialist position
what is the starting pay for these positions?
I get kind of skeptical when a company throws around big numbers..

[dash]

Never worked for them, but know some them, but know some who have and do currently.

You'll do fine ,and make the dollars, IF you follow the program and procedures,some can and some can't.

[wolfstrike]

i was hired by ARS on the west coast.

i had a bad experience but i don't regret it.

it was my first HVAC job and i was hired in a summer recruitment
(they need bodies to show up at the calls)

they flew us to another state for a 1 month trade school.(all of which i aced)

ARS is/was owned by Service Masters who also owns American Home Shield, so 98% of my calls was warranty work.
(my first job ever was a compressor :) )

American Home Shield calls paid $36 for EVERY call,or $200 for compressor, if you get callbacks or have to go pick up parts, you won't make anything.


they promised me $17 per hour but the reality was i made $600 per week, the more hours i worked the more my wages dropped, i worked a 65 hour week and when they handed me a check for less than minimum wage i walked into my managers office, put my company pager on her desk(loaded with calls), and walked out the front door.

...but on the other hand :) ...

ARS had quite a few technicians that had been in the field for over 20 years,
some of the most educated techs i ever saw, one of them told me he made $400 per day during the summer, the rumor was, the lead technician's personal bills were over $5,000 per month.
...so there are people there who make a lot of money, but you know companies don't want to pay those kind of wages anymore

[Producer]

The incomes I quoted were just average - they say that they have many making much more $$$$$$

[Joe Harper]

Yes you can make that kind of money at ARS, but like earlier posted, you have to follow the program. I met three different salesman that were making $200k + a year.

A lot of guys dont like it when they realise that they cant go to calls and sit around and make an hourly wage. Your pay is based on a percentage of the ticket. The key is to do your repair and head on to the next call and not sit there and waste time trying to sell some uv light or filter crap. Do your 5 to 7 calls a day, talk nicely to everyone and you will do fine..

[Producer]

What kind of commisions %%%% do they pay out to their techs and salespeople?
Can a tech sell a new system and make just as much as a salesman on a new system.

[Swampfox]

Went behind the local one the other day, (second opinion) they told the customer they needed both systems replaced, 9 years old

We didnt even find a weak run cap or pitted contactor

Shady

[mcjo tech]

Yes you can make that kind of money at ARS, but like earlier posted, you have to follow the program. I met three different salesman that were making $200k + a year.

A lot of guys dont like it when they realise that they cant go to calls and sit around and make an hourly wage. Your pay is based on a percentage of the ticket. The key is to do your repair and head on to the next call and not sit there and waste time trying to sell some uv light or filter crap. Do your 5 to 7 calls a day, talk nicely to everyone and you will do fine..

Joe, You ever worked for ARS? I have. Your post couldn't be farther from the truth. At ARS you only make any real money when you sell the customer something.

When it was owned by Service Master it was a Good company. Now it is owned by a investment group and since I have worked for them they are IMO a bunch of CROOKS!! ARS Program: Rip as many customers off as possible in a given day!!

I am a technician with over 20 years in the field and don't milk the clock at all but I enjoy sleeping at night with a good conscience. When you work for ARS Ripping your customers off is Priority #1.

If you don't you get fired. Simple as that. By the way I didn't get fired I resigned. I won't work for a company that doesn't have a lick of integrity.

[Producer]

Do they provide their sales people with the leads? How about a vehicle?c
Would it be possible to do this job part-time ?

[mcjo tech]

Do they provide their sales people with the leads? How about a vehicle?c
Would it be possible to do this job part-time ?

Yes, they provide their sales people with leads but your close rate better be high or you will be fired.

Why do you think they need to recruit employees if they are such a great place to work?

That should tell you something. What happened to their old employees?

Do yourself a favor RUN don't WALK away from this one. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

[Joe Harper]

Joe, You ever worked for ARS? I have. Your post couldn't be farther from the truth. At ARS you only make any real money when you sell the customer something.

When it was owned by Service Master it was a Good company. Now it is owned by a investment group and since I have worked for them they are IMO a bunch of CROOKS!! ARS Program: Rip as many customers off as possible in a given day!!

I am a technician with over 20 years in the field and don't milk the clock at all but I enjoy sleeping at night with a good conscience. When you work for ARS Ripping your customers off is Priority #1.

If you don't you get fired. Simple as that. By the way I didn't get fired I resigned. I won't work for a company that doesn't have a lick of integrity.

I put in 4 years with them. I never ripped off any customers. Everyone was happy with my performance. I made sales and repairs honestly. You need to stop talking crap. I was able to do the job with integrity. Just because others cannot do it is not my fault or problem. If you are a crook it doesnt matter what company you work for, you are still a crook. I have never seen any other company bend over backwards to take care of a customer, reguardless of the financial implications like I have seen at ARS. I dont work for them anymore beacuse the crooks have killed the local branch. It used to be a good outfit. Most of the tech had at least 10 years of exp and were all technically proficent. If no one calls the office and tells them what the tech is doing, how is the management supposed to know??

[Joe Harper]

Do they provide their sales people with the leads? How about a vehicle?c
Would it be possible to do this job part-time ?

You will get leads. Most of the sales calls are provided for you. If you do create your own leads and sales you get a premium. The company will provide a vehicle, and no, part time will not cut it. You might have a call at 8 am and then another one at 6pm.

Dont get discouraged by others comments here. It clearly sounds like they dont know how to talk to customers, so they were not successful. It will only be what you make of it..

[mcjo tech]

It used to be a good outfit. Most of the tech had at least 10 years of exp and were all technically proficent. If no one calls the office and tells them what the tech is doing, how is the management supposed to know??

First of all I never accused you of being a crook so where you got that from my post I have no idea. My post was in regards to the ARS Company and how they currently do business. You make the same point as me in your post.

That they used to be a good company until the crooks took over is my point exactly so how you can say I"m talking crap makes no sense to me as we seem to be in agreement about the direction of this company. And after all we are all entitled to our opinion which is what I stated in my post.

One mans crap may well be another mans truth. It just depends upon your prospective.

[Roxx]

You will be fine as long as you sale. The more you sale the more money you make. Show good closing ration and you are in business!. You can make money, but you have to be able to work around your customers schedule "I dont think part time will work for this type of job"

[mcjo tech]

[QUOTE=

Dont get discouraged by others comments here. It clearly sounds like they dont know how to talk to customers, so they were not successful. It will only be what you make of it..[/QUOTE]

You make a lot of assumptions here about my abilities to communicate to my customers since you don't even know and have never met me. I work for a very reputable national company now and my customer relation skills are among the best in the district.

[Producer]

ARS plans on major expansions. They are planning on being a national brand. Kind of like the walmart or mcdonalds of the hvac biz. Sounds like this might be a good opportuinity...
How long would the training be before I could start making some cash?

[mcjo tech]

ARS is already a major player in the HVAC and Plumbing market. Last I checked they had 68 branches in the US. I gave you my opinion as to the aspects of working for them. I am sure the other 14 technicians that I had the honor to work with the last ten years at ARS who are no longer employed there would agree with me. Its up to you to make the decision. Either way I wish you the best.

[secorp]

One mans crap may well be another mans truth. It just depends upon your prospective.

I have found that the other guys crap always smells worse than mine.
extra large grin!

[secorp]

About five years ago I was to fat to be hired by ARS.
residential HVAC likes slim fit trim guys.

[Joe Harper]

I think that they have 95 branches... 68 cities..

[Producer]

Does ars require you to sign a exclusivity contract if they are going to let you in a their insider secret program.

[Joe Harper]

Insider secret program.....::DD:::DD:::DD:

There is no seceret program.

[Producer]

Might not be secret but their pricing and things..

[secorp]

I am sure you get a price book, after you learn the secrete hand shake!

[mcjo tech]

I am sure you get a price book, after you learn the secrete hand shake!

Now thats just too funny!!

[jovusun]

ARS is a great company....I love it whenever they have been out to a customers home before we get there. Geez, all we do is tell them the truth and charge for what we do. When the cost of a 45+5x 440 run capacitor is 25-30% the average price of a 3 ton condensing unit replacement, the word crook doesn't come to mind at all. Now the word rapist....that comes to mind without a doubt....C'mon...it's a 30 minute job if you're really slow...

[ryan1088]

Is this the same ARS that has rental stores/equipment like RSC?

[fcs]

ARS
is sell sell sell, ethics is not a part of ARS.

You sell the customer something right or wrong you sell them something.

Your job has little if anything to do with HVAC and/or doing what's best for the customer your job is to sell as much as you can.

[Producer]

FCS- have you worked for ARS in the past and what positon were you in? What city?

[mcjo tech]

Producer,

Take the job already!! It is obvious that that is what you want to do. We all wish you the best regardless of our various opinions. I have worked for 5 or 6 different companies in the last 25 years. If it doesn't work out you can always go somewhere else.

[fcs]

FCS- have you worked for ARS in the past and what positon were you in? What city?

I thanks god have not I have many friend that have work for them from sevice tech to Service Mrg. All have said the samething and had the same experance over the years.

[wolfstrike]

Is this the same ARS that has rental stores/equipment like RSC?

no

[Producer]

I have sold cars ,houses, insurance and mortgages in the past . How hard could hvac equipment be ?

[fcs]

I have sold cars ,houses, insurance and mortgages in the past . How hard could hvac equipment be ?

If you don't mind selling part equipment etc.. that isn't need then you do fine.

This is what I hear time and time again about ARS if you go on a say no Cool call, you get there the unit is fine and only say about 5 year old. the problem was a loosestat wire. The owner say to you I'm afraid need a whole new system. You know this is far from the true. It took no parts and 5 min to fix it, but your there so you give it a good looking over the system is in great shape but you know if you say yes you do need a whole new system the owner will not question you and buy what ever you suggest. ARS philosophy and it's preach you are to sell them a new system. Or at minim a new stat even thoough the one the have is more then fine. This is how you make the money at ARS. You sell right or wrong you sell.

If this is a enivorment that you can work in then you'll do fine.

[Texas-Tech]

When I did all residential ARS was just starting up here. They were sending a sales guy in the van with a service tech, the tech would go in and look around then if the equips age was over 6 years the "closer" would try to make a sale.

We enjoyed making them look bad.

[mcjo tech]

When I did all residential ARS was just starting up here. They were sending a sales guy in the van with a service tech, the tech would go in and look around then if the equips age was over 6 years the "closer" would try to make a sale.

We enjoyed making them look bad.

Yep, had a sales guy follow me around also. I had forgot about that. Man I'm glad I don't work for them anymore!!

[Special Ed]

Just got done doing a call where the HO's friend told me that the ARS branch here told him his condenser should (had?) to be changed every 7yrs. I told him I would NEVER say a condenser had to be changed every 7yrs - in fact, I told him I took every situation on a case-by-case basis.

[Producer]

If these guys are so shady why are they the biggest and fastest growing hvac company around. Why isn't the word out about their salesman and their dirty tricks?

[wolfstrike]

out here in Los Angeles, and soon to be your area, 8 years in the official life expectancy of a unit from the sales point of view

[Special Ed]

Personally, I don't think they're sleazy, I think they're just another HVAC co. with both good & bad employees, just like any other co. It all depends on the mgmt of that particular branch on how they deal with & train their employees.

Now, as far as that claim that they're the fastest growing HVAC co. in the States makes me wanna research that to see if it is indeed true. It also would make me wary, because every time I hear a co. making that claim it seems they self-destruct or slow way down a few years later.

[Producer]

These guys seem to be a call center / marketing company
I don't know how they condem an 8 years old system when some furnaces have 20 year heat exchanger warranty.

[BaldLoonie]

I'm sure there are good & bad employees and managers.

One of our guys (1 year) quit yesterday to go back there. He'll be in a new commerical dept on hourly but said most are commission. In his words, a lot of people are getting parts & services they don't need. Good money to be made, especially by talking people with 8 year old furnaces into new equipment. He said techs selling pays very well.

[Special Ed]

I think not all service techs should be allowed to sale new systems, only certain techs who have both the mechanical & relational should do that, & they should be remunerated accordingly. Why not give them a percentage of what they sale? But not every tech has the aptitude for selling systems & that's fine too. Now, as controversial as this belief is, I also believe a tech should be paid based on what he does & how well he does it rather than by how many hours he can somehow manage to stay clocked-in. In other words, he should be paid according to his performance.

[mcjo tech]

Personally, I don't think they're sleazy, I think they're just another HVAC co. with both good & bad employees, just like any other co. It all depends on the mgmt of that particular branch on how they deal with & train their employees.

Now, as far as that claim that they're the fastest growing HVAC co. in the States makes me wanna research that to see if it is indeed true. It also would make me wary, because every time I hear a co. making that claim it seems they self-destruct or slow way down a few years later.

ARS trains their technicians to sell and puts a profound emphasis on motivating their employees to do so. Then they turn a blind eye when one of them is accused of lieing to the customers when they know full well it is occurring.

It is not a matter of good and bad employees, it is a matter of a general business philosophy which they teach.

They are most definately SLEEZY. I know I've worked there.

It is simple as this: If you don't sell you get fired period! Ask any of the 14 techs that I woked with (many with 20 plus years experience and 20 years working for the company that ARS bought) that no longer work there.

IMO it is an outrage. Any consumer using this company should be made very aware since they will be ripped off. It won't be long until all this information will come out about them.

Another question: Why is there no one on this post that will defend them fully? The answer: They know what kind of company they are.

[Special Ed]

I will not fully defend or attack them because I've never worked for them personally nor have I ever known anyone that has worked for them.

My question to you would be, why is training your techs to sale sleazy? If a system needs a contactor & your tech doesn't know how to communicate to the HO why it's important to change it so therefore he doesn't change it, who looks like the scheister? You or the co. that sold that HO the contactor he so sorely needed?

[mcjo tech]

Well I have worked for them. I do not have a problem with a technician advising the customer of WHAT THEY NEED but when your pay is determined by that additional sale then (and I have seen this myself) when a perfectly good contactor is recommended to be changed that is IMO stealing from your customers.

You can dismiss it as being a rouge tech and dishonest but the fact is and remains that ARS endorses this type of behavior.

They will deny it of course but when you have seen them pat that tech on the back that is selling everything to customers in front of the rest of the techs then it is more then that.

It is a business model that they fully endorse. I'm not speaking from what someone else has said I worked for them and know how they operate.

I have no problem with an additional small spiff for selling but not the current trend of the industry to have all technicians be on commission based pay.

This type of pay structure will ultimately cause greater customer distrust and slowly ruin a reputable industry.

[Joe Harper]

You wont get fired from ARS for not selling equipment. You have to sell repairs and parts to get a paycheck though, just like any other company. The difference is they want you to ask the customer to buy something, not wait for the customer to bring it up.

It is my opinion, based on three years with the company, that lying to the customers and ripping them off is not endorsed or welcome by the company. I have seen four techs fired over such an occurance.

[mcjo tech]

My point is they are not like every other company. I give up. OK, they are a true Saint of a company. Good luck to you if you believe that.

I wouldn't want them working on anything I own.

I know what the real truth is. Been there.

By the way, why don't you still work for them? Thought you said in a previous post that the crooks had taken over your former branch?

[Special Ed]

Didn't mean to "p" you off, mcjo, I just didn't wanna make a judgement against a co. I haven't worked for.

I can see your point, though, & I willingly concede it; however, I'm not a hundred per cent sold on just paying a tech a straight salary, because I feel that if they're going to be willing to rip-off a client on commission-based pay they will almost certainly rip-off the co. by taking their time on a call or "up-selling" a repair so they can justify the time they take on any given call. The solution? Pay them a base pay every week & pay out spiffs on, say, agreement sales, leads, etc., etc. There is no other way to keep a tech from ripping-off anybody any other way.

[mcjo tech]

Didn't mean to "p" you off, mcjo, I just didn't wanna make a judgement against a co. I haven't worked for.

I can see your point, though, & I willingly concede it; however, I'm not a hundred per cent sold on just paying a tech a straight salary, because I feel that if they're going to be willing to rip-off a client on commission-based pay they will almost certainly rip-off the co. by taking their time on a call or "up-selling" a repair so they can justify the time they take on any given call. The solution? Pay them a base pay every week & pay out spiffs on, say, agreement sales, leads, etc., etc. There is no other way to keep a tech from ripping-off anybody any other way.

I would agree with you regarding the above post. It is difficult to find a pay structure that is good for all concerned. A base pay with spiffs does seem to be the best way. No offense was taken.

[Joe Harper]

My point is they are not like every other company. I give up. OK, they are a true Saint of a company. Good luck to you if you believe that.

I wouldn't want them working on anything I own.

I know what the real truth is. Been there.

By the way, why don't you still work for them? Thought you said in a previous post that the crooks had taken over your former branch?

Yes I left beacuse the crooks took over. Mgmt was subsequently fired shortly after. I prefer refrigeration work over a/c. I just like making money too..

[Joe Harper]

The pay plan that I am currently on is a flattate plan. You have a base rate and you are paid based on book hours out of a flat rate price book. The actual time is divided into the book time. That number is multiplied by your base rate, giving you a "performance rate". That rate is then multiplied to your actual hours. Then there are commissions for unit sales, warranties and pm contracts.

[mcjo tech]

The pay plan that I am currently on is a flattate plan. You have a base rate and you are paid based on book hours out of a flat rate price book. The actual time is divided into the book time. That number is multiplied by your base rate, giving you a "performance rate". That rate is then multiplied to your actual hours. Then there are commissions for unit sales, warranties and pm contracts.

Never heard of that type of pay structure. Sounds interesting though. Looks like it may be a nice combination of performance pay and hourly along with some spiffs.

[new kid in town]

anything other than just straight pay is better than nothing. especialy when your the service tech, salesmen ,and installed all roled into one making an hourly wage.