Are customer service and sales meant to be separate or not?

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I've been browsing job listings. I'm still employed, just looking for any potential better opportunities out there. There are, sadly, not many at the moment.

I've noticed something.

Every customer service job is, in fact a sales job. I consider customer service and sales to be too different things but most companies have now apparently rolled them into one.

Another thing that drives me nuts is a lot of jobs postings will emphasize the "customer service" part of the job while downplaying the sales aspect when the reality is in fact the completely opposite. A little honesty on the job listings would be nice. It's funny how they embellish and misrepresent things in their listings and yet still get furious at people who have the audacity to lie on their resumes.

In further thinking about my other thread about the current service economy (the one about being trained to be rude and compassionless) it occurs to me that the merging of customer service and sales positions into one has, in fact, been the cause of a lot of added stress for both employees and customers.

There are so few jobs out there that are just customer service. I've been fortunate enough to work a couple of them in my life and I loved them. I only wish I could find another one.

[Whiskey]

They're supposed to be, but if you combine the two you can get both jobs done and only pay one person for it. And, more than likely, not pay commission for sales.

[Jack]

One is customer service; the other is servicing customers.

[wasabi999]

At my place customer service means taking orders for computer illiterates or for those who require certain things that can't be done on the website, along with problem resolution, complaint handling, etc. I would guess that 25% of all problems/complaints are due to SCs, 5% due to external factors beyond our control, and 50% due to the outsourcing. Is there a category for SOs (stupid outsourcers)?

[KellyHabersham]

It was somewhat combined at Macys - the "Customer Service" counter was in the same area as the Gift Wrap department, so my guess is that employees assigned to that area would've been cross-trained. (although I think their sales would've been limited to gift wrap and cards)

Since then, that whole department has been closed, so I'm not sure how it's set up now.

[Whiskey]

the other is servicing customers.

That is neither sales nor customer service.

[zombiequeen]

That is neither sales nor customer service.

I think it might be TOO good of customer service, I mean....

Servicing customers...
It's much too late, I think my brain has broken