• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Good retail chain jobs?

Status
Not open for further replies.

belgurdo

Banned
After getting into a long argument with my father over me supposedly "saying 'good morning' to him too loud while he was distracted with painting" this morning, I realize that I am way too fucking old to be living with my parents and that I need to move. But to do this I need a better job (since working 3 days a week at a library isn't going to cover a decent apartment, obviously.) Does anyone know some of the hiring/pay procedures for some of the bigger retail chains like Best Buy, Gamestop, etc.?
 

dog$

Hates quality gaming
See about getting into CVS Pharmacy -

Normal retail trappings apply (at least for me, this constitutes of never having enough work hours to support a living and always working under 40 year old dyke managers who hate men, then there's the customers), but they actually do have decent benefits. Not to mention that after being fired from the place after working for a year, I got a company check from a cancelled 401(k) they gave me, which I didn't even know I have, for $800. Not bad.

Bookstores aren't too bad if you like free coffee & book discount perks (the Borders I worked at was OK).
 

AeroGod

Member
Restaurants best bet. Avoid electronic type stores and various fast food places at ALL costs. I worked at Pizza Hut for a year and a half doing various things and it was really cool. Pretty laid back and FREE PIZZA. Cant be beaten. Real Restaurants might be a little bit more difficult but the environment is alot better. YOur also likely to have less a chance of having to deal with asshole customers. Also if you get a tipping position, it pays off. My cousin works at an upper scale restaurant, not really a chain but good all the same, and generally sometimes can bring close to 200 in tips per night. Not bad at all Id say.
 

AirBrian

Member
I worked for BB a few years ago, I really enjoyed it but your happiness will vary by store manager/co-workers.

I found that you can easily get promoted at BB if you work hard and sell. And actually, right now is a pretty good time if you want to get on as they'll start ramping up employment for the holiday season (are you sure you want to work retail over X-Mas? :) ). Basically, if you get hired as a seasonal employee, you'll be part time with the potential to pick up additional hours if you are good, but they are not guaranteed. After the holidays (Feb IIRC), they'll start keeping the good workers and letting the poor ones go. If you are kept, you then can let them know you want to move up, blah, blah, blah, and ask to be full-time. Let them know you are dedicated and want to be a long-term employee.

The pay isn't too bad either. Our store's Media Supervisor made $36K a year. As a Lead, you can generally push it to the $12-$14 per hour if you're good/persistant. Of course this will vary depending on where you live (but I'd imagine it wouldn't vary that much).
 
Sadly I have to say Staples is about as good as retail gets. Part Time Benefits, a great Employee Bonus system which rewards the whole store instead of the individual, so those in lesser visted departments dont get ripped off. Plus its an industry which thrives almost all year round, (tax season, business season, back to school season).

I dunno, ive worked for a good number of places, I stick with Staples for a reason I guess. That reason being they transfer me wherever the fuck I wanna when I need it. God I need to get out of retail.
 

SKluck

Banned
I knew I should've gone to Staples. New one opened up right by me, I'm working at OMX currently. The thing is, if your bosses care about morale, you should be okay. But 90% of the time they don't and they just want another raise for themselves or good sales for the store. Small stores seem to be better at this. Where they only have no more than 3-4 employees at a time. That cuts out every electronics franchise store.
 
Well a word of warning, Staples is currently shifting its focus from Operational to Sales, so there will still be a big Sales focus, especially now. Generally tho you can find your niche and fit in doing that. I sold like 3 plans last year, but they never bothered me because there's a lot more to keeping a store going than sales plans. When they talk to you tho they will try to convince you otherwise ;)
 

alejob

Member
I watch a show once, it might have been Oprah(when my mother comes over she has to watch Oprah) that said that those people who carry your bags at the airport make like $90000 a year, mostly in tips which are tax free. Damn i wish I lived by an airport :D
 

TheQueen'sOwn

insert blank space here
MrAngryFace said:
Well a word of warning, Staples is currently shifting its focus from Operational to Sales, so there will still be a big Sales focus, especially now. Generally tho you can find your niche and fit in doing that. I sold like 3 plans last year, but they never bothered me because there's a lot more to keeping a store going than sales plans. When they talk to you tho they will try to convince you otherwise ;)

I hated having to sell those plans!!! Especially on calculators!

However,
Business Machines Department > *

I also heart HPInfoLab :).
 
Restaurants best bet.

Thats true. Start out waiting tables with a chain type restaurant if you've never waited tables. They have good training and the tips are ok. Chilis, Friday's, UNO's, etc...
Or if there is a local upper-tier restaruant try there. You should probably know from living in the area what restaurants are better and do well for business.

I did well in college waiting tables. Much better than my friends at retail stores.
 

DaCocoBrova

Finally bought a new PSP, but then pushed the demon onto someone else. Jesus.
Kenneth Cole.

You get commission. Any job that doesn't offer that is not worth the time.

You also get 50% off discount for working there.
 
OE rocks as long as you sell plans, cause then you dont have to do jack shit else. OS does almost fucking everything.

*sigh*

but whenever OE people tried to sell shit on my side it was hilarious. Half the OE people didnt know THEIR side, they just read fucking tags. I knew more than most if not all than the OE people.

Thats what comes with being overqualified I spose.
 

TheQueen'sOwn

insert blank space here
MrAngryFace said:
Thats what comes with being overqualified I spose.

The best thing about the Business Machines Department for me was being able to sell software. When we had the demo of Call of Duty up and running last year, I sold so many people on that game... My little "thing" at Staples was that everytime (almost) I'd sell a computer I would sell a game with it.

It's just too bad I got screwed over in the scheduling. I'm sorry we can't give you shifts on the weekend anymore (cause there were employees who had been there longer that wanted them.... althought they would go months on end without working... I deserved those shifts) + exams in January = a big fuck you from me.
 

TheQueen'sOwn

insert blank space here
Sadly, I do :(.

EDIT: Ah well... it wasn't the worst experience ever (I met some really nice people)... and it was my first job ever (I was so happy the day I ended up in the Computer Department lol)...
 

sc0la

Unconfirmed Member
If there happens to be an Oakley store in the area you should hit it up. You sell cool shit. The traffic is low since it is all expensive as fuck and you get a devestatingly cool 75% discount, and (IIRC) an allowence for a wardrobe every season.

I get 100$ sunglasses from my buddy who works there for 25$ :D


EDIT:
belgurdo said:
Does anyone know some of the hiring/pay procedures for some of the bigger retail chains like Best Buy, Gamestop, etc.?
If you find yourself working at gamestop get direct deposit shit filled out the first day you work the payroll company they use is shit, they give you a stupid "atm card" to access your money then they charge you when you do. fucking ridiculous. I would recomend against someplace like gamestop though because you are not going to get the hours you need starting off there to get an apartment. I just got promoted there and now, I might be able to afford a place myself. Likely I need a roomate though.
 
cubicle47b said:
One of my friends works at Barnes & Noble running the floor and he really likes it.

don't know anything about B&N but working at Border's is like eating a pickle with nails in it and telling everyone you do it because you like the taste of cactus.
 

aoi tsuki

Member
Do not work for Books A Million. A messy management structure, low-quality cafe products (coffee, treats, coffee presses, etc.), and it takes forever to get things in the store fixed, although i think this is a local issue. i'm working there now and i get close to 40 hours a week (they keep it just under 40 to avoid giving benefits), but it's such fucking hell that if i didn't need the money, i'd quit four months ago. Luckily, i usually have another job which either helps, or bests Books A Million in all aspects, especiall the pay to work ratio.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom