Help Me Out Folks

[NightAngel]

Okay, so here's the list of places I've decided I'm going to apply for my next bout of long term employment in no particular order:

Barnes and Noble (kinda my #1 choice at the moment- love the atmosphere as a customer anyway)
Target (maybe, big box stores tend to give me a headache and all that RED...ow)
GameStop
BestBuy

Uh, well... that's my list so far anyway. Please feel free to scream "NOOOOO" or add something to it if you've had a good experience somewhere.

Thanks!

[ZumZum]

I have heard that Game Stop is actually a good employer. We are a gaming family, but DH did a little research on them (for DS's future employement? I have no idea), and found that they treat their employees well. I am sure there is someone on here that knows someone that works for them and can help you out.

[Kiwi]

If I may add a suggestion

since you line barnes and noble....

why dont you try for a small independantly owned boutique store rather than a larger store. You could specialise in any particular product you wanted, have alot of regular customers etc. No big nameless corporate to follow, your boss would see how their rules directly effect you and their customers so their more likely to be logical. your more likely to have stat days off etc etc.

I have worked for both kinds and prefer the smaller stores, less product to remember, your relationships are usually closer, a better chance of doing a little bit of everything (merchandising, sock, inventory, sales etc) plus the owners usually treat their staff really well as they rely on them more.

there are downsides of course but no more than working for a larger store. Why dont you give some of them a shot. My manager at the gift store had alot of autonomy, she could say yes or no to customers and know the owner would back her up. I like were I am now, because its small and personal. Might be worth a shot.

[SteverinoNY]

I never worked at best buy, but from what I see from the people who do work there that they extremely pushy as salespeople. They must be super big on making sales and adding extras and such because I feel like the employees follow me around. I don't know if anyone else has had this experience, but I was looking for zip discs so I could back up some school data and I didn't see any on the shelf. I asked a sales person where they were and he took me to a display. Now mind you, all I did was ask him to show me where they were. When I got there, I grabbed the three packages I would be needing (I decided to stock up because there was a sale) and he not so subtly placed a sticker with his name on it on them. I believe this was to ensure he got the commission. At that point, I handed them back to him and told him that I was no longer interested in purchasing them here because of the overt action to get credit for a sale for not providing help. I don't know if I was in the wrong, but I never ask for help at a best buy anymore because of that incident. I don't even know if they do this anymore, but I felt it was wrong.

Also, best buy tends to have ridiculous wait times for registers because there is usually only one cashier on. Just another sign that they care more about commission than speedy checkout service I suppose.

Just my

[The Gatekeeper]

If you think having to push the features at BB was bad, Best Buy is way worse. I've posted this link before, and I'll post it again www.bestbuysux.org

I've worked for both of the double B's. I'll put it to you this way, I'll still rent from Blockbuster, but I will not shop at Best Buy.

[Mr. Rager!]

I've had a few friends that worked at Best Buy, and they said they were treated like a number. That was their experience at least. I'm sure a lot has to do with the managers that you have.

My brother worked at Target, and I guess the managers there treated everyone horrible. Well, at he said that the overnight stocking managers treated him horrible.

I work at Sears, and I have a lot of fun there. Of course, once again I'm sure a lot has to do with the managers you have. My managers for the most part are excellent, excellent people!

I've heard very few complaints about Lowes. Maybe try them if you have them in the area. I hear Barnes & Noble is nice too.

I would suggest going into the stores you're looking at and seeing if the employees seem happy or not. You should be able to tell at least to a degree.

[purplecat41877]

How about applying for a job at a store that you also enjoy shopping at? I shop at the grocery store that I happen to work at and I've ended up buying things that I wouldn't have bought before I started working there.

[KuzcoLlama]

I never worked at best buy, but from what I see from the people who do work there that they extremely pushy as salespeople. They must be super big on making sales and adding extras and such because I feel like the employees follow me around.

Best Buy employees don't work on commission.

[Knightmare]

I've heard very few complaints about Lowes. Maybe try them if you have them in the area. I hear Barnes & Noble is nice too.

I would suggest going into the stores you're looking at and seeing if the employees seem happy or not. You should be able to tell at least to a degree.

Obviously, you haven't been reading my posts! LOL. At least, the Lowe's I work at treats the employees like numbers. In general, however, Lowe's is an excellent company to work for. IF you can find a good store.

I've worked bookstores; big corporate and small independant. Try the independant ones. I think you will be happier there. I liked having regular customers that came in. Nicer and more pleasant. They listened, took my advice, weren't rude (much) and were pretty knowledgeable about books and subjects.

[hawkchick11]

Best Buy employees don't work on commission.

No, but their managers get bonuses based on their department's sales and so the management jump all over their employees to add on extras, like PSP/PRP, cables, and other junk.

I worked at Best Buy for 7 months and almost got fired because I wouldn't lie to customers... I refuse to even step foot in those stores.

[Becks]

Night Angel, I can't really recommend anyplace, but I can do this--

Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!

[AFpheonix]

My husband works geek squad. I don't know if you'd want to do tech bench, but that's better than being out on the salesfloor. They are pretty numbers oriented there. On the bright side, if a customer is being a complete dick, they think nothing of unceremoniously dumping the dickhead out of the store with a good ego smashing to boot.

My job is cool, if you dig pimping pills, and I make nearly as much as the AMs, and as a Senior tech I get bonuses too.

[JuniorMintz]

Maybe you could look into working as an optometric assistant like me? There's a lot to learn, but many privately owned practices like to hire new people as opposed to people with a lot of experience and just train them themselves-cheaper for them, I guess. I have a lot of headaches at my job, but at least my hours are steady and there's a lot of fun to be had if you end up at a good practice.

[reformedwaitress]

The BF used to work for EBGames (same company that owns / runs Gamestop) and really really liked working there (until his DM started being a dick, but that's a different story). He works for Best Buy now and says it's taken some getting used to but he seems to like it. I think either would be a good shot.

[ZumZum]

I have a good friend who used to work for Lowe's (or hell, as she used to call it). She worked in the kitchen design center. Commission work, etc.

She had a lot of problems, but most were internal (boss, co-workers stealing sales). I guess it would depend on what position.

BTW, if you get caught NOT greeting a customer that is walking by you, you get written up. You MUST say at least Hello to very customer at Lowes.