A Nightmarish Experience I Am Glad To Put Behind Me - Sales Associate Dillard's Employee Review

1.0
Aug 5, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Occasionally you'll meet a really nice person in your department to make the work bearable. Not often, but it happens.

Cons

1. Hilariously outdated computer and sales system. The inventory programme is command line DOS, like something from the late 80's. This makes trying to locate merchandise virtually impossible unless you are very, very skilled with an otherwise arcane system. 2. Literally no training nor patience for new employees; new hires are thrust onto the floor in a "sink-or-swim" situation, are shooed off if they have questions. Trainees are shuffled randomly into different departments with little to no notice of where or why they are going there. 3. A culture of intense, even savage competition amongst employees to fulfill impossible sales quotas and SPH (sales-per-hour) goals that lead to much bad blood and even outright hostility. Teamwork for sales -- altruism -- is frowned upon, giving sales to others to help out is looked upon as anathema by upper management. And despite the very high volume you are expected to sell, only select departments get commission. 4. Very long hours with tedious manual labour (putting out merchandise, re-ticketing literally hundreds, at times thousands of markdowns) which makes a balancing act with sales and customer service an often out-of-reach challenge. 5. Virtually absent management and executive presence, and what presence is felt is one of arrogance, intimidation, and haughtiness. Employees are often left to fend for themselves, even with excessively needy customers (a very common occurrence) or customers upset over the unclear and arbitrary return policies (an even more often occurrence).

Explore other reviews about Dillard's

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great payment benefits and flexible schedules

Cons

long-standing hours and sometimes overnight work or very early mornings for inventory

1.0
Jun 8, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Only pro is that you can expect there won't be any. So, transparency.

Cons

Annual raises for salaried employees are minimal, often only 100–500 dollars per year, regardless of performance or inflation. Salaried roles are consistently compensated below industry standards for comparable positions. Management routinely solicits employee input and feedback, then consistently ignores it, making requests for opinions feel performative rather than genuine. Excessive favoritism is openly displayed, accompanied by constant gossip, drama, and office politics that undermine professionalism and team cohesion. Leadership culture normalizes poor treatment by implying that if everyone is miserable together, the situation is acceptable. The company shows little concern for employee health and safety, pressuring staff to work in unsafe conditions because “it was done before.” Employees who raise workplace health concerns or request alternate work arrangements for health reasons are consistently penalized rather than supported, effectively forcing them to choose between their health and their job. The building was shot at, and management waited several hours to inform employees and refused to let anyone go home, demonstrating a disregard for basic safety and crisis response expectations. Any non-vacation time off, including sick time, medical appointments, and other approved leave, can be held against employees and negatively affect promotions, raises, and recognition. Promotions and raises are often denied based on incomplete or misleading assessments of performance, while significant individual contributions and permanent fixes to long-standing issues go unrecognized. External or third-party training and professional development are not supported and, in some cases, are actively discouraged. Execs are only concerned about profits and never employee well being, morale, or happiness.

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