Pros
If you have the right team of associates and managers, it's an awesome experience. You learn how the store is actually run and your involved in all aspects from inventory, merchandising and daily store balancing. You investigate discrepancies in money and inventory, so it provides a challenge rather than the day-to-day routine. The discounts are great.
Cons
Operations is not appreciated in Guitar Center. The sales associates are the ones who earn more money, eligible for contests and get almost all the recognition. However, if it were not for your team in Operations, the sales associates would not have anything to sell. The store would not be set up per company policy and direction to enhance the customer experience. It's frustrating that the Operations team is constantly working the whole shift, lifting, shipping and receiving items for customers and making the store what it is. Then when you take merchandise out to the floor, you see sales associates standing around talking to one another or playing instruments. I've worked with Store Managers that put a stop to that. But most just let it happen and it really sucks the life out of you to do the best job possible for the store success and they don't hold the precious sales associates responsible. You (Operations and Sales Lead) can step up and try to coach them to help in the store, but they know they are virtually untouchable if their sales numbers are high. It's retail, so as a member of management you will open and close the store with your schedule possibly changing weekly. If you're in good with your manager, you can get Saturday and/or Sunday off.