Unorganized - Packing Sweetwater Employee Review

It's unfortunate that this former employee did not enjoy their time here. We always appreciate feedback on how we can do better, but there are a number of inaccurate statements in this review we feel compelled to address: We did in fact implement a significant pay increase in our Distribution Center in September of 2018 for both new and existing employees, which in our view was a very positive thing. It was certainly viewed as a positive by the overwhelming majority of employees working in that department. We are very transparent with all new hires about what our pay rates are and how any incentives we offer work. Contrary to the reviewer's comments, there was not a scenario where brand new employees made more than someone in the same job on the same shift who had already been an existing employee. We were, in fact, very careful to insure existing employee's pay rates were also adjusted when we raised our starting rates so this would not happen. There are different pay differentials depending on what shift an employee works and whether or not they operate certain machinery, so perhaps that is what the reviewer is referring to. We take safety and the well being of our employees very seriously, so all employees who operate machinery are first trained and certified before being allowed to operate certain equipment. Our safety record is actually quite good. We do track productivity to insure we are providing the great customer service we are famous for, but not as a tool to chastise employees. And we of course know there will be a period of time before a new employee reaches their full productivity potential. Sweetwater is a privately held company, so any statements that we are shuffling assets like stocks (which we don't have) are completely inaccurate. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and our mission statement to "Always do the right thing." Our business is growing and thriving, and a big part of that success is centered around the speed at which we fulfill orders and our free shipping policies. Despite the reviewer's concerns about the cost of shipping a package compared to the monetary value of the order, we are both profitable and healthy as a company. For us, it is all about the long term relationship we have with our customers based on trust and integrity, as opposed to any individual scrutiny over the profits of a single order. This notion of our commitment to a long term relationship continues to serve both Sweetwater and its customers well. Jeff McDonald, Senior Vice President of Human Resources.