Work here if you want to be under appreciated and make next to nothing - Sales Associate Talbots Employee Review

2.0
Oct 16, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great discount (40%-60%) to make the clothes more affordable, working with different clients every day is refreshing and adds diversity to your job.

Cons

I worked at this company for four years too long. Management follows an antiquated style of selling that doesn't allow the sales associate to develop their own unique style, time off is almost impossible to come by, and sales associates are seriously underpaid. In the four years that I worked here, I received two small raises. Most of the time you are understaffed and the turnover rate is incredibly high. Management never seems to want to hire anyone because if the store meets/exceeds their goals while coming under payroll the store managers get a bonus. Recently, the company has introduced management peer reviews but nothing has been done to change the disassociation between low-level tier sales associates and management

Explore other reviews about Talbots

5.0
Jul 13, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Really nice working environment here

Cons

None, haven’t gotten the job yet

1.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

None. This company is garbage compared to how it used to be.

Cons

Slave wages, not enough hours for anyone except management because the private equity company that owns us has cut our staff to a skeleton crew even on busy days. Management and associate alike are stretched super thin to the point of exhaustion. Even as a sales associate, there was a time I supported myself on a Talbots salary. Now I have to choose between paying my car insurance or getting an oil change. I used to get 30+ hours a week even as a sales associate. Now I'm lucky if I get 20. Health benefits are a rip-off. The company in my observation has had a time finding and maintaining good workers. If you value your livelihood, run fast and run far.

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