Pros
• most of the people I worked with treated me like family; we communicated well, and helped each other whenever we could • engaging with customers can earn you some new insight (I loved talked to some of the older customers that would come in; I learned a lot of things I hadn't already about music, instruments, and life in general) • discount is great • store didn't mind me having tattoos, etc
Cons
• expected to immediately take care of merchandising new items, DURING incredibly busy traffic. Engaging with customers and handling multiple sales at once meant that I couldn't do every single thing management was asking of me. I was able to complete everything when I wasn't dealing with customers, but during the day was constantly pulled away from customers so that a floor manager could tell me that I had not yet completed my duties... While I was trying to complete my duties. • You're dropped into the job with... not much training whatsoever. Good luck. You have training modules, which taught me nothing due to my hands-on approach to learning... So... Essentially, you will absolutely look stupid in front of customers for a few months, until you know how the store works. • Convoluted, ridiculous computer system. Getting anything (that should be) simple done can take a while. As you're jumping from screen to screen to screen just to help a customer, you will feel the tension as the customer just stands there while you navigate "Green Screen" • some customers will treat you like you are stupid if you don't know every single thing about something they're asking about. • customers getting angry at YOU because of whatever Guitar Center is willing to pay them for their used items. Yep. Be prepared to keep a straight face, and calm composure, as people treat you like the world's biggest turd. • if you can't sell Pro-Coverage (which most people will not buy,) then you will undoubtely feel the immense pressure/fear brought down from management. You may be pulled aside and told you're not performing well at the store, based on not being about to meet crazy high numbers in regards to PC. You may be fired. Try to get a coworker to talk to you about how to sell PC. It's tricky. • If you have aspergers, like me, then you will at some point undoubtedly be treated like you are either A) rude B) lazy C) stupid. Maybe by an employee. Maybe by a customer. It happens. Guitar Center is very SERIOUS when it comes to business. It's lighthearted between coworkers but you absolutely cannot make mistakes at this store, or rub someone the wrong way without feeling guilt and shame brought upon you afterwards. • prepare to not have time to play music anymore, once you get the job • prepare to put your body to the test. Very physically demanding job. You will lose some weight. Constantly moving. Ladders. Picking up boxes. I actually kind of liked being so active, but my health definitely suffered some days from how much a sales associate is expected to do.
