84 Lumber Reviews

Pros

It was a relaxed fun place to work, the ability to do real work not just be an order taker, very educational, and an excellent opportunity to build off of. Great training program that they pay to send you to and compensation raises based on completion.

Cons

Pay left somehwat to be desired but wasn't horrible when you made it past manager trainee. Working saturdays was pointless. Long Long days sometimes. Overall I can't say that I would not do it again however.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall doing a good job I believe. The severance package could have been paid on time. And don't move someone to a different store 3 times and then leave them with out a job because you shut it down. But who can help that I guess.

Pros

decent money but you work for it

Cons

bad management
treat employees poorly
physically demanding

Advice to Senior Management

read a book

Pros

Excellent staff
Excellent opportunities for advancement
Training

Cons

Working weekends without customers to validate the day spent there
Unrealistic sales goals with "Building Bust", Maintaining current sales levels vs. unachievable growth with current new construction

Pros

If you have a great economy and great local market you can do very well for yourself.

Cons

Pretty much everything else.
84 has little to no concern for you. There is NO loyalty whatsoever.
Very little guidance from senior management.
Poor working conditions.

Advice to Senior Management

Terrible pay. Poor working conditions. No leadership. You have alot to change. Probably too much.

Pros

Learning how to talk and sell customers. Learning the construction business. Building relationships with customers. Learning about installed sales and government contracts

Cons

long hours, not enough help, very stressful environment, Low overhead. picky customers, customers always want the lowest price, inadequate upper management

Advice to Senior Management

need to hire more help for the insides sales force. increase pay for inside sales staff, automatic differals from Outside Salesman.

Pros

The pay was adequate. 84 Lumber has a strong brand presence. The main office employees are the biggest cheerleaders for the organization..

Cons

84 Lumber prides itself with doing the most with the least. They do not invest in facility or IT upgrades, your per diem is $20 per day and they do not invest in employee growth.

Advice to Senior Management

84 Lumber will never be a major player if you do not adopt 21st century business practices. You must invest in your people and facilities. That's the brand the client sees first.

Pros

hands on experience is good, you're "thrown into the fire" in some senses but you catch on quick...the chance to learn new skills in the industry

Cons

way too many to list but some touch points are low pay/hours ratio...too corporate and "textbook". Managers are too restricted which makes no sense, since they are the ones familiar with local trends and markets, not corporate up in PA.

Advice to Senior Management

Loosen up and restructure an outdated management system as well as the benefit/pay package. Hire more women at the local level. You see no women in local management roles. Give more autonomy at the local level.

Pros

Pay is fantastic compared with others in the industry
Management oversight and hours are very flexible.

Cons

They seem to be very confused as to the direction they are going in a crumbling market.
Management by crisis and attrition.
Their pay structure does not encourage aquiring new customers in a competitive market.
Profitablity of each sale comes before customer service.

Advice to Senior Management

My advice would be to stop allowing accounts to sit on the sidelines without sales. Open the national accounts back up if they have been idle for a certain amount of time. They need to refocus on what the customer needs and wants to buy, rather than what they have or wish to sell.

Pros

Working with pro contracors and getting building education.

Cons

False promises.... I left a great job with hoop dreams of money and promotion, and got nothing just like my fellow employees.

Advice to Senior Management

get a clue
and by the way Joe is not running the company any more Maggie is and SUCKS

Pros

84 Lumber rewards its best employees very fairly. It offers a challange on a daily and a monthly basis. the most competitive people will thrive.

Cons

The mediocre employee will be exposed. If you have a union mentality you will not thrive.

Advice to Senior Management

Remember the people we have today are the same ones we had when we broke all of our personal sales records in the good times. Tough Times Don't Last, Tough teams Do.