Bloomingdale's Reviews

Pros

Great way to get foot in the door

Cons

Not working in my area of expertise

Advice to Senior Management

Hire more accordingly to skill set

Pros

Love the Discount, Love the coworkers

The work environment in the Palo Alto Bloomies is a lot more wholesome and warm than SF where it's all numbers. They recognize real performance from people, and the right attitudes. I feel empowered to own my business, and run my own show, as long as I show results for it.

The clientele who shop at Stanford (in general) have a certain caliber of respect for sales associates, moreso than for the kinds of (general) population whom one might find at say, JC Pennys @ Great Mall or even Macys sometimes. However, they expect a certain caliber out of a sales associate at Bloomingdale's and with good reason.

I feel that I received a large amount of recognition for a lot of my hard work in my years with the company, although I also feel as though i have been passed over for a few opportunities I was quite qualified for.

Cons

they'll can't cut you out without good reason. (but they'll find a reason if they need)

Favoritism is rampant and unavoidable.
They've passed over well qualified candidates to hire someone who interviews well, but may not be able to perform

They've lost many charming associates due to failure to meet certain expectations.
They've also kept a lot of associates who may no longer be carrying their own weight due to tenure with the company.

The men's staff is incompetant, Y.E.S. is never there, Cosmetics and FA are always chit chatting away, and the Homestore seem avoidant and/or snobbish. and the Fine Jewelry is a mixed bag either very helpful or not at all.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior Management tries, but is not quite as in touch with the floor's sales associates. Middle Management lacks consistency, and Corporate Management has no idea what's going on and makes decisions without the input of Sales Associates.

BUT, if you speak out, you will be heard. At least, I know i have been.

Pros

Discounts
Opportunity to meet new people
Energetic Environment

Cons

Too focused on numbers and not overall work quality
Sales goals too high and unrealistic for evening weekend associate
Different pay for doing the same job
Floor hogs

Advice to Senior Management

Re-evaluate sells goals. Especially when there are several people on the sales floor at one time.
Focus more on overall quality of work; not just numbers.

Pros

It's an upscale store that you don't have to deal with the dregs of society. You're selling nice things to nice people who have the money to spend there. You can really have some nice interactions with your customers.

Cons

We are employed to do their marketing for them at a VERY cheap rate. A sales associate must meet high sales goals, hgh credit card goals and get you customers in to rate high on return customers. A part time associate does all the legwork to do so and then the customer comes in when that associate is not in and doesn't get any credit for that.

Advice to Senior Management

You need to realize the days of calling the stay at home lady who wants a friend in a sales associate is gone. Give the sales associates a break and let them do what they do best - sell. Stop making us do your marketing for you. You don't pay us enough to do all the work you expect from us. We do a great job for you but it is never NEVER enough.

Realize that part-time people work harder than most full timers and do some fantastic work for the amount of time we are there, yet we are treated like we don't matter.

Some of the managers need to take a more active role in managing the associates. The problems of stealing customers from another associate runs rampant and there is much fighting and arguing among the associates - this to totally unnecessary if the managers took the time to address it and hit them where it hurts (in their reviews) if they continue - don't ignore it and then give them awards.

Pros

relaxed managers pay discount discount

Cons

everyone makes diffrent money to do the same job.

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

As a sales associate if you make your numbers, are top of the top in sales, clientele books, credit performance, you are truly recognized via public rallies, certificates, Golden "B" ceremonies, ect. pay is fair in the market today-great if you sell a lot! The customer loyalty is wonderful. The discount is awesome during double event months (double discount). All in all a fair place to work.

Cons

It is truly like a highschool-public displays of sales stolen from associate to associate. Return rate is high due to the policy enforcement trying to keep their customer Score up (make customers response rate high);unfair to the sales associate as this hits our paycheck- not the managers pay as they are okaying the return, (years after the product is worn,used ect)! Credit card performance is key to being good in this companies eyes=you get credit your good, you don't, they place you in the bottom of the barrel. Store Manager is horrible no smiles, no anything ever and this is ok?!

Advice to Senior Management

Take the associates feedback seriously, don't have "Coffee talk" (meetings for associate response) and totally overlook everything that was said.

Pros

I learned enough about how to fit and sell a suit well. Those sales skills I learned, I use to this day.

I hit the big numbers consistently. Made top 7 sales in a month out of 100 employees. Made #11 another month. Consistently was at top of the list for Mens Department. Things like this build your personal power. You prove to yourself that you are a winner. You take that no matter where you go from there.

Cons

The manager took me into a small walk in closet to reprimand me behind a closed door. It was a tight space... about 1 foot between me and him. He could have taken me about 200 feet away to talk to me in the office. I don't recall what I did was that bad. It was something like I didn't have time to fold all the clothes before leaving my shift the night before.

Don't go above your manager to talk to his manager. If you have an opinion of what's fair for the customer, you're best keeping it to yourself if your manager disagrees. Mine got pissed. I did it twice over 2 years. I felt I was standing up the customer.

My Manager had passive agressive anger issues. Reactive quite a bit.

Probably true for retail in general wherever commission or hitting numbers is prized by management: sales associates can get greedy, catty, and jealous. Ally yourself with a few good people. Give them them the benefit of the doubt if not sure whose customer it is. Build the relationship where they want to give you the benefit of the doubt as much as you want to do the same for them. I can't be a doormat that. You won't survive. There's a fine balance at Bloomingdales of being liked by associates and hitting big numbers.

In summary, lots of politics, lots of drama.

Advice to Senior Management

Check your karma

Pros

Employee discount 20/20, 30/20/20 twice a year

Cons

physically demanding for poor pay. Departments often understaffed. Poor compensation. Little to no financial reward for above average performance

Advice to Senior Management

Reward for performance with better raises. Incentive should be based on performance, not seniority or number of positions per store. Update your computer systems and join the 21st century. Bloomingdales is supposed to be an upscale store, but it is being run like Macys

Pros

Some great vendors are partnered with Bloomingdale's, free samples and gifts with purchase available to associates, sometimes you meet some great people and contacts

Cons

Poor Communication, very hard for employees with good work habits to get recognized, sales seem to be the most important factor in how you are treated.

Advice to Senior Management

Very poor communication within upper management as well as disorganized. These work habits then are trickled down to lower management and associates. Could be handled better.

Pros

Great discount
Great product
Meet many interesting people
OK benefits
Work in better quality shopping center
reasonable hours for retail

Cons

Terrible Store Manager interested in looking good insteoread of driving sales.
Senior executives not much better.
Most executives seem to be impressed that they are working for a better department store
when in reality it is a glorified Macys,

Advice to Senior Management

Pay more attention to what the people in the front lines are saying. Sales staff anf Sales managers
are the ones that drive your business not senior execs.