CarMax Reviews in Sacramento, CA Area

Pros

There were several pros to being employed by CarMax. The first being their employee purchase program. NOTE, you can purchase a vehicle designated "wholesale" (not meeting carmax standards) and wholesale market value. You can also purchase retail vehicles with a decent discount depending on how long the vehicle has been in stock. If you like training you will love Carmax. Usually a training at least once a week, including online training, sales training, product training, and role playing. Paid time off including personal days, sick, and vacation.

Cons

Typical corporate job where the make an attempt at making you feel you have a voice when you have none. TONS of training, unfortunately its the same training over and over again. Micro managing in every sense of the word, included reviews of your phone calls.

Advice to Senior Management

overall the management handles themselves well with the role they have been given. You get the sense that they genuinely want you to succeed.

Pros

Commission job means you can really take off and make some good money if you are able to push the numbers of cars & warranties sold each month.

Cons

Unfortunately every car & warranty sale equals the same dollar amount for respective club level, no matter the profit margin on the vehicle for the company. So you really do hit a ceiling when it comes to making some serious money.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should adobt a more open door policy to suggestion and critiques. Most take any form of the former or ladder as either insubordination or disrespect.

Pros

The benifits and everything else is good. Although they got rid of the pension plan, they did implement a new retirement plan with no cost to associates. This is on top of the 401k plan. People who were vested in old pension plan will still get their money when they retire.

Cons

Like others said, too big too fast. Current economy condition is hurting it. No fairness in work. Trust between associate & management is based on how well you know the other person and how well they are able to convince you of what is needed, not nescessarity of what is right and wrong. Management should be more accountable for thier responsibilities instead of associate. Stop pushing for good numbers and push for good results. Good numbers don't always mean good results, but yet just a good bonus for them.

Advice to Senior Management

There are some people who don't belong and like others said, were brought along for the wrong reasons with little or no experience. Liston more to your associates and give them what they want. Better work options, equipment, fairness, and show them you really care. Prove it to them that the associates are what makes the company great.

Pros

If you like retail than you will enjoy working at Carmax. They are similar to Best Buy, Target, and other big box retailers.

Cons

Hours of operation are long and hard retail hours. Corporate is pushing minorities and women to promotion faster than others. They are a very White and male company in upper management positions which is why they are pushing others through the training very quickly. Amount of stock options/awards has recently been significantly reduced frm what I heard from those still there.

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure stores management continues to comply to Corporate guidance for training and management purposes. Meaning, make sure stores culture reflects the culture always spoken about by the folks at corporate.

Pros

The people. Great training program. Great work life balance.

Cons

I didn't like how the store leadership was structured. How a Business Office Manager and Purchasing Manager are higher up (Senior Managers) then other managers when they manage less peolpe and less processes. They are nothing more then glorified department managers. The Sales Managers are a little under appreciated. They are expected to know ALL aspects of the business. The only Senior Managers should be the Location General Manager, Operations Manager and Asst. Location Manager.

Advice to Senior Management

Restructure store leadership. This will ensure better partnering and communication. Trust me on this one having B.O. managers and P.M. as senior managers hinder these two badly. Be more consistant with H.R. desicions. I have seen people get fired for something and another person get moved to another department for doing the same thing. This does not look good and lowers morale.