Cost Plus Reviews

Pros

Really cool products, some really nice people to work with. I made a few close friends while here. Some of the new shops in the store were set up really nice. Good part time job for students.

Cons

As a stock lead in this building you will not be empowered to do your duties. Although you carry keys, you will not be treated as a manager simply for the fact you do not unlock the safe. You have no imput as to who will be placed on your team and almost no say over how they are scheduled.
The benefits here are nothing to be amazed at. Cost plus has taken many full time positions that require full time hours, and cut them to what is called part time over, or PTO. this is their attempt to cut your medical, dental, holidays, vacation, and you get NO sick time.
It is almost impossible to stock the shelves to POG because there are no tags, and product runs out often, then the adjacent product is flexed over, and eventually filled with something else before the proper item can be replenished. Unless you have the POG memorized it results in a HUGE mess.
There is a huge emphasis on the world market explorer program, and a lot of pressure there. Stock leads work mainly during the hours the store is closed so it is not much of an issue.
I was told to work trucks one way, then another, then back to the first way, then back to the second way.
Some managment feels it's best to run a store through tyranny and fear.
Turnover is also bad, as soon as you get someone trained and doing a good job, they get tired and quit.
The pay for what you do is below retail standard

Advice to Senior Management

Take care of those who take care of you

Pros

great people to work with on store level.

Cons

district manager seamed biased towards our store despite having one of the best sales records in her district.

Advice to Senior Management

stay away from the politics of corporate and keep doing a great job

Pros

Discount on non-food items
Training
Relaxed work environment for the most part
Genuinely interesting products (though not always the highest quality)

Cons

Too much emphasis on the Explorer program
Management often in the back room, not doing much
Co-Workers not pulling their weight with no repercussion

Advice to Senior Management

It's frustrating when some employees are pulling their weight and others aren't. It creates a more relaxing and cohesive work environment when employees do their work. Being more present on the sales floor would do a lot to fix that.

Pros

The customers are great, the selection of products are great, and you get a lot of knowledge about beers and wines.

Cons

Not to many, I just wish it payed more. They do seem to partner with seemingly failing movies, like Tin tin and Titanic 3D...

Pros

Benefit package was strong as compared to other retailers.

Cons

Back room very dangerous with extremely heavy pieces of furniture with limited personnel to lift and load.
Management un-supported.
Minimum to no pay increase for 3 years.
Product quality on furniture is poor.

Advice to Senior Management

Mutual respect goes a very long way on all levels.

Pros

Continuous change, fun atmosphere, many different interest categories

Cons

little product knowledge on new product, low pay,

Advice to Senior Management

give more time to understand the problems with each situation or conflict rather than write it off and expect immediate change

Pros

Fellow employees share your experiences- good or bad, so a good sense of community is made. There is always plenty of work to be done even on a slow day- even though that work may be very dull.

Cons

I often felt like because I am a hard worker that the brunt of the day's work was on me without a fair compensation. Supervisors do little work, and are paid way better than other employees. The cashier is stranded at the front of the store, while managers and supervisors rarely if ever lend a hand in cashiering or any other duties. The supervisor's work load is so light once they find that hard working employee they can exploit. There is one supervisor who typically does the work of all supervisors and GM.
Rude customers are frequent.
WME program is stuffed down every employee's throat. Getting the WME quota of thirty percent signed up each day with NO acknowledgment or bonus is BS. Lowest paid employee is responsible for most of these results as they are the cashiers, so if this program is so important- why not give employees some incentive? WME makes cashiers beg customers to sign up for junk email: after eight straight hours of cashiering this is a nuisance, but as of recently cashiers are expected to do all this without a drink by their register!
Stocking position: hustle hustle hustle! But yet make everything look presentable, top stock accurately, help every customer that passes by you, butb, set up new end caps, schematics- chances are the supervisors arent going to help you with any of this. So like stated previously- stock lead youre on you own for the most part. Good luck.

Advice to Senior Management

Chances are your furniture and stock lead are doing it all-pay them more and acknowledge their work.

Pros

- opportunities
- always busy
- great customer service environment

Cons

- stressful
- inconvenient hours
- senior management changing all the time

Pros

- great home furnishing store
- sample sales
- high caliber colleagues
- growing and exciting

Cons

- Professional growth is possible but most of the time, position stuck in the daily grind.

Pros

Unique products. Flexible schedule. Fun team to work with.

Cons

The wage is standard for retail.