Eddie Bauer Reviews

Pros

Lower volume and less traffic make it easier to really help your customers. The wardrobe discount is really great. Getting feedback, whether it be negative or positive from your District Director. The ability to give great customer service.

Cons

The payroll constraints are difficult at times. Lots of price changes not only confuse the customers but also confuse the associates. The lack of growth opportunities.

Advice to Senior Management

While the stores understand why there are price changes and marketing changes, sometimes they are a bit excessive which not only confuse the customers but the people in the stores as well.

Pros

I really love my staff. They make it fun and enjoyable to be at work. The benefits (PTO) package is really nice too.

Cons

Very difficult to take any time off (PTO). Why offer such an enticing benefits package if it is nearly impossible to get any time off at length without getting a major guilt trip? Also, while I started out with a competitive salary, my merit increases have been basically non existant. Eddie Bauer's financial struggles (filing bankruptcy a couple years back and current soft sales) have been taken out on it's field leaders. They have also frozen the company matched 401k previously and now again in 2012. If they want to retain their talented and seasoned field management teams, they need to start showing some appreciation for the 60 hr work weeks we put in and crappy holiday hours. there is not a good balance of life and work. Eddie Bauer has to be your life. I guess I can see my spouse and family when I either retire, or find a different job!

Advice to Senior Management

Just some appreciation for a job well done would be great. never have I worked for a company and that doesn't appreciate their employees as much as Eddie Bauer.

Pros

50% off all things in store you can wear on the floor. Very generous discounts for employees.

Cons

Slow at times, otherwise I cant really complain.

Advice to Senior Management

Look for those with colorful personalities rather than just those who have worked in retail before.

Pros

Great people, loved the atmosphere

Cons

Training is poor, won't tell associates stuff until they make the mistake

Pros

Smaller volume store - easy to manage. Great outdoor fproducts that were high quality!

Cons

Technically behind the times and felt as though there were little opportunities for growth.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide more information/training for the Store Managers to increase their effectiveness in building their businesses.

Pros

I enjoy the associates and customer base.

Cons

Unless you are accustomed to mall hours it can be tough.

Pros

If you like a stagnant, predictable work environment where people don't want to change, this is the place to be.

Cons

Poor communication between departments, bad office politics, employees (especially contractors) are not treated with respect and no real leadership or strategy.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat employees, especially contractors, with respect and they will invest more of their talents in making your company succeed.

Pros

- generally very nice people to work with
- customer base are older people who are regulars and nice to work with for the most part

Cons

- completely unrealistic sale goals
- nothing to buy for people under 40 and smaller than size 8 in women
- management is very pushy making associates check on customers every 10 seconds. there is a difference between being attentive to your customer and being annoying
- have to sell lots of stuff at the register (purchase with purchase item, friends card, credit card etc)
- over the years quality had decreased dramatically. I used to be able to justify such high prices by showing superior quality. Not any more. Myself I go with north face or columbia
- management is not very concerned with treating employees fairly. When complaints arise about "stealing" sales from other associates, management says it's none of their problems.

Advice to Senior Management

Try making retail less miserable for your employees, because it feels like all employees are being exploited for sales.

Pros

Discount, generally fun co workers, salary is good relative to to other retail establishments, possibility of upward mobility if you want it.

Cons

It's retail, so you are a slave to the almighty dollar and sales. Depending on how store is run, potentially cutthroat slaes environment, hours depend on sales, limited flexibility on scheduling.

Advice to Senior Management

Value your employees and play to their strengths. Stop putting so much emphasis on forced ranking, we're not on commission and not everyone can be in the top 5 every week for sales.

Pros

They are very family oriented so if things go wrong they will work with you

Cons

Managent communications needs improved for furthermeant of managemnt