Retail Store Question. Adverage Pay??

[nutterbutter2010]

I'm going to go put an application in for a few retail stores around here like Ann Taylor, Anthropology, The Gap, Banana Republic, etc, and I was wondering what the adverage pay is for a sales person at these places. I'm an admin, but I really hate where I am, and want to get out, but I can't find any p/t office jobs right now



TIA

 

[mtemm]

have you thought about temping? retail tends to pay very low, even lower than admin work.

 

[luvpooh]

It's usually minimum wage, or slightly higher. Some places also pay commission or sales incentives.

Beware of working in a place where you like the merchandise - your paycheck gets eaten up quickly b/c you usually get a good discount and buy a lot more than if you weren't around the store all day, lol.

 

[RadioNate]

minimum wage or slightly above.

I'd also watch out for places where you are required to only wear their clothes. That'll suck more of the paycheck than just liking the clothes. Of course working there, you will have an excuse to wear them.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

About two ish years ago I worked at old navy. I started off at 8.50 an hour. We could wear clothing from where ever but it couldn't say the brand across it or anything like that. We got good deals. I miss my gap discount.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I don't know where you're from, but around here (Michigan) the pay for a temp Admin and the pay for a retail worker are pretty much the same.

 

[puffkin]

I lost my job in the spring as an accountant (very well paid) and got a job at Bed Bath & Beyond to help supplement unemployment. It paid $9 an hour which is actually pretty high for retail. They were the only ones hiring at the time (I put in applications everywhere). I have since found FT work but am still working there 1 night a week to make sure everythign works out here. BB&B is the hardest job I have ever had....very physically demanding plus they expect you to know everything about the merchandise (we take classes). It is ridiculous what they expect for $9/hr! The discount also is only 20%, the same as the coupons everyone gets. Not all retail jobs are quite as intense as that one....but most stink!

IMHO, I would stick with an admin job!

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I've worked retail since I was 16, for the same company. It is not an easy job, and yes, you are expected to do way too much for the amount of money you are paid. I highly recommend the book, The Customer Is Always Wrong: The Retail Chronicles. Hilarious reading, because it's all too true.

That said, my store has been extremely accomodating with my school schedule. The flexibility alone is worth it for me. If I need a day off, I've got it. If I need a week off, I've got it (provided I give adequate notice, of course). The benefits are also surprising - I receive a 40% employee discount, which comes in handy on occasion. I also receive paid vacation time, which is pretty rare for a part-time position.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Part of my problem here, is they are expecting me to do WAY TO MUCH for WAY TO LITTLE. I stay late at least 2-3 days a week without advanced warning, and now I'm being told that I may not be needed tomorrow. Not being needed tomorrow is something they could have told me about months ago, but they just don't care enough to do it. I have babysitters and such to consult, its just not fair and just plain rude.
But as you all said, I'm going to get the same stuff in a retail job too probably. Its just sad because employers know the state everyone is in, and they are taking advantage of it all they can, i.e. not paying what they should, asking to much from employees, etc. I just hope the economy picks up soon so I can find a better job, and so others can get jobs they need as well.

 

[hvsteve1]

Funny how things change. I'm retired from a 10 year stint with May Department Stores, now Macy's, and recall holiday seasons five or six years ago where we were so desperate for seasonal help that we had a bounty on them. If you signed up to work for the holidays, you got a $250 signing bonus. If you were an employee and referred a friend or family member, you also got $250. I know Macy's was also paying bonuses to regular employees who agreed, before the season, to work overtime. If you're looking to work retail, the higher end department stores such as Macy's, Nordstroms, Bloomies, etc. tend to pay better than the places you named which tend to hire kids. If you have good people skills, try to get a commission job such as cosmetics, shoes or commissionable clothing. It's a crapshoot and a lot of work and stress, but some of those people can earn more than management. Also, Macy's and some other higher end stores have gone to a dress code where employees dress in black, saving you the cost of designer stuff. When I worked there, I had a nice wardrobe of suits, sportjackets, ties, etc. The guys who work there now wear black slacks and a black shirt. Women wear simple black dresses, suit or skirt and blouse. If you're interested in employee discounts, Macy's has become better than most. They originally didn't allow associates to use coupons but have come around to the May Department Stores way of thinking, realizing employees are some of their best customers. They now allow associates to use coupons along with a generous employee discount with additional employee discounts now coming along every month or so. In other words, you can get total discounts of up to 70 or 80 percent off regular prices figuring sales, coupons and all the employee discounts. There are part timers who work at these stores mainly for the discounts.

 

[mtemm]

Part of my problem here, is they are expecting me to do WAY TO MUCH for WAY TO LITTLE. I stay late at least 2-3 days a week without advanced warning, and now I'm being told that I may not be needed tomorrow. Not being needed tomorrow is something they could have told me about months ago, but they just don't care enough to do it. I have babysitters and such to consult, its just not fair and just plain rude.
But as you all said, I'm going to get the same stuff in a retail job too probably. Its just sad because employers know the state everyone is in, and they are taking advantage of it all they can, i.e. not paying what they should, asking to much from employees, etc. I just hope the economy picks up soon so I can find a better job, and so others can get jobs they need as well.

retail is generally far worse than admin work. I did it for a time when I was laid off and it was insane.

is it the admin work you dislike or the particular company you are working for?

one thing you could consider is getting a p/t job in retail, maybe a night or 2 a week and a weekend day and test the waters, see if it is something that might work for you.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Augh, I hated retail. Working at Bath and Body Works was the worst job I ever had. I was paid slightly above minimum wage, though the rate changes based on region. The discount was okay, but you're tempted to spend your whole (measly) paycheck in the store.

I worked at Structure (now Express Men) in college and you had to wear their brand clothes (Express) - only exception was shoes since they didn't carry shoes

Now is the time to apply for retail. The stores I worked in hired lots of people for the holidays and offered permanent positions to the best workers at the end of the season.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I worked retail at Mervyn's one summer and got slightly above minimum I think--nothing to great.

When I graduated college, I entered the management training program with Sears. At the time it paid very well--but oh man, the customers were fine but my boss . I ended up leaving to go work Housekeeping at Disney's Vero Beach resort. A significant pay cut, but the insanity stopped. Until a co-worker was psycho and had it in for me. But at least resort management loved me. When I left for a more stable/normal job...my housekeeping manager had to suck it up and her new job was to see what it would take to get me to stay in mine.

Anyway, I know people complain about the pay, but it isn't rocket science and customers can be great. My biggest issue other than shoddy management sometimes, is when you have to push credit cards, warranty programs or anything "extra". Not "this belt would be great with that"--but you are at the register with a nice happy customer and then you have to begin to sell all this additional crap. That I did not enjoy.

Go in with good spirits and retail can be great. But you will get that customer who tries to test you and make you want to pull your hair out.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I probably would not put in applications at a retailer right now, unless you are only looking for work that is only guaranteed for a couple of months. Retailers are pretty much only hiring holiday help this time of you so you'd be out the door by January unless you really shined and there is room for you.