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Who here has worked at Best Buy / CompUSA / Office Depot / Staples ?

R

Rip the Jacker

Diamond Member
Hey.

I'm thinking of applying for one of these 4 stores.. since all of them are nearby. I have never had a job before and I'd like some advice because I know some of you have worked in these stores before.

How long does it take from the "applying" to the "you're hired" ? What are the requirements? (I'm 17 ; High School student). If you have any useful tips please post them here.

EDIT Forgot the most important thing... what are the wages? I can work from 4:30 PM to 9-10PM weekdays and on weekends...

I don't want to be a cashier though, I wanna be one of those guys that walks around in the computer section and helps people. I can just apply to be one of those guys?
 
I worked at BB, it was fun while I was there. But I'm glad I got fired, or I might still be there earning pitiful wages and being treated like sh!t. At your age, retail is fine, just don't stay there or let it interfere with your studies.

As for requirements? There are none, my dog could get hired at BB. Just BS if you need to.
 
Originally posted by: Toasthead
Staples has no Employee discount
Click to expand...

we got employee discount twice a year. I also worked for best buy and the discount was almost worth the low wages.

-=bmacd=-
 
Originally posted by: AMDZen
I worked at BB, it was fun while I was there. But I'm glad I got fired, or I might still be there earning pitiful wages and being treated like sh!t. At your age, retail is fine, just don't stay there or let it interfere with your studies.

As for requirements? There are none, my dog could get hired at BB. Just BS if you need to.
Click to expand...

How much are the wages?
 
Originally posted by: bmacd
Originally posted by: Toasthead
Staples has no Employee discount
Click to expand...

we got employee discount twice a year. I also worked for best buy and the discount was almost worth the low wages.

-=bmacd=-
Click to expand...

Yeah employee discount's realistically don't exist at Staples (I worked there for 1.5 years). All you really get is chances at the good clearance stuff before customers see it which is hardly considered a benefit.

I got paid $7 starting out as my first job at 17 yrs. old and was at $10.50 by the time I left. I had become a manager in the electronics side by that time too. They're not scared to promote you if you show you have what it takes.
 
I worked at best buy for ~9-10 months when i was 16 (holy crap that was 6 years ago) It was my first "on the books" job. I got $8.30/hr It all depends on the store, if your managers are cool and don't act/treat you like a tool, its fine. My managers were tools 🙂

BBY is worth the discount, my family got a new fridge, washer/drier. I got a new car stereo. Cost + 5% works out quite nicely. I also plan to never work retail again, maybe nights doing stocking or something just to get the discount for a few months, but thats all.

-Matt
 
Does Circuit City sell as much computer hardware as Best Buy? Routers, Cables, Desktops, Laptops?

Because I wouldn't want to give advice on buying a TV.. I'd rather give advice on computer hardware as it's the only thing I'm decent at.
 
I've worked at all 3. It just depends. I already had experience, working on my CS degree and it was an extra weekend job while I was a computer programmer in themilitary (when I did the best buy and comp usa jobs). I worked in CC after I was out of the military.

Every time I walked into each place they didn't let me walk out without a shirt on my back. When I was hired at CC I started off at $9.25/hr. Which wasn't too bad but considering everyone else started in my department at $6.50 I wasn't complaining.

Actually, I might have stayed at CC if we hadn't switched over to some a$$hat managers as I was graduating college. I had worked there for over a year, made some good friends, got raises to be at $9.75 and was trying to get into management. Then every manager in the store got shifted and the most a$$holic (who is now fired at this time) denied me management. So I left. As I said, the a$$hole is gone and new guys are in place and a few of my old friends finally moved up as well. Now, those old friends are asking me to come back as the tech manager (since CC here opened up a tech shop) for $16 an hour. If I wasn't making more now I'd do it.

Bottom line they can all be great or horrible places to work. It all depends on whom you work with and under. Good managers and co-workers can make the worst job seem great. The reverse is also true, but good pay is always hard to argue with despite how bad the job or co-workers get.
 
If you start working at BB during the holidays they waive the 30-day employee discount period which is nice. In nearly any retail store (using Best Buy as an example), though, sales\margin goals come first and foremost so you feel really dirty at the end of the day, even if they try to mask it with terms like "customer centricity" or "CARE+". I didn't exactly dislike working there (largely because of the discount) but I learned retail is not my cup of tea.
 
I worked at Best Buy during one holiday season. The pay was slightly above minimum wage for part-time. It took a while for them to hire and they do a drug test and wait for the results before you can start working. They are probably hiring and are looking for extra help during the holidays. They take advantage of the part-timers during the holidays. Expect 35 hours a week but no benefits since you are part-time. If you say you know about computers they will put you in the computer section.
 
Originally posted by: xrax
It took a while for them to hire and they do a drug test
Click to expand...

Drug test?! Wow.

Anyways, I work in the comp. deptartment at Staples/Business Depot (Canada) and generally find it a good job. Although at times I dispise retail I do my absolute best to always give the consumer a fair chance. Never do I recommend "gold" USB cables or Extended Warranty's on retarded things. No X2s for granny to send email, or $300 printers for university students. I'm never the "star" employee in the eyes of management, but at least I go home with a soul.

I second what Humble said. It totally depends on management/co-workers. I've worked at two stores. The first was great. Tons of fun with relaxed management and good people. Second was horrible; inept managers and useless co-workers. Needless to say, I transfered back 😉

 
Originally posted by: UNESC0
Originally posted by: xrax
It took a while for them to hire and they do a drug test
Click to expand...

Drug test?! Wow.

Anyways, I work in the comp. deptartment at Staples/Business Depot (Canada) and generally find it a good job. Although at times I dispise retail I do my absolute best to always give the consumer a fair chance. Never do I recommend "gold" USB cables or Extended Warranty's on retarded things. No X2s for granny to send email, or $300 printers for university students. I'm never the "star" employee in the eyes of management, but at least I go home with a soul.

I second what Humble said. It totally depends on management/co-workers. I've worked at two stores. The first was great. Tons of fun with relaxed management and good people. Second was horrible; inept managers and useless co-workers. Needless to say, I transfered back 😉
Click to expand...

I know how you feel. I've been at Future Shop for 3 months now. I only try to sell PSP on things I'd buy it on. A 500 dollar laser printer? Sure. A decent set of speakers(PSP covers blown ones, for 20 bucks extra)? Sure. A router, or thumb-drive? No fvcking way. I'm not a star, but it makes me feel good.

 
I work at a Canadian equivilent of the stores mentioned, & don't mind it.

Pretty much all computer hardware isn't marked up enough to save much at staff price, but everything else, especially accessories & home theatre stuff, the savings are huge.

The only thing i hate is having to sell service plans & services that the customer doesn't necessarily need. (Ironically enough though, i buy service plans on tons of stuff...)

I don't make at all as much money as some of the sale guys in my department since i actually spend a lot of time helping customers, but i prefer to really help people rather than just try to get them out the door with a sale as soon as possible.

Overall, my customers do appreciate my honestly (though management wouldn't likely if they knew 😛) about stuff.
I send tons of customers elsewhere to buy stuff if we have a poor selection or pricing 🙂

Overall, it's a good job.
 
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