Great place to work if you are mobile and are willing to drink the Carmax kool-aid - Sales Associate CarMax Employee Review

3.0
Jan 12, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay is reasonable, the more hours you put in the more you make. 100% commision with mandatory meetings and training, basically you work for free if you do not make enough commission to realize $7.75 an hour they will give you a short term loan that has to be paid back. There is a ton of advancement opportunities if you are extremely mobile Nice work environment and relaxed dress code. Most associates get along but there are client theives around (just a few) Benefits are very good. I think managers really care (but are inept) about their sales associates as long as you, at least, pretend to drink the "Carmax Kool-aid".

Cons

Micro management, because the Managers appear to have never took a management class they tend to take a (Company mandated) cookie cutter approach to management. Managers talk a good game but everyone knows there is only one way" the Carmax way" with no room for individualism. Managers will very seldom get involved in a commission dispute you are told to work it out on your own. (again, an apparent lack of management training) If you are 19 to 25 years old with little to no experience the management experience is not bad. If you have worked in a professional environment in the past you see what a joke the Management is. Being far though, they seem to be looking for the 19 - 25 year olds and really old retired people.

Explore other reviews about CarMax

5.0
Mar 31, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Everything is great I love how it is ran

Cons

Everything is great the way it is

4.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The perks of working at CarMax are quite extensive. Associates are offered an aggressive 401k program, Stock Purchasing Plan, in store discounts on sales and service, access to the CarMax Wholesale system, excellent healthcare, plenty of PTO, and at my location we are given as much OT as we want. My coworkers are generally good people, that I enjoy being able to work along side day in and day out. Management is very understanding in regards to calling out sick family emergencies, and schedule requests.

Cons

Despite doing the work of 5 people, and very politely asking for a raise management will not give me more than my 3% annual raise which is the single biggest let down. The bonus change of 2025 being labeled as "exciting" was straight corporate gaslighting unlike anything I've ever seen. Since the start of 2026, as of this review being written we have lost 7 associates largely due to pay, and I am soon to join those associates. Management from the store level up to corporate needs to understand that to retain their top performers they need to be compensated like a top performer. Some members of management are cliquey and moody which is very frustrating to deal with. Quality of Management varies wildly from store to store as well

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