Good place for the few who progress/Bad place if you don't - Sales Manager/Lead Business Office Associate CarMax Employee Review

2.0
Mar 21, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people, pretty good training system and the Business Model is really the best car buying/selling experience for both the customer and associates. Never put in a position to put personal gain over customer needs. They really do their best to make things right when things go wrong.

Cons

Regional Managment sees people as pieces on a game board and doesn't take into account anyone's personal desires or ambitions. It is only about what is best for them, you also see this to a certain extent at the senior management level. Advancement is most often based on politics and personal relationship rather than performance. Also since they have reduced the amount of management positions there is less and less opportunity for growth unless you never want to put roots down and are willing to constantly move. If you are not in management the pay is pretty poor and not worth staying long term for.

Explore other reviews about CarMax

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazing benefits with 6% 401k matching and tuition reimbursement.

Cons

Highly reliant on the quality of management at the store location.

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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