Hourly Service Writer - Customer Service Advisor CarMax Employee Review

3.0
Oct 19, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

CarMax takes care of their employees during crisis. They reward them with food benefits by feeding the company when they hit numbers. They have a Treat Associates with Respect Policy and management for the most part is good.

Cons

I've worked in different areas of CarMax but my final destination was a service writer. I was bought into the idea that I'd be set up for success but we are expected to take up to 15 appointments daily with two technicians who get paid hourly Customer wait time for appointment is outrageous and sales and service do not have a good partnership at CarMax. Service writers feel the wrath of customers because of what sales associates promise them. they are constrained to a limited amount of time per appointment for customers with only two technicians on hand. They have to make daily calls and explain why each customer's car is not finished yet as the process is gone through and customers could be waiting up to a month to finally have their vehicle complete. Service writers are not included in company Communications meetings and morale is low. The pay is not worth the level of stress that is put on the service department. CarMax a wonderful company but the service department is constantly overlooked and underappreciated.

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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