From Good to Bad to Worse. - Customer Specialist - Alternative Delivery CarMax Employee Review

2.0
Sep 22, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits: 2 weeks PTO a year, paid holidays, sick time, tuition reimbursement They would feed you and have celebrations at various times throughout the year Coworkers were cool Sometimes generous discount Can sit (unusual for retail)

Cons

Fast pace, annoying customers, heavy workload, poor work life balance, work weekends and nights. I started about 2 years ago, they kind of just throw you out there. training is very poor. You sit in front of a computer screen for 8 hours watching videos, then they throw you into the line of fire just tell you ask questions when you need help. Customers can be rude when they don't get their way. Sales consultants think they are the only people in the company that matter so they have very little empathy for you and whatever you may be doing. You will work Saturdays, lucky to get one off a month. Other associates get special treatment shift wise. Some will work mostly morning shifts while you're stuck closing (until 10-11) three nights a week. It was doable at first for me, but as the years grew on I got tired of everything. Since the pandemic you can tell Carmax only cares about the money, telling positive tested associates not to tell coworkers and not disclosing to those who worked in close proximity. They pay was okay, but for the amount of work you do it should be higher. (Vroom pay starting at $18). You probably won't move up. You may get a lead position, but movement after that is very rare. Probably won't ever make more than $18/hour working in the business office unless you become the Business Office Manager or the assistant.

Explore other reviews about CarMax

5.0
Apr 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

a people driven company that sells cars

Cons

Inner network devloper compabalility is lacking

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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