Sales Consultant- California - Sales Consultant CarMax Employee Review

3.0
Jan 4, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Upbeat, fun work environment. Managers are helpful but other sales consultants are really what make the job. If you stay middle of the road in sales numbers and keep a low profile then you are able to treat work as running your own business. Must treat everyday as a new day or the negative will burn you out.

Cons

No work/life balance if you want to make a lot on commission. Moving to different department once you are in sales in nearly impossible. Huuuuge turnover Politics, favoritism, sexism Sales consultants haven't received a raise in 10 years. Company wide sales consultants make the same commissions so my extremely high cost of living in socal is considered the same as middle America consultants are raking in pretty decent livings. Company will pay you commission for buying an appraisal but no commission if that appraisal is used as a trade in. Scheduling is terrible having you close then open then close. 9am-6pm or 12pm-9pm completely at random and difficult to request changes except for manager favorites. Once you move into higher sales tiers managers will do anything you ask including feeding you easy sales, giving you the best call center shifts and then wondering why the same 5 people are the only ones at that selling level. Multi billion dollar company and I am below poverty line, working 100 hrs every two weeks, sacrificing family life with no raises and once a year upper management goes on all expense paid cruise for 5 days with plus ones. Wow.

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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