A Horrible Company to Work For - Anonymous employee CarMax Employee Review

1.0
Jan 14, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You meet some nice people

Cons

CarMax talks about TAWR and Competencies when they do not even listen to their associates. Management has made up there mind about you before you even have a chance to explain. And once they have decided they want you out you are out. They make up positions and roll new process and procedures out unexpectedly with no buy in from management, but the employees and managers are afraid to speak up. And the Annual Performance Reviews are not meant for the associates its just a check of the box type of situation. Many employees are very unhappy but they are afraid to use the open door policy. Not to mention the pay range is horrible for associates and if you have a family and you are hourly, you can barely pay your bills. THERE IS NO WORK LIFE BALANCE

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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