Good business model in a tough location in Santa Clara - Sales Associate Micro Center Employee Review

3.0
Apr 21, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

knowledgeable sales people. way better than Fry's stable workforce, way better than Fry's investment in training free classes and tech support for customers good location in Mercado Center on 101 competitive prices with Fry's, Best Buy, etc. Would give 5 stars for the business model. Would give 5 stars for the regional manager that came in to help occasionally. Yelp reviews reflect the occasional bad experience but a generally loyal customer base

Cons

Tough to compete with so many Fry's stores in the area Advertised by mailers and not tv or radio Therefore low visibility. So many people had never heard of MicroCenter Often ran out of inventory of advertised specials, disappointing customers Vicious cycle of low visibility, low demand, limited supply, disappointed customers Expensive lease at Mercado Center that they were unable to renegotiate. Low sales + expensive lease = poorest performing store in the chain. Some managers were good, but some managers were very bad. No news there. But when your model is investing in your sales staff, bad managers driving away good people was disastrous. And because MicroCenter is a small chain, spread out around the country, the company found it impossible to get good managers from other locations to come in and make improvements at the poorest performing store in the chain. Would give 1 star for some of the managers. Would give 1 star for the inventory management from home office that disappointed customers for so many years.

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Micro Center Response
9y
We are interested in learning more about your post and the timing as it's been several years since we had the location in Santa Clara. Please call me at 614-850-3150 to talk further about any recent developments that we should be aware of. Sincerely, Angie Miller VP-HR

Explore other reviews about Micro Center

5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-if you can hustle you can make decent money -room for growth if you can get cool with everyone

Cons

-have to meet the metrics -some of the areas to grow have favoritism

1
5.0
May 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Customer obsessed culture with a strong emphasis on expertise and service. Leadership is highly engaged, with consistent focus on coaching, accountability, and development through structured one-on-ones and daily execution rhythms. Clear expectations across sales, service, and operations create alignment on what success looks like. The organization provides exposure across multiple business functions, allowing leaders to build well rounded operational and commercial skill sets. High performance environment that rewards ownership, initiative, and results.

Cons

As a smaller, specialized retailer, organizational growth and upward mobility may take longer compared to larger big-box companies. Resources and infrastructure are still evolving in certain areas, which can require leaders to be more hands-on. High expectations and pace can create pressure during peak periods, requiring strong prioritization and resilience. Some systems and processes have a learning curve, particularly for leaders coming from larger, more standardized organizations.

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Micro Center Response
4w
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a detailed review. We read all employee feedback and appreciate your insights on our culture, training, and fast pace. Your notes on where we can improve—like simplifying systems and keeping up communication as we grow—are definitely noted. Thanks for your hard work and everything you're doing for the team. Best - Jennifer Rex - Senior HR Generalist – 614.850.3153
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