Sales Managers Care About Their Bonuses - Not Your Rent - Anonymous employee CarMax Employee Review

1.0
Oct 20, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You can make good money with or without a degree if you're willing to work 10-12 hour days 6 days a week, and be available 24/7 on your cell phone.

Cons

The commission is terrible ($160 for selling a car, which can take 2 hours or 2 months), the hours are long (shifts are 9-10 hours five days a week, and you ALWAYS end up having to come in early, stay late, or come in on your day off), and management only cares about the store making budget so they can get a bonus, so they don't care if they give your customer to another Sales Consultant and you lose your commission, because as long as the unit still gets sold, they're closer to their bonus.

Explore other reviews about CarMax

5.0
Mar 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Communication, acknowledgment, recognition, growth, benefits

Cons

Work life balance as a sales manager is difficult when you have smaller children

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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