Great place to gain sales experience, but don't count on it for a career. - OUTSIDE SALES Fastenal Employee Review

3.0
Apr 3, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Great sales experience.selling product for a company that prides themselves on being very service oriented. -Opportunities for advancement are available. -Good system of inventory distribution. -Benefits are good, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance, vacation and sick pay.

Cons

-Too many other non-sales related things that have to be done (deliver and set up product, receive.transfer merchandise, collections, etc.) Not strictly a sales job. -Strategic accounts guys are worthless and are of little help on major accounts. -Commission and pay structure is horrible, too many factors go into how one gets paid. -No accountability to anything that goes on, either on the store level or on the corporate level. -Part timers are limited to 18 hours, How can one live, only working 18 hours a week? -Little to no training in the beginning, Thrown into the fire to fend for yourself. -Difficult to be competitive with other distributors, due to mandatory margins being set by upper level management. -Shipping added to invoice to recoup internal freight costs. -As a manager the only way to make money is to land a large account which gives you large growth, but if growth falls off pay is drastically affected. -Turnover is extremely high due to low wages (this affects customers a great deal, every few months they must get reacquainted with a different OSP) -Company does not provide uniforms, yet expects you to dress in Fastenal blue. -Understaffed stores and stores which are too spread out, serving too small of markets. -Many times product is not in stock. The closest distribution hub is in Atlanta and out of stock on a multitude of items that must be pulled from Indianapolis, which increases the shipping time to the store. -Christmas bonus consisted of candy and snacks shipped to the individual stores.

Explore other reviews about Fastenal

5.0
Apr 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good job to have during college. People are easy going and easy to get along with. Overall really good experience

Cons

Gets repetitive after a while

4.0
Jul 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company culture, love the investment they put in for career advancement. Great people to work with, CEO is amazing but he's stepping down this month. Benefits are good. Decentralized organization so your ideas and solutions actually get listened to and implemented. Feel like I'm actually making a difference in the company.

Cons

Pay is lower than the industry average for most departments and they don't keep up with the cost of living, don't do bonuses (unless you're in sales) or pay raises. You have to ask to get one and most times they say no. Very male dominant at the branches and in sales, but many women in corporate leadership. Don't have any DEI initiatives. Not flexible on relocation for internal management roles, have to be at corporate HQ in Winona, MN.

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