Terrible Employer - General Manager Fastenal Employee Review

1.0
May 6, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Not many I can think of

Cons

Where should I begin. Every position under General Manager is ok. Once you become a GM you will not be with the company long if you have your own mind and opinions. Also being at a larger store helps. If you take over a struggling store like I did you will get no help or support. All you will get is told come on there is so much potential in this market. I also have never seen a company that gives you a title and doesn't allow you to run the branch. I had terrible sales people and part time employees under me. I tried to do written disciplinary action on them only to be told I was not allowed to. So basically I was not a manager but a scape goat for when the time was right. When I was a sales rep I could sell anything to any customer and how I got rewarded was promoted and then booted out the door when I asked for help and disagreed with upper management on some issues at hand. Even though they only see numbers behind a desk and are not in the field daily. My advice is do what everyone else does here get finish your college do the full time sales position all the while looking for something better. Do not take a GM position unless you want to use it on a resume and plan on leaving within a year or two. Pay is terrible for GMs you are expected to do the job of 5 people while working for under 50k a year. You are responsible for collections (which they take out of your comission for past dues) accounting, operations, logistics, sales, and managing your people with no authority. I left and went to a real sales company and tripled my income of the street. If you can get into sales ANYWHERE else do it immediately and do not hesitate. I have had so many collegues leave this place only to be happier treated like a human being and make more money. I can't even begin to count how many leave. Read some reviews and see how high the turnover is that's why fastenal can't beat its competition and never will is because they value human capital as nothing. All they care about is overcharging everyone for everything and the fat CEOs in Winona MN stuffing their pockets from all of our hard work.

Explore other reviews about Fastenal

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Management is good Hours are negotiable Time off is available Opportunities to move up always available

Cons

No commissions for part time

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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