No commission-based sales – Commission incentives were removed after COVID, but daily sales targets remained in place.
Background in Sports Nutrition – As a student of sports nutrition, I brought strong product knowledge to the role. However, management often pressured staff to upsell supplements that were not appropriate for customers’ needs. This was especially concerning given the large number of elderly customers who relied on GNC for trustworthy advice.
Pressure to Purchase Memberships – On multiple occasions, my manager required me to personally purchase Pro Memberships in order to meet daily sales quotas, which placed an unfair financial and ethical burden on employees.
Lack of Training – Formal training was essentially nonexistent. On my first day, I was placed directly on the sales floor. While I excelled due to my background, someone without prior knowledge of supplements and vitamins would have struggled significantly.
Compensation – The hourly wage was relatively low considering the workload and responsibilities.
Customer Expectations – Many customers treated employees as if they were licensed healthcare professionals, expecting advanced nutritional advice. This required strong product expertise to meet expectations responsibly.
