Fun for the hobbyist, not the professional. - Sales Associate Guitar Center Employee Review

3.0
Mar 17, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Perfect atmosphere for the gigging musician or hobbyist audio engineer; plenty of gear that's always available for demo (GC encourages using gear to become familiar with it, even offers fair discounts for employees three months after hire); transfer possibilities between stores should relocation be necessary; employee-sponsored insurance; fair hours/scheduling, and able to negotiate (even if unsuccessful) hours; gig leave available

Cons

Pay/commission not very suitable for covering cost of living and leaving discretionary income (aka not paid enough, especially those sales associates who probably should be making more based on performance); no sales/bonus incentives; required to troubleshoot gear, even for sales other associates made; advancement not quite clear cut, plus pay incentive hardly increases with promotion, if at all; lacking in in-store inventory depending on location, forcing associates to order gear (some customers do not like ordering, and want their gear immediately); sales/salary greatly depend on customers wanting or not wanting to purchase gear

Explore other reviews about Guitar Center

5.0
Jan 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Got to work with so many people

Cons

Long hours during holidays were rough

3.0
Jul 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Sweet deals and discounts Coworkers are very pleasant to work with Good as extra income Good for aspiring musicians to network with experts of the industry

Cons

Obsolete softwares Scheduling system software that is thenmost imperative tool as of it will be the backbone of a lesson lead for your team of instructors success it's also somewhat obsolete amd constantly crashing both IT and Upper management are aware. IT is very diligent and pleasant to work with but Upper management expects their lessons lead to work and deliver at 100% capacity while they continue to have an operating system that only works at 75% capacity, just beware of that and if you're willing to work under those conditions. With that put there go at your own discretion. Nobody gets Christmas/winter holiday vacation time off, also go at your own discretion on that one especially if you have kids and family looking for work-life-balance.

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