Von Maur reviews

In cosmetics department, there's constant mundane busy work, they insist on a paper trail. You are constantly expected to make phone calls to customers and recruit from within the store. The bad thing about recruiting is that we have set such a relaxing, non-competitive atmosphere for our customers, that they are not receptive to you recruiting while they are shopping for a new handbag. Its basically a closed door. Cosmetics department manager is a constant open door. The location in Livonia has been there for twelve years and before I'd left the count for cosmetics department managers was at 32. That's insane!!! and it doesn't necessarily create stability for the associates. How do you expect rules or new methods to stick if the manager changes like the wind blows? Also, along with the busy work, you're expected a lot of times to pull money out of thin air--but I digress because that comes with the territory of a competitive cosmetics department. The paper trail is tremendously unnecessary. Incident reports for returns instead of a POS system that can flag fraudulent returns and customers. Paper for clientele instead of a POS system that can handle 500+ customer info. UNSAFE PRACTICES because in the event of a presell circumstance, a customers card info and address is stapled to their purchase until the day of said event. It's unsafe and not practical!!! Also, the amount of investigations that goes on at that store is ridiculous. Keep your head down and do your job and hopefully you won't get caught in the storm. (Investigations are on the management by the way.) If I had a chance to do it over again, I would because of the pay but the way this company is stuck in the stone age is enough to make a grown man cry. Be prepared to be balls to the walls if you're in cosmetics because where the store is only required to contact two customers a month, you will be contacting hundreds. Don't believe me, just watch.

My journey through the dark side of Von Maur began -- as many others likely did -- with an outstanding customer experience. When the department store chain first opened a location within driving distance of my small farming community, I was both fascinated and intrigued. I spent hours browsing -- and indulging -- in merchandise that probably cost more than my monthly truck payment. But I was sold... hook, line and sinker. I couldn't get enough. Upon finding myself needing employment at a later date, I dashed off a hasty application, thinking to myself, "If I love shopping there so much, why wouldn't I love to work there?" After sending off the application, I was contacted almost immediately, set up for an interview, and hired, practically on the spot. However... mirroring their beautiful complimentary gift-wrap, the idea of employment at Von Maur is packaged gorgeously, and topped off with an extravagant bow. But, once one opens the package, there is unfortunately nothing beautiful -- nor even positive -- to behold inside. I truly wanted to love working for Von Maur. I bought into everything that I was fed during training... probably for a little longer than the average employee. (And I may have been a starry-eyed country kid, but I can tell when things aren't quite right, and I can tell when people aren't happy. And none of the co-workers I ever met seemed truly happy... in fact, most seemed kind of miserable.) In an interesting twist, I was actually promoted to a Department Manager position about six weeks after I started. At the time, I couldn't have been more proud or pleased... but looking back, I wasn't ready. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no retail management experience whatsoever. Basically, I was still just a dumb country kid with, apparently, a lot left to learn. So, needless to say, there were a few things I didn't do quite right, initially, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Even as naive as I was -- and I hate to say this -- but I never really had a lot of respect for upper management. I truly wanted to, mind you... because, I was raised to respect those above me. But... any time I would ask them a question regarding a policy, or whatnot, that I was unclear about... they'd just look at you like they were a deer in the headlights, and tell me that "That's a great question, I'll look into it." And then I'd never hear a single thing about it again. Ever. I think, though, that the final straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, was when I had to ask for a couple days off when my grandfather passed away... and I was told, "We can give you bereavement, but... you don't really look that sad." Yes... that's an exact quote. From the store manager. Verbatim. I wouldn't recommend working here... I'm glad that I left with at least a little of my soul intact.