sales consultant

retail sales associate

showroom manager

jewelry consultant

receiving coordinator

Blue Nile

Blue Nile as a whole is a good company to work for. They start each entry level employee at a fair wage, and have incredible benefits that can be adjusted to suit your needs. 
My personal experience, and experience with my old team is that despite the original tone of the company being one where they wanted to not be like traditional corporate, they have become traditional corporate who cares more about individual sales numbers that the group effort they had originally touted. 
They change policies very quickly, and to some that may be good, to others it may give you company whiplash. When addressing concerns on individual performance, it was said that "you work and bonus as a team, so even if you aren't as high up in sales, as long as you are helping, you are contributing." This came from upper leadership, but a month later immediate store management presented me with something quite different.
The levels of responsibilities grew, with tasks being partnered with senior corporate leadership, but pay did not.
The attitudes of the immediate store management had drastically changed, and when approached, there was a level of resentment; enough to understand that I no longer felt a part of the Blue Nile "family". 
Most stores are successful, and have great leadership. Non commission, team goals, and individual bonuses. This may appeal to some, and not appeal to others, but if you know you are good at sales, you will see success. 
If you are a jewelry sales veteran, be mindful that this is a completely different sales environment than what. you are used to, and that you may not be compensated as fairly, due to the fact that most larger bonuses are dependent on your team. So if you have a strong team, then you will reap the rewards for your hard work.
All in all, despite personal grievances, Blue Nile is the place to be if you are looking to expand your horizons and knowledge, even if you aren't with them forever. Just know they will only cater to those who can outperform every task.

*Most of this is about the company in Seattle, where they are based*

I had an atypical trajectory at Blue Nile. I was hired as a seasonal employee, and was offered a full time position. I was asked to become a coach, and then was asked to relocate across the country to work in the first showroom. Over a three year period, I opened 4 showrooms, managed the busiest showroom, and mentored dozens of consultants. Unfortunately, due to restructuring, my time with the company came to an end. 

Though the end was sad, I loved my time with the company. The customer service team genuinely cared about the clients, and strove to give their best every day. While there were a few who missed the bar of excellence, they company's culture set the bar high (yet attainable). I always appreciated that we were called Consultants, weren't sales people, and didn't run on commission. Management asked us to be the customer's advocate if there was a problem, and generally supported our decisions. As long as we were resolving the situation using empathy combined with common sense, management was very reasonable. 

The company offered company-wide events, but customer service and production were rarely able to attend. They kept us caffeinated with free coffee. Sometimes the highest echelons would grill us lunch, and take orders from those that could not leave their desks (ie in the call center). During the busiest seasons, they would roll around a snack cart to make sure we were taken care of. 

I was able to create good relationships with other departments, but I think few take the opportunity to walk to another part of the building or talk to strangers. 

We also had the BEST customers. Those of us with client facing roles really got to appreciate the interactions. There is nothing like being able to help someone pick out an engagement ring.

As I said in the beginning, my trajectory was not common. It seemed that few people had growth opportunities. When I left, there was an upper management shift. 

I do not know where the company is now, but I sincerely hope they keep to the customer focused (customer-obsessed) mission. I believe in the company's quality and intentions, and hope the brand will build on that.

I had incredibly high hopes when I began at Blue Nile, having extensive sales experience and and a successful work history. I learned quickly and shortly became the top sales associate. Unfortunately I struggled with a manager who had several controlling qualities and had to double check all of my hard work each time I did something and change it, when addressed about this she became incredibly defensive and rude. Over time she was able to stop micromanaging my work but then would ask the other DJCs if they noticed any problems with me and then spun their words into different terms to use in my monthly recaps. I was called “bossy, demanding, a shark, etc...” among other things and was told to keep quiet instead of addressing my co workers and apologizing for appearing this way.  My final straw was finding out  PT person was making the same wage as me after just graduating high school, while I had a college degree and a history of sales. Further Another coworker who was also younger with far less experience and less time in the company was hired on at 22 an hour and was having the schedule written around their personal needs. When I asked for a raise to make the same wage I was denied with no reason other than “you don’t have the skills yet”. So for a company I gave everything to, they saw no value in me and I left.

You clock in for the day and you are waiting for a call from a customer while checking your emails, voicemails and following up with customers that you have been working with. A lot of knowledge to learn about products and diamonds. Which I didn't mind at all. When you don't know how to answer a customer question they have a area in there system that you can find the answer. Lots of issues with that but don't want get in to too much details. Management has favorites that have been working for the company for a while. I would ask for help on challenging situations and then I think the issue is solved but 1 month later the customer is calling back because the situation was not resolved and or money hasn't been refunded etc. I felt like past customers that didn't have great service would haunt me. I liked a hand full of co workers. Mostly everyone doesn't like their job and you heard it everyday and that wasn't very encouraging. The work can be very overwhelming and you can get back to back anger customers that have either had no follow up for several days and then you would have to resolve it or find the person that they spoke to last. If the issue that you took over didn't get resolved it can go to your manager and the last person to make changes can get blamed for what the first person didn't do. I enjoyed good days because it was rear. I decided to leave because I thought I would never grow with the company. The turn over is too much. Maybe 1 to 2 people a week !

Unfortunately they don't pay enough for the cost of living expenses that are rising in the area. Company advertises they research competitive pay and job advancement but don't share research results and don't pay competitive rates. Always have over time that is expected to work all the time. Management have complaints issued to them all the time but nothing gets resolved, from supervisors harassment to non team players that add to workload because of lack of training or lack of interest in their responsibilities.  Training is done but you aren't given the opportunity to practice the training methods. There are people working under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol most times and are ignored. Favouritism is noted and they don't have same work requirements. Racial profiling is emplied all the time by older security officer in his story antidotes. Would not consider this place as a professional environment.  Focus is on making more profit for executives and not sharing any perks or bonuses with the physical laborers.

No training was given for this position and this is not an exaggeration.  Regional Mgr tried to pin my training on another Mgr who’s store is an hour away.  HQ is in Seattle and they had no idea this was happening. I was told I was coming into a store with a great team only to find many issues upon my arrival.  Shortly after Christmas the CEO left, members of upper mgmt were fired, and others were switched around to different departments.  The managers of the Showroom division were all frightened and 2 of us lost our jobs.  My biggest fear was leaving a very secure job with a company that had major advancement potential.  When I was recruited and offered their package, I told them my fears.  I was assured that Mgrs are given tons of support and time to make their mark in the company.  2 months later I was let go with no warning , no discussion of any issues....  just one ridiculous conversation where I had to turn in my keys.   Enter this flip flopping company at your own risk.

If you're looking for a job where you can have work/life balance...this isn't the one for you. Along with not feeling appreciated for all of the hard work you'll put it. Management is also not very helpful. If you have an escalated customer they will have them wait until the next day and more than likely they won't call them. I've worked for many companies and if there is any customers who are escalating and needing to speak to management at that time, they will go ahead and talk to them and NOT have them wait. Also, you workload will pile up and you will barely get any time to clear all of your task because you'll be too busy with any current tasks. And if you ever have any questions, it could take awhile for anyone to get back to you and it makes you look unprofessional with your customers. Some of the tenured agents can be short and rude to you as well.

Blue Nile presents a great opportunity to create meaningful and lasting client relationships without the burden of selling ancillary products like credit, warranties and repairs. The small but powerful showroom design draws the curious shoppers as well as young social media savvy couples who want to try on the jewelry they have shopped for on the company website. Although the company has experienced some growing pains internally in the past several months, they continue to lead the fast growth online shopping industry and easily surpass all chain store and private jewelers by creating and delivering a superior product with wholesale pricing and lifetime guarantees, thereby fostering huge referrals that eliminate the need to clientele.

During peak season all overtime was MANDATORY, starting with 10 hour days in October, 14-15 hour days before Christmas, 7 DAYS A WEEK! One peak season we all worked 21 days straight which I'm pretty sure is illegal. The company also did its best to constantly find ways to not pay overtime which was just a slap in the face. Everyone once in a while the new out of touch CEOs and higher ups (they were constantly changing) would come in and try to act like they actually cared. There is absolutely no room for growth. I was lured in with hopes of more money for more skills. After almost 2 years and learning every skill possible I was told to get used to my 2% yearly raise. This place was good for skill building but that's about it. Use it for what you can and move on. That's what they do to you.

The company has experienced significant turmoil recently, and this has led to a breakdown of vision for the future, as well as massive deflation of employee morale.  It's difficult to go to work every day assuming that at least one or two people - often people in upper management - will have been terminated overnight.  There's no solid leadership for employees, and no opportunities for career growth.  The theory seems to be that if you're good at your job, they want you at that job forever - no motivation from leadership to even advance inside your current position.  No one knows who is responsible for anything, and it's becoming clear that this company isn't what it used to be.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sales consultant 1 salary reported	$20.50 per hour
Retail sales associate 4 salaries reported	$19.88 per hour
Showroom manager 5 salaries reported	$93,443 per year
Jewelry consultant 1 salary reported	$21.00 per hour
Receiving coordinator 1 salary reported	$18.90 per hour

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