retail sales associate

assistant store manager

retail store manager

retail assistant store manager

management trainee

Cash America Pawn

- Work usually involves opening, getting merchandise ready to put out for sale, then attending customers by what they need. They either sell merchandise to you or want loans on it.
- I learned quite a bit actually, from jewelry checking, firearm inspecting and disassembly, to learning minute details about items in general. 
- Management was pretty good in the District I was working in, no issues there. They listen to you and try their best to help you out, of course they can’t fix everything but they do try. They can be a bit out of the loop in terms of store performance sometimes, demanding you to perform better than the store traffic allows, but that wasn’t frequent.
- Workplace culture entirely depends on who you get to work with. I worked at all three stores in a region, and I had a couple problems here and there, but nothing that made me want to quit or left a bad taste in my mouth.
- Giving valuations is definitely the hardest part of the job. Inspecting the items and doing the paperwork is the easiest. Figuring out exactly how much you should give is the hardest part. It just takes a lot of practice.
- The coworkers are basically the best part of the job, again, dependent on who you get to work with. I personally had a lot of fun with all the coworkers I had, it was pretty laid back, but they kept productive as needed.

Customers can be pretty rough, but it comes with the territory of them not having money and really needing it, but it can be demoralizing sometimes having people be needlessly rude or berating you for doing your job. This is the aspect that made me want to leave the most, much more frequently.

Overall, it was nice working there, they offered tons of benefits, and were quite nice to me, as someone that suffers from some mental health issues. I did feel part of a bigger thing, and while it can get hard sometimes, they’d accommodate me the best they could. 

A typical day starts with customers bring in collateral to loan or sell. I evaluate the merchandise, be it gold, diamonds, electronics, tools, or other miscellaneous items. On average I help 50 clients each day writing and average of 30 new loans per day. I process an average of 20 loan renewals and pick ups. My average sales numbers for a week is nearly $5,000 with a 35% to 40% gross profit. In my down time I reset end caps to engage customers interest for seasonal and high end items. I have worked with the same crew for my entire stay with the company. In a crew of ten employees my five years of employment is the fifth longest duration. Management puts a large amount of trust in my abilities to influence change and development in myself and for the company. The hardest part of my job is over performing every day with minimal recognition. My hourly wage does not meet my personal standard for the amount of work I do on a daily basis. The responsibility and expectation management and upper management has for their constituents' out weighs their willingness to financially compensate their employees. The company changes policies and promotions for employees so frequently it is difficult to believe the changes are for my best interest. Upper management preaches to always be in a leadership role, but when there is an opening for advancement, they hire individuals from the outside to fill the positions rather than promoting from within. That does not instill confidence in my position dedicating five years to this company. The most enjoyable part of my job is working with the crew of employees. I have developed a close business relationship with each co-worker and a close personal relationship with some co-workers.

A typical day includes running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to finish pull lists while also taking care of customers. The pay is about $11 an hour + 1-8% commission that pays out the end of every month. The hours are incredible, and you only get one half hour lunch break a day (which management strongly advises against taking). The work isn't DIFFICULT, but stressful if the weight isn't shared equally. It is the kind of environment where you get plenty of unsavory types, which is understandable as loads of people are struggling but it isn't for the faint of heart as people are quick to become hostile. I'd imagine if you have a strong, cohesive team with appropriate scheduling in place it would be a fine job for the average joe who doesn't need to be a bread winner, but that could be extremely tough to find as many locations have a very small staff which leads to favoritism and alienation and can easily create a hostile work environment. There are opportunities to learn a lot about many different things i.e. firearms, technology, electronics, jewelry, etc. which is actually pretty cool.

As a shop manager I was expected to micromanage every transaction my subordinates performed.  Mid level management was a revolving door and every DM had a new way to change the world.  The chaos of this was unnerving, nepotism and favoritism runs rampant.  DM's would visit one week and want merchandise moved, the next week they wanted it moved back to where is was originally.  No upper/middle management follow through on long term strategic initiatives.   It was apparent that every mid level manager would sell their soul for the next promotion up the ladder.  Loss prevention department was a joke and literally prevented nothing, if there was an issue internally they rarely found it.  It was interesting that you could literally create your own market within the region based on your product category strengths and weaknesses, that bit of independence was refreshing.  I did feel a sense of personal satisfaction with the ability to help someone that was truly in need, not a hustler but a genuine person thats having a hard time.  To summarize, the lows are very low and the good was very good.   Solid 2.7-3 out of 5.  The ever changing merchandise on the retail side was very interesting, you never knew what someone would bring in for loan or  sale.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
A chance to experience and learn a different aspect of the pawn business.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Having customers augue about how much their property, they think has a different value than in the wholesale/retail business.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
For the first 10 years, the culture was great. We had an upper management core who respected their shop managers and employees. After that, we were acquired twice in the span of 7 years. The first acquisition was ok, a few things changed, but the second acquisition change the structure. More bottom line driven less shop manager ability to control shop operations.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
For shop managers the day started around 8 am and no different than any other retail business. We had to get product ready to sell, get the shop ready for customers, then the all the other routine operations. Managing hours of the employees. Taking care of customer disputes...At closing, normally 7pm, finishing up things that didn't get done during the day. Setting up for next days operation.

A typical day at Cash America, was helping our customers to ensure that they received the proper care to resolve many issues that they were presented with. 
Customers and co-workers at Cash America are like family, so everyday at work was a fun interactive day that was never the same as the day before.
 The hardest part of the job, was trying to find the balance with the customers. Working in the pawn industry you have to have a keen eye, in evaluating your customers to avoid fraud. But finding that balance ensured that you as a pawn-broker are actually helping people and not getting token advantage of. 
I would have to say that the most enjoyable part of the job , was the smile on a customers face, after receiving your help. The gratification for me came in when that relationship has been formed and the customers truly understands and trust the pawn-broker to actually help and change a certain situation that they have found themselves in.

In my short time at Cash America, I learned a lot about he operation of this company. Unless you are willing to become a bully and completely go against your ethic, you will not advance in this company at all. I have seen it time and again; people are used and talked about my management, and though you try to stand up for yourself and prove you are worthy of advancement, you will not receive it unless you are willing to go against everything you were taught as a decent human being. 

And don't try to bring it to Upper Management's attention, because then you will have to debate on what he thinks happens and what you KNOW happens (when you've only seen him there 3 times in 8 months). If there is no drama, the DM and SM will surely make some.

The co-workers & customers are GREAT and make the day so much more bearable. I just feel bad for the way Cash America allows both to be treated! 

No constancy in rules/regulations at all between other stores in the SAME DISTRICT!

A typlical day at work consist of either my self or an manager      opening the store and setting everything up. That includes getting the employees money drawers ready and counted correctly. Making sure the floor (whole store) is cleaned and welcoming environment to our costumers. 
    With the experience from this job i have learned to do loans such as payday loans and also loans on customers pawns.
I have learned to open and close the store as a manager, that requires counting the safe and managing all passwords.
    My management is like family but its also work.
At times there are flaws but we have our monthly meeting and it gets resolved.
     My co works come to me for prices and passwords. I show them and learn from them as well in this job.
     The hardest thing about this job is handing robberies, they do tend to happen but i know the routine and procedures we have to follow. 
    Most enjoyable is having my customers, many who have which been coming longer than i have worked here. I treated them like all my customers of course.

If you set limits with your employees and supervisors regarding their access to you as a manager then you will have a good work/life balance. Pay is not that great but if you work smart you can make a great deal of extra money with the commission plan as a pawn broker and even more money if you're an Assistant Manager. Store managers are salary and get no commission and, based on salary requirements, are required to work a min of 45hrs fully clocked not including lunches. This usually equates to 50hr work weeks with a good team that knows how to open on time and close on time. But without a rockstar team, like I just described, you will definitely be logging in 60+ hours a week while being on call on your days off and on your vacation.  

Provided excellent customer service to customer by informing clients or potential clients of the plans and products that the company has to offer. Right fitted customers with the proper plans that would be more beneficial and advised them as to why. Gained great relationship with customers with positive a attitude and having them leave with assurance and reliability. Maintained shop neat by cleaning and keeping everything presentable and organized.
 Provided customer service to people who were in need of loans and making sure that satisfaction was met with the amount that was provided to them. A saleslady in selling jewelry, electronics, tools and firearms. Always top number two seller in the market. Assisted the shop surpass other stores of the same company in sales and loans. Merchandising shop by organizing and rearranging to maintain the facility presentable and well-kept.

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