retail sales associate

sales associate

assistant store manager

fulfillment associate

customer service representative

Dick's-Sporting-Goods

A typical day at work starts at about 8:30 AM. I clock in, grab a radio, MC40 and a printer and head to the front register. I open my register, prepare my area for the day, and prepare all other register counters for the day. I participate in our "morning huddle" and we open the doors to the public at 9:00 AM. If there are no customers, I begin working in the front end area stocking shelves, cleaning counters, cleaning floors, etc. If the front end is good to go, I offer assistance to other departments, generally the apparel department. When customers come in the door, I welcome them and offer to help them find what they may be looking for. Once they have completed shopping, I begin the check out process. I inquire whether or not the customer found everything and if not, I offer assistance. Once they have everything they came for, I ring them up and thank them for coming in. There are times when a customer is less than kind, I continue to smile and try to make their final moments in our store the best. 

I have learned that people from all over the world have come into our store for various items and we are all the same. It has been exciting to meet people from various cultures and backgrounds.

The management in our store is quite lovely. They do work hard at helping the team to learn and grow in their positions as well as maintain company standards. They are fair and honest and truly a joy to work with.

Our culture within our store is pretty nice. We have a lot of young folks that work there and it is so nice to see some of these young people working at such a young age so they can work toward their goals in life. Some of them are putting themselves through school, some of them are trying to buy their first car and others just want to have some independence and their own money. Most of them have a great work ethic and those that don't do not last long because it is required and expected. We have some semi-retired people there that bring such wonderful energy and knowledge to the store. They work because they want to, not because they have to and they put their heart into every job they do. they young learn by example from the older. What a great mixing pot it is.

The most difficult part of the job is when we have less than honest people in our store. The people that have no intention of paying for things, but rather plan on making either a hasty escape out the doors with an armload of merchandise or maybe just stuffing a bunch of things into a large bag and walking out like they own the place. We don't have a security guard nor do we have any police in our store like at other stores. I don't feel safe in many instances and it just makes me feel very uncomfortable when there are so many instances of armed gunmen coming into stores to rob them. Usually the first thing they do is shoot the person(s) at the front register to ensure everybody in the store knows they mean business. This is a concern of mine daily.

Something I like most about this job is the people. May it be the people I work with each day, or the customers I greet each day, I enjoy them all. I have customers that will wait in a long line, just to be rung up by me because they are my "regulars" and choose to interact with me alone. What a great feeling that is! The people are truly my passion.

A typical work day is easy, yet pretty monotonous. Putting out new freight in my department and putting back returns is mostly what I am responsible for. The monotony is tolerable, given that most of the people I work with are pleasant. It is a little cliquey at this location, but because I'm not planning on working here for any significant length of time, becoming best friends with everyone I work with isn't a priority for me.

The only things I have really learned are pieces of information that are specific to carrying out tasks required of me in my department (i.e. putting returned items back where they belong, where things are in the store and putting out new stock). Nothing I can really consider valuable to use in future endeavors. I am college educated and that is where I learned skills I need to get into the 'real' job market. I am simply employed here as an interim to supplement my husband's income while working to break into my field (you do what you have to in a bad economy).

I could say a lot about management at this location, but I would be here forever if I listed everything that is wrong in this arena. We did get a new manager in one of our departments and she is actually pretty legit. She is nice and from what I have seen since she transferred to our store a few weeks ago, I feel like she has pretty decent management and leadership skills. The rest of management is not good, to put it simply. There is no communication, they are oblivious and can be pretty disrespectful. They ride a lot of the employees hard...even the ones who work hard and do what's expected of them and beyond. They say unprofessional, obnoxious things over the radio all the time. All managers, except our new one, perpetuate the 'glorified babysitter' stigma that is attached with retail management. They would never survive in management positions in any other industry. People have been quitting left and right at this location, and I am pretty sure that poor management is the sole reason for this. I just deal with it for now because I know it's not forever and I tune it out, but I guess some people just have a lower tolerance for BS than I do.

The hardest part of the job would probably be dealing with listening to earfuls of negativity from management. I am a positive person, so it gets a little annoying. The most enjoyable part of the job would be co-workers who are pretty pleasant as a whole. The discount is good, too...I am very active and it's nice to be able to get the things I need for cheaper. Although tasks are redundant, there is usually a lot to keep me busy, so the time passes quickly (another plus to all of this). Overall, it is tolerable to work here since it is only short-term and only because I am a part-time employee. I don't think I could put up with working full-time or anywhere near a full-time schedule here. If you are looking for something short-term just to bring in a little bit of extra cash and you can tune out BS, it's doable. But it is not a place in which I'd recommend fully investing your time or your life.

Direct and oversee the successful operations of an expanding territory across three states with up to 14 high-volume, retail locations, 14 Store Managers, 30 Sales Managers and from 40 to 125 associates per store for the largest full-line U.S. retailer in the sporting industry. Develop and implement strategies and train staff to take advantage of both internal and external opportunities to increase sales and improve profitability. 

	Design and execute operational sales strategies and manage P&L responsibilities to produce a total sales volume of over $130M within the designated territory.
	Led the turnaround  of a concerned district from being 52nd out of 54 regions to reach status as one of the top 25 out of a current 64 districts in a one year period; delivering positive comp sales and improving profitability by developing strategies to address performance through clear expectations for leadership success and store performance.
	Significantly improved the success of previously underperforming locations (one of bottom three) to become one of the top five in the district by re-structuring Store management, training and defining clear goals for the management teams.
	Launched stores in three new markets, working with corporate partners to define the store’s product mix and presentation based on local demographics and seasonal needs to maximize sales. All three markets exceeded sales goals within the first year and delivered operational results within the top 10% of the organization.
	Drive talent development, developing internal staff for promotion including positions in Store and District Management.
	Toured stores daily to train and coach staff, demonstrating optimal merchandise presentation, operations and store standards to ensure each customer’s shopping experience exceeded their expectations. 
	Mentored retail managers on the “Big 6” key metrics to define and promote consistency in quality product displays and service, implementing clear accountability and encouraging measurable sales competition between locations. 
	Collaborated with Corporate Management to effectively implement strategies which nurtured community relationships to maintain market share in markets with incoming competitors. 

DISTRICT MANAGER || Detroit, MI 2009 – 2013 
Direct operational process improvements and established infrastructure in existing and newly opened markets.  Took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Canton, OH district for one year in addition to the primary territory.

	Opened remote markets while delivering significant sales growth. Increased comps sales from 4% to over 6.5% growth over two years in a declining population and challenging economic environment.
	Acted as a Regional Representative on growing market share in key businesses by partnering with Home Office partners as a subject matter expert. Provided feedback on wins and opportunities at a store, regional and company level.
	Appointed as DM mentor, coaching and developing newly promoted District Managers.
	Implemented and maintained loss prevention and expense control procedures to control shrink.

I worked there for 1.5 years with NO issues. I actually really loved the job and loved working there most days. It could sometimes get repetitious, but I got along with everyone and enjoyed what I did.

My story:
During the interview, I was asked how many days a person should miss in a year, and I was told that teammates are allowed 11 misses a year. I thought that was more than enough. It wasn't until a year later that I learned that if you work, P.T. that you don't get that many occurrences, and you are only allowed to miss 5. 
My training was a couple of hours on the floor, and I had to start processing that night. That was a shocker, and you better learn fast here as everything has to do with your time. You literally learn as you go at this job. Management changes so often that one doesn't know what the other is doing, and you have to be your own boss and watch over yourself. I learned this the very first day I showed up for work and didn't know what a town hall was, and I stood around for 15min and then clocked in (after 5 pm). I was later told I was late and that it would be counted against me. (I should have learned that night...)

What came down to me being let go was listening to my supervisor.
I had five absences due to my husband getting a new position and me struggling with finding proper care for my children and, at times, trusting no one. I learned that night that  I wasn't allowed 11 absences. That was a shocker! My supervisor told me that if I needed more time, N.Y.S. came out with something called  "N.Y.S. Sick Leave." You can call in, but you must say "N.Y.S. sick leave," and it won't be counted against you. Boy, was that a lie!!
The next thing I knew after I took two days off using what I thought was NYS Sick Leave, my supervisor told me to go downstairs and talk to her manager one day. I went downstairs and was told I was being let go. I was still shocked. "Wait, what?"  I told him about the N.Y.S. sick leave, and he looked it up and told me that I didn't use any of it (56 hours you are allowed), and he was right that I had it to use.

 He let me go back upstairs that night and finish the night out with work, saying he was going to talk to H.R. the following day and "fight for me," "I had the best numbers in the department," "He needs me," blah blah...This was on a Friday. Then, the following Wednesday, I showed up for a warehouse sale, and I was greeted by him telling me that they were still going to fire me because I did have the time but not as much as the 56 hours. I told him, "why should I wait around if they are still going to let me go?" I told him that I was being fired for listening to and trusting my supervisor in this company. So he walked me out in tears. I have never been fired, and take great pride in my work. I wouldn't work here again even though I loved it at once.

 This company does NOT care about you as an employee. You are only a number and someone to move packages from one part of the building to another. I was one of the TOP ones in my department and was still let go. They have NO mercy here, and I suggest you look elsewhere if you have a family, childcare issues, healthcare issues, are slow at doing your work, or have a bad back.

As an assistant manager at Dick's Sporting Goods, I had a relatively fair experience during my tenure. While there were both positives and areas that needed improvement, overall, it was a job that allowed me to learn and grow in a dynamic retail environment.

One of the highlights of working at Dick's Sporting Goods was the team camaraderie. The staff was composed of passionate sports enthusiasts, and this shared interest in sports created a sense of unity and energy within the workplace. Collaborating with fellow employees, sharing knowledge about different sports equipment, and assisting customers with their needs was genuinely enjoyable.

Moreover, the management team, including the store manager, was generally supportive and receptive to new ideas. They encouraged autonomy in decision-making, which provided me with opportunities to take ownership of various tasks and projects. This empowerment allowed me to develop my leadership skills and make meaningful contributions to the store's success.

In terms of the product selection, Dick's Sporting Goods excelled in providing a wide range of high-quality sporting equipment and gear. As an assistant manager, I felt proud to represent a store that prioritized offering customers products from reputable brands. Moreover, the store's emphasis on providing regular training sessions for staff members ensured that we were well-informed about the latest product releases and features.

However, like any workplace, there were also some areas that needed improvement. One notable challenge was managing peak hours and holiday rushes. The store would get crowded, and it could be overwhelming to ensure all customers received the attention they deserved. Additionally, the company could have invested more in optimizing staff scheduling during such busy times to better accommodate the increased footfall.

Another aspect that needed attention was internal communication. Information dissemination between different departments could sometimes be slow, leading to confusion or delays in addressing certain issues. Clearer and more efficient communication channels would have enhanced overall productivity and teamwork.

Lastly, while Dick's Sporting Goods had a positive company culture, occasional organizational changes, such as shifts in policies or management restructuring, could be disruptive and create some uncertainty among the employees.

In conclusion, my experience as an assistant manager at Dick's Sporting Goods was relatively fair. The strong team spirit, supportive management, and excellent product selection made it a pleasant place to work and develop my skills. However, addressing challenges related to peak hours, communication, and handling organizational changes would further improve the overall work environment. Dick's Sporting Goods can be a rewarding and engaging workplace for those passionate about sports and retail.

I was hired to be a seasonal worker at a sales associate level. I was given part time hours. I was trained to be a basic level sales associate that walked around and helped customers. that was fine. 

Here's where it gets questionable: 

After hiring me, they told me that Dicks is changing their company policy and making it so that everyone has to be cross trained. this means that if you apply to work in the golf department you have to be trained in the bicycle department even if that's not where you were hired or where you will work. 

Initially this was no problem, but promptly after telling me this they had me MAN THE CASHIER WITH ZERO TRAINING AND ZERO PREPARATION FOR AN HOUR. which wouldn't be a huge problem if i also wasn't learning everything else, or there weren't alot of customers that day. But there was a good amount of customers that day that had a bad experience because of me and i was also being taught how to do everything else not just how to improvise being a cashier. after my shift i asked my supervisor if i would have to man the cashier again (hoping that i would not have to since that's not my position) and his response was "during the day there will be times when you have to man the cashier". 

on top of that i was told right before that that the customer reviews for that store were down 30% in the last three months and that the cashier makes or breaks the customer review scores. but being a new hire what position am i in to complain on the first day and critique their way of doing things? 

even though the people who hired me were nice, and the sales associate position itself was fine, the fact that i was TRICKED into having to work a terrible position that i was not properly prepared for (and in fact i would not have applied at all had i known about the policy changes before being hired) and that it put me into a completely useless and powerless position was incredibly discouraging and humiliating. 

and what's telling about this whole situation is that Dick's sporting Goods is asking for cashiers online to work for them. They need cashiers to work for them. but because it's a horrid job not alot of people want to do it. so at the stores where they have some cashiers, they give them preferential treatment with their shifts of choice because they have to or their only cashiers will quit and then Dick's comes up with this "cross training policy" so that they can force new hires to work as cashiers even though that's not what they applied for and they are not told about it until after they start working. 

if you have to have money, and don't mind being in a stressful situation the whole time you're at work then go ahead and apply. but you will make better money at a less stressful work environment if you spend just a few hours online looking for better jobs.

Pros:

Dynamic Work Environment: Working at Dick's Sporting Goods as a cashier offers a lively and often fast-paced atmosphere, especially during peak seasons (holidays, back-to-school, major sports events). If you enjoy staying busy and interacting with a diverse customer base, this is a great fit.

Customer Interaction: A significant part of the role involves engaging with customers, helping them with questions, processing returns, and ensuring a positive checkout experience. It's rewarding to assist people who are passionate about sports and outdoor activities.

Team-Oriented Culture: The store often fosters a supportive team environment. Colleagues are generally helpful, and there's a sense of camaraderie, particularly among those who share an interest in sports.

Product Knowledge: While primarily a cashier role, you'll naturally gain exposure to a wide range of sporting goods products. This can be interesting for enthusiasts and helps in assisting customers effectively.

Flexible Scheduling: Dick's Sporting Goods often offers flexible hours, which can be beneficial for students or those looking for part-time work.

Employee Discount: A major perk is the employee discount on merchandise, which is great if you're a regular shopper or active in sports.

Opportunity for Advancement: For those who show initiative and a strong work ethic, there are often opportunities to move into other departments, supervisory roles, or full-time positions.

Cons:

Repetitive Tasks: Like any cashier role, there can be a degree of repetition in the daily tasks, such as scanning items and handling transactions.

Standing for Long Periods: The job requires standing for the majority of the shift, which can be physically demanding.

Peak Hour Pressure: During busy periods, the checkout lines can get long, requiring speed and efficiency while maintaining accuracy and a friendly demeanor. This can be stressful for some.

Learning Curve for Returns/Exchanges: Processing complex returns or exchanges can sometimes be challenging, requiring attention to detail and adherence to store policies.

Dealing with Difficult Customers: Occasionally, you may encounter frustrated or demanding customers, requiring patience and good problem-solving skills.

Advice to Management:

Continue to emphasize comprehensive training, especially for new hires, regarding return policies and promotional offers to ensure smooth customer transactions.

Consider providing more frequent breaks or opportunities to sit for a few minutes during longer shifts, as standing all day can be tiring.

Recognize and reward cashiers who consistently go above and beyond in customer service during high-pressure times.

Remember to be honest about your own experiences, even if they differ from this template. Good luck!

A really terrible place to work.  The turnover is crazy high because they pay low and treat their workers poorly. I've never worked somewhere where employees call out as frequently as they do here. And nothing ever happens to them. I'm not actually sure if you can get fired from DSG unless you just stop showing up to work. From the top of corporate down they have an attitude of the customer is always right. This screws over employees and managers who try to follow the policy. A customer comes in with something beyond the already generous 60 day return policy, policy says you deny the return. But if you follow policy and deny the return you'll get in trouble for not taking care of the customer. A customer misreads a sign and think something is 50% off when it's not, you better honor the price or get in trouble. Not even a product that is mis-signed, but literally a customer can say the sign looked like it was pointing to a product and get a cheaper price. Thus nobody wants to make a call because they know the person above them will just overrule them. The pay is terrible and there's little opportunity for raises or advancement. It doesn't matter if you've been there for three months or three years, good luck getting more than a 40 cent raise a year. They constantly push employees to sell sell sell even when it's not in the best interest of the customer. Know it's not the product they need? Sell it anyway. Know there's a better and cheaper product that will work for the customer, keep your mouth shut and sell the higher priced item. Know the customer is eligible for a discount, don't give them the discount unless they specifically ask for it. The scheduling is also terrible. Most people work at least one additional job because hours are so hard to get working at DSG Plus the pay is as low as they can legally go. They treat hours like the forbidden fruit. They'll cut hours anywhere they can to the point where there's just a skeleton crew at a store working their butts off to keep things going. But at the same time they'll give a customer $20 off a product because the cardboard box has a scratch on it or a dent. It's laughable. Nobody good seems to work at DSG for very long. The good people find better jobs, the bad ones stay because they can't find other work and because short of cussing out a customer or being caught stealing merchandise, it doesn't seem possible to be fired. They supposedly have a points system for attendance. Show up late get a half point. Call in sick get a point. No call no show, get three points. In theory at 8 points you get fired. Speaking from experience though there are employees who call out multiple times a week who have been with the company for years. It's pathetic and demotivating to other employees.

A typical day working at Dick's Sporting Goods looks a lot like any other retail store where you put forth great effort to provide customer service while completing the tasks given for the day as soon as possible. I've learned how to be very patient and how to speak appropriately to customers that come into our store. For example if we do not have the product they are looking a rookie employee may say "Oh we actually don't have any in stock" where as an experienced employee may say "Unfortunately we do not have that specific product. However we do have something quite similar to it" or "Unfortunately we do not have that specific product. However we can offer an online order with a free shipping fee in store". Since I work in the fitness and bikes department I normally run into customers who ask very general questions about certain products, such as the pricing on an item, price comparison, warranty, which equipment is best for this situation, etc. Other times I receive extraordinarily specific questions about a product that would require me to either research online or ask for manager's assistance. 



The management at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Niles is fair and reasonable. My managers are both very intelligent managers that keep the employees on their toes/consistently working. They offer a lot of help and advice to the rookie employees and also discipline them as well which I believe is necessary for anyone who is starting to work outside of college. They give the real life experience and make sure that the employees know that they are there not simply to be their boss but to be their leader; they engage and persevere in the same mess that their employees go through rather than simply giving out orders for the employees. They are also understanding of the fact that most of their employees at their store are still in college and that they will need to meet them half way. 


The co-workers are all over the spectrum; some are great co-workers while others are very difficult to work with and then there are the co-workers who I have never met because we work in separate departments on different floors. 

I believe the hardest part of working at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Niles is completing the projects assigned each day simply because there is not enough staff members to complete it. It is nearly impossible to do it alone there are customers consistently coming into the store leaving you no time to work on the project. 

The most enjoyable part of working at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Niles is meeting new people everyday and engaging in long conversations about each other's interests or hobbies.

I worked part time at Dick's Sporting Goods while I am a student in college, to help pay for rent and school. Starting off, it was a really good part time job, and it payed the bills! But when I got hired, I was told there would be a training session, and there was not. They stuck me on the register on the first day by myself. I had no clue what I was doing, and they knew this was my first retail job. I also have a hearing disorder, and they did not accommodate this very well. I was unable to wear a headset for the radio and was told to keep the radio turned all the way down until i needed something. Because of this, I missed it whenever someone needed me, or called me over the radio, did the reports, or anything. I was also told when they hired me that the accommodate for a college students schedule as well as Doctor visits... This was found to be untrue. I was put on the schedule for our Thanksgiving break (first time seeing my family in a very long time, living hours away), when I asked off MONTHS in advance, and guess what? I was scheduled on the days I had Doctor Appointments, and they were informed about it. Since I was unable to get off to go to the doctor, I had no other choice but to call out, and it counted against me even though I brought proper notation from the Doctors themselves. The same thing happened during Christmas break. 
Besides from the scheduling issues, you are legally bound to an hour break when you work over 8 hours, and a thirty minute break when you work over 6 hours. This RARELY ever happens. I worked COUNTLESS 9, 10, even 11 hour shifts (including on Black Friday) without receiving a break, even to go to the bathroom or get something to drink/eat. I asked for a break several times on different occasions, and was told no. During one shift, I went to the restroom, and grabbed a sip of water, and got yelled at in front of tons of customers for going when I was not supposed to, then was asked to stay 2 hours past when I was supposed to get off. I obviously denied. This happens ALOT. Finally, I went 3 weeks without being scheduled at ALL. I called my manager to see what was wrong, and was told that they have "other employees that actually show up for shifts, and don't call out" when the only times I have ever called out was for when I was denied my request off to go to the doctor, for medical issues that have previously been discussed with them. I told them I had no other choice but to resign, since I am not making enough money to pay for rent or school, by working 1 day in 3 weeks. My manger hung up on the phone on me when I said that. 
I would not recommend this job to anybody. My manager is very young, and clearly was in no position to run a company as big as Dick's Sporting Goods. The management is extremely poor and very unprofessional.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Retail sales associate 23 salaries reported	$15.18 per hour
Sales associate 15 salaries reported	$14.65 per hour
Assistant store manager 21 salaries reported	$68,666 per year
Fulfillment associate 11 salaries reported	$17.14 per hour
Customer service representative 17 salaries reported	$20.75 per hour

Working at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Company Overview and Reviews

DICK'S Sporting Goods

DICK'S Sporting Goods Ratings

Popular jobs at DICK'S Sporting Goods

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected

Working at DICK&#39;S Sporting Goods: Company Overview and Reviews

DICK'S Sporting Goods

DICK&#39;S Sporting Goods Ratings

Popular jobs at DICK&#39;S Sporting Goods

Salary Satisfaction

Working at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Company Overview and Reviews

DICK'S Sporting Goods Ratings

Popular jobs at DICK'S Sporting Goods