equipment operator

senior production specialist

order picker

account executive

shipping and receiving clerk

SanMar

I've been with Sanmar for over half a decade. They barely do just enough to make you think they're a great company.

When you first start working at Sanmar, you are told how great it is and how much they care about you. It's drilled into training. Then they show you the cafe that the owners also eat in. They'll give you swag, and take you out for meals and group activities. Then you get into your job, and you find it's micromanaged. There is always something you could be doing better, and that's what they'll focus on. Fast forward and you promote out of training, and 'shocker' the job is not what they said it would be. Instead of helping larger customers build their company, find resources, and partner with them, you're stuck taking sales and service calls. Because of this little detail, it means that they don't have to pay you what you deserve. You may have a fancy title, but HR categorizes you as customer service. So when you actually ask why you're not receiving competitive pay, with a straight face, they tell you that you are receiving pay based on rates for your job. Which is, again, customer service. But there's still good healthcare and people are pretty friendly. Just wait a few months. Your coworkers will start treating you very poorly. They have found the best way to get their job done quickly is to bully and shame you into doing their work for them. Since you're so new, you usually end up doing this. If you bring this to Management, they'll ask why you didn't just do the work. I mean, are you an idiot? Should they 'help' you learn how to manage your time better? 

Okay, so now it's a few years into the job, and you've learned to just shut up and accept your lot. Outside sales reps no longer act like they care. They treat you like you work for them. They bully you into doing work for them. They are the golden children of Sanmar, so you can't even complain without fear of retribution. The guys that have been around for a while are misogynistic, and you should just be a good kid and do what they say. The girls will throw you under the bus, and so help me they will 'cut-a-b***h' if you look at them wrong. 

Current day, and you've figured out your place. You're slowly dying or dead inside. You know how to get things done. The new employees hate you because you don't share their naive enthusiasm for the company. You try to get them to help you with work because you literally don’t have the time to do it all. If you say anything, you’ll be treated like you aren’t taking care of the customers. In fact, management decided that your pay is capped. They’re taking away your bonuses and limiting how much more money you can make. But don’t worry, you’ll get a bonus at the end of the year that is about 10% of what you used to make. Are you upset about that? But they think you’ll be making more money overall. No no no, stop crunching the numbers and finding out you’re making less. You’re just looking at it the wrong way. Sanmar cares about you(r money and would like to keep more of it)!

I’m not done. It gets even harder. The company has now implemented a new system for orders, issues, credit, etc. It is excruciatingly clear that those that developed the program did not talk to sales people or anyone that would actually use the program regularly. They wanted it to communicate with all the other programs. And it does... sort of. But you have to start thinking like a coder. Every function takes you to a new site/room/page. Nothing flows. Nothing is intuitive. You literally have to pull up multiple pages and go into different sections of the program just to place a simple order. It is time-consuming. Oh, and the program doesn't even function quickly either. It's constantly processing while you're on the phone with customers in a rush. Hey Management, it looks like we're having even more issues than with the last program. Management plasters a smile on their face and tells you the program is a success, and just wait, because there's more to come! Oh, and by the way, you're still expected to manage your workload in the same amount of time. And one more thing, you need to ignore your workload to answer sales and service calls since they're the priority. 

Whether it's a new program, a shift in required stats and teams (which change so quickly already), a new supervisor, a new warehouse, or some other new change, this will be your work experience at Sanmar. But take courage, they'll have a giant picnic for everyone one day that'll make everything all better!


In order to keep your job, as a Picker or Restocker, you are expected to stay within a certain amount of time on your tasks that your headset gives you. If you don't do enough in a fast enough amount of time and keep up a weekly percentage, you will lose your job. For a Restocker, it equated out to 21 boxes an hour that you have to unpack and restock, weighing 50lbs or more. You have to drag these boxes on pushcarts down the length of the building which is almost half a mile long (I would walk generally 12 miles a day give or take at this job)

There is also a point based system for calling in to work. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are meeting days. If you miss on a non meeting day, it's one point on your record. If you miss on a meeting day, it's two points. 6 points and you're automatically fired. It doesn't matter if you bring in a doctor's note, your absence is never excused. The management can't make any changes to the system at all to help you either. I actually really liked all the managers I worked with there, I had no issues with them. They aren't able to prevent someone from being fired due to the point system even if they want to. 

The job is overcrowded, you are basically slamming into everyone just trying to get down the aisles. People will push your cart or cuss at you and push you if you're in their way because everyone is so desperate to keep their times up to keep their job. Multiple times I was nearly knocked off of my carts ladder putting big boxes on the top shelf, only once I actually fell and dropped a box on my neck. I was hit by people with their carts more times than I could count.  If you're a woman working there, I had multiple bad experiences with men working here. 

Also, if you try to get workman's compensation for getting injured on the job, they will pull your times and see if you were just barely below time and fire you so thwy don't have to pay you workman's compensation. I watched it happen to a coworker. 

Also, overtime is forced based on shipping needs and their busiest time is the holidays. Overtime can be 1 or 2 joirs extra, so you'll be working ten hours a day Monday through Friday all through the holidays. 

I really don't recommend this job unless you're a glutton for punishment.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working remote and the coworkers.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Extreme micromanagement, ageism, constant interruptions, multiple needless meetings, very low pay, every year a lower cost of living raise even though the company is making record profits, unrealistic expectations, increasing workload without more pay, supervisors making you do their job and then you getting in trouble for not doing it correctly, high anxiety never knowing when and why you're going to get in trouble, consistently having concerns dismissed, and that hollow, hopeless feeling of just getting through your shift

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Like walking on eggshells. They watch every single thing that you do with AI (Einstein), and they use those metrics to give you 'feedback' on how you're not working hard enough. Every conversation, including messaging, email, phone, and virtual, is monitored, so everyone is guarded and has to 'act the part'. If you bring up reasonable concerns, you're educated on why you're wrong.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Very stressful. You login through multiple systems, phone, intranet, Teams and Outlook, their own system (Ody), the website, and Salesforce. The moment you move the mouse or type on the keyboard, AI is monitoring everything you do throughout all systems, and they can access your screen anytime they want. They even monitor the internet and see everything you use it for. You never really have time to complete work, and you're always backing up a team member. You're constantly under the threat of disciplinary action for not working hard enough or doing things exactly how they want.

Worked as an account coordinator/internal services rep for 1.5 years. It was pretty simple customer service work, occasionally you do get the customers that take their issues out on you over the phone and work through it. Supervisors are available for the most part for questions on different issues. However it took a little over a year for me personally to be able to switch from part time to full time and it had to be a lateral move to another position. While I was being told there is no availability to go full time, new AC's kept being hired which was frustrating. Pay was about average for entry level customer service work in a call center at 13/hr although it's probably more now. Benefits were above average but it took a big chunk out of pay since I was only doing part time hours. Overall, it didn't really seem like senior management cared or knew what employees of the call center floor encountered on a daily basis. They cared about calls, orders keyed, and time spent on the phone more at times rather than employees trying to provide great service which they always preach. I never really felt like I would have been able to climb the ladder in my position because I wasn't doing anything else that would give me the experiences to move into marketing, operations, management, etc. and definitely knew I didn't want to work in a call center taking calls for much longer. It was a good first job but that's all it was, a stepping stone unless you brought other experiences with you where you don't have to be in the call center, you won't accomplish much with SanMar.

I worked at a distribution center where I picked and put together customer orders. The job was fast paced, and rewarded you for going above and beyond. In my position, it was a lot of quickly walking around, and learning how to optimize and perfect what you do every day.

The management was great, the supervisors and local managers were amazing people, they all cared for you and treated you well, if you had any questions at all you could go to them for help. They treated every single person fairly and equally, which I respect greatly. It's a shame not every workplace has this same appreciation for each and every employee.

There wasn't much to learn overall, we were trained within a week and after that week, we were pushed to ask questions, but outside of that we were set to work properly.

One thing that I did worry about eventually was advancement, I personally am motivated by goals I have set for myself. I didn't see much room for advancement within the company, outside of becoming a supervisor after many years of working the same position.



I loved working at SanMar because it was a place where you were given opportunity to grow with the company.. They supplied you good company compensation and benefits. They believed in taking care of their employees and in turn cared for their customers.. It was a well diverse place, allowing you the freedom to learn, grow and meet daily goals... I loved that it was a positive, team oriented environment that was successful meeting their customers needs.

A typical day consisted of daily routines - get the orders picked, packed and shipped on time. With many departments working together, having a goal and a plan of action everyday was a must. 

I learned at SanMar how to go from a team member to become a team leader... Leadership was the best quality I took from this company. 

The environment at SanMar is one that is fast pace, friendly, and togetherness. Everyone relied on each other to complete daily tasks. 

Management was designed to benefit the employee and maintain employee need to develop skilled and knowledgable workers.. Pride and fellowship was encouraged and open door policy was a must.

The hardest part working here was being able to keep up with the demands of the customers.. We housed so many different inventory items and each customer was treated as the only customer.. 

SanMar expected you to work hard and in return they rewarded and provided you with the best work environment, best management, the best benefits and consistently encouraged a friendly atmosphere. 

I loved this job..The management I enjoyed because they made it a fun place for u to work. When I was late they would ask u why, instead of accusing u of having fun. The Company has a great culture I miss..A fun loving job. I used to cringe at coming to work, until I went to Sanmar they made everybody feel welcome and never gave me a guilt trip of why I was late. They would ask u and then ask u if u needed more time to help u and your family.. I liked the programs they have if u needed a Sanmar loan you could get it to help pay bills when u were at a life sucks moment. The managers would come to my house and ask if I was Ok if I didnt come to work and needed help to do chores at my house to take out garbage when I was sick,  Rides to work, or even if u forgot your lunch people would bring food for u that day, then I would pay back the next day, or employees would change there schedule to watch my daughter in which I was greatful for. Sanmars Christmas parties are really fun, especially when some of the supervisors sing the songs at the party its a blast. They changed my life alot and I couldn't have been happier at any other place..The people there are really nice and I wish I could go back..They have helped me more than I knew..until I left. I realize now it wasn't that bad after all!! Miss my Shakopee DC 7- Great times and miss u always!! Yeah its hard work, but well worth it at the end of the day!!

I had been working at Sanmar for almost 4 years and saw how much of a downhill the work environment went over the course of time. There was good people that worked above and beyond that didn't get acknowledged for their work ethic, many rumors and a lot of drama regarding other employees, and morale being at an all-time low. A lot of favoritism being at play and lack of care for the people. Hours up to now were being pushed with some employees having worked 50 hours a week, myself included. Some of the people were really friendly and fun to talk to but with most others you can't get along with as they had behavioral issues. The pay was fine at first but however most other positions you are better off being in, as some positions were more stressful with more responsibilities but were also positions where is was very chill but paid the same. From personal experience, do not ever consider being an Order Expeditor, it may have seemed interesting at first but it is one of the most overshadowed positions that the Leads and Supervisors do not understand at all and is not respected in the slightest, leading to be and overall terrible experience. Never thought to see quite a lot of lazy workers, such as some Leads but there are. Unfortunately, some of the people really care about Sanmar but in the grand scheme of things, Sanmar has yet to properly show its care for the people. 

SanMar was not just a job.  It was an experience I wish I never had to leave.  Due to a death in the family I had to move and leave the most wonderful company behind.  Between there company morals and management...I dont know what was better.  You were family there...not just a part of a team.  No matter if you were new or the owner of the company, nobody got treated any different.  Ive never seen such a put together training class or website.  They make it friendly to the employees and customers.  If there was something you didnt understand, your manager did not make you feel scaird you were going to loose your job.  Instead they took it as a learning experience and would set time to go over the issue with you till you were solid.  When they would listen in on your calls...you would get in IM saying good job!!!  You got it!!!  There positive reinforcement and laid back atmosphere was a breading ground for success!  I learned so much I will take with me in my future from SanMar.  I cant wait for my experience I had with SanMar to help pay off with my future company.  I have allot of ideas and ethics that will bring me far.

Every day there was a start up meeting that would brighten the mood of everyone's morning, because some people have stressful lives who come into work with a depressed attitude. Along that line, management is very understanding of their employees lives, and try to accommodate as much as possible. Management are there for there employees, even in a time of personal crisis. They have an open door policy, which help maintain trust throughout the warehouse. While working, employees welcome newcomers with advice and help with any questions that they have. As the newcomers grew, there is always room for advancement within the company. They may be understanding of the lives of their employees, but they have a firm standing of the requirements of there job title. One of the things I like about the company is that they want to be productive and accomplish as much as possible. They are considerate of there employees needs, but the customer always comes first, as it should be. I worked there for many years, and I was saddened to leave because the environment and my coworkers were very inspiring.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Equipment operator 22 salaries reported	$19.64 per hour
Senior production specialist 16 salaries reported	$18.90 per hour
Order picker 16 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour
Account executive 4 salaries reported	$21.20 per hour
Shipping and receiving clerk 6 salaries reported	$18.73 per hour

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