sales associate

customer service associate / cashier

cashier/sales

assistant manager

sales clerk

Smoker Friendly

I worked on and off for this company from July 2007 to April 2011. I started out as an assistant manager, then I got pregnant and had my baby took a 1 year leave and came back as a part time sales associate and then promoted back to assistant manager. I was close to becoming a manger before my manager did me dirtier than I ever thought possible. This last manager that had me fired was the person who originally trained me at my first store as she was being promoted to manager and getting her own store. She left and we didn't keep in touch. My first manager was great, we got along, he respected me and even helped me out during a time when I was in a very abusive relationship (and just had a newborn). I went on maternity leave, only planning to take 2 months off, but ended up taking a year off. My manager always checked in with me, rescued me one night when things got extremely abusive and was a good friend in general. When I came back he had no positions at his store, but recommended me to a store near my home. I started back part time with a new unknown manager and she was OK, not great, not bad, just impersonal and by the book. I enjoyed that store because of the customers. However we moved and I wanted to make more because we got a brand new apartment and the rent was high. Well one day I was checking the stores email monthly newsletter and saw that the assistant manager who originally trained me had just had a baby! I was excited and emailed her congratulating her and asking her how she had been. She Gave me her number and we started texting and catching up, we both had new babies and a genuine friendship was born. A few months later she was in need of an assistant manager at her store and of course wanted me for the position, not to mention her store was right up the street from my new apartment. I immediately agreed and started the next week. She gave me a quick reminder course for the position and we worked great together. Mind you, outside of work we hung out, were good friends, heck, I even attended her babies baptism! Well, her manager took notice of how well I was doing in the position and came in one day to talk to me about managing a different store. I was excited, but my manager/friend was not. She immediately began giving me difficult tasks and writing up every single little thing I did. Then she went on vacation but not before telling me "You Know, ever single assistant manager I've had ALWAYS gets fired when I go on my annual Mardi gras vacation." I assured her "not me! I got this!" No. I did not have this. When she got back she gave me 7 write ups for (I kid you not) not having a receipt signed correctly, leaving 2 minutes after scheduled time (I was off the clock at the correct time), and just not picky stuff like that. And then she FIRED me. I was triply hurt by this as I lost one of my best friends (she had me blocked on all social media by the time I got home), lost my job and I had just left my abusive relationship and had no idea now how I would provide for my daughter and I after just speaking with our district manager and thinking I would be getting promoted and gaining my own store and finally gaining the courage to end my abusive relationship because I thought I would be financially able to take care of myself and daughter. To add insult to injury, they denied my unemployment and made me sound like the most non compliant employee ever, pulling write ups from WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE JOB and forgot to drop the petty cash in the safe or forgot to add a buy down to a certain product, in MY FIRST MONTH OF WORKING THERE. So, my first manager was awesome (sidenote the reason he gave me those two write ups - and they were the only 2 at that store- was because one was on camera and the other because his overly aggressive upper was in store that day and decided to write me up) and it was a great time, loved it, second store, OK - nothing to write home about  third store went from dream to nightmare. All depends on your manager.

What is the best part of working at the company?
was actually understanding for the most part, though was let go on some bs with a one time no call no show, though I sent a text and didnt get a reply back til 3 am the next morning 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Nothing really, was able to handle the rush and keep it to a minimum easily, even with some of the rude customers 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
it was pretty diverse i felt like i belonged 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
kinda get a briefing from the previous manger on shift, make sure there was a flow of $100 in drawer, made sure no lottery needed to be refiled, either refiled what needed to be stoked or had let the other employee on shift know what needed to be done when they came in, checked email to make sure nothing had to pushed to the other employees, made sure to keep safe drop cancels only at a bare minimum  at closing,  made sure money was put into safe, cleaned the glass and bathroom while the other kept the register running, then swapped so they could vacuum up real quick while I filled my portion of the paper work and counted the safe and did my lottery check.

A typical work day begins with daily required paperwork and reports sent to corporate office showing sales from previous work day.  Overseeing daily operations of the store and maintaining a nice work flow where customer satisfaction is top priority.  Reporting all inventory evaluation and adjustments to regional supervisor as well as keeping supervisor up to date on any problems or concerns.  Managing a store and staff for a corporate operation has been a great learning experience and the people I work with are cooperative and supportive.  I have learned that you cannot trust all employees and how to maintain a good eye on any suspicious activities that can take away from your hard work and efforts.  The hardest part of the job is keeping hardworking and trustworthy employees, but i have become very skilled at weeding out the bad and keep the good.  The most enjoyable part of the job is getting to know the regular customers and working along side a management team that supports each other with corporate guidance.

So,  yesterday was my first day at smoker friendly. I was coming in excited and ready to get the day started. Long story short, that didn't last long. It had been a couple of years since i worked at circle K so i was trying to get back into the groove of things. I made a few mistakes but the person training me had nothing nice to say to me in the 4 hours that I was there at all. Basically told me in every way possible how I was gonna fail and be a horrible employee and wouldn't make it in the company very long. This same person got onto me for ID'ing someone because they knew them and once again told me I wouldnt last long in the company. Along with all of this, it was like they expected me to know what buttons to press on the register to cash out lottery, and got rude because I didnt know what to press, i felt no support at all and felt completely degrated and felt like I wasnt even wanted there. 

I was hired as part time but I wasn't looking for a job was asked if I had a job didn't and the manager asked me to apply I did got hired loved my job was there 10 months and passed over for more hours and advancement but that didn't happen instead the manager hired outside company for an assistant manager and left me with 2 days a week when I was working 3 days a week and a couple Saturdays then when we lost an employee I was having to cover hours until someone was hired and was told I would stay part time even tho when I was hired I was told If a spot opened up i could have more hours then when assistant manager got promoted I still was passed over once again. And I worked there for 10 months and was willing to fill in and also do cig count and what ever was asked of me..

The money is alright at best but as someone with a high position in the store, you are expected to bend over backwards for this company for nothing. Hope you enjoy spending almost every waking moment at work busy with some kind of paperwork or unnecessary, time-crunched tasks. Upper management doesnt give a hoot about their employees or their health. If you have a life outside of work or if you enjoy making good money and having a good balance between the two, don't work here.

My boss was a fair and honest manager, the best I've ever had at any  job, and she was the best teacher at any position I've had as well. She offered fair prices and competitive brands to our customers, buying the company shortly after my starting at our location in west Peoria. She was best at going above and beyond the call of duty for any owner of a company, and she treated her customers as well as her employees with the same fairness and respect. A regular day was to smile, and to "give out pickles", meaning to always go the distance for customers and never say no to any request. She taught me what real customer service means, and the dedication and diligence she bestowed upon my time there will always be my lesson in the future for how to treat others as well as myself.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Loved the job, you meet some really awesome customers, the downfall of the job is a lazy HR Dept, I got screwed on my taxes twice because HR makes you do your own paperwork and approve your own hours!!! I've given two updated W2 forms and they still didn't get it right!!! After begging for help on the matter, they made you feel disappointed and needy, I don't recommend working here!! Other than that I really loved the job, But they don't care only for themselves 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Lazy HR on taxes, Benefits, the benefits package is NOT that great

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Fast paced and a very busy at times

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Waiting for your time to gi home

I can barely afford to eat or pay rent and I begged for more hours but was turned down for the nonexistent benefits they didn't want to give me. I finally quit when the assistant manager quit and they decided to promote someone who hasn't been with company more then two weeks and can't even do her job well enough yet to work by herself. I've been with the company 10 months and have done an adequate job at least. All over the state, entire stores, management included are walking out. Smoker Friendly does not care about you at all, it's a bottom-of-the-barrel cash grab so the wealthy corporate heads can keep everything they can while everyone else lives on $700 a month. My manager has been with the company for 10 years and barely makes enough to live.  STAY AWAY

An amazing company to work for, and management is amazing when it comes to communication. Plenty of hours if you want them, however the pay is low and little benefits are almost non-existent. There's plenty of opportunities however to earn raises, bonuses, and promotions.  The only real downside, (if you don't mind the low pay,) is the bar that's located next door.  During the weekend, the bar crowd tends to get out of hand, and police are often there.  One last note, heavily intoxicated people tend to drift over to the store to buy cigarettes, which can often make uncomfortable situations when the act disorderly.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sales associate 5 salaries reported	$14.88 per hour
Customer service associate / cashier 1 salary reported	$8.25 per hour
Cashier/sales 2 salaries reported	$8.25 per hour
Assistant manager 9 salaries reported	$14.81 per hour
Sales clerk 8 salaries reported	$14.00 per hour

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