Customer Service Associate / Cashier | Fort Wayne, IN | Dec 6, 2018
if you already love the products, you will love working here
I am a seasonal associate hired in Oct. 2018. I have been shopping at BBW for years and know the products fairly well. The manager made the interview very comfortable. We shared the same passion for the products BBW creates and a passion for customer service. I was hired on the spot and started at $11.00 per hour, which is a standard hourly rate for seasonal employees. The one thing that the manager did tell me during one of my visits to the store, before I applied, was that they were having a hard time keeping employees and that people just didn't show up for their shifts or they quit. The corporate office raised the hourly rate to $11.00 per hour, in an attempt to keep trained employees interested in working. After having worked at BBW for a couple of months, I now understand why the turnover, regardless of pay. It can be a very physically challenging job. BBW moves more inventory than I ever imagined. That inventory is moved by the employees, seasonal as well as permanent. There are no "men" on staff specifically assigned to move the endless boxes of inventory. And, since BBW employees are mainly women (not by design by any means), women are doing the heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, climbing, etc. Large shipments are dropped off and it is up to the employees to find a home for them, which is quite challenging, as many of the boxes are stored high on shelves and piled box on top of box. If you have any disabilities or are an older employee, be sure to
Bath and Body Works is a good place to work as an associate, but not as a management member. As an associate, hours vary constantly and it can often be frustrating to only have a week of call-in shifts and no actual shifts on the schedule. There is ALWAYS something to do, be it straightening, stocking, or the like. Management, do NOT expect to actually get a 30 minute break if you work an 8+ hour shift. Chances are that you'll be too busy moving around to Floorsets occur once, sometimes twice a month. Changes to the store happen near-nightly---marketing must be pulled and changed almost every night. Sales change constantly, so if an associate does not work for three or four days, chances are that they will not be aware of the current sales. It is VITAL that associates and managers alike maintain awareness of what is occurring in the store. Likewise, a closing shift will almost always end after the scheduled time, so do not expect to get out at 10 if you're scheduled to close. It'll usually come closer to 10:30, sometimes up to midnight or later if working during the holiday shift. Managers and associates alike can expect a scheduled 8 hour shift during holiday season but can end up working 12 hours, if not longer.
Management is another issue. Stores are broken down into managers, co-managers, sales leads, and then associates. Managers, co-managers, and sales leads are all required to open and close the store. This includes counting the opening and closing tills and ensurin
ProsTeeny tiny gratises and 30% discount for associates and CSLs, 40% for managers and co-managers.
If you're working in management, you're going to have plenty of hours but you're not going to have any work life balance unless you're the store manager making the schedule.
My experience was in a dying mall location, so we weren't nearly as stuffy and overbearing as other stores, but could be at times.
I despise the selling culture, treating customers as dollar signs and being forced to breathe down their necks and pester them until they buy something or leave. This is not a great place to work if you have anxiety.
I also hated the "coaching" methods. We were expected to ask our associates (who only work about 3-10 hours a week usually) what they could personally do to increase sales and ask what they did that may have not lead to increased sales. This is really awful to insinuate that our associates directly influence sales. Yes, they have an effect but no one can force a customer to buy something.
I hated that we were required to do a bag check every time we left the store. It infuriates me that Bath and Body Works believes that 90% of theft is internal. That is absolutely false. During my time of working there, I've seen multiple customers load bags up and just walk out of the store with $400+ of product and we weren't allowed to do anything. This makes employees feel powerless and frustrated and like fools.
And yet the company believes it's far better to distrust your employees.
In Bath and Body Works' eyes, associates are no more than slaves to their will. Floors
Was looking for a seasonal job for some extra money. I thought Bath and Body Works would be great because I love the store and their products. I also thought I could probably make some friends too given that most of the girls that work there are either about the same age as me or go to school at one of the colleges in our city.
Scheduling is super flexible, they work around your school schedule or other jobs, but as a seasonal you don't get many hours. It was only 1-2 shifts a week at 3-4 hours which really sucked. The only other times you'll really get hours are candle day, black friday, and other key days or sales. Sometimes one of the girls needed a shift covered so that was a way to get other hours, but you have to be super quick to grab it because everyone wants more hours. I don't think any of us seasonals realized that the hours would be very low, but it makes sense.. its a small sized store. If you apply seasonally, I would recommend asking about the hours unless your okay with a 4 hour shift here and there. They also have these things called "call ins" where they can make you stay until however long after your scheduled shift They warned us not ask about if we would ended up needing to stay for these call ins because it was a way to get on their "bad side", which was pretty annoying when you don't have a car and depend on rides, or when a sitter is depending on you to come back at a certain time. One time it came to the end of my shift (or so I thought) and I had
Not a bad job, but you can't live off of free shower gel
This job is relatively easy with three possible duties to be assigned throughout the day: front of shop (basically a door counter), sales floor, and cashier. Tasks are simple to learn for first time job-seekers or folks getting back into the job market. You are on your feet for your whole shift, which can be exhausting. It's a pretty nice place to work during Covid, since there are already sinks and nice soaps throughout the store and you get free hand sanitizer to keep on your apron.
In addition to the free hand sanitizer, you also can get other free merchandise as new scents get released. I've gotten two free shower gels in just two months. Employees also get 30% off at Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and other L Brands businesses. Unfortunately, the discount only applies to full-price items and cannot be stacked onto sale or clearance priced items. Since the sale prices are usually better that 30%, it's only worth it if you really need something right away.
Due to an error from management, none of the employees that started working at the time the store re-opening in July received proper training. Because of a computer error, I still have not been able to complete mine over a month and a half after being employed.
Shifts are short: only 3 hours at a time for most positions. This means you do not get a break or a lunch. I've been scheduled at most 12 hours per week, but most often only 9. Even though the pay started over minimum wage at $14.50 per hour, the min
ConsFew work hours available, No benefits for non-management employees, Less than a week's notice for upcoming work schedule, Employee discount doesn't work on sale items
This company has a shiny exterior look and seems like it would offer plenty of upward mobility and flexibility for your schedule, but that would be false. My manager had a blatant problem with allowing myself or other associates time off without retaliating by scheduling them less hours. I wasn't scheduled less because managers are required to work 40 hours a week. I was frequently reprimanded for not meeting my sales goals, but a lot of the time I spent there I was off the floor and making up for a lack of work that my superior was doing. I was frequently harassed by this same manager, called names, put down, and accused of not doing my job. When I contacted HR regarding this issue I was required to have a meeting with them where I was pulled off the sales floor in the middle of the day and told that if I wanted to have more time off, I should have considered that before I chose this career path. The rules for time off regarding ASM and SM are that, "in the absence of the SM, the ASM must be present." This made it difficult for me to have a positive work-life balance as the SM continuously took whatever time he needed off and then refused to accept my requests for PTO. When I managed to get a day or two off here and there one year, he made mention of the fact that I wasn't a good employee for three years after the time off took place. HR did nothing, my DM did nothing, and my SM thought I was "over-reacting," I had multiple associates complain to me about the SM's behavior a
ProsPay rate is higher than most retail
ConsHold company interests higher than employee satisfaction
I would say Bath & Body Works is just like any other mall job. I applied because I enjoyed the products and thought it would be easy to sell products I believed in. For anyone who has had a retail job, this is not different. Busy days with short lunches with mediocre pay.
At Bath & Body Works I was trained for a number of different things such as stock work, register and floor sales, although most employees had their go-to area. I spent most of my time on the register. The management was great, employees are great but it doesn't exactly make for a great working environment.
Like any other job, there were sales to be made. You would go on the floor and assist customers and help them in the right direction. Bath & Body Works was VERY pushy when it came to sales. Employees had walkies on and after greeting a customer, you would be asked over the walkie what her favorite fragrance was. After learning her favorite fragrance, you would be enouraged to re-interact with her, making sure she found everything alright as well as recommending things she didn't necessarily need. I found most customers to think this as being a little pushy. Even now as a shopper, I feel a slight anxious coming in the store knowing I'm most likely not going to be left alone to shop.
Even working at the register, we would have small products know as "add-ons". These were for convincing customers to buy items to add to their sales right before the transaction. Customers would also find this annoying becaus
Bath & Body Works(LBrands) is honestly THE BEST company I have ever worked for, and I have been in the retail game for 15 years. I had only been working for 6 weeks or so when they brought to my attention that the combanation of my personality & daily transactions & SPAH - that they wanted to begin the process of heading in the direction of being promoted to a Top Seller(which comes with a $2hr increase) I had never ever ever ever in my life at ANY JOB felt that I was validated, appreciated, an asset to the company, encouraged, or had mangers that not only saw potential talent in my skills, but also made sure I knew they thought that!!! I LOVED knowing that my managers had a ton of confidence in my work, that, not only did they express it daily, they also took time aside every shift to personally focus on me & help me learn what makes a great top seller. Which yes, comes with critiquing, but still, its because they believed or knew that I had what it took, and stayed on me because they truly believed I was talented & would rock the position, once I had down all the behavoirs expected of BBW&WB employees, and then also had the companies Top Seller qualities & skills & techniques down. I love my job, management is an issue anywhere you go, and thats all I say about that. They are also very accustomizing with the schedule for parents, students and also employees that have 2nd and 3rd jobs. The hours aren’t great, unless you work in a successful store, so thats on each individual
ProsEncouragement, validation, teamwork, open door policy, umderstanding, an overall sense of job security, always another position to move up to!
ConsNo say over prouct ordering or receiving, no benefits offered to PT employees, cutting shifts, never knowing a permant schedule or how many or how little hours you will get each week
Really fun as a seasonal worker - management is horrible
A typical day at this job includes all of the following, but not limited to running the cash register, tidying up the store, and up-selling customers. I started out as a seasonal associate during the winter holiday season, and it was a fast paced, fun working environment. We played Christmas music, and wore reindeer ears. For me, a lot of time was spent behind the cash register. Ringing up items and bagging them, wrapping any glass product in paper, and trying to get customers to sign up for rewards. While on the floor, it was a lot of selling to customers.
Following seasonal, I got moved to stock room for specific reasons. The store slowed down drastically, our team got cut into a third, and our sales goals were less than half what they used to be. It was a lot slower and meant there was a lot more time to do things.
While the work environment was exciting and fun, management was horrible for a handful of reasons.
Management was the biggest con of working here. When the store slowed down, if you were caught doing any tasking you would get yelled at for not selling to customers. Even if there were no customers in the store. Hours were constantly getting cut, or call-in shifts were constantly getting added. There was no balance. Management was terrible at uploading schedules on time, and refused to adhere to certain company pay policies - a change in policy stated that if an employee worked outside of their scheduled time, they would get paid time and a half. To get ar
ProsFun work environment during the holiday season, good entry level job to customer service
ConsWouldn't always get breaks, terrible management
This is a great place for a part-time job! For your 1st time getting a sales/costumer interacting job! Something to help you have a little extra money for Christmas shopping or while paying for school.
This is NOT a long-term employment UNLESS you are fast, effetive & efficient! You have to be quick on your feet moving thing around weather it's candles, wallflower or body care WHILE PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING AROUND YOU carefully not to bump into them! They are always watching to see who is working vs who is standing in a corner on their phone or talking to their fellow associate not helping customers.
You will most likely get hired for seasonal SAS (Semi Annual Sale) along with Black Friday, Candle Day & Christmas. They will either put you on Cashier to start then, replenishment then, sales floor!
During November until New Years you get the most hours. 5-8 hour shifts. After New Years (January) it slows down a lot! Your shifts are normally 3 if your lucky 5 hour shifts. You may get 1 to 4 days per pay period. They give the hours to who is most valuable to the company to sell.
Just like everywhere, It's easy to get involved in the drama. Luckily my store didn't. Then again I did my best to stay busy and out of the dirty laundry. Keep it about you & that paycheck! Once you pass the Bath And Body Works tall white doors. Leave your personal life out of work. Trust me!
As a employee you do get to see the items before they hit the shelves. Long as it ring up in the system you can purch
New management changed everything-Fairview Pointe-Claire, QC
Bath&Body Works used to be a great company that, although asked a lot from their associates, always showed appreciation for their hard work. They used to set realistic sales and merchandising goals, as well as manage the staff in a fair and positive way.
Ever since the change in management at the Fairview Pointe-Claire store about a year ago, the environment has completely changed. More than 20 core associates(this does not include seasonal associates) quit during the months following the management change.
The new manager would:
- not praise the associates for any of their hard work
- speak poorly about associates to other associates (and sometimes in front of them)
- not guarantee a break for associates during long floor set shifts
- post the schedule extremely last minute
- force associates to stay late at work against their will, even when they have school early the next morning
- schedule "good" associates way over their maximum hours, and give the associates she doesn't like close to no hours at all
- show up late (sometimes hours late) to nearly every shift, and give verbal warnings when associates were minutes late without giving notice
- pick favourites and treat each associate differently, very unequal
- micromanage the other management members(assistant managers, key holders) and hold them accountable when they simply would not have enough time to complete tasks that are outside of their job title
- find something "wrong" with every associate and
ProsLots of teamwork between associates, good insurance benefits for assistant and store managers
ConsToo much is expected from associates, late schedule with errors, no positivity from management
Questions And Answers about Bath & Body Works
How often do you get a raise at Bath & Body Works?
Asked Dec 12, 2020
A year
Answered May 29, 2023
Rarely unless they need u
Answered May 25, 2023
What is the promotion process like at Bath & Body Works?
Asked Nov 30, 2020
Easy
Answered May 25, 2023
If you were dependable you got promoted
Answered May 25, 2023
What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Asked Mar 20, 2020
Very stressful crime is high in the Reynoldsburg store. People go in the store and get arm full of product and just walk out the front door without paying
Answered May 29, 2023
Facing usually talking to customers about the new scent or what they may be looking for always offer a basket
Answered May 28, 2023
What is the best part of working at the company?
Asked Dec 4, 2019
The free products and your coworkers.
Answered Jul 8, 2022
Costumer care and help visitors
Answered Jun 24, 2022
If you were in charge, what would you do to make Bath & Body Works a better place to work?
Asked Feb 5, 2018
Be respectful towards employees, be more positive, give your employees praise when they do well.
Answered Jun 8, 2022
Management having an even allocation of floorsets, closing, openings. Maybe have senior corporate or d.m and r.m work shifts in stores as well (only occasionally to get a different perspective)
