Terrible liars and cheats - General Manager Fastenal Employee Review

1.0
8 May 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good luck finding some pros. As an OSP there are a lot of great things. The more you move up though the more they throw on you with little increase in pay and if it does get increased they only take it away because they are trying to raise profits to elevate the stock price.

Cons

They pitch everything as such a great opportunity. The tell you how great they promote from within but once you are promoted you realize it is the only way they can survive. No person from outside of the company would be foolish enough to take the management jobs for the pay they give you. In the beginning they get you to drink the Kool-aid by telling you how great they are and how the company grows debt free and all of that and then when you fall for the promotion you find out why. Corporate passes the buck to the store manager and District manager even some too. For example: If fastenal doesnt regularly stock an item that your customer wants to buy you can buy it from the manufacturer. These manufacturers often times have minimum buys so If your customer wants ten you might have to buy twenty. Even though you made the sale Fastenal will now charge you monthly for the extra sitting in the back. If you didn't make the sale they would complain your monthly numbers are too low. To make things worse they tell you to run the store how you want all while penalizing you if you do it that way and stuffing their own private label items that are crap quality down your throat to sit on your shelves that no one ever buys and yet you cant charge them back for that. Terrible place to be promoted. I regret every minute of it.

Explore other reviews about Fastenal

5.0
9 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Management is good Hours are negotiable Time off is available Opportunities to move up always available

Cons

No commissions for part time

3.0
9 June 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They offer training programs through their internal “Fastenal School of Business.” A few good mentors to guide you should you find one and if you’re willing.

Cons

* Work/Life Balance - No official WFH opportunities. Branch employees were told to report, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. 15 days of PTO (10 for vacation and 5 for sick). You don’t earn additional PTO until the start of the year following your 5 year anniversary. * Pay - pay is inconsistent and they find reasons to change your pay by eliminating and changing titles. Pay is below industry standard and is a base + bonus program for most roles. * Boys Club - Especially in MN/WI area. Positions created or filled for cast off tenured employees to find them another spot rather than termination. Promotions based on political moves instead of merit or opportunities for growth. Positions posted for new roles internally but sometimes not shared with teams to allow for those politically motivated decisons to fill a spot. If a role is only posted for 1-week vs 2-weeks, it usually means they have a specific candidate in mind to take that role. * Cheap & Tacky - Required to travel but not all meals are covered. Welcome to stay at hotel that offers free breakfast but no per diem for lunch or dinner. Some meetings or trainings might provide lunch. When traveling for team meetings or trainings, usually required to share rooms - sometimes with other employees you’ve never met. Encouraged to book rooms using discount codes provided by customers. There is a target room rate they’d like you to hit and sometimes it means driving out of the way. They’d rather the expense hit elsewhere such as fuel and travel versus the room rate.

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