Big mistake - Sales Engineer Sweetwater Employee Review

2.0
9 Sept 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great discount on gear, this is the only “Pro” in my opinion. Also, there are some good people that work for the company, but not Management. Management are literally all Guitar Center defectors. They are told to drink the Kool Aid and shut up, so they do.

Cons

I tried working here for a year. I was a top performer for my tenure, but my income was not even close to the expectations that were set by recruiter. I moved to Fort Wayne and was headed for a life of poverty if I let myself get stuck at this job. You need to call like 15,000 customers before you start making any money. This is basically cold call phone sales. You spend half your time covering for other employees’ while they are out of office and you are expected to accept no pay for this coverage. But required to provide excellent customer service as if it’s your own customer. The early mandatory meetings were an absolute nightmare and waste of time. We were forced to be a captive audience for the redundant manufacturer presentations. No pay for this, pro bono work. They forced us to watch Dave Ramsey religious themed personal finance videos in training to prepare us for living with low income… this was my first major red flag. There was NO work/life balance. The only people who were making enough $ to survive worked ridiculous hours and were losing their sanity. You have to PAY every day for a paper cup of below average coffee, first job I’ve had were no comp coffee was provided. Even though you work mostly in complete isolation cubicle style, there is no option for remote work. I suspect this is party due to wanting captive customers for their coffee and food sales and, of course, the morning meetings.

Explore other reviews about Sweetwater

5.0
19 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Structure for private lessons -Create your own hours -Pool for new students -Food discount -Benefits

Cons

-I personally did not have problems

4.0
5 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If sales and music are your drives, Sweetwater is as good as it gets. Management in my experience has been very supportive and development-oriented, creating a positive culture around the company. They have a fantastic training program (albeit intense) that trains on both products and sales methods, so even if you're lacking experience in a given category there's plenty of coaching and training to get you ready for the role. Over time, the position can also be quite lucrative which compliments Fort Wayne's low cost of living well. They also offer relocation assistance since all positions are on-site, and a great benefits package. I've been fortunate to become great friends with many of my coworkers and honestly some days don't even feel like work. Ultimately, with this job you get what you put in, and making a solid living to geek out over music gear all day is a pretty sweet gig.

Cons

The job is very demanding - it's a fully commission sales job that revolves around constant customer outreach via call, text, and email. This means starting out is tough financially, and days are usually long. Try to have a savings cushion before you start, especially if you're moving from another city/state. You also work nights, holidays, and rotate through weekend shifts which won't be new for those who have worked retail before, but it's still a tough adjustment. Starting out I struggled from a social aspect as well. Fort Wayne is a cool city, but it's no LA, NY, or Chicago. Long hours at work make going out and making friends or getting involved in community groups/organizations difficult.

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