Heart Breaking Experience - I would never recommend this company to a friend. - Buyer CarMax Employee Review

2.0
Jun 18, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Wearing shorts to work is great. “The Culture” is promoted to ta great extent and has been rated “best” to work at 14 yrs in a row. Discounts on vehicles 3 times a year. Most employees are different outside of work because there isn’t the looming manager just dying to look good for hauling in an associate for saying something off the cuff.

Cons

I wish I had read more of the “buyer” reviews before quitting my job, taking a pay cut, and destroying my self esteem. Impossible to navigate the politics that run the purchasing dept. Constant “feedback” loop results in unnecessary negative conversations for the sake of saying feedback is being given. Individual development plans (IDP’s) are a constant for everyone — apparently they think this shows managements ability to manage people (which most senior managers lack). Zero ability to report negative experience without retaliation. Every conversation EVERY SINGLE ONE with someone you haven’t guaranteed a personal friendship with is reported to a manager. It’s encouraged. While you are in training you are viewed as “less than” and you have no voice. No matter the experience you bring- you know nothing and you will be treated as such by every other person in the purchasing department. Senior management can not admit to faults - even when presented with hard evidence, and that breeds hypocrisy, lying, and suck-up teachers-pet types being given leeway for any rule infraction.

Explore other reviews about CarMax

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazing benefits with 6% 401k matching and tuition reimbursement.

Cons

Highly reliant on the quality of management at the store location.

4.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The perks of working at CarMax are quite extensive. Associates are offered an aggressive 401k program, Stock Purchasing Plan, in store discounts on sales and service, access to the CarMax Wholesale system, excellent healthcare, plenty of PTO, and at my location we are given as much OT as we want. My coworkers are generally good people, that I enjoy being able to work along side day in and day out. Management is very understanding in regards to calling out sick family emergencies, and schedule requests.

Cons

Despite doing the work of 5 people, and very politely asking for a raise management will not give me more than my 3% annual raise which is the single biggest let down. The bonus change of 2025 being labeled as "exciting" was straight corporate gaslighting unlike anything I've ever seen. Since the start of 2026, as of this review being written we have lost 7 associates largely due to pay, and I am soon to join those associates. Management from the store level up to corporate needs to understand that to retain their top performers they need to be compensated like a top performer. Some members of management are cliquey and moody which is very frustrating to deal with. Quality of Management varies wildly from store to store as well

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