Oh boy...I could write a book about this place (maybe some day I will heh). The amount of incompetence/corruption among members of management is astonishing. I have been screamed at by management (in-front of members no less), forced to work off the clock, coached for drinking water in 90 degree weather (while on on carts), and passed up for promotion over and over because I wouldn't hang out with the right crowd after work (what is this, high school?).
This is only scratching the surface. People are regularly fired or demoted for getting injured, taking a FMLA, or working there for more then 3-4 years (you start making too much $$). The "open door policy" is suppose to take care of stuff like this...but it's a joke. The GM and his assistant managers will vehemently defend each other if one does something wrong. Good luck getting in contact with someone higher up the ladder.
Another astonishing thing is how much management hates new ideas. That might seem kind of odd (well all of this should) but their way of thinking is that if the idea didn't come from them or corporate, it's no good. I have actually gotten coached for selling too much product in my department (I dared to disobey the sanctity of the layout sheet!). You seen in our club, management doesn't physically work in their assigned department(s) so you can imagine that this type of conflict would happen often (e.g. highly experienced employees working under inexperienced managers). Well if their not working then what are they doing with their time you might ask? Well, your not going to believe this, but they store-use junk-food/sodas and hide out in the office most of the day. I'm not kidding or exaggerating....this is what they do 80% of the time. Sure there might be that one manager that gets out there and busts balls...but he is not the norm (actually...that one manager ended up getting fired at my club...lol). What's funny is that if corporate visits the club, they clear the office of this stuff top to bottom. You might be thinking...well if a guy from corporate is right there....why not just tell him what's going on. Well, management won't let you talk with him privately, and if you say it in front of them, your out of a job.
Again...this is just scratching the surface. Sam's Club is just a BAD place to work. Don't let the decent wages lure you in...it's a trap.