Truth - Anonymous employee Sweetwater Employee Review

1.0
26 Apr 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Awesome to be around gear non stop!! Company is a sales and marketing machine.

Cons

Sales and marketing is their expertise and business, the rest is hype, specifically controlled to furthur increase brand image and sales...drink their kool aid or else.

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Sweetwater Response
7y
It's slightly difficult to respond to this review because it doesn't give many specifics. We carry 34,000 products from hundreds of vendors. In our view and apparently in the view of millions of satisfied customers, those products and brands do represent the best our industry has to offer. No retailer carries every brand and product that is made; we strive to carry great quality products from vendors who share our commitment to superior quality and customer service. Our brands don't "grease the company hands." If that were the case we would carry any number of our own private house brands that would provide a higher margin. We have chosen not to do so in order to be a great partner with our vendors. We're sorry this former employee wasn't happy here. Jeff McDonald, Sr. VP of Human Resources

Explore other reviews about Sweetwater

5.0
19 Jun 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 Jun 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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