Run, run, run, run far far away - Anonymous employee Sweetwater Employee Review

2.0
6 Oct 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They provide gear discounts (because they know that you won't be able to afford them) Cool people Occasional sunlight

Cons

Sweetwater cares very little about the employee. With inflation being at an all time high, sweetwaters response was non-existent. This multi-billion dollar company paid some of the lowest wages and expected the highest amount of effort. Goodluck with paying for any emergencies that may spring up. Remember to save up all your PDO and never take a day off no matter how bad you need it. You need to have a cushion for when the clinic forces you to stay home for 6 months to take care of a 2 day flu. You will wear many hats but don't you dare ask for a raise to compensate your increased responsibility, that would rock the boat. You are routinely expected to work beyond your hours on-site. In order to make your survivable wage, you must study for many hours outside of work. Forget about having a social life/friends/family. All you need is sweetwater! Sweetwater is love, sweetwater is life. All hail sweetwater.

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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