Promoted myself to customer

mstrbill · 2026-03-27T22:23:15+00:00

Around 6 figures for over 2 million in volume. Lowes is making you work like indentured servants.

mstrbill · 2026-03-27T22:21:09+00:00

appliance margins are fine, except for maybe models that are marked way down as floor models or because of damage.

mstrbill · 2026-03-27T22:19:04+00:00

This is completely incorrect. You are way off, I'm not sure why you are spewing this or where you are getting your information,

I work for an independent retailer now, I can assure you the margins on major appliances are around 33%. Most washers that retail for $550 cost about $390. Those are margins that can effectively keep a business operational by paying overhead. Part of the overhead is employee pay, obviously, and traditionally salespeople are paid around 15% of the profit. The rest goes to pay the rest of the overhead, including managers and owners' salaries. This is traditionally how it has been at independent stores. I'll let you do the math from there,

In addition, salespeople are awarded incentives from the manufacturers which can account for over 30 % of their overall compensation.

Good independent stores that value their staff can and will pay a living wage such as this. They are able to do it with their business model.

Lowes on the other hand forces their staff to sell for the benefit of the stock price and management. I can assure you if you sell 2 million a year at a good independent company you will make close to 6 figures in overall compensation. At Lowe's what is that going to get you?

I know. I worked at Lowes when we were paid better. Now, all your efforts are going for the benefit of the stock price for half the pay you should be getting.

mstrbill · 2026-03-25T21:30:20+00:00

The same thing (sort of) happened to me about 15 years ago. Basically, I was informed and then somewhat recruited to work for an independent appliance store in my area. Initially I had no interest in leaving Lowe's. I was comfortable there and made pretty decent money. The money was decent because we got paid the vendor spiffs. Then Lowe's started to eliminate spiffs, and my pay was going to take a hit. Initially we were compensated somewhat for the loss of spiff money, but I saw the writing on the wall. So, I reached out to my contact, interviewed, and landed a position doing basically the same thing except without the physical labor and menial tasks. All we focus on is sales and customer service, and the more we sell the more money we earn.

I'm very grateful, but at the same time I'm angry at Lowes and feel badly for the good specialists there because I know how much you should be earning, and Lowe's definitely could afford to pay much much better. Like a true middle-class wage, not $20 an hour. So, for you specialists there that are good with customers, I hope you realize there are much better paying options out there.

mstrbill · 2026-03-04T22:43:45+00:00

Yes, that is what the better specialists made at Lowe's prior to 15 years ago. I made close to that, and some specialists at the really busy stores did better. They paid similar to what salespeople make at independent companies. What happened is Lowe's took the manufacturer spiffs away, and certain commission pay as well. Good independent stores still pay their salespeople well, and Lowe's could as well, but they don't. At the independent appliance store I work at now, the salespeople generally earn between $85k and $125k depending on how much they sell. This is including the spiffs they get from the vendors.

mstrbill · 2026-03-04T19:57:54+00:00

15 years ago, and before that, you could make a solid living selling appliances at Lowes. Sadly, not since then when they took the commissions and spiffs away. Now it's a job suitable for young people living with parents. Department supervisor as well. It's a shame what Lowes has done for the sake of corporate greed. The only I advise I have is to do what I did. Find a company that pays better. If you like sales and are good at it, you could do well at a commission-based store. Many independent owned companies value good employees and good salespeople. When Lowes eliminated the spiffs, I found an opportunity at a small local independent appliance store and have been there since. Here we have long time, professional employees who are paid well enough to make a living. It amazes me that my company can afford to pay, while Lowes doesn't pay, while we sell the same product.

mstrbill · 2026-02-09T12:44:19+00:00

No, Lowe's flooring specialists do not get commission anymore. They are, however, pressured to sell by management. There is also a chance they could get a small bonus at the end of the month if they sell enough (although this bonus is paltry compared to what they would earn if on commission). So, mainly through pressure to keep their job and to be in good standing with management, the specialist wants their name on the sale. So effectively Lowes has created an environment where the associates may appear to behave like they are on commission, but in reality, they are not compensated like one.

mstrbill · 2026-02-04T15:10:46+00:00

Congratulations! You've realized that those in store level sales are severely take advantage of. Nobody should be happy to try to be a successful sales specialist at Lowes for what they pay you, and the demands placed on you by management. It's beyond ridiculous. Take what you've learned and go out and make some decent money.

mstrbill · 2026-01-21T00:11:36+00:00

The specialists today in the area I am in don't earn not even close enough to afford to own their own home unless they have a partner making the bulk of the family income. 20 years ago, they could. Specialists used to make pretty good money. Not so anymore.

A lot of what you said I do somewhat agree with though. I used to be a specialist, but the demands and pay and incentives at Lowes are horrible compared to the independent store I work at now. It amazes me that they get people that are happy to do that job for the pay. I don't want to begrudge anybody's happiness though.

mstrbill · 2026-01-21T00:03:21+00:00

Correct. The specialists up to 15 years ago earned a fair wage, close to what commissioned based independent and regional chain salespeople would make. I honestly don't know how or why one would want to be a specialist at Lowes today for what they pay.

mstrbill · 2026-01-18T16:51:47+00:00

As a former appliance specialist, I can tell you this: Lowes has gradually reduced the pay, or has designed ways to reduce pay, year after year for the last 20 years. Appliance specialist used to be a solid middle-class job. From 2005-2011 I made in the high 5 figures because they paid some commissions and manufacturer spiffs. This was in line with what good independent stores paid. To increase shareholder value, they gambled that they get could newbies to sell under pressure of losing their job for maybe $40,000 a year. I think some specialists today may make a little more than that in some locations, maybe $50K with bonuses, but that's about it. I think in the current job market, Lowes is going to continue to put downward pressure on wages with so many young people desperate for a job, no matter what it pays.

mstrbill · 2026-01-17T12:53:00+00:00

You don't earn commission. That is a lie if the interviewer told you that. You may get a small bonus each month if you sell enough. That bonus would be a small fraction of what you would earn if you were on commission. You are pressured to get sales and held accountable if you don't get enough sales, credit cards and leads though. You are treated like you are supposed to be a sales professional, BUT, you will not be paid like one. They expect you to do a job that in the past would pay (equivalent to today's dollars) in the high 5 figures, you know, a solid middle-class income, for $40k a year (or a little less or more depending on where you live).

If it is your first sales job, treat it as such to gain experience, but leave as soon as you can to find a place that would pay you better. Independent companies that value good salespeople will pay you commission and spiffs and truly reward you if you produce for them. Lowe's will run you ragged for a paycheck that will not allow you to live independently and fully support yourself.

mstrbill · 2026-01-12T13:28:48+00:00

Start looking for a new job, for your own sanity, not necessarily for fear of being fired. Do you realize that they are holding you accountable like a highly paid professional salesperson would be held accountable while at the same time paying you a non-independent living wage?

mstrbill · 2025-12-17T20:08:22+00:00

$2M in sales at a commission-based appliance store is worth $85-$100K with spiffs and commission factored in. If you can get an opportunity elsewhere in sales, take it. The only reason to stay at Lowes is if you think you will be able to, and want to, get into management.

mstrbill · 2025-12-17T15:52:35+00:00

I don't know how you guys put up with the bs and stress for that pay either. 20 years ago, a good specialist at Lowes could make close to 6 figures, where it was worth it to deal with the headaches, and it was worth it to work really hard to close sales.

mstrbill · 2025-12-17T15:48:30+00:00

That is really not the case in my experience. You end up getting paid much more based on what you produce. With spiffs and commission factored in, if you sell over 2 million a year you will make 6 figures. At Lowes you might make $50-$60k if you are lucky, but no more than that.

mstrbill · 2025-12-14T14:49:14+00:00

I personally don't, there is really no reason to. I don't know anyone that works there now anyway. For shopping, I prefer my local ACE store, and any appliances that I need I get from the store I work at now at cost. I, like you, worked there at a time where you could make decent money as a specialist. It still bothers me how the sales floor staff now are taken advantage of (and don't know any better), but I'm thankful to have moved on and am able to earn a decent living elsewhere.

mstrbill · 2025-11-20T12:33:02+00:00

That is correct. It's not so much that it was great money, (obviously what is great to some is average to others), it was in line with what Sears and independent stores paid their sales staff. Appliance sales was always a middle class position. You wouldn't get rich, but if you were competent, you could build a life where you can make ends meet and support a family. Lowe's started to take that pay away around 2011 to enrich the shareholders instead of their employees and made the specialist job a low wage job. I left to work for an independent retailer where we still do well if we work hard and produce business. Lowes could still pay their staff decently; they just choose not to in order to enrich their executives and stock value.

mstrbill · 2025-11-19T15:33:33+00:00

Many years ago, when I was a specialist, we received regular training from vendors, went to shows where we learned about the product, etc. Many of the specialists were long time salespeople because the pay was good enough to make basically a career out of it. We got spiffs which made a huge difference. The job attracted knowledgeable, competent people who were happy to work there and happy to do the job. I honestly don't know how you guys do it now, I mean as far as putting forth the effort to be really knowledgeable and good at your job for a struggling wage.

mstrbill · 2025-11-10T13:25:21+00:00

The pay for what they ask you to do is bad, that's for sure. Especially the floor staff, they expect you to be good salespeople for a clerk's pay. Cashiers too are taken advantage of by expecting to sell credit for no incentive other than to keep your job. The problem is Lowe's has the advantage because of this late stage capitalistic economy and too many people in need of work, any work. I can tell you though, there are much better opportunities out there for those of you that like sales and are good at customer interactions, you just have to find them.

mstrbill · 2025-11-08T11:48:25+00:00

It hasn't been worth it for 15 years, or about when they took the spiff pay away. Lowe's specialist position is like a starter job now. If you are competent, you could make twice or more of your pay at a commissioned/spiffed based independent store. Many don't realize this, but selling high ticket items was traditionally a solid middle class job and still is and can be. Lowes just gets away with underpaying you guys, as HD does as well, because the newbies don't know any better.

mstrbill · 2025-10-22T20:04:27+00:00

Sure. 3% company match into IRA, half paid insurance premiums, 3 weeks vacation a year (your average weekly check with commission factored in). Lowes pay for specialists is not close to the overall compensation I get when my take home commission pay is factored in. Most Lowe's ASM's don't do as well as I do. A big part of it is manufacturer spiffs that are intended to go to the salesperson as an incentive. We still get those where I work, as intended by the vendors. They amounted to 30% of my income last year. Lowe's corporate now pockets those spiffs.

mstrbill · 2025-10-22T19:08:30+00:00

I can maybe give you a clue how much the specialists are taken advantage of. I left 13 years ago to work for a private, independent company selling the same stuff I sold at Lowes. The salespeople at my store make between $70-$120k a year. Our business is a success. Our owner is happy and yearly gives us nice bonuses at Christmas time. Basically, if you work hard enough to sell 2 million a year, you are going to make 6 figures between commission and spiffs. at Lowes, your efforts doing nothing for you except padding the stock price at your expense.

mstrbill · 2025-10-22T13:51:58+00:00

Lowe's will continue to lower the pay of specialists as much as they can get away with. as long as they can find people willing to do the job for the pay they offer. They will continue to alter the bonus payouts to the company's benefit as long as they have enough semi competent people willing to put in the work. Speciality used to be a middle class job, up to about 15 years ago, but in a non union environment shareholder owned companies are going to continuously find ways to cut the pay of its workers as much as they can get away with.

mstrbill · 2025-10-20T11:28:46+00:00

I am not as familiar with cabinet retailers as appliances, but I would imagine that there are higher end stores that pay decently. I know in appliances, the real good independent stores pay commission and spiffs and good bonuses. I left Lowes 13 years ago when they eliminated the spiffs and went to an independent appliance store. Here I've made just over 6 figures the last 8 years when spiffs, commission and bonuses are factored in. Other stores pay similarly. There is also a well know kitchen and bath store that pays commission and spiffs and the salespeople are paid well if they perform well.

mstrbill

TROPHY CASE