Bonhams Reviews

3.0

54% would recommend to a friend

(201 total reviews)

Bruno Vinciguerra

61% approve of CEO

37% positive business outlook

Bonhams has an employee rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars, based on 201 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Bonhams employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail and wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

201 reviews
1.0
1 Dec 2015

Trainee-Junior Cataloguer

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Provides you with a network of successful people in the business and this in turn gives you leads to get out of Bonhams ASAP. This is the only pro.

Cons

No Support. No training. I am sure the pay is illegal because it is so low. Lie to you when describing job you are about to accept, saying that there is opportunity to progress and low wage is because of the quality of training you receive. I received not even one days work of training and I was there for two years. Lied to me about possibility of pay rise when I said my job was worth more than the 15.5k they were paying me. No respect from management. Complaints fall entirely of deaf ears. Nobody makes changed 'it is just the Bonhams way'. Hierarchy within the company is appalling. I am an 8st 20 something year old and was moving.lifting 30kg (minimum) boxes of books in our department in to cars and only had a stolen Tesco trolly with a broken wheel to move them around in as a result my back is completely useful, even a year after leaving I am in agony with it. No lifting training offered until I had been there for EIGHT months because 'they forgot' by which time my back was scuppered. I literally can't put in to words how little this company cares for or looks out for their staff. It was the worst 18 months of my career to date. No training at all is offered to trainees and when you are promoted to junior cataloguer all that seems to mean is that you can create the catalogue for sale instead of just packaging items to send in the post to buyers after a sale. I can already feel my blood pressure rising simply by writing this review. From the bottom of my heart, if you are thinking of applying to work for Bonhams, I sincerely implore you to reconsider. It will be the worst decision you make.

2.0
17 Nov 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Interesting colleagues who are really passionate about their craft.

Cons

Senior management doesn't have a clue, underpays their staff well below what is a fair market rate, demand absolute commitment outside of work hours, don't invest in development, don't offer any sort of incentives, don't provide the required materials to do the job correctly, and line managers don't champion their staff at all.

1.0
5 Feb 2016

Very Poor Experience

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It used to be close to a really great coffee shop, but then that closed and everyone went sad. Occasionally you will be in the presence of some genuinely interesting items/artworks but the environment and culture of Bonhams will sap all positive feelings and energy you once had. You do meet some very good people here who love art and hate bonhams.

Cons

Everyone knows you cannot live in London on 14k starting wage. Nepotism is rife here. Under qualified 'specialists' litter almost every department. If clients knew that all you need to be a specialist was a smug voice and an artnet account I think the entire industry would eat itself. They focus more on the restaurant than on any other department. They focus more on the floor than on any other department. There's no training and their approach to safety and transport of the artworks is a disgrace. They pay staff with lunch vouchers as a reminder to not get above their stations.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 201 Reviews

Glassdoor has 235 Bonhams reviews submitted anonymously by Bonhams employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Bonhams is right for you.