Gotta have a thick skin to work here - Anonymous employee WINDSOR SMITH Employee Review

3.0
10 Feb 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Can create a good team environment at a store level. Staff I worked with had each other's backs no matter what the situation was. The limited amount of good stock that comes in. 50% rrp off discount is decent. Unless your in a DFO store.... Area managers are amazing, always go above and beyond to have managers back and help them out. I did enjoy working there, most days.

Cons

Get used to not having a "normal" lunch break. Can't take it between 1-4. So either take it 2/3 hours into your shift or wait for 6 hours. Choice is yours! Pressure to make budget: stock is basic and cheaply made accept this and either make better quality shoes or don't put so much pressure on staff to hit unrealistic targets for shoes that aren't worth the money. H/O are rude: once you realise that they aren't just "having a bad day" you learn to live with the rude blunt comments made even if it is positive feedback your receiving from them. Warnings are given out more than staff discounts Store managers have absolutely no authority. I questioned daily why they employ managers and area managers when at the end of the day they really don't have much say. REFUND POLICY: absolutely bogus and I wasn't afraid to side with customers. Buy a shoe on the Sunday, breaks on the Monday don't think your gonna get your cash back. Needs to be sent to head office to be assessed. Don't be a spontaneous shopper in this store no such thing as change of mind. (Unless you buy online) FAULTY SHOES: "these are known to be faulty but sell them anyways" always a good motto to have when customers bring them back in the next day for a refund. Was the $$$ worth the refund the next day guys? Probably had more faulty refunds than shoes I was selling at one stage. CAMERAS: I'm all for cameras in a store, but the owners not only checking them religiously themselves but calling the area managers to check also just to make sure your not standing around talking. Yeah there is only so much cleaning you can do in one day. If it's a slow period in the day don't think you'll be able to have 2 mins to relax. Gotta keep going and going and going. STORE MUSIC: same 20 songs played on repeat for 3 months. Enough to make a person go insane. Seriously invest In iPads and stock it up with at least 8 hours of music. I could go on, but I wasted enough time not only working there but writing this review xo

Explore other reviews about WINDSOR SMITH

1.0
13 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The only pro was the cluster manager. Honestly best manager I’ve ever had

Cons

Everything. I honestly wanted to believe that the reviews I saw after accepting the job were just people overreacting but they weren’t. Every single one was right. The way head office management treated staff, I’m not surprised some of them acted out.

1.0
24 Jun 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

nothing at all. Wish i didn't have to fill out this part

Cons

absolutely everything. Never had a worse job than this one. Management is crazy- constantly calling, watching on the cameras, making you submit weekly store photos twice a week whilst you're working alone on the busiest weekend days. If a shoe was not displayed perfectly (1mm off) the owner would make you fix it and resubmit the photos despite having customers coming in and out of the store touching the shoes... yawn, You will be expected to work alone even if its a weekend or a large store, this means you cannot go to the bathroom or have to wait a really long time to take your break (sometimes you will have to have it before close) You will not get paid over your allocated shift time. if you have to stay back for a customer, they will not pay you for it. You don't get any staff discount, They don't offer refunds so be prepared to have customers yelling at you most shifts. They don't care what days you cant work, even if you enter N/A they will roster you on. Lots of catty girls at work as well who will throw you under the bus to get brownie points.

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