Terrible culture / pyramid sales (drink the Blue Kool-Aid) - Outside Sales Representative Fastenal Employee Review

2.0
9 Jul 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Learned a great deal about sales! From A through Z. Responsible for your Book of Business all the way through. Managing customer, product knowledge, entering sales into their POS system, unloading trucks in the AM, making deliveries, cutting PO’s with vendors for customers items that Fastenal doesn’t carry in wheelhouse. Including, Accounts Receiving, on past dues clients. So, one will learn a great deal!

Cons

All the above Pros are significantly, under compensated. False promises, low commissions for all Sales Reps (Inside or Outside). It’s a pyramid based, panzie scheme meant to only reward Management and Shareholders.

Explore other reviews about Fastenal

5.0
30 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good job to have during college. People are easy going and easy to get along with. Overall really good experience

Cons

Gets repetitive after a while

3.0
9 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They offer training programs through their internal “Fastenal School of Business.” A few good mentors to guide you should you find one and if you’re willing.

Cons

* Work/Life Balance - No official WFH opportunities. Branch employees were told to report, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. 15 days of PTO (10 for vacation and 5 for sick). You don’t earn additional PTO until the start of the year following your 5 year anniversary. * Pay - pay is inconsistent and they find reasons to change your pay by eliminating and changing titles. Pay is below industry standard and is a base + bonus program for most roles. * Boys Club - Especially in MN/WI area. Positions created or filled for cast off tenured employees to find them another spot rather than termination. Promotions based on political moves instead of merit or opportunities for growth. Positions posted for new roles internally but sometimes not shared with teams to allow for those politically motivated decisons to fill a spot. If a role is only posted for 1-week vs 2-weeks, it usually means they have a specific candidate in mind to take that role. * Cheap & Tacky - Required to travel but not all meals are covered. Welcome to stay at hotel that offers free breakfast but no per diem for lunch or dinner. Some meetings or trainings might provide lunch. When traveling for team meetings or trainings, usually required to share rooms - sometimes with other employees you’ve never met. Encouraged to book rooms using discount codes provided by customers. There is a target room rate they’d like you to hit and sometimes it means driving out of the way. They’d rather the expense hit elsewhere such as fuel and travel versus the room rate.

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