Follow the Golden Rule - Anonymous employee Custom Ink Employee Review

3.0
20 Aug 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-My co-workers have also become friends. They are creative, fun, energetic people with big hearts. -There's always food somewhere. -Amazing health benefits -Discounts to cell phone bills -Ability to work from home (if really needed on certain days) -Flexibility (this seems to be tightening up though) -CustomInk does a lot of volunteering and charitable work -CustomInk has multiple locations with the opportunity to move between them if you foot the bill -Great holiday party -Cool game rooms (if you ever have time to use them) -You can have your personal packages delivered to the office -Nice employee discounts on orders

Cons

-LOW. PAY. (I see here that CustomInk is an Engaged Employer, so I'm sure that whoever is reading this has seen this comment time and again. Please fully consider how many people are leaving this complaint- our expectations you give us as employees are astronomical and we get yelled at by customers and have to smile through it, so please give us a little more money or lower your expectations). -Mandatory OT that barely makes a dent in your paycheck and seems to come up at the last second or is canceled right before you arrive to work early (you need to constantly check your work email while at home or you'll have no idea what is going on) -The CustomInk Blacklist feels like a real thing. Management does not want to hear feedback unless it is glowing, positive, and covered in smiley face stickers. They ask for your opinions and ideas and shoot down every single one (although some will mysteriously appear as new policies or "something we're trying out" a few months later, but of course you don't get credit- it is now considered management's ideas. This is very Golden Rule, of course.) Once you give your opinion about things, you mysteriously never get promotions and end up pulling sucky tasks randomly. Weird. -Have a serious health problem? We say it's all well and good until you have to take time off. If you run out of Paid Leave while you're in the hospital, well... goodbye! -Expectations for quality, accuracy, attitude, productivity, and other categories are very hard to hit. When you mention this to managers they tell you they did 5,000 studies about it and you're actually wrong- you aren't overworked. But when was the last time they were in your shoes? -Be prepared to be graded on absolutely everything you do. While feedback is good and keeps employees accountable, this is ridiculous. We are graded monthly on calls, emails, chats, attitude, productivity, time available, overall attitude while you sit at your desk and eat popcorn, how many breaks you take and for how long- everything. You will be constantly scrutinized and you have to take it all with a smile, otherwise you have an "attitude problem" if you try to defend a choice you made with a customer. -They tell you there is no script for being on the phone, but there is a secret one. Customers who have been loyal to us for years are starting to notice this. -Company is becoming profit-driven rather than people-driven, as it once was. STOP. Stop thinking about how you're going to take over the t-shirt world and focus on your customers (who are starting to notice a dip in quality) and your Inkers, who are starting to get very upset with how they are treated. -Do you live in Nevada or Texas? Then forget ever working in a cool department or having a job that isn't order operations. You'll also be working late shifts forever. - STRESS. If you are a person who is easily stressed, don't do this. There are several employees who are now on anti-anxiety meds just to get in the front door of the office, and at least two people I know have had panic attacks.

Explore other reviews about Custom Ink

5.0
24 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Friendly staff and flexible hours made for pleasant work environment

Cons

The commute was too great

1.0
26 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good benefits and diversity initiative at the time.

Cons

The company lied about what the job was. A "community building local representative" for their brick and mortar stores ended up just being a cold calling job and taking incoming calls for other stores. No room to move up. The management was the worst I ever worked for. Weird rules where they signed the lease, including someone having to stay in the store in inclement dangerous weather. Most of the "old school" employees I came into contact with drank the Kool Aid in a weird way that left no room for criticism. I left in 2022 and have been watching the rating here fall for all the years since. Could have been a great company but I wouldn't ever give them my energy now, as an employee or customer.

2
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Custom Ink Response
1w
Thank you for reflecting on your time with us and sharing your honest feedback. We are pleased to know that our benefits and commitment to diversity initiatives were positive elements of your experience. We are truly sorry to hear about your frustration regarding the daily responsibilities of your role, our historical store safety guidelines, and the management culture you experienced. Providing transparent expectations and ensuring a safe, respectful environment for our team members are core priorities, and we regret that your experience did not reflect this. Although you transitioned away from the company in 2022, your insights are valuable as we look back at our operational history and work to strengthen our organization moving forward. Thank you for your past contributions to the team, and we wish you continued success in your professional journey.
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