Great structure and opportunities - Store Manager PetSmart Employee Review

4.0
15 Sept 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

• Lots of opportunity for career growth • Good pay for managers • Great structure overall for measuring results • Near recession-proof business, growing while others are closing stores • Lots of emphasis on developing leadership Overall the pros definitely outweigh the cons if you are up for the challenges of a highly competitive workplace. If you are sharp, on your game, highly organized and can walk and chew gum (and juggle) at the same time, you can realize great success here. The weak need not apply.

Cons

• Relatively low pay for hourly associates makes it challenging to retain top talent at that level • Top-heavy with corporate management positions creating too many "new initiatives" every month it seems - makes it hard to focus on basics of day to day operations. • Lean labor model makes Wall Street happy but puts a lot of work on store and field managers - makes work-life balance very challenging.

Explore other reviews about PetSmart

5.0
4 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun, welcoming, easy, flexible, growth

Cons

Weekends, slow, customers, busy, fast pace

1.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company pushes for more and more from the bottom level employees without better pay. I worked there before the restructuring and; not much can make me cry, but working here sure did, even back then. I can’t imagine how anxiety inducing it must be to work there now. Animal welfare is a complete non-concern. The only thing that’s pushed is sell, sell, sell. It’s borderline dystopian. Bad management seems to be a common issue, not only from my experience, but many others’ as well. I worked until I was an exhausted sweaty mess to make sure everything in pet care or, when I groomed, the salon, was cleaned to perfection as expected of me (and I reiterate: “me,” because these standards were not expected of my co-workers, just me) and overall felt very unseen. The only times I did feel “seen,” was when mistakes were made. Work was treated like boot camp. A co-worker that was subtley targeting/bullying me, and even started rumors accusing me of racist remarks(!!!), was promoted and anything I reported was downplayed because they were friends with the assistant manager. Working here was an overall traumatizing experience.

Cons

Employees are expected to be work-robots

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PetSmart Response
2w
We’re disappointed to hear that your experience didn’t reflect what we aim to create for our associates, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. We invite you to contact the CareSmart line at 1-800-738-4693 so we can learn more and see how we can support you. Thank you.
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