gérant de commerce de détail

commis à l'accueil

warehouse/driver

sales associate

piano teacher

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

This is a good company from the outside, but there are many things on the inside that can make the experience less enjoyable. In the last year, as online sales have gone up, the web portion of the company has struggled to keep up, resulting in errors that staff inevitably have to manage with little to no support from the team that manages it. Covid precautions have been lax, with anti-mask attitudes being met with indifference and placating actions in fear of losing business, often at the cost of staff safety. Management is given unrealistic expectations, which are then passed on to staff. I have enjoyed working with many people over the time I was here, but from an operational perspective it is sadly one-sided. 

As a musician, you will have a great time! Don't expect to be paid enough to live comfortably though. You're paid in a little bit of a discount. The first little while at the company will be tremendous! They'll fly you to Toronto, treat you like you are their greatest commodity, then as the weeks go by from then, you will realize just how little they care about you. There's a tremendous amount of talent (not just musical) wasted on retail positions in this customer and the only way to move up is to throw other people under the bus. Management going from Assistant Managers all the way to the Head Office in Toronto is some of the worst that I've ever experienced. They're focused more on their personal ventures and capitol than what is happening to the person working far too hard to tell someone what kind of guitar pick they need. Get it, Take advantage of the perks, get out.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Low stress environment and great co-workers who share a passion for music and gear. Upper management is always approachable and respectful. Great company over all. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
You’re always tempted to buy gear being surrounded by it constantly.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Light hearted and positive. It’s not a pressure sales environment which lends itself to an honest and open environment amongst staff and customers.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Sign in, make sure your department is looking fly. Open, help customers. When it’s quiet and no back log work, you may find yourself in an impromptu jam session with other staff - usually short lived but always worth it.

Typical retail/service industry job, success at the company is based off sales with other duties considered important but not as important as the sale. Pay is low for the required knowledge to succeed, with pay increases being around 1k per year unless the manager likes you. Co-workers are nice but management has lost touch of what it's like to work on the front lines. Micromanaging and negative feedback are the norm, with positive feedback being far and few between, and typically only if it is commented on by customer/head office. 

I taught ath Long & McQuade for 7 years. The commision is very high (40%). There is a cap on how much you can charge per lesson and they won't consider lower commision for those teaching remotely and not even using their facilities. While they do recruite students for you, that's about where their involvement stops. You are basically required to manage your own schedule and make sure your students pay on time. While they have a payment policy in place, they do little to nothing to enforce it, and if your students don't pay them, they don't pay you so you're essentially working for free. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Coworkers and management are very supportive and friendly!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Long hours on your feet, disgruntled customers.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Supportive, exciting, always busy

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Selling product, restocking shelves, keeping store cleaned, learning new sales and promotions, dealing with customers

In the short time I worked at Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, I felt identified with his vision and work policies, it is a safe environment, with coordinating managers and very collaborative and friendly work teams, this has very good spaces to work and also discounts for teachers to buy items inside the store, and finally a very nice general public which I liked to teach them music. I highly recommend this business for music teachers to work.

The place is very nice, and the management supports you. The job might be demanding sometimes, but it's a good place to work.
Most of the coworkers are lovely people with whom we have a lot in common, which makes it even better.
As usual, the retail schedules are not the best, especially if you have a family, but the great environment makes it a lot easier.
You get to meet a love of people who love music.
 

During my tenure with Long & McQuade, I worked hard and learned a lot.   I was able to utilize my specific skills in a retail sales environment, and climb the ladder, starting as a rental sales associate and ending as a Store Manager.
Family and personal illness had me needing to leave my position and career with Long & McQuade behind, and I miss the customers, staff and Head Office leaders whole heardidly.

The company as a whole is poorly managed and you will be paid far less than a living wage.  Be prepared to work every single weekend.  Benefits package is extremely overrated.  Also next to no women in management and nearly impossible to get a promotion as a woman unless it’s in the lesson centre (administrative).

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Gérant de commerce de détail 2 salaries reported	$35,000 per year
Commis à l'accueil 2 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Warehouse/driver 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour
Sales associate 1 salary reported	$35,750 per year
Piano teacher 1 salary reported	$35.00 per hour

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