[swingdjted]

I worked at Sears for a couple summers between school years teaching ('00-'02). I sold appliances for commission (sadly a pretty boring job; the clock seemed to tick more slowly then than any other time of my life). Sears was one of the last "big box"es as you call them that had true training and customer service. I was required to wear a tie and I was tested weekly on product knowledge. I think they still do it. I wasn't really paid a rate; I was paid commission. More sales=more in my paycheck. If a commissioned employee had a horrible pair of weeks, he/she was guaranteed $6 per hour minimum when the minimum wage was $5.15, but nobody really needed that safety net as we were in a location that easily kept the merchandise moving. We usually averaged $15 or more per hour, which was reasonably decent money for a mostly easy job. I hated when they kept making me push for their bullshit maintenance agreements though. I never really felt they were a wise investment. It was more or less free money for Sears.

Avoiding "big box" businesses is harder and harder every year. I honestly try to as much as possible, and I live where it's easier to do than other places, as most of them have found that our location doesn't fit their idea of a profitable spot. Wal*Mart is here though, and that really sucks. I still don't shop there.