Would you have done what I did?

Like everyone Covid-19 is affecting my bottom line, so I am looking for a 4th job.

I've sent some CVs out, and a merchandising company did like what I brought to the table, and offered me the job.

Thing is the salary they offered was great for me 8 years ago, so not the best salary in 2020.

Even the woman interviewing me admitted it was for a Jr. Merchandiser position. Anyone ever heard of that position?

I ended up turning it down, rather make budget cuts and work jobs 1-3 harder than work a 4th job that was offering a low salary.

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Most merchandising companies have not raised what they pay merchandisers in years. Depending on what state you are in they pay from $8-$12 an hour. I started out at $12 25 years ago. Raises, don't even bother to ask for one. I'd say 99% of companies don't ever give them anymore. And a lot of them are going to paying by the job, not hourly. Like one company $2.50 for a job, they claim only takes 15 minutes, but actually takes 30 minutes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2020 12:49AM by sueac101.

Questions like this are never simple Yes or No answers. Here are some of the things I would consider:

If you start and prove yourself as a Jr. Merchandiser, it seems like there must be a better paying Sr. Merchandiser position to move up to.

If you are working for several companies, picking up an extra job while you are already at a location doesn't seem like you are losing anything to take it. Going out of your way would not be worth it,

The companies I work for let us claim the contracted time for the job if we complete it successfully. While we don't get raises unless we get promoted, you can do the job faster the more experienced you get. That translates into a higher rate per hour.

Former mystery shopper, current merchandiser.

I guess the big question is how long do we have to do merchandising before we 'move up' in a sense.

I do like field work, calling my own hours, calling my own shots.

After almost 20 years of it, yeah saying, "Here is $15 an hour, and some mileage". When I make more at every other job I work. It's a hard pill to take.

Then again there is a reason why companies like this and others are begging for people. It isn't enough to get people to get off their duffs and work for them.

When I started merchandising 29 years ago, I worked for 10 companies at one time. They all paid us for mileage, drive time, and for the exact hours that we worked a job. And I could get more then 40 hours a week out of it. Now they don't want to pay anything for mileage or drive time and the jobs they want to be a set rate instead of an hourly rate. And pay us a whole lot less money for all the work they expect us to do now days.

just wondering, did you apply for unemployment? I did, and was surprised I qualified. After July 4th, I won't be getting much but it helps me thru this immediate time.

@expert setter wrote:

just wondering, did you apply for unemployment? I did, and was surprised I qualified. After July 4th, I won't be getting much but it helps me thru this immediate time.

I am in Canada, and we have CERB.

The problem is I don't qualify. I made too much, literally.

making too much'taint a bad thing!

if you are a merchandiser load every app there is for in store jobs, takes minutes for those jobs and you are already IN the store

I didn't know there was an upper limit to how much you made.

@OldDog wrote:

@expert setter wrote:

just wondering, did you apply for unemployment? I did, and was surprised I qualified. After July 4th, I won't be getting much but it helps me thru this immediate time.

I am in Canada, and we have CERB.

The problem is I don't qualify. I made too much, literally.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer

Hope you don't mind me explaining.

To qualify for the CERB you can only make at MOST $1K per month (So $300 or so a week). If you make more than that you don't qualify, even if your hours have dropped.

@prince wrote:

I didn't know there was an upper limit to how much you made.

@OldDog wrote:

@expert setter wrote:

just wondering, did you apply for unemployment? I did, and was surprised I qualified. After July 4th, I won't be getting much but it helps me thru this immediate time.

I am in Canada, and we have CERB.

The problem is I don't qualify. I made too much, literally.

I have done merchandising work for about 7 years and I can tell you that I am not making $15 an hour. Now when it comes to demo work yes. $15 to $20 depending on if its wine, food, or product. But regular merchandising I have never been paid more than $13/hour. I consider $15/hour for merchandising work a very desirable pay rate Old dog. Sounds like you have done very well in your merchandising career.

My sister - in - law makes $15 an hour for 3 companies that she works for.
The pay also depends on the state that you live in.

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