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25 reviews

ALCO Employer Reviews

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Good for High School Students
Customer Service Representative (Former Employee), Saint Johns, AZ – May 20, 2013
ALCO is a great place for a high school student to get their first job. It's not ideal for a family man or woman.
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Fun place to work....
Cashier/ stocker (Current Employee), Pinedale, WY – May 15, 2013
Pros: an hour lunch and flexibility in schedule
Cons: the pay
Alco is a good pace to work, the management is great and everyone is hepful and try their best to help you as much as possible. The only bad thing I would have to say about there is the pay. Their pay is too low. If they were to raise their pay to match everyone else around the area, they probley wouldn't go through as many people.
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What I have done for ALCO.
Operations Manager (Former Employee), Broken Bow, NE – May 6, 2013
Pros: working in the retail field
Cons: having to wait so long for benefits
Many days I was responible for getting recalls, and defectives ready for return trucks. I also recieved all paperwork, deposits, layaway aduits, and Sent out Bad check letters. Another one of my tasks was to create the daily schedule. I was also in charge of making sure employees kept up with the tasks they were given daily. I made sure the store was – more... recovered daily, and many times I opened and closed the store. The hardest part of my job is making sure all work is done in a timely manner. I cant define just one thing I enjoyed about this job. I really enjoyed helping others and being a team player. – less
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It was a job to pay the bills
Cashier (Former Employee), New Castle, IN – March 25, 2013
Pros: payed the bills
Cons: did not like some of the employees
The job was okay because I enjoy working with people, however, some of our employees and their friends were thieves.
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Very up beat working enviroment
Deli-Clerk/Cashier (Current Employee), Rockingham, NC – March 14, 2013
Pros: i have a job
Cons: i dont get breaks and not enough pay.
A typical day at Alco requires me to stand the whole shift. I deal directly with customers either by telephone or face to face. Handle and resolve customer complaints. Accept cash, checks, or bankcards for payment; completes check and bankcard transactions according to established procedure. Keeps register area neat and stocked with necessary supplies. – more... Assists customers in locating specific items. – less
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Proactive work environment
Technician (Current Employee), Livermore, CA – February 25, 2013
Cons: short lunch
Everyday is different at ALCO because of customer wants and needs, so I have to be very flexible and prioritize my work and meet my daily goals given to me by my supervisor. I have learned a ton of skills working at ALCO such as; problem solving, dealing with conflict, assembly line, streamlined processes, etc..My coworkers are very well trained and – more... are very easy to get along with.The management staff are well put together and always have solutions. Best part of the job is being able to interact with coworkers and learning new things everyday. – less
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fun energetic work place, got to help people around the store
stocker (Former Employee), belen, NM – January 28, 2013
Pros: was across the street from where i lived
Cons: was across the street from where i lived
learned how to build store shelfs for product, management helped as much as was needed, got along an worked great with all co-workers, hardest part of the job would be telling a customer we didnt have what they are looking for, making my co-workers an customers smile an laugh
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Fun for a summer job
SALES ASSOCIATE (Former Employee), Limon, CO – January 18, 2013
I would mainly work 12 to 8 pm and it was a perfect schedule with me. I worked 40 hours every week. I would either be on the register or I would be in soft lines and bring things out and stock shelves with what was needed. I really enjoyed management they where very easy to work with and help me every step of the way. I liked everyone I worked with – more... because they all nice and very helping. I enjoyed the most about helping customers and making there days. – less
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great place to work
Group Manager (Former Employee), Alpine, TX – January 7, 2013
Pros: great people
Cons: fast moving
i loved my job there my manager was the best i worked in alpine tx
DM was a bit rude i thought
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Has it's ups and downs.
Sales Associate (Current Employee), Somewhere, Texas – December 27, 2012
Pros: job security
Cons: inexperienced group managers/changing opening and closing hours/lack of advancement.
I like the company and the people I work with.I do have my doubts about advancement.My best advice i can give you is to learn the register fast cause with this company the cashiers get the hours and show up to work all the time.I have worked for this company for a year now and find many pro's about it however there are many con's as well.At times working – more... for this company I find that this is merely a pit stop and not a place for a career.From my experience you can work hard and do things that others cannot and still be passed up for a promotion.This company has great expectation of you as a sales associate but I find the people they choose to run their stores do believe in the phrase " Do as I say,not as I do.".I enjoy working with our Store Manager but the group Managers are in need of work.I do know that this is not the case in many stores but i'm sure many will find this to be true.this company for some reason is very poor at keeping store hours the same.One day you will open from 8am to 9pm and the next the the company will decide to change the hours to 9am-8pm.There is no stability with the store hours at all.So keep checking your hours cause they are subjected to change at the will of the company.However do not let this deter you from seeking employment with this company.There are many new people and friends to be made and new things to learn.I have learned many things here just wish this company would give many more a chance to prove their worth to this company and show that they can be a valuable asset to the company. – less
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JJ27 – January 5, 2013

I was in the so called Store Manager Trainee Program in Indiana for about 3 months. Got my own Store in Minnesota and spent a total of about under 8 months. I was in my mid 20's so was the rest of the Store Manager Trainee's. I was liked in my store by the women but the older crowd had their doubts. My Group Managers always pointed fingers at one another for stuff not done right and mistakes. I had to fire and do a lot of hiring when I got into my role at my store. Over all I hated it lack of training to really know what to do other then the basic knowledge to run the store. My DM wasn't helpful at all and I heard she didn't care if Store Managers come and go. Poor company really with it being said being in small towns isn't the smartest thing because the lack of good associates. I seen them come and go and most of them couldn't get a job because of the criminal records. Yeah small town America has more criminals then City’s. Don’t work here if you’re looking for a Store Manager role. You will last less than a year. All the Trainee’s in my group are no longer with the company and that was 15 of us guys training at the same time in different states. Not one last over 10 months and that’s really sad!!!!

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loved the people i worked with and my job
Checker stocker (Former Employee), Russellville, AR – October 16, 2012
Pros: we got a discount
Cons: the health care was too high
when i came in the supervisors would let me know if there was any thing new going on. I would check out the customers some days I would do recovery or put up stock, on wednesday we would have a delivery truck come in. The management was kind they taught me to use the cash register computer system. My co-workers became my friends. The hardest part of – more... the job is the irrate customers. The most enjoyable part of the job was opening the boxes that came in and putting up the new items. – less
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Good company and training program
TRAINING STORE MANAGER (Former Employee), Delphos, OH – September 7, 2012
Good relationship with District Manager and corporate. Fun and productive people to work with. Many changes happen with limited amount of time and payroll to make them happen.
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Wharehouse /Forklift
wharehouse (Former Employee), Chamberlain, SD – September 6, 2012
Pros: 10% employee discounts
Cons: low wages and low pay raises
Some store duties,I want to return to work as a driver for a good employer.
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Good people to work with good boss.Enjoyed helping the elderly people.
Sales Associate (Former Employee), Lyons, KS – August 15, 2012
Pros: one hour lunches was to long.
Cons: the only con i have is when the weather was bad.
Running a cash register.Resetting shelves,putting clothes on hangers,How to set displays up,setting up for ads.How to teach new [people how to run cash register.Everyone was great except for one person.Unloading truck,finding room to put the stock.Just be being there to greet customers and helping them find what they were looking for.
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fun place to work at.
cashier/ stocker (Former Employee), San Saba, TX – July 23, 2012
Pros: 10 percent off anything in the store
I would get to work and start stocking shelves and operate the cash register when I was asked to. Co-workers were fun to work with. There was not a hard part about the job.
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Alright
Cashier (Former Employee), Nappanee, IN – June 30, 2012
It was nice... but the store was grimey, and it felt strange. Not a place I would want to work again.
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NORMAL RETAIL STORE
OPS MANAGER (Current Employee), Chino Valley, AZ – June 18, 2012
ALCO IS AN AVERAGE RETAILER. THE MORE YOU SHOW YOU CAN DO THE MORE THE CO. EXPECTS OF YOU.
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Set up entire store and was so proud opening day when I could show customers, an family, all of my hard-work.
Customer Service Manager (Former Employee), 509 W. 11th St. Hugoton, KS 67951 – June 10, 2012
Pros: 1hr lunch break, responsibility of supervising others, teaching them what i know about the retail industry, went to colorado for 1wk and learned alco's seimens cash registers, this job gave me a sense of worth and placement when i needed it most
Cons: making mistakes with sku's and having to try to place merchandise then having to move it anyways, working 13hours a day until opening, unloading 21 freight trucks in 4 days time, training cashiers an management on the registers
I was responsible for efficiently, safely, and promptly managing the front end of the store including: Jewelry counter which entailed inventory counts regularly, Cashier assignment to jewelry counter, theft prevention, Electronics department which entailed inventory counts, responsible for re-order of big ticket items, also keeping close attention to – more... theft prevention, including gaming case which only managers had a key to, Customer Service Counter - cashier assignment, 2 other cashiers also on duty, CSM - I was responsible for getting cashiers change for tills, authorizing refunds over 20.00 done by CS cashier, answering phone an directing customer calls to correct departments, oversaw scheduling of cashiers lunch/breaks for the day. Also responsible for check in/out of vendors, I had to put together customers photo films daily and send out correct package and make sure that I received all of the customer orders expected for the day. deposits verified with other manager on duty. Responsible for correct money balance of cashiers tills after each shift. The store manager had a heart attack day before grand opening therefore Alco had to bring in another manager and things were very frustrating and confusing after that. The original store manager was not cleared to come back to work through Alco and the new store manager was unapproachable, I found it extremely disappointing when I could not get him on the sales floor to answer questions for customers or for myself. The best part of the job was being hired before the building for the store was even built and being able to put my effort, hard work, and dedication from the very start. I admired my boss who was willing to teach me what I didn't already know. I also very much respected the fact that my manager was willing to allow me to be creative with the departments I managed. Jewelry was a very prideful responsibility for me. I love jewelry and It was very exciting. Electronics was a little intimidating at first because I had no knowledge of flat screen t.v.'s, home theater systems, and the latest computer software, and gaming accessories. I did manage to learn quite a bit about these items as I began to sell them I became more knowledgeable. My most favorite job duties was the responsibility of supervising the back up cashiers, jewelry, and customer service cashier, I liked the interaction that I got with the customers when I would get called to the CS counter to approve personal checks over $50.00 or to authorize a return over $20.00. the customers were very considerate, gracious, as well as patient knowing that all of us employees were new to this. It's both gratifying and satisfying to even be considered for a position such as Customer Service Manager! I had no experience in a management position at that time. It was very rewarding that someone saw in me the potential, dedication, hard work and responsibility it takes to be in a position like CSM. I am forever grateful and thirst for more knowledge in retail sales If I can find someone willing to take their time to teach me!!!!! – less
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Alco Summary
Cashier to Office Manager (Former Employee), Pilot Point, TX – May 21, 2012
Pros: good break system
Cons: management changes often
Hectic but fun. Most of my day was running around helping customers. I worked my way up from being a cashier to stocker to office assistant to finally office manager. It was hard trying to get everything done during the day but my co-workers were always there to help. I loved having regular customers come in all the time, it was nice knowing people – more... on first name basis. – less
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Downsize
HOURLY SALES ASSOCIATE (Current Employee), Spring Branch, TX – March 21, 2012
Pros: 15 min breaks, hour lunches
Cons: compete for hours based on senority, lots of down/slow time
This place have nice people who work here to accomadate the residents, and fellow Houstonians of Spring Branch. This store is newly built since December 2011-with comparisons to BigLots. This store have employees for Hourly Sales Associates, and up to 4 managers per shift. This store have at least 2 cashiers on shift, and the ability to call for more – more... cashiers if the line consists of more than 2 customers at a time. The rest of the associates are Loss Prevention, and Security walking around for customer service, and theft prevention. This store does accept snap for its food products, no meats, no bakery, no pharmacy. – less
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About ALCO

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