Company has no idea how to treat it's people. - OUTSIDE SALES Fastenal Employee Review

1.0
Dec 10, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You find great opportunities to network with other sales professionals and industrial personnel. You learn hiw to streamline logistics in a much less than perfect infrastructure.

Cons

Long hours for the outside sales people and general managers of the branch locations with very little returned in the way of off days and monetary recompense. 6 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. Monday through Friday is a long day for $2,400 base salary and the newly restructured commission actually takes away incentive to care for loyal long term customers. Exhausting to work for and not a good work/life balance.

Explore other reviews about Fastenal

5.0
Jan 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This role at Fastenal has great benefits and has a lot of potential for growth.

Cons

The job responsibilities vary day to day. Lots of different requirements of the job.

3.0
Jun 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They offer training programs through their internal “Fastenal School of Business.” A few good mentors to guide you should you find one and if you’re willing.

Cons

* Work/Life Balance - No official WFH opportunities. Branch employees were told to report, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. 15 days of PTO (10 for vacation and 5 for sick). You don’t earn additional PTO until the start of the year following your 5 year anniversary. * Pay - pay is inconsistent and they find reasons to change your pay by eliminating and changing titles. Pay is below industry standard and is a base + bonus program for most roles. * Boys Club - Especially in MN/WI area. Positions created or filled for cast off tenured employees to find them another spot rather than termination. Promotions based on political moves instead of merit or opportunities for growth. Positions posted for new roles internally but sometimes not shared with teams to allow for those politically motivated decisons to fill a spot. If a role is only posted for 1-week vs 2-weeks, it usually means they have a specific candidate in mind to take that role. * Cheap & Tacky - Required to travel but not all meals are covered. Welcome to stay at hotel that offers free breakfast but no per diem for lunch or dinner. Some meetings or trainings might provide lunch. When traveling for team meetings or trainings, usually required to share rooms - sometimes with other employees you’ve never met. Encouraged to book rooms using discount codes provided by customers. There is a target room rate they’d like you to hit and sometimes it means driving out of the way. They’d rather the expense hit elsewhere such as fuel and travel versus the room rate.

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