installation technician

attendant

design consultant

shop technician

installer

California Closets

Salary does NOT commensurate with skill level. They will say what they have to to get you in but hold you down from advancing  as long as you’re there. There is no room for advancement and whatever stories they tell you, believe me you don’t get tips from customers as much as they may try to make you believe. Even their best “master and senior installers” don’t get tipped too often even having the best customer service and customer satisfaction rates because every customer is already paying too much for their closets.

No mater how much experience you have, you will start at the bottom or close to the bottom and be told that you have to prove yourself to make more money. They will tell you that “I believe you can be a really great installer “ or “you can be the best but I need you to show it just a little more” even when you’re actually already a good installer, they will try to make you think and believe yourself that you’re not and that you just have to work a little harder and prove yourself more work overtime when they need you, But they never truly appreciate your hard work and they always find a way and reason to keep you down.. ie: If ANY customer complains about the service they’ve received, you will get written up and that goes into your file and those files always come out when you’re getting a performance review. Even if the complaint was on the designer, they flip it on to the installer for a way to discipline you.

Also after your training period, you get sent on your own. You only get to work with someone if it’s required a helper. So it can get lonely on the road and also difficult and nerve racking if you don’t have much experience.

The product is fairly good but overall it just wasn’t a positive experience


Salary does NOT commensurate with skill level. They will say what they have to to get you in but hold you down from advancing as long as you’re there. There is no room for advancement and whatever stories they tell you, believe me you don’t get tips from customers as much as they may try to make you believe. Even their best “master and senior installers” don’t get tipped too often even having the best customer service and customer satisfaction rates because every customer is already paying too much for their closets.

No mater how much experience you have, you will start at the bottom or close to the bottom and be told that you have to prove yourself to make more money. They will tell you that “I believe you can be a really great installer “ or “you can be the best but I need you to show it just a little more” even when you’re actually already a good installer, they will try to make you think and believe yourself that you’re not and that you just have to work a little harder and prove yourself more work overtime when they need you, But they never truly appreciate your hard work and they always find a way and reason to keep you down.. ie: If ANY customer complains about the service they’ve received, you will get written up and that goes into your file and those files always come out when you’re getting a performance review. Even if the complaint was on the designer, they flip it on to the installer for a way to discipline you.

Also after your training period, you get sent on your own. You only get to work with someone if it’s required a helper. So it can get lonely on the road and also difficult and nerve racking if you don’t have much experience.

The product is fairly good but overall it just wasn’t a positive experience

What is the best part of working at the company?
Designers can set their own schedules.  They can work as many hours as they like or as little as they like.  

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There is no guaranteed income.  You may make money one month and not the next.  There isn't a steady stream of income.  Designers pay is delayed 70% of the time due to client Go-Backs.  Frequently items are on backorder and the installation date is delayed.  Designer is the last to be paid.  Designers only get paid if the customer pays.  Many times, client's don't pay and the designer does not get the commission.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very stressful work environment because you don't have a steady income.  There is no guarantee how many leads you will get and there is no guarantee how much each client is willing to spend.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Designer will spend minimum 3 hrs per day driving.  California Closet only pays a one time trip fee of $35.  Generally, it will take 45 mins to drive to client, spend 2 hrs at client measuring and designing and then 45 mins to drive home.   You have made $0 until you sell a closet.   Most of the time you have further design work to do and this will take up another 2hrs of your time.  You have now worked @6hrs and haven't made any money.

Endless opportunities to learn.
Each client and project offers different challenges. The design work and customer relationships are rewarding on a personal level. This is the best part of the job.
Designing with great software and using some amazing materials and finishes.
The time requirement  to maintain a reasonable income is demanding and long hours don't always equate to a healthy pay cheque. This is a 100% commission pay structure. A work life balance is difficult to maintain. 
Designers are responsible for all travel expenses, and the service area is the entire lower mainland. 
The team of people, with the exception of a couple, are fun and a joy to work with.

It was a good place to work.I enjoyed the work and the people I had met there. I would do a lot of the shop work with regards to getting the installers set up for there days work. I would build drawers, cut hanging poles, and prep all accessories for them generally. along with spear heading most of their requests for new items they would need to help make their job easier for them. I would also be the main receiver for shipments coming in, other than the wood materials. everything else, I signed and made sure it was all there.

rushed out of shop by management and forgetting items for a job. Juggling 2-3 jobs in a day so being rushed wasn’t efficient. Management blames installer for designers mistakes… management divides shop and installers to where they all talk behind each others backs. Hardest part of the job is the please the management and the most enjoyable part was client satisfaction. 

Was there for a week and as the new guy they made me do all lifting up and down stairs at clients’ homes which has taken a heavy toll on my back and legs. No consideration for the installers especially the new ones when their body’s are aching. Long drives and long days at work almost working 10-12 hours a day. They’re just trying to get as much as they can out of you and won’t compensate you for anything you do. Horrible company and I pray if anyone else goes there. 

If you are an outgoing person and able to sell you can make great money while having some flexibility with work hours. Fair pay in the industry, but mostly full commission only, so if you need a stable income it might not be the best option. Company provides decent training and continuous peer support. You have to be organized to meet sales targets and deadlines but if you work hard then 80-100k commission a year is quite realistic.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
Good team and friendly atmosphere 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Some days you face work pressure

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Friendly work environment and teamwork culture

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
 you need to be able to manage your time

They keep telling you it's going to get better but they don't. Unorganized, stressful, poor quality so lots of things have to be remade. 
Owner talks about work life balance but doesn't care how long your days are as long as the install gets done then right back at it the next day.
They've been around for a long time but all new employees all the time.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Installation technician 1 salary reported	$18.00 per hour
Attendant 1 salary reported	$23.00 per hour
Design consultant 4 salaries reported	$67,500 per year
Shop technician 5 salaries reported	$23.30 per hour
Installer 2 salaries reported	$25.00 per hour

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