A former employee's warning: Shop elsewhere.
I worked at the Pop Mart Century City flagship store for nearly two years, and I am writing this review out of deep concern for the customers and the staff who work behind the scenes. What should be a magical place is ruined by severe operational failures, toxic management, safety hazards, and disrespect for employees.
Emergency exits are regularly blocked with boxes and pallets a serious fire hazard putting everyone at risk. The AC system hasn't been fixed in over five years, making the store dangerously hot. Displays are constantly falling or being knocked over, customers and staff often trip over shipment boxes cluttering the aisles. These issues have been ignored for far too long.
The store cycles through managers like a revolving door over 10 since I started. Training for new hires is minimal or non-existent. More than half of the last 10 new hires quit within a month and a half because the environment is toxic and management is lazy or unqualified. Instead of training, they want submissive employees who don't question them.
The managers who are left show zero leadership skills. The recent new manager Desiree or Des who only started one week before I was fired, immediately has made horrible impressions on staff and has started accusing staff which some feel like she's only targeted the Latino employees, pointing fingers without cause and creating fear and tension.
People who did horrible things like giving away free products, admitting they only got hired for free merchandise, or letting others take free stuff were promoted over me and others who worked hard and followed the rules. I reported these abuses to HR multiple times, but nothing was done.
An employee who gave away free products eventually lost his protection after his "shields" who had always covered for his mistakes quit the company. Without their backing, his careless behavior caught up with him, which contributed to him no longer working at Pop Mart.
It wasn't just about management cliques; if you were connected, whether as friends or drinking buddies, you were usually safe from getting fired.
My closest friends and coworkers were Tish, Georgina, Jochi, Darylyn, and Laurie. Crystal was quiet but respectable. These were the people who actually kept the store running. Many of us have been pushed out or quit due to management's disrespect, favoritism, and hostile behavior.
Georgina, a loyal employee for three years, quit after a manager Colin Tidwell publicly yelled at her over a minor accident there's also a viral reel on Instagram accepting a gift from a fan and influencer which that gift meant for the store was thrown away later that same day. David Adkins, the district manager, is widely known to be volatile and a liability to the company with numerous complaints about his behavior.
Despite this, he remains in charge. I even messaged David directly, in a professional and cordial way, pointing out his behavior. He just shrugged it off because I'm not management. If you're given advice, you should take it but maybe he's just full... full of himself.
I was fired without cause, hours cut after I raised concerns. On my last day, Desiree waited until I finished a difficult stockroom audit before telling me I was fired. She acted giddy and was talking behind my back with Jocelyn L., which was humiliating.
I also checked the group chat and saw I had been removed without any chance to say goodbye a disrespectful contrast to other employees like Olivia, who were allowed to say their last words. The only reason I am writing these reviews on Yelp and other platforms is because you kicked me out of the group chat and refused to let me have my final piece. So, I'm letting you have it in another way.
If you are working at Pop Mart, you must file your HR complaints if you experience mistreatment or injustice. Otherwise, you are already on the chopping block. It's better to fight and have a record than to stay silent and complicit. Silence can get you in legal trouble and leave you vulnerable. The chaos and toxic culture affect customers too. Staff are stressed and unsupported. The store is disorganized, with products often missing or poorly stocked. The safety hazards put customers at risk. Families with kids should think twice before shopping here.
I cared about this job and showed up early every day ready to give 110%. But bad management killed that drive. Pop Mart is a sinking ship. This store's problems are not unique they're part of a national, even global pattern with the brand. To customers: Do not support this brand any longer. It's already falling, and it needs to fall even harder and faster. There are billions of better, safer, and more ethical options out there. read more