Buy Box Experts Interview Questions
& Process

The hiring process started with an assessment and then multiple interview rounds. After the last interviewer mentioned offers were being prepared, there was silence for months. Then, they reached out again without explanation and requested a sixth interview. I thought this meant an offer was coming, but I was ghosted again.

The interview process involved a 30-minute recruiter phone call, followed by a resume submission. I was then asked to write a complete sample product listing, despite having a 20-item portfolio already. After that, there was a 30-minute interview with the lead copywriter. They asked me to proceed to the next interview step, but I declined. Even with over 10 years as a copywriter and three years focused on Amazon copy, and a large portfolio, I was still required to do a writing test. I spent five hours creating a sample listing, which Buy Box apparently loved. Then I had the interview with the lead copywriter and was invited to the next stage. However, at the end, I was told the job paid only $15/hr, which I turned down. Buy Box claims on their website to offer 'competitive' pay, but even entry-level copywriters usually make more. They're offering $15/hour full-time ($28k/year), while the national average for entry-level copywriters is $40k/year. Many startups pay double this rate, often $30-35/hour, so there's no reason an agency of this size can't pay more. Plus, those positions often don't require a bachelor's degree, which BBE does. Given BBE has over 200 employees and claims competitive wages, I expected pay slightly above poverty level. A quick Google search for Buy Box Experts reveals many negative reviews, with customers complaining about unperformed work, lack of sales, high turnover of account managers, and subpar listings despite paying $3k+/month. These customers are locked into 1- and 2-year contracts. One recent Trust Pilot review mentioned 1.5 months and 6 revisions for unfinished work with spelling errors. Initially, I thought these reviews were due to BBE's rapid growth. But after my interview, I realize they just don't prioritize hiring quality talent, focusing instead on maximizing client acquisition and profit. My advice to management: improve your practices and pay people a living wage. You're trying to hire copywriters at content writer rates, which is baffling for a company your size. If you want disposable workers for bland content, be upfront about your pay rate from the start, especially with overqualified applicants. When the recruiting manager asked my salary expectations, I stated I needed at least $1k per week, preferably more, given my experience. I shouldn't have been put through a two-week process, including a five-hour writing sample, if this information was withheld. $15/hour is not competitive for an experienced copywriter, and I would have saved myself and BBE time if I'd known upfront. Hiding this information only frustrates talent and damages your company reputation. With millions in annual revenue, BBE can certainly afford to pay competitively as claimed. I was informed that at $15/hour, I'd write about four Amazon listings daily. At 8 hours/day, that's $120 ($30 per listing). It's disgraceful. I charge my freelance clients $400 per listing, so BBE should easily be able to pay their copywriters more than $15/hour, considering their lucrative client contracts. When I inquired about negotiating pay, the interviewer mentioned they could go to $16/hour due to my experience, which is laughable. I can't imagine the quality customers receive with only two hours allocated for writing a fully optimized listing, especially when they pay $3,000+/month. My advice to potential candidates: don't join this company. Greedy businesses like Buy Box prey on desperate individuals. You are worth more.

The interview process is structured and usually takes 3 to 5 weeks. It involves two to four stages, beginning with a discussion about your skills and experience, and requiring you to present real-world examples. The next stage involves an interview with the department head where you'll need to give more specific examples and demonstrate how you'd present to clients. The whole process is well-organized, structured, and friendly to candidates.

It was a 4 or 5 interview process. They were very nice, kind and always made me comfortable. The only problem is that they don't inform you the salary at the beginning, so you might get disappointed a little in the end.