Not being from around here, I thought graybar would be a great one stop shop, no brainer RIGHT! Wrong. Number one, they don't take cash. Not a big deal unless you walked out of the door with only cash in your pocket that morning. It cost me an hour and a half in time to learn this lesson. After getting a cashiers check from the post office, I went back and picked up my material. So I'm standing there next to my jeep, thinking of the best way to place four sticks of unistrut in it, when all of a sudden I hear this guy yelling across the parking lot at me, WHY DON'T YOU GET A F#$KING TRUCK, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. I think he was trying to be funny. I said nothing in response. He then jumps into a company car, turns on Jimmy Hendrix Purple Haze full blast, and begins to back up to a gate where a Mexican American front counter worker was moving some material around. Another guy gets in, the music gets turned down, and the driver yells out the window, NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT THE F%&KING MARIACHIS VICTOR. Victor remained silent and went about his work.
The following day I call Graybar to set up a meeting with their lead salesperson for lighting. having special needs on our job, a 25,000 square foot building, I asked if it would be possible to meet at the job site. Kathy, whom I was speaking with insisted I come in instead. I reminded her that the project was only five blocks away, and that meeting there would save time for both us, and their salesperson, as it would be necessary to see the project site conditions to get a full scope of our lighting needs. Seemingly annoyed at the request, Kathy's tone changed from helpful to condescending. Becoming short with me, she said she would pass the message along, and the sales person would get in touch with me. No salesperson ever called, so I had to go back in after all. While at Graybar I saw Victor, and asked him who the guy in the company car was. He said it was their lead salesperson. I asked him if the guy was a racist? His response was, no, not really. I told Victor that there are no gray areas when it comes to racism. He seemed to tense up at that point, so I left it alone, and asked him if he could get that salesperson for me. Victor walked up to another guy, not the same salesperson. They talked for a second, and they both walked towards me. My name is so and so, how can I help you? I explained our project needs, and again ask if a job site walk through was possible. Sure he said, we planned to meet within the hour. He never showed, no call, no nothing.
An empty 25,000 square feet of building is a whole lot of space to fill with electrical, and CES on Milpas was more than happy to fill the order.
I think the people at Graybar have just forgotten which side of the counter their on. Maybe as the customers dry up, they will start to figure it out. read more
