Outside Seller (Account Manager) - Account Manager Grainger Employee Review

2.0
Jun 18, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent onboarding (training), the structure is a great place for new sellers to get their start, some good managers and their brand recognition will typically get you a seat at the table.

Cons

While you might have a seat at the table, it's hard to close the sale due to their greedy pricing practices (you'll never have line of sight to the true cost of an item). Also, while it's a good place to start your career it's not a good place for advancement, unless you're willing to kiss some major A**. It's all about the "in crowd" and being a part of the club. I've been both a cool kid and a black sheep ... and neither side is easy. The goal structure and compensation plan make me shake my head. I worked harder every year (which was explained by management as our "new normal" so we should "get used to it") but each year my goals increased to unattainable levels and the last two years my income declined. Management is hit or miss. If you're lucky enough to have a manager with leadership ability, then you're going to enjoy going to work. If you're unlucky enough to have a manager who runs their people like a dictator (and there are plenty of those) then you're out of luck. While I was never placed on one they use the PIP (performance improvement plan) as a punishment and fast track to the exit. I've also seen a trend of eliminating older, highly skilled, sellers and replacing them with kids fresh out of college. Everyone is replaceable, that was my last manager's favorite saying. Since I left ... all but one of his sellers has left too. When an entire team turns over in less than a year I have to wonder why upper management isn't taking a look at their middle managers?

Explore other reviews about Grainger

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Schedules were very flexible! Leadership cared

Cons

It was really exhausting, hot work in the warehouse

4.0
Jun 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits are decent and reasonably priced. They offer a 401k match, BCBS insurance, FSA, HSA, dental, vision, life insurance, and accidental D&D coverage. They also do a 3‑to‑1 match for donations to non‑religious 501(c) organizations. There’s a big emphasis on volunteering, with plenty of opportunities to get involved. The building itself is beautiful, with a free on‑site gym, a coffee shop, real trees in the atrium, a waterfall, and a large cafeteria (though the food can vary). They’re also flexible about which days you come on‑site, depending on the team’s schedule. If I needed to switch a Monday for a Thursday, it was never an issue. My manager was also supportive of remote work on days when the weather made commuting difficult.

Cons

Admins do not get an annual bonus. They're really strict on Overtime, really weird about worrying about mini costs. Like they'll spend 50k on a week-long training but freak out if people want to rent a car while being in town. Can't buy lunch for this 3 hour meeting to cut costs, but we'll drop 10k on this other thing. It's also so unfair that some people get to work remotely and others are forced to come in 3 times a week, for the exact same roles. Every meeting is basically online, so it's just silly and a power trip.

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