This is not a sales company - Sales Graybar Employee Review

2.0
Mar 8, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good co-workers, profit sharing, good co-workers

Cons

Success in sales depends on whether your existing branch has good relationships with customers. There is high turnover in sales with this company which depresses market share as the competition has long-term sales reps calling on the account base. Unrealistic budgets determined by what the company needs to do which doesn't match the reality on the ground. The company doesn't pay their sales reps very well even with the new compensation plan. You will also find that operations and service managers determine how much business you obtain. "False-Floor" costs, surcharges, and freight charges all eat into your margin dollars. It's a shame because there are so many good people who stay away from sales in this company because they know it is 3 budget years and out the door.

Explore other reviews about Graybar

5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong department leadership in current role

Cons

Many senior team members with decades of stored brain knowledge that is hard to share

3.0
Apr 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Many opportunities to learn about distribution and management. Pto is three weeks per year plus holidays and over a s Week of sick time. If you work here longer, you can buy enough company shares to receive a sizeable dividend each year. You are allowed to buy about 5% of your salary in company shares per year and then receive usually 20% of that back per year. The profit sharing plan contributes 10% of your salary to your 401k account but you need to be vested to keep it all.

Cons

You will need a second job to live. Sales reps make way more and do half the work but they report to their managers much more. If you are a CSR, sales people feel entitled to treat you however they want and their manager will back them up. You are watched by coworkers and management like a high surveillance prison especially when you're new but they will leave you alone if you're good at your job after a year or so. Graybar brags about how much revenue and profit they make but middle and upper management suck it all up leaving scraps for the workers who made it for them.

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