Broke & Poor Surplus Building Materials

I have browsed through and shopped at Broke and Poor over the past 8 or 9 years. They have always been helpful and courteous to me and I’ve found many good buys from shopping their over the years. I built a home as well as a shop with materials that would have cost me much more, had I bought the same items at Lowes or Home Depot. I would say, I’ve spent several hundred dollars their and satisfied with everything I bought.
I have also referred many people to them, being a guy kinda gal who has more men friends who are the handyman type and always looking for a bargain.
Today, I stopped in once again. I was looking for used cabinets or if reasonable, perhaps a new shall of one. I needed a counter top and would have looked around for ideas of something to dress up the walls in a kitchen. Also, An awning to hang over a window.
There was one person at the counter and a few customers. A customer asked if their were anyone else to help? The man at the counter, said ‘Not really,” in a voice that was implying he could use some help on the floor, to the person who he then called to come out of his office to help someone.
That person took the next one in line and left with him, to take care of his needs.
When I first walked in, I knew they were busy and proceeded to do a little looking around, before I tried to find someone to wait on me. As one employee passed me, I asked if they had any other cabinets then the ones I was standing in front of. He said, «No, not used». I walked around looking for an awning, but saw nothing. I went back to the front of the store, saw samples of awnings hanging over the door. As I stood they’re, waiting for the man at the counter to finish with his customer, I realized it was going to be awhile.
The other guy came up to the register and asked this first guy a question. While he waited for a reply, I tried to slip in a simple question, only needing a yes or no answer. As I looked at the guy I asked, I could see he really was annoyed with me and I said «Sorry», and let it go.
I waited for a break in the conversation with the guy behind the counter and his customer. As soon as it came, I asked, «Could I ask one quick question?» He stood there, looking at me as though he had to give great thought in answering me. As my facial expression changed to raising my brow, in wondering why he didn’t just acknowledge me, he said, «Why the attitude Lady?»
I was floored! I said, «I simply wanted to ask one question and a simple yes or no would do. «He said, «Can’t you see we are busy with other customers here» and continued to embarrass me in front of his customer, belittling me. Then he said, «Whats your question?»
I knew no matter what, I wasn’t going to be finding anything in this place now. The customer was embarrassed, I was embarrassed, but this arrogant man who runs, owns or works here, was not going to make a sale with me. Not my choice, but his! I said, «Do you have window awnings? He thought about his response for about 5 seconds and said, «NO».
I thanked the customer who felt what I had just received from the man behind the counter and tried to bring some civility into the situation, on my way out the door and left.
The length of this review was necessary, to help me get past the awful experience I had with Broke and Poor today. I know that we are all human and can have a bad day, but to serve the public and treat people with so much disrespect, is totally uncalled for.
I would never darken their doors again with my presence. I will tell anyone who is looking for material, not to go there. I will never recommend them to others again. They are not the only place in town who has used building materials. I believe I was treated the way I was, because Im a woman. If this were not so, I would like to know why I was treated so badly in a male dominate place.