I HATE GUITAR STORES!

[Mr. Mig]

Originally Posted by fowlerclone

you drove 2 hours to get strings?

+1

[SwamiRob]

You drove 3 hours to get strings?! Christ

[Wademeister63]

Originally Posted by totallyfrozen

Yeah, not to sound like a jerk but I gave up the "support the local business" thing a LOOONG time ago! I know it sounds crappy, but I gave that attitude up ...
If the local guys aren't going to support us, there's no good reason for us to support them, IMO. That's just the nature of competition.

Not exactly the same but in the ballpark...

I went to get strings at the small guitar store here in town yesterday (Sunday) figuring I'd give my business to a local independent guy rather than driving most of the way to Dallas and spending money in Guitar Center. I get there at about 4:02 and the sign on the door says 4:00. The door is still open so I walk in... I get about two steps in and the guy behind the counter says "we're closed". Closed?? Sure I can understand they have to cut it off sometime or they can never go home but seems to me that they're more concerned about the clock then a potential customer.

May be a bit harsh but I don't plan on ever going back. They can close that store forever for all I care. Online stores are run people who also need to make a living and at least the online places I've dealt with so far have given me great service and one even sends free guitar picks!

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by Wademeister63

...I get there at about 4:02 and the sign on the door says 4:00. The door is still open so I walk in... I get about two steps in and the guy behind the counter says "we're closed". Closed?? Sure I can understand they have to cut it off sometime or they can never go home but seems to me that they're more concerned about the clock then a potential customer...

See, this is the kind of thing that really gets me. I know I'm a cranky, overly demanding ex-sergeant but dammit some customer service skills would be nice once in awhile!
I've had the same type of treatment at stores (and not just guitar shops but restaurants and other places too). It's like they just GOTTA GET OUTTA THERE, MAN!! Like they couldn't have thought ahead to TiVo Desperate Housewives so they could have a few extra minutes at the end of the day in case they have to act like a professional!

Grrrrrr!!

Musician's Friend is always open.

[Solarmist]

Music stores around here aren't bad at all on bass strings - nothing like the OP said.
One local music store sells a 4-string set of SIT Powerwounds for $17.50, and a 5-string set of DR HB's for $34.

Just Strings is the cheapest I've seen, but buy a couple sets so you offset the $7 s&h charge.

[WoodyG3]

Originally Posted by Jojoe972

I use the stores to test stuff out, and then purchase someting similar on-line.

Wow, you are collecting some bad karma.

Seriously, I'm willing to pay a little more to support a GOOD store with quality employees. Our best local store charges a little more than Internet prices on strings, but only a buck or two. After sales tax I'm paying the same or less as I would on line with shipping costs. No, they don't stock all the brands I'm interested in, but when they have what I want, I buy from them.

It sounds like there aren't a ton of good stores out there. That's a shame. I guess I'm lucky. Or maybe I just have good karma.

[Steve!]

Originally Posted by earthlypunk

The local music stores around here suck.
I went to buy some bass strings and one store was charging $70.00 for Ernie Ball's.

If I want to buy some decent strings (or anything) I have to drive an hour or two. Unfortunately, even then, one of the better stores is Guitar Center

Are you talking about the music box or skips because I've seen some pretty good deals in both stores.

[nancyanne]

I bought my first bass yesterday at a local shop. I intentionally didn't go to GC to shop for it, because of GC's poor reputation for customer service around here. I may go there to get strings or picks or something, but that's only if I don't need any help.

In your case it sounded like the rep made an honest (but lazy) mistake. It sucks they didn't have your strings when they said they did

[DogBone]

Originally Posted by nancyanne

In your case it sounded like the rep made an honest (but lazy) mistake. It sucks they didn't have your strings when they said they did

^^^^^ Yep, what she said.

There are some really good, smaller independent shops near me, sounds like I'm very fortunate.

[oi_pride]

i like roto sound strings but the one store that we have only carries ernie balls. and the store refuses to order them for me even if i put down the money cause they say that they can't sell them. so i order them online