music store rant

[tremor100]

from the sounds of it most of you people dont have this problem, but that might be because your not 19 year old kids with multicoloured hair. Bassically almost every music store in my area except for one is usually filled with snobby assholes that dont want you to try anything, and dont really want to help you. Point is i go into long and mcquade, and for those that know warwick has a pretty sweet and advertised custom shop. 2 years ago id come in every few months and try out the thumb bolt on 5'er. Thats a 2000 dollar bass, not an easy investment for a 17 year old. And bassically they just acted irritated everytime i asked to try it. Point is im tired of these music store people who should be damn pleased to have a job like thiers, to be completly rude and expect every kid who walks in to just drop a grand down everytime they pick up an instrument. Do they just not realize that not every person is surrounded by tons of different instruments for years? Anyways thats the back story.. point is, i bought the thumb bass 2 years ago.. when i go in... they still give me dirty looks and ****, and today i asked the guy to get me a quote for a corvette $$ with a upgrade cutom shop of an ebony fingerboard, and french violet stain. The guys barley writing down the details.. cause he told me its 450 bucks in black.. im like nono not corvette, $$, and hes like whats the difference.. and im like MM pickups.. So he writes down ebony fingerboard, stain $$ corvette. Then forgets to get my phone number, im pretty sure right when i left he ripped up the paper or threw it out cause he didnt seem to care at all. The thing that pisses me off the most is i love warwick... anad they are the only dealer anywhere close to me. And i really do wanna get either that or a lakland JO.

[Willem]

Feel your pain man. The closest music store for me is the same store that supplies our national TV network with instruments for their show bands. They all think they are so great in that store. Aweful. Except one of them who is a real musician and a superfriendly guy! I'm always glad to be helped by him and not one of those A holes.

[capnsandwich]

GC carries Warwick. They're usually pretty cool when it comes to people picking up basses, a little too cool about it IMO.

[JonathanD]

If you want people to treat you a certain way despite the appearance you choose to portray, make them. As a person who has chosen odd body markings what do you expect? You associate yourself with an anti establishment crowd and expect corporations to accept you with open arms?

If a dude in a letter jacket and khakis walked into a party you and your friends were having would you offer him a cold soda? People know you first by your appearance. Alo, if you choose to speak differently than the common dialect by adding slang to your speech you will often get less respect.

At the counter say, "Are you trying to lose a sale? Why would you not take my number so you can get this bass in my hands as fast as possible?" Or "I'm sorry, is there something I can do to get you to treat me like a paying customer, which I am?"

My favorite, "Are you having a bad day?" If they say no then they normally perk up and realize what they are doing if yes listen and then say something appropriate followed by, "I'm sorry your day is sucking, please don't make mine suck be making it hard to get this awesome bass and paying you commission!"

"Are you unable to take a name and number? Should you get someone to help you?"

[jumbosilverette]

You might try writing a letter to the head of Warwick with your complaint. Write a good, factual, reasonable account of what happened and let them know one of their dealers is not representing their product well. If Warwick is any kind of a responsible company, they'll contact the music store and re-educate them in customer relations. Hopefully next time you walk into that store, the employees will be more careful in how they treat you.

[tremor100]

first off there is no guitar center here, i live in a city called ottawa in ontario (canada). And what did you get about they are the only dealer.. if i give them attitude like "are you trying to lose a sale" and act like a complete prick A) im not better then them B) they would probbolly kick me out, and then bye bye warwicks. If i had another dealer around her that sold this brand i wouldnt go there in the first place. Secondly, what makes you think i have body markings? I have blonde hair with long bangs (emoish) and the back and sides are dark brown.. i dont look that different, let alone should i be treated with any less respect due to the colour i choose to dye my hair. Above that... you talking about being out of place? most tattooed and wannabe rockers play instrustruments.. so how is that making me out of place. And your whole statment is somewhat contradictory... dont expect to be taken seriously if i carry myself a certain way, but carrying myself like an ******* wont help much either. I think i took this as more of an attack then u meant. But i think your opinion of what to do is kinda off.. granted i know what your saying, if you want service dont let them be dicks.. and the fact that i knew more about thier basses then they do clearly, he must have known ive done my research and am serious.My rant was more about thier snotty attiditude that is only absent in family run places. And furthmore they dont work on commision at long and mcquades so that "they only tell you the facts to find the best instrument for you" but it turns into who gives a ****, i wanna get paid and go home i guess.

[coastward_kid]

I'm in Winnipeg and the help at l and mcquade is hit or miss here too.

[thudfromafar]

I have to say sadly, that the first post is dead on when it comes to music stores in my area as well. I'm not too "anti-establishment" looking, I just think some people don't care about you when they know someone else will walk in and buy the $1000 instrument anyways, without asking for a bunch of details. A lot of people are lazy, or don't know that much, or are really tired, bored, etc..

Not sure why this is more true at music stores though. But I swear it is in my experience.

[jp1994]

Originally Posted by tremor100

should i be treated with any less respect due to the colour i choose to dye my hair

No, you shouldn't.

But, the cold hard facts of life say different.
You WILL be judged on appearance first.
It happens everywhere and to everybody who looks different than the "norm".
It sucks and it shouldn't be that way, but it is.

I'll bet that you do the same thing when you see someone who stands out or looks different, especially when they are out of place.
i.e. "someone in a suit and tie at a punk show"

Hell, I have a bunch of tattoos and look like a biker.
I get the same thing, judged by my looks.
It happens.

As far as the advice you were given about standing up to the salesman, I think it is right on.
They have more to lose than you do.
That would mean money out of there pockets.
You could order a bass online or over the phone.
Bass Central, Bass Northwest, etc...

Good Luck

[Dr. Cheese]

When I was younger, I ran into trouble at music stores. I think there was an assumption that young Black guy didn't have any money. When I did get more money, there were times I bought something to just to show I could, however, I am a strong believer in spending your money where you are respected. In these times, you can do some great shopping online where the only thing that matters is your credit card. If youor local store is unfriendly get what you want online. Since you are in Canada, this is a great time to order stuff from the states since the exchange rate is in your favor! Forget the local guys, and help a brotha out south of the border!

[king_biscuit]

Have you spent a lot of time in the stores playing expensive basses with no real intention of buying one at the time? I worked in a music store when I was younger. Kids love to come in and play all of the expensive stuff, but most of them don't have the money to really buy anything. Maybe the owner of the store near you gives the sales people a hard time about letting people play the instruments unless they seem like serious customers. I know you said you bought one bass from a store, but that was two years ago. Nobody wants to put out hard earned cash on a new bass with a bunch of shop wear. And the typical customer for anything that costs over $500.00 is not a young musician -- its a bedroom warrior with a good day job.

[JonathanD]

Oh ya mate, nothing against you. Sorry you took it that way. And what I posted was not being a jerk to them, it was a way to get their attention.

Also, I have never been treated badly for more than a few seconds at a guitar shop big or small. Mainly because I am willing to say "Either speak to me with respect or don't speak to me at all." I don't say it with an attitude, I just say it calm. It has taken me a while to learn that the only time I need to take someones crap is when the return is greater than the punishment. Its not in this case.

And, about markings. Your hair is part of you, it is marked, its a marking IMO. Thats the semantics I was using. And rockers/tattoos are much more accepted around here than emo because its the NEW kind of different.

Best of luck. Also, bass NW, Bass Central.
Jonathan

[king_biscuit]

This whole thing about looking different is kind of interesting. Its like when a girl with nice breasts wears a tight low cut shirt, and then gets offended when people stare. You want and expect people to react to your look, or you wouldn't bother to dye your hair or get tatoos, or whatever. I had really long hair when I was younger, and I used to get treated differently because of it -- that's the world we live in.

[Nedmundo]

I also like the advice of standing up to the sales folks. Another way to get treated properly is to plug in, start playing at a reasonable volume, and make a point of treating the instruments carefully. Show you know what you're doing and that you respect the place, and things might get easier. I'm not suggesting you're doing anything otherwise, but many younger folks do, and I think that's the concern.

I know it's easy for me to say, because I'm 40 and pretty conventional looking, but I've gotten the evil, watchful eye in places with nice gear, and it disappears pretty quickly when I do the above.

On appearance, I'll never forget the words of a Berklee student I worked with in the summer of 1986, the era of Poison and all the other hair metal bands. He said: "Lots of bands these days look really weird, but sound normal. I'd rather look normal, and sound really weird."

[Baird6869]

Your posts in this thread have been kinda crusty. I know you are pissed off, but if you had attitude like this when talking to the L&M guy, why would he be very helpful? I wouldn't.

Not saying you weren't anything but polite, but many of the L&M people aren't very well paid and I guess couldn't be bothered putting up with attitude for what they make. Hell, I have refused to sell to customers that are a$$h0les in my business and it sometimes costs me many thousands of dollars. I just decided that putting up with them and dealing with them isn't what I would make in commissions.

As far as how you look? That shouldn't be an issue. As you alluded to, many musicians that drop serious $$$ on musical instruments have weird hair, tattoos, whatever.

Lastly, if the sales guy is being an idiot. Call the manager. The manager will snap if he finds out that one of his lazy a$$ sales guys couldn't be bothered to quote a $2000 bass. If the manager doesn't help, go abover him. If that doesn't work, buy one on eBay.

Originally Posted by tremor100

first off there is no guitar center here, i live in a city called ottawa in ontario (canada). And what did you get about they are the only dealer.. if i give them attitude like "are you trying to lose a sale" and act like a complete prick A) im not better then them B) they would probbolly kick me out, and then bye bye warwicks. If i had another dealer around her that sold this brand i wouldnt go there in the first place. Secondly, what makes you think i have body markings? I have blonde hair with long bangs (emoish) and the back and sides are dark brown.. i dont look that different, let alone should i be treated with any less respect due to the colour i choose to dye my hair. Above that... you talking about being out of place? most tattooed and wannabe rockers play instrustruments.. so how is that making me out of place. And your whole statment is somewhat contradictory... dont expect to be taken seriously if i carry myself a certain way, but carrying myself like an ******* wont help much either. I think i took this as more of an attack then u meant. But i think your opinion of what to do is kinda off.. granted i know what your saying, if you want service dont let them be dicks.. and the fact that i knew more about thier basses then they do clearly, he must have known ive done my research and am serious.My rant was more about thier snotty attiditude that is only absent in family run places. And furthmore they dont work on commision at long and mcquades so that "they only tell you the facts to find the best instrument for you" but it turns into who gives a ****, i wanna get paid and go home i guess.

[tremor100]

thanks guys appreciate all the feedback. And yea your completly right i hit up ebay and was like ARG pedulla rapture for 2 grand... me want. But most people on ebay wont ship to canada, and to be honest im not too trusting of giving someone money in hopes they will ship my the item/ that their pictures and description misleading, like the horror stories ive heard here lol. Plus the big issue, is that its a custom shop.. and ive emailed warwick, they wont deal with private customers. You have to go through thier dealers... otherwise yea i could easily get the bass i wanted off a well established site. And in regards to spending alot of time in music stores... thats the thing, i visit here ever few months to check out thier new stock. And usually dont even plug in anymore. I realize they are running a buisness. But basses are like porn to me, and in person they look and feel different... and thats what i mean, like alot of you sadowsky owners and valentini boutique bassists, have seen and tried everything in some sense. Its not like im shredding or anything for hours usually i plug in, play a short riff, change the settings on the bass, see what i can get out of the instrument. And i know what your saying, every kid who touches a bass has a chance of busting a string dropping it, giving it belt rash ect. ect. But i dont wear belts when im going to a music store, and am respectful to the merchandise. Anyways thanks for sharing some of your experiences and advise how to deal with this type of thing.

[treebranch13]

Same man,
I am a 17yr old with foot long blonde hair (total hippy) and no one at guitar center or many other shops take me seriously. I went to a shop 2 hrs away and they treated me like a normal customer, took me extremely seriously. Since then I have come back to them for $3000 worth of gear (all my money from my summer job) and the owner has personally thanked me for my business. I always thank him for treating me like an equal.

[jp1994]

Originally Posted by tremor100

Plus the big issue, is that its a custom shop.. and ive emailed warwick, they wont deal with private customers. You have to go through thier dealers... otherwise yea i could easily get the bass i wanted off a well established site.

I'll bet that most of the big name online stores...Bass Central, Bass NW, etc... would order a custom shop bass for you.

Most sellers on Ebay should have no problem shipping to Canada.
I sold an American Jazz this last summer to a guy (on talkbass) from Canada.
Shipping was NO problem.
Easy as anything.
Good Luck.

[Thunderitter]

Have to say the one good thing of being older and bald(!) is that I do get 'respect' in music stores! I feel you pain as I know what it is like to be in your shoes!

However, there are a lot of folks in retail who need commission to make their wages work. Experience tells them that you're average teenager isn't going to get them their commission so they treat you badly, as if you're a time-waster.

How might you change this? Talk is good! If it is possible go at quieter times and get to know you're sales-folk! I know it sounds lame but that in my experience it is how it works - not just guitar shops either! Don't feel that their looking down at you - they need you - and if they can see you're the real deal then things should change! If that doesn't work then you may be SOL!

Good luck!

[K-T]

it seems each time i try they want me to buy, at my local music shops, well one day i went into one and asked to try a pedal, i played it for about 7mins and i say in done and the the shop assistant says "so are you going to buy that one?" i said "no thanks". so i went to another shop tryed one more pedal, and same thing i had finished playing "so...do you want a bag for that one" and then evil eyed me. and the prices are real bad too d'addario XL's $50 for a single pack, back when i started playing i needed an amp and a bass and i didn't want a generic one so i went in and looked at the amps, and i paid $587 bucks for a peavey 112 MAX i had rocks in my head that day, but i didn't have a computer to look at prices and i paid $580 for a yamaha rbx270.