Music Stores Scare Me

[ACNick]

Music stores don't scare me, but they certainly annoy me. Guitars chained to the walls, cabs that aren't connected to amps, amps that aren't plugged in to a power supply. I end up waiting around the cash register for ten minutes hoping an employee will wander out of the stock room, only to have him sigh in annoyance when I ask him to try a particular piece of gear. If I wanted to look at gear without trying it before buying it, I'd spend all my time on the internet.

And I'm sure we're all familiar with the pointing game we play at the strings/hardware counter:
"I'd like a box of rotosound 66 please."
"Sorry, I don't think we carry those."
"You do. (point) Those right there. No, up one row. To your left. Your other left. You passed the-- yeah, that one."

Every time.

[boynamedsuse]

I've seen that attitude in lots of stores. It happens more if you are under 20, but it can still happen if you are over 30. My wife and I were in a collectibles store looking over some fairly pricey items. The store was owned by a couple and the wife came over and reminded us to keep our hands off the merchandise. No "hi" or "can I help you" at all. We replied politely that we didn't actually touch the items but were looking to expand our collection since we already had such and such. When she realized we were real customers that knew our stuff, she fell all over herself apologizing. We finally did end up buying something and she and her husband ended up being pretty good acquaintances.

My point: yes, people will judge, but a gentle reply letting them know you are the real deal can turn things around completely.

[Kmonk]

I have been living about 20 miles south of Boston for close to 30 years and have yet to find a decent music store. There are several mom and pop stores which have very little inventory for basses and bass amps. The staff in these stores have no interest in selling anything and have very little knowledge. Several years ago a store employee told me that Ampeg and GK amps and cabs are not compatible with each other because GK is made in Germany. He was shocked when I told him that GK is a US company. Another time I needed some 12AX7 tubes. I went to 6 stores and nobody had ever heard of them.
I went to one of them to buy some DR strings because I was leaving for a 6 week tour. When the employee put the packages on the counter I looked at the price and said "Wow". The employee asked me what was wrong. I told him nothing and I still want the strings but I was surprised at the price because they were $10 cheaper at Guitar Center. He picked the packages up off the counter and threw them over his shoulder and said "Go to Guitar Center". I said "OK". He then said "You're going to drive all the way to Boston to save $10 per package on strings?" I said "No, I'm going there so you don't have the satisfaction of getting my money." That was 8 years ago and I haven't gone back since. Luckily I now have a discount deal with Curt Mangan strings. Guitar Center just opened a store about 25 minutes from me but they do not have much either. Its very frustrating. As a result, I usually end up buying used gear.

[dukeisdog]

Originally Posted by boynamedsuse

I've seen that attitude in lots of stores. It happens more if you are under 20, but it can still happen if you are over 30. My wife and I were in a collectibles store looking over some fairly pricey items. The store was owned by a couple and the wife came over and reminded us to keep our hands off the merchandise. No "hi" or "can I help you" at all. We replied politely that we didn't actually touch the items but were looking to expand our collection since we already had such and such. When she realized we were real customers that knew our stuff, she fell all over herself apologizing. We finally did end up buying something and she and her husband ended up being pretty good acquaintances.

My point: yes, people will judge, but a gentle reply letting them know you are the real deal can turn things around completely.

Agreed, although if a salesman won't pull a Stingray HH off the wall for me to try with cash in hand I'll just take my business elsewhere.

I may be young, but I have a pretty decent collection of gear and I have it because I've worked hard for it. This has nothing to do with age, (I'm 19 and get looked at oddly in these stores also) and it's quite frustrating to have someone clearly not interested in making a possible sale based on my appearance.

I do know that some of these stores are on commission and can tell you that these guys would've made some money if I bought my gear from them, but based on my experience dealing with the stores, I bought used.

Hey, I still have the gear I wanted, and I paid less. Didn't have to deal with the salesman either, just another bassist looking to downsize his rig.

Win, win!

[Marial]

How I feel when I'm in a store and how I'm treated plays directly into whether or not I'll go back. Once one of the original co-owners of Bass Northwest left the vibe there changed pretty dramatically and as a result I haven't made but one significant purchase there since.

Three of my favorite folks at the shop I do go to regularly recently terminated their employment for reasons to do with new management. I was really bummed to see them leave because they set the vibe in the store. So far, fortunately, the vibe there is still pretty good.

Never put up with bad service.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by HolmeBass

The store is there to provide a service, and you are the customer. Ignore/dismiss the attitude and help yourself. When I go to a music store I usually take my bass and a cord or two with me, sometimes I roll in my whole rig. I get some funny looks, but F 'em. It's my money, I hate having buyer's remorse, I'm going to try this **** out and try it out loud if I need to. I only need to run into problems once to cross a store off of my list. Maybe I'm lucky to be on the east coast, but I am also not above driving an hour or even two, one way, to get to a decent store. Be decisive and know what you want and people will conform. Be indecisive and wavering and they will fill the vacuum with their own BS.

As in virtually all situations in life, really. You've gotta know what you want and how to go about getting it. Those who don't wish to be helpful need to leave you alone, or you need to leave them alone, whichever is appropriate.

[RonniePudding]

There are good independent music stores around still ... I know of two within 45 mins of me and I'm not exactly in the center of the universe. Find a place where the salespeople are not just willing, but HAPPY to talk to you and sell you stuff. It might take a little looking, but it is worth it in the end.

And if you absolutely have to go to a big chain type place, go early in the day just after they open... the wankers tend to sleep late.

[Oneirogenic]

It's simple. Let them know you have money, you want to buy, you have specific needs(lefty), and you are perfectly happy taking your business elsewhere. A sales Rep would have to be stupid to not help you. If you can't get their attention use your cell phone to call the store you're at and let them know you want to buy something and are patiently waiting over by the basses.

[kreider204]

Originally Posted by bassbully

People knock GC all the time but some of the most ego filled ass's are in Mom and Pop type music stores.

+1. We all have different experiences, and it's not fair to generalize from them.

Having said that, at my current location, I'm lucky to have a variety of excellent stores with great customer service, including the local mon & pop stores and the GC.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by bassbully

People knock GC all the time but some of the most ego filled ass's are in Mom and Pop type music stores. Allot of owners I have came across are know it all's, do it their way, never listen to customers and are nasty to some of them.

On the other hand some are great. The nasty owners I really don't know how they stay in biz. A few sale used gear and cheap guitars so it must pay the bills.

I have never had a bad experience in GC, some ego's but no rudeness since most know it would be reported and there butts out if they get complaints. Some Mom and Pop's if you don't like it get out or they will throw you out.

+1 I sometimes get that "Well I've been in business for thirty-five years and I never heard of that" I've had enough bad experiences in Mom and Pop stores I avoid them and I really hate it because I love supporting local businesses.

[hibachiduck]

Originally Posted by bassbully

People knock GC all the time but some of the most ego filled ass's are in Mom and Pop type music stores. Allot of owners I have came across are know it all's, do it their way, never listen to customers and are nasty to some of them.

On the other hand some are great. The nasty owners I really don't know how they stay in biz. A few sale used gear and cheap guitars so it must pay the bills.

I have never had a bad experience in GC, some ego's but no rudeness since most know it would be reported and there butts out if they get complaints. Some Mom and Pop's if you don't like it get out or they will throw you out.

I've had the same experience with Guitar Center, and I also haven't. The GC in Atlanta has some really nice, helpful people and the store is super inviting to pick up an instrument and try it out (with quite of few amps available to test it on, though you're obviously not going to be able to hear the cranked SVT tone and not get kicked out lol). The guy who worked the register when I bought one of my Jazz basses even polished the chrome and finish for me.

However, the GC I went to in Nashville was the complete opposite. It felt cold, the staff ignored me, and they lacked rooms to try stuff out (except for their room that had all the $10,000+ stuff that I was too scared to touch) so you were stuck with 10 kids trying to play their favorite Norwegian death metal song or Crazy Train simultaneously.

[carl h.]

The last time I received non service - I had already left the store without a single employee saying a word to me - I walked back in and told the manager what I wanted to buy from them and that I wasn't going to buy anything from them, and why. He was very apologetic but I walked out and won't be going back.

They had plenty of opportunity to make a nice sale of multiple items but blew it, and the boss needed to know.

Last week I bought a PA and stopped in a store I had decided was useless based on previous visits. They were still a big waste of space and time. Went to GC and they were actually pretty decent to deal with, and I have yet to leave one based on lack of service. Usually I open the door and if it is that loud, I don't bother.

[evanoverdrive]

Just remember, most people who act like a******s to people they don`t know,without cause, are usually so insecure that as soon as you stand up to them they crumble and backpedal...If you act respectful to them and they act disrespectful back to you, call them out on it.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by evanoverdrive

Just remember, most people who act like a******s to people they don`t know,without cause, are usually so insecure that as soon as you stand up to them they crumble and backpedal...If you act respectful to them and they act disrespectful back to you, call them out on it.

I just prefer to leave without further incidence and hit them in the pocket book. I remember going to a local Mom and Pop and asking the owner if he could get anywhere close to the price from a big store and I said "close" I didn't expect a price match because that wouldn't be fair and I really wanted to support local and I was willing to take a fifty to seventy dollar hit but the owner went on tirade so I said thank you and went on to save over a hundred.

[henryjurstin13]

Originally Posted by carl h.

The last time I received non service - I had already left the store without a single employee saying a word to me - I walked back in and told the manager what I wanted to buy from them and that I wasn't going to buy anything from them, and why. He was very apologetic but I walked out and won't be going back.

They had plenty of opportunity to make a nice sale of multiple items but blew it, and the boss needed to know.

Last week I bought a PA and stopped in a store I had decided was useless based on previous visits. They were still a big waste of space and time. Went to GC and they were actually pretty decent to deal with, and I have yet to leave one based on lack of service. Usually I open the door and if it is that loud, I don't bother.

+1. If it were my store, I'd want to know how my employees were/are acting towards customers. In fact, I might be keen to hire some secret shoppers from time to time.... Come to think of it, I've only been in a handful of stores that really exceed at making you feel welcome.

Be nice to everyone - it always matters. And always be polite when you say to the fools - "rest assured, you'll never have to take my money ever again." Then just smile....