Note to music store owners- do not BS your customers.

Byzcat · #1 09-20-2009, 12:43 PM

Look, man, the economy's rough. People don't have much money to spend on instruments and gear.

So when a customer comes in and tells you she doesn't know her way around bass strings, because she's only ever played what came stock on the instrument, but wants to put a set of light-gauge flat wounds on her bass because the stock roundwounds are too bright, do not tell her that flatwounds only come in one gauge.

She will eventually find out that there are options, and when she does, she will be well and truly p1$$3d, especially after she's already spent $25 on a set of strings she's been waiting for two weeks for you to get into your store.

Really.

I'm the kind of person who, whenever possible, tries to support locally owned businesses. I think it sucks that Wal-Mart and Guitar Center are forcing Mom and Pop stores out of business. You're also competing with all of the online stores, some of which sweeten the deal with free shipping.

I don't have a lot of money, but I do have G.A.S. I could potentially have dropped quite a bit of money in your store over time, when I could, oh, say, scrape together the cash for a decent amplifier. Or maybe bought a second bass from you. Or, well, there's cords, effects, adjustments that need to be done that I could do myself, but it's a bit of a hassle.

And then there's the word of mouth I could have given you. I was prepared to tell anybody I knew that played so much of a kazoo to go to your store. I used to carry a couple of your cards around in my purse. Now, if the subject comes up, I'll tell them not to go to your store.

You had to know that I would find out eventually that yes, flats do come in different gauges. I take lessons in your store. Did you not think the subject of strings would come up?

I don't know why you told me that. Maybe you didn't want to be bothered with a special order. Maybe you have a higher profit margin on the strings you sold me. Maybe you just didn't think a dumb broad was worth the trouble to actually give proper advice to.

You've lost my trust. If I didn't like my teacher, I would never set foot inside your store again. The next set of strings I buy will probably be from zZounds.

When you're competing with big boxes and the Internet, it's a really, really bad idea to jerk your customers around.

Just sayin'.

Jimmy Bones · #2 09-20-2009, 01:25 PM

Here here.

standupright · #3 09-20-2009, 01:31 PM

there there

dave64o · #4 09-20-2009, 01:50 PM

A classic case of winning the battle but losing the war.

Armbruster · #5 09-20-2009, 02:19 PM

Wait- flatwounds come in different gauges??!

Fetzu · #6 09-20-2009, 03:50 PM

What are these flatwounds you speak of?

People are like that. Maybe the guy meant that "the store" only had one gauge of flatwounds in stock? Either way you were not happy with the way you were treated, and more than likely you will not go back. There are alot of other places to spend your money. Customer service at some places has been thrown out the window.

Stumbo · #7 09-20-2009, 03:58 PM

I would ask for a refund, especially if your teacher let you know what's up.

Rules of life #4: If someone tells you what they think, it's okay for you to tell them what you think.

Byzcat · #8 09-20-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetzu

What are these flatwounds you speak of?

People are like that. Maybe the guy meant that "the store" only had one gauge of flatwounds in stock? Either way you were not happy with the way you were treated, and more than likely you will not go back. There are alot of other places to spend your money. Customer service at some places has been thrown out the window.

Well, see, the thing is, he didn't have them in stock the first time he was there. He was out, and the company he ordered from had them on backorder. I had to wait two weeks for the strings.

At any rate, the strings seem to be working out for me. I like the way they sound and feel. I had to adjust the truss rod, because the neck had way too much relief with the heavier gauge strings, and that's something I'm a little uncomfortable doing, but I got it done. Fingering is a bit more difficult- the stock strings were light-gauge, but I think I can get used to them.

At this point, the issue isn't the strings, it's the fact that the guy, for whatever reason, lied to me. For me, that's a dealbreaker.

ggunn · #9 09-20-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

Well, see, the thing is, he didn't have them in stock the first time he was there. He was out, and the company he ordered from had them on backorder. I had to wait two weeks for the strings.

At any rate, the strings seem to be working out for me. I like the way they sound and feel. I had to adjust the truss rod, because the neck had way too much relief with the heavier gauge strings, and that's something I'm a little uncomfortable doing, but I got it done. Fingering is a bit more difficult- the stock strings were light-gauge, but I think I can get used to them.

At this point, the issue isn't the strings, it's the fact that the guy, for whatever reason, lied to me. For me, that's a dealbreaker.

Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity (or ignorance). It's possible that whoever told you the incorrect information didn't know any better. You know, while it is true that flats come in more than one gauge set, it is also true that there are a lot fewer options to choose from with flats than with standard wrapped strings. Most music stores don't stock many choices of flats because a) there aren't that many available, and b) they sell far fewer flats than standard strings.

It could have been an honest mistake. Get over it. This is, IMO, a silly reason to mount a vendetta against a music store. If you want to have your full set of options for flatwound strings available, shop on line. You won't have to wait two weeks for your strings, either.

CamMcIntyre · #10 09-20-2009, 07:46 PM

I use JustStrings.com for when i can't find what I want locally or when I'm buying for all of my instruments.

Byzcat · #11 09-21-2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggunn

Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity (or ignorance). It's possible that whoever told you the incorrect information didn't know any better.

Or laziness. "Whoever" was the owner. He should know what's available, even if he doesn't carry it.

Quote:

You know, while it is true that flats come in more than one gauge set, it is also true that there are a lot fewer options to choose from with flats than with standard wrapped strings. Most music stores don't stock many choices of flats because a) there aren't that many available, and b) they sell far fewer flats than standard strings.

It could have been an honest mistake. Get over it. This is, IMO, a silly reason to mount a vendetta against a music store. If you want to have your full set of options for flatwound strings available, shop on line. You won't have to wait two weeks for your strings, either.

Yeah, I've been doing research online, and there fewer options with flats, but there are options. And I was willing to wait because I wanted to patronize a local business. He could have special ordered me a set of lighter-gauge strings, and I would have happily waited for however long it took to get them in.

I could call zZounds today and have a new set tomorrow, but I'm not really ready to do that yet. I'll see how my left hand feels at the end of the week.

ggunn · #12 09-21-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

Or laziness. "Whoever" was the owner. He should know what's available, even if he doesn't carry it.

Maybe so, but that's still very different from an outright self serving lie. If you don't know for a fact that he lied to you for some sinister motive, then IMO you should not be broadcasting that he did. You say that you want to support the "mom'n'pops" over the big box stores; why scuttle your relationship with one over something that could be a simple misunderstanding? Instead of going public with your complaint, why didn't you first talk it over with the shop owner and find out what really happened? You might even contribute to his education about the wonderful world of flat wrapped bass guitar strings.

I apologize for harping on this, but this is something I see on internet forums a lot. Someone gets their knickers in a wad over a minor incident (and this is a very minor incident) and chooses to go on the forum and vent their spleen rather than straightening out the issue at the source. As my dad used to tell me, "Don't fight the problem, solve it."

jive1 · #13 09-21-2009, 08:17 AM

Flatwounds, outside of the bass world is a pretty esoteric item so many music stores don't know much about them.

One thing that is true, is that certain brands have Flatwounds in only one gauge outside of custom sets, such as Thomastik Infeld.

There's many different brands, gauges, and styles for bass strings and even more for guitar strings. Add in violin, cello, etc.. and that's alot for a minimum wage employee to know.

Byzcat · #14 09-21-2009, 08:39 AM

^
Did you read the title of my thread?

One would think the owner would be making more than minimum wage.

If it had just been some wage-slave, I would have gone to the owner/manager and told him that his employee had given me wrong information, and seen if I could get my money back.

We're not talking GC or some chain. It's a small store with a single owner/operator. And I've never seen anything other than rock/jazz instruments in his store, unless it was something in for repair.

I had originally wanted half- or ground wounds for a more "bassier sound". He said that halves or grounds wouldn't make any difference in the tone. I also know he carries GHS. He was originally going to sell me GHS strings, and guess what? They come in light gauge, too, and their medium set has a 45 for a G (If I had to pick which string on my bass would be a heavier gauge, it would have been the E, since it's the one with the least tension.

He also carries Ernie Ball, and guess what? Their flatwounds come in different gauges, too.

So, yeah, the brands he carries do have options besides 50-100.

I think he just thought he had a dumb broad in his store and was going to sell me what was easiest for him, regardless of my actual string needs.

Fender (which I ended up with) also makes light-gauge flats.

He could have ordered me a set of any of the above.

hgregs · #15 09-21-2009, 08:45 AM

why not confront the dude w/ the faulty info and ask why you had to find out elsewhere that there are different gauges? at least you will know what he was thinking (if he even was thinking).

and fwiw ... i totally agree with you. i try hard to support my local businesses, and they always let me down. i have simply resorted to using my local music shop for stuff i need right away - and they actually carry decent instrument/speaker cords at good prices. otherwise, i buy online.

Godbody · #16 09-21-2009, 10:28 AM

I'm surprised they knew what flatwounds are, owner or not. I get blank stares in my local store, where I can buy and brand of strings I want, as long as they're Ernie Ball Slinkys.

ggunn · #17 09-21-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

^
Did you read the title of my thread?

One would think the owner would be making more than minimum wage.

If it had just been some wage-slave, I would have gone to the owner/manager and told him that his employee had given me wrong information, and seen if I could get my money back.

We're not talking GC or some chain. It's a small store with a single owner/operator. And I've never seen anything other than rock/jazz instruments in his store, unless it was something in for repair.

I had originally wanted half- or ground wounds for a more "bassier sound". He said that halves or grounds wouldn't make any difference in the tone. I also know he carries GHS. He was originally going to sell me GHS strings, and guess what? They come in light gauge, too, and their medium set has a 45 for a G (If I had to pick which string on my bass would be a heavier gauge, it would have been the E, since it's the one with the least tension.

He also carries Ernie Ball, and guess what? Their flatwounds come in different gauges, too.

So, yeah, the brands he carries do have options besides 50-100.

I think he just thought he had a dumb broad in his store and was going to sell me what was easiest for him, regardless of my actual string needs.

Fender (which I ended up with) also makes light-gauge flats.

He could have ordered me a set of any of the above.

Whatever. Enjoy your rant.

thetawaves · #18 09-21-2009, 11:25 AM

"Hell hath no fury..."

WalterBush · #19 09-21-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hgregs

why not confront the dude w/ the faulty info and ask why you had to find out elsewhere that there are different gauges? at least you will know what he was thinking (if he even was thinking).

This. At the very least, it might make him think twice before being lazy or malicious with another customer. If the guy's just ignorant of his own product lines, well, maybe if enough people let him know, he'll remedy the situation and look at what he sells more closely.

I order my strings online. The local music stores here survive off of DJ gear and school district band instrument maintenance contracts. They don't care about my business much.

René_Julien · #20 09-21-2009, 11:38 AM

My local store is the same kind of business. 1 man, owner/operator

I can understand for a little store to have a wide variety in stock is not possible. (I'm a store owner myself, motorcycles)

The store has only some d'addarios chrome in stock, I believe, last time I looked. It would be ridiculous to have a big variety of brands, types, gauges,... in stock for the 10 or 20 stringsets the store sells a year. Plus, with all this online ordering there is no point in offering all these stringssets... cause you need to restock each stringset if you sell it.
If it's a big store with a lot of traffic then it's doable.

This is the business man in me talking.... if I would run such a small music store I would only stock the "necessities", in case a customer needs a stringset urgently and doesn't really care what brand.
I would probably just stock ordinary rounds for 4-string in 3 gauges, rounds for 5-string in 2 gauges, flats for 4-string in 2 gauges, flats for 5-string in 1 gauge. From a brand that has the best distributor in my area.
Anything else is special order. Off course there'll be an upcharge for ordering one stringset. Delivery costs for just one stringset can be as high as the stringset itself, unless it works out that you have to order other items from that distributor.
You can't compete with the variety and prices of online stores, so I wouldn't do it (if I was running a pop & mom store).

But I wouldn't be BSing customers and tell the ^above^ honestly. And not lie about stuff like in the OP.

I told my local store which strings I like now, told them I ordered them online off course. But I said if they can get their hands on these set of strings I like, not urgently, I'd like them to stock them so in the future I'd rather buy my sets from them then go ordering.
It's give and take, I'm a loyal customer and get treated right so far.