Sometimes I just can't believe GC!

stratovani · #1 03-27-2011, 06:22 PM

Went to my local Guitar Center in Millbury, MA, this afternoon to do a little window shopping. Tried out some acoustics in the acoustic room, they had some nice ones there. Tried a couple of electric guitars, seems they were featuring Squier Teles (not my favorite), they were'nt too bad either. But when I went to try the basses, oh my! Tried a couple of Precisions and Jazzes, both Fender and Squiers, and the actions were so high they were almost unplayable. One MIM Fender P had its strings so visibly high off the fretboard that I didn't even bother taking it down and playing it! Pretty sad! Would it kill GC to setup their basses so that they're at least passably playable? Sheesh!!

saustindavis · #2 03-27-2011, 11:11 PM

What drives me crazy at GC is that nobody bothers to go around tuning instruments, so everything is all out of whack and if you want to jam with someone else you have to spend 5 mins getting them to sound right.

James Judson · #3 03-27-2011, 11:32 PM

My observations exactly. Everything in the store needs a set up, regardless of price ($4 to $4000). I did ask "if I was interested in a guit box could we put new strings on it?". I was told "yes". They aren't all bad, just seems like it.

NCD · #4 03-28-2011, 09:31 AM

I've always gotten extremely responsive service when I asked for anything but I think it's a simple matter of volume. They simply have so many going out the door that they can't take the time to set up every new one the way we'd all like or they'd be backlogged with a lot of empty space on the walls. Maybe they even mean to set them up when they get a chance but then things get shuffled around and who can keep track of what's been set up and what hasn't.

In my experience, if I wanted to check out a bass and it wasn't ready, I mentioned it to someone and they made sure that it got a going over within five minutes of my asking.

But I do think that they're so busy running around taking care of requests and restocking shelves that there isn't time left in the day to go around and setup / tune every single instrument. It's a simple matter of manpower and payroll is the single largest expense of any business so don't look for them to add people anytime soon.

chokeslam512 · #5 03-28-2011, 09:36 AM

Kill? No. Cost? Yes. All this is doing is hurting their own sales. If I held a significant amount of GTRC stock, I might be ticked (is that a pun?). Otherwise, if you had no intention of buying a bass, what difference does it make? I would expect the bass that I purchase from ANY music store to be set up before I walk out the door with it.

dalkowski · #6 03-28-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCD

But I do think that they're so busy running around taking care of requests and restocking shelves that there isn't time left in the day to go around and setup / tune every single instrument.

I doubt that's the case in Millbury.

MattyH · #7 03-28-2011, 09:37 AM

My GC's aren't TERRIBLBE here on LI. The staff is good, knowledgable, and friendly for sure. But it sucks when the guitars are always mint, but you can shoot an arrow with the bowed bass necks. On top of that, they've had a few Jazz and P's on the rack, for a few years, missing knobs. It looks pathetic. I plugged a Jazz into an SVT-4 running an 810 the other day. The cable was bad. switched cables to find the head and/or cab was completely blown. The acoustic 1x10 sounded better. They need better quality control, or at least a weekly set up. They're trying to sell these for petes sake! Whos gonna buy a P at full price, missing both knobs?

JTE · #8 03-28-2011, 09:38 AM

In their defense, it's not like you can set them up before you hang them on the wall. Most instruments take some time to settle in to the temperature/humidity at the store after being shipped in from wherever. So while it's probably set up OK the day it arrives, it could be anywhere from two days to two weeks before it's done settling in and it makes sense to start adjusting necks and setting intonation. As NCD says, the sheer volume and the logistics of keeping track of what came in when is makes it a more daunting task. Given that GC's business model in based on the Wal-Mart model of the absolute minimum customer service they can afford to invest, set up is way down below taking orders (they don't actually "sell" stuff), maintaining security to avoid shrinkage, and turning inventory.

John

NOAH_FX · #9 03-28-2011, 10:01 AM

I find all big Guitar stores are like that, I wanted to try a MIM Stingray copy once from Long and Mquade in Canada, It took me 15 minutes to figure out the bass was defective.. I think the wring harness.. it was the only one in the shop, i tell the guy, he leaves it their. I went back about 3 months later, same Stingray, stiill blown, no others to try :*(

I woulda bought that baby than and their too, went with a Yamaha from a family owned store instead. He set it up before I left, and gave me a card for a free setup that dosent expire. Service, it makes you come back.

rayzak · #10 03-28-2011, 10:08 AM

My biggest issue is with the condition of some of their gear. Yet, they still sell it "new". I know it's not always their fault when people are careless, but I've seen so much damage on some of their basses n amps, that they are no longer new and should be marked down.

stratovani · #11 03-28-2011, 10:18 AM

Just a couple of points I wish GC would listen to:

1. Things are usually dead on Monday mornings. This would be a great time for the store manager to assign a couple of employees to go around adjusting the basses as needed. Training and tools would be provided (even though I would expect GC employees to know how to do a simple setup).

2. The basses don't have to be set up to Geddy Lee's or Chris Squire's specs. Reasonably playable is good enough.

3. Impress on the employees the importance of keeping all instruments in reasonably playable condition. Sales depend on it. After all, I wouldn't buy a new car if it had no battery or flat tires! As a manager, I wouldn't have a problem with empolyees trying out instruments - not for noodling around, but to check for function and playability.

echoSE7EN · #12 03-28-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

My observations exactly. Everything in the store needs a set up, regardless of price ($4 to $4000). I did ask "if I was interested in a guit box could we put new strings on it?". I was told "yes". They aren't all bad, just seems like it.

Before I purchased my Martin, I asked if they would toss a new set of strings on so I could really hear the guitar. As the acoustic room(s) are heat and humidity controlled, you'll find that the strings tend to rust quickly.

The conversation:
Me: "Can you guys toss a set of new strings on this guitar? These are really gummed up...almost sticky. It's nearly impossible to judge the quality of this instrument with this old strings.

GC Sales: "Are you going to buy it?"

Me: "Well, I'd consider buying it if you put a new set of strings on it, and I can actually judge the tonality, feel, and set-up of the instrument. Without them, no."

GC Sales: "Hang on."

At this point he left and salesman number 2 entered the picture. Salesman number two asked if I had any questions. Same thing. "Put new strings on so I can hear this guitar's natural tones, and feel playability with something other than sludge on the neck."

GC Sales 2: "Okay."

10 minutes later I had a newly strung D-28 to try, and an hour later I had a new D-28 in my trunk.

SJan3 · #13 03-28-2011, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saustindavis

What drives me crazy at GC is that nobody bothers to go around tuning instruments, so everything is all out of whack and if you want to jam with someone else you have to spend 5 mins getting them to sound right.

JAM with them? Are you there to JAM with them or to audition an instrument that you have intentions of purchasing?
They probably DON'T set them up so that people like you won't "WANK" on a $1500 instrument all day and put a "hurtin" on it before a legitimate buyer gets to it!