Thoughts on Long & McQuade?

[crispygoat]

We heard 'lots of stories about Guitar Center... What are your thoughts on Long & McQuade (Canada)

I ordered a nut for my Warwick back in November... still have not received it.

I ordered a bass last week. I need it in 2 weeks... Gotta admit I'm kinda scared.

[Geddyfleaharris]

I guess they are basically the biggest chain in Canada. I have never had any issues with service or orders. The only thing I hate is that the price is the price. I have never got too far trying to haggle with them. And I have spent a lot of money in their store over the last couple of years. Doesn't seem to matter.

[StanFan]

Originally Posted by crispygoat

We heard 'lots of stories about Guitar Center... What are your thoughts on Long & McQuade (Canada)

I ordered a nut for my Warwick back in November... still have not received it.

I ordered a bass last week. I need it in 2 weeks... Gotta admit I'm kinda scared.

I was never impressed with the service at Long and McQuade.

Have you ever been to Wilson & Lee (on Simcoe St.)? While they don't have alot in stock in big name instruments, they have been very helpful to me and my family when it comes to ordering parts (among other items). I don't know if they've ever dealt with Warwick but it's worth a shot.

[kissmybASS01]

I agree with my friend GFH regarding L & M.

As I work as the purchaser for small kitchen cabinet shop, we sometimes pay a little extra to ensure a faster shipment of time sensitive goods. Maybe check with your L & M to see if they can rush it in via Fed-Ex or Puro. Of course, you would be the one picking up the tab.
If you needed that bass in a short period of time, didn't you ask how long for their stock to come in. Don't take offence, I'm just sayin...


Not sure if you have these other stores around but don't rule out St. Johns Music, Mother's Music (Gordon Price), or even your local smaller music shops. When I was recently amp shopping, I found ST Johns had a pretty good online price and went to Mothers with it and they matched it. In addition, sometimes (definitely not always) the smaller stores might have different selections (better different), and better pricing (at least be more flexible)

[bmc]

I guess with concerns about the economy and consumers slowing down with purchasing, they're not going to carry a lot of inventory, hence waiting for delivery.

Not sure if other stores can deliver quicker. If it's critical timing you need, they should be able to trace all the way back to the manufacturer to ask when it's coming.

L&M are fine. I'm not a big fan of chain stores for any product. Long and McQuade have been around for 30 years. They're ok.

One nice feature about them being a chain is that I've rented gear in their North Vancouver store about three years ago and two months ago in Ottawa. They found me in their database and pulled up my card details immediately and made the rental happen really quickly.

[Fretlessdude]

There renting and databse is nice they have exclusives liek there burst quilted maple ibanez sr 300. they carry warwicks and mtd and musicman here But half of ther einstruments are always out of tune

But if you want a bass over 1300 its l and m

[micahbell]

I hate L&M.
I don't find them to be overpriced compared to other stores, but their service is horrible in my city, and every one who works there is a bit of a jerk.

Generally when I know exactly what I want, I go to L&M because they will probably have it. If I want to try things out or need to ask questions I go anywhere else.

[sarcastro83]

I've got no use for Long and McQuade, personally. I've been to most of their GTA locations now, and I've found that many of their employees who I've personally dealt with to be not only extremely condescending, they were also very little help when I had questions.
I've also found that they rarely have what I want in stock anyway. I'll stick to buying used. If I need to get something brand-new, I'll go to Steve's. For all of the horror stories I hear about that place, the two people I go in and talk to have always been extremely helpful.

[peabody]

It was a great Chuck Norris movie.

Oh wait....that was Lone Wolf McQuade. Never mind.

[Joey3313]

It's alright, once you get the crappy employees to bugger off.


I like Mother's a whole lot more, who (despite having about half of the selection) always have what I really want. The employees tend to know something.

[Kindofblue]

Its full of guitarists who know literally nothing about guitar let alone other instruments, I prefer Mom and Pop style shops or smaller chains like LA music.

[the_hook]

I have good and bad vibes from them. I used to frequent the Steeles store, but too many kids working the counter, lack of attention, not listening to what I'm asking, etc.

Then I found out about the Bloor store, big difference. I was able to haggle over an item I wanted to purchase (and the guy dropped the price a good bit), and I've found a few helpful guys there for other things.

I really like LA Music. Everytime I've been there anyone I talk to is nice and listens. They usually have what I need, prices seem ok (although I now notice Steve's Music may have them cheaper).

What helps with these stores is you can do payments, instead of one big cash layout. For a big purchase that may come in handy for some vs a place with better service and pricing, but you have to pay in full up front.

I'd rather visit a pop shop or boutique store for the one on one service, but usually I can't afford their stuff, they don't rent or have payment plans.

[speckledmind]

Depending on what you expect out of a Music store, the answer can vary.

I enjoy dealing with Long & McQuade in Ottawa.
Way more that Steve’s Music Store in Ottawa, I just hate getitng pressured from commissioned sales staff.

[::::BASSIST::::]

I can tell ya, I have milked the hell out of their 30 day money back guarantee.

[JPrinos]

I wasn't thrilled by their selection in the Toronto store. I had a better time at KAOS at Royal York and Bloor.

[the_hook]

Originally Posted by JPrinos

I wasn't thrilled by their selection in the Toronto store. I had a better time at KAOS at Royal York and Bloor.

I've never heard of this place. Do they sell all instruments or just certain types?

[anon65884001]

They are okay
But they could improve on taking their customers' advice
I bought my Jazz 24 from there
And i've been renting my string bass for two years now
Their rental basses are terrible
Their end pin does not work,
Their bridge is almost always way above where they're supposed to be,
Their strings are like 10 years old,
Some of their machine heads are set wrong, so if you try to tune up, it goes down,
Lots of buzz,
They are almost tuned in A E B F, high to low,
They don't know anything about the instrument
And yet, they ignore people's suggestion
For example,
I told them that the G string was set way too low that it's making a lot of buzzes so they probably should replace the bridge
Then they tried to cost me $100 for their new bridge?
Like people are going to use that bass in future,
And it is absolutely unplayable
So they need to change it pretty soon,
But i guess it's their bass...
The good side of Long and McQuade is their customer service
I changed my bass 5 times this year and they didn't complain at all
They even said sorry for having all their basses set improperly
And when my jazz 24's treble/bass knobs went loose (twice ), they took it in without hesitation
Also, they are great to talk to (although they should have some knowledge on their instrument)
And they even gave me 5 picks for free
That's my story

[rarisgod]

Haven't really dealt with them, but a friend of mine ordered an Ibanez SR506 from them at approx. end of December, and did not receive it until like late March, early April. There were many delays, and that's just unnecessary to me.

That's not the longest wait I've ever heard, but it's still frustrating to want a bass so badly and have to wait long for it.

[bassman blue]

my 'worst' story about L&M is the Surrey, BC store. i traded an Ampeg V4BH in on a larger Ampeg head. next time i was in the store they had my old head listed as 'new' with a new price tag.

same old right? buyer beware...

[JPrinos]

They sell mostly used so the overall range of instruments were different.
They're west of Royal York on Bloor.

Originally Posted by the_hook

I've never heard of this place. Do they sell all instruments or just certain types?