A weird Guitar Center Experience

Youngspanion · #1 06-20-2011, 07:50 PM

I'm a customer of Guitar Center as well as small mom&pop shops but I like the Guitar Center for its big selection. I like SamAsh also.

Here is my story. Went to GC tonight to pickup a guitar that was listed for $579 with a gig bag. I purchased two wall hangers and I had a $100 off coupon with a purchase of $499 or better.

But I walked out of there getting less then $100 off the total price. The receipt is mind boggling and doesn't make any sense. I don't want to bore you with the whole run down but one thing that I don't understand is that the guitar is sold with a gig bag but the receipt shows a cost for it.

Has anyone else experienced this or something like this at GC?

And they are very short handed. Yesterday and today I had to find someone to help. No big deal but usually someone comes around and asks if you need help.

bassplayer8953 · #2 06-20-2011, 08:01 PM

Go online and price each of the items you bought separately. Add them up, subtract the $100, add tax. If the figure is higher than you were charged, take the whole thing back & talk to a manager. If they won't refund the overcharge tell them you want to return the whole purchase and you will purchase from MF (same company, but no tax).

I'll bet they'll play ball. It's ridiculous that GC doesn't itemize the prices on thier sales receipts (or at least they didn't the last time I bought there. It's been some time...)

electracoyote · #3 06-20-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

But I walked out of there getting less then $100 off the total price.

There's your trouble.

Now you have to call or walk back in there and ask them what the hell happened.

pocketgroove · #4 06-20-2011, 08:08 PM

Guitar Center is notorious for this sort of thing. Do the math yourself by adding together the price of the guitar and the two wall hangers. Figure out tax for where you live by multiplying that number by the decimal form of the tax rate. Add the number that you get by multiplying to your original number. Then subtract $100.

If your receipt shows a charge for the included gig bag, you already need to return and get your money back for that. But, if you do the math and figure out exactly what it should come to beforehand, you can call them out on it if they try to overcharge you again.

sikadelic · #5 06-21-2011, 01:42 PM

I went in there the other day with a custom quote for a specific bass from their customer service department. It took me about 15 minutes to get them to accept it and it was only 15 dollars off the original price.

I got to work the next day and was browsing their website and noticed they had a fathers day promotion that would have given me $30 off the original price instead. I guess they didn't want to mention that....

fourstringdrums · #6 06-21-2011, 01:48 PM

Does the $100 Off coupon have brand stipulations? I don't know about how GC does this in store, but with MF, the list of brands that AREN'T eligible for the coupon discount is longer than the list of brands that are eligible.

dtsamples · #7 06-21-2011, 01:50 PM

GC does itemize their receipts. If the gig bag was included, the price of the instrument and the gig bag will add up to the total package price. This is so they can keep accurate inventory. For example, if you buy a $1499 acoustic guitar with a hardshell case, the guitar will likely be $1360 and the case will be $139. Discount will be before tax. If you take a closer look, you'll probably see that everything is on the up and up.

Yerf Dog · #8 06-21-2011, 01:54 PM

Post the receipt.

LowDownSirius · #9 06-21-2011, 02:17 PM

The CG near me itemizes receipts. I bought a bass that came with a "free" bag and the cost of the bass was less the cost of the bag so the total for both equaled the advertised price of the bass. As an aside, I was aware of an upcoming holiday weekend sale, I asked and they honored the discount 2 days before the sale started. I didn't have the coupon with me at the time. The salesperson added me to their email list, allowed me to log into my email account from his workstation and printed out the coupon.

Youngspanion · #10 06-21-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

Post the receipt.

Cant post it but I will show you.

1 Guitar = =======462.70

1 Gig Bag=========42.05

2 Fretrest wall hanger= 25.22

TAX===37.10

Total amount paid $567.07

Here is the thing. The guitar was ticketed at $579. Gig bag included. I had a $100 off coupon.

I have to figure that I should have seen a receipt for $479 and then the cost of the 2 wall hangers and then tax.

I can't figure it out and I asked the sales man to explain it twice. Of course I said I see and walked out although I didn't. Foolish me. Then I got home and the smart one of the two of us, my wife, couldn't understand and she called the salesman. She did the same. Agreed to it and then really did not understand. I don't have to shop there any more but what do you guys think?

Youngspanion · #11 06-21-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

Does the $100 Off coupon have brand stipulations? I don't know about how GC does this in store, but with MF, the list of brands that AREN'T eligible for the coupon discount is longer than the list of brands that are eligible.

This guitar was not excluded from the coupon. He explained that to me. Like Fenders cannot be sold for less then what Fender wants.

LSquared · #12 06-21-2011, 03:45 PM

From your receipt:

1 Guitar = =======462.70
1 Gig Bag=========42.05
Total paid for those 2 items = $504.75
Tax rate = 7%, so tax on that portion of your purchase was $35.55...

Total paid with tax = $540.08

Guitar was listed at $579 w/ Gig bag.
Tax would be 40.53
Total w/o discount would have been $619.53

Which would be $79.45 off. Which isn't $100.

BUT, what's list price on the hangers? did they apply the $100 across all the items?

I'd certainly ask them to explain. Don't go in all indignant, just say you don't understand.

JTE · #13 06-21-2011, 03:58 PM

Fine print on the coupon mention anything about exactly WHICH price they're taking the $100 from? If the $579 was a special advertised price and the coupon was only good on "regular price" merchandise, then you still got it for less than the regular price.

Given the raw numbers you've listed the guitar and bag cost you $504.75, down $74.25 from the advertised price. So, were the wall hangers real expensive and they gave you them for about half-price to make the $100 discount? It is a confusing sales slip because it doesn't explicitly show the discount, just the total selling price they're going to list on their books.

Go in with the receipt and ask 'em nicely what's up with it. And don't wait for a sales drone on the floor, go to a manager right off the bat.

John

DBTOYS · #14 06-21-2011, 04:48 PM

Buying guitars is like buying cars. ask for the discount i have obtained up to 400 off on some Glp and have done it more than once. you have the power when you have the cash take advantage of it!!!

80'sRocker · #15 06-21-2011, 04:53 PM

Typical GC swindel

Pilgrim · #16 06-21-2011, 05:07 PM

(If you're going to accuse a business of a swindle, you should know how to spell it...Swindle | Define Swindle at Dictionary.com)

I'd go back, ask them to walk through the receipt with you, and ask for a refund on the gig bag.

bassplayer8953 · #17 06-21-2011, 07:10 PM

No great savings on the bass-hanger-upper things:

FretRest by Proline GH1 Guitar Wall Hanger and more Guitar Stands & Wall Hangers at GuitarCenter.com.

kenfxj · #18 06-21-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

I'm a customer of Guitar Center as well as small mom&pop shops but I like the Guitar Center for its big selection. I like SamAsh also.

Here is my story. Went to GC tonight to pickup a guitar that was listed for $579 with a gig bag. I purchased two wall hangers and I had a $100 off coupon with a purchase of $499 or better.

But I walked out of there getting less then $100 off the total price. The receipt is mind boggling and doesn't make any sense. I don't want to bore you with the whole run down but one thing that I don't understand is that the guitar is sold with a gig bag but the receipt shows a cost for it.

Has anyone else experienced this or something like this at GC?

And they are very short handed. Yesterday and today I had to find someone to help. No big deal but usually someone comes around and asks if you need help.

Yes. Bought an American Deluxe Jazz and they charged me for the hard case. I caught it after I paid but before I left the store.