Guitar Center discrace

Pat The Bassist · #1 03-12-2011, 03:41 PM

I did a bunch of research on compressors, and my local GC had the one I wanted, the Markbass Compressore (Which I now own and love). The pedal comes with its own adapter, but the employee I was dealing with grabbed some random 12 v adapter to accompany it. The pedal starts smoking and a burning smell enters the air. He panics and unplugs it, then goes to get another of the same pedal with the adapter. So I'm standing there and testing the pedal out. He starts asking me questions about compressors.... Are you kidding me? I gave him a half hour lesson on what threshold and ratio mean. GC needs to take a long hard look at its help.

rimtism123 · #2 03-12-2011, 04:03 PM

The thing about GC is this...they're not going to hire people who actually know about the gear that they sell. They want people who they can mold to be pure salesmen.
Because they will make more money selling the Line6 to the aspiring musician than the Mesa and say "Oh yeah..you can sound just as good as the Mesa with this...and is great for beginners." When in actuality...the knowledgable musican employee will say "yeah its good for a beginner rig, but if you want the Mesa sound, then you'd have to save for the Mesa"--which would lead to no sale and loss of commission for the employee.

but this is just my observation.

Pat The Bassist · #3 03-12-2011, 04:05 PM

That is true, but I just had to share the experience as a complete facepalm moment.

rimtism123 · #4 03-12-2011, 04:08 PM

I know your pain all too well

Hopkins · #5 03-12-2011, 04:12 PM

I've had the opposite experience at the GC's in my area. They have a pretty knowledgeable staff. I'm starting to think that people go into Guitar Center to get a reason to start another GC bashing thread on Talkbass.com.

rms2 · #6 03-12-2011, 04:15 PM

Sounds like he was interested in learning. I think it's cool you took the time to teach him something.

pnut166 · #7 03-12-2011, 04:15 PM

+1 rimtism. They`re glorified gophers and cashiers, mostly. It`s really no different a lot of places you go. A lot of Napa employees don`t know how to work on cars, alot of Home Depot ppl don`t know anything about lumber, and alot of Walmart ppl don`t know anything about, well, anything lol. Rimtism: you ever used a L6 head ? Have to disagree with you - they are not "just for beginners". Do they sound like Mesas ? Or Ampegs? Etc? No. They sound like L6`s, and there is nothing wrong with that. They sound great. But I digress

Edit: Rimtism - hello fellow `Hammer ! Your welcome to come try my L6 rig out anytime !

**Staccato** · #8 03-12-2011, 04:17 PM

IMO, they're not going to pay for experienced people to fill most GC positions.

Jake Morris · #9 03-12-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rimtism123

I know your pain all too well

+1. Look at my threads

**colcifer** · #10 03-12-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rimtism123

...loss of commission for the employee..

Do they get commission? Many of them gave me the impression that they didn't.

rimtism123 · #11 03-12-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnut166

+1 rimtism. They`re glorified gophers and cashiers, mostly. It`s really no different a lot of places you go. A lot of Napa employees don`t know how to work on cars, alot of Home Depot ppl don`t know anything about lumber, and alot of Walmart ppl don`t know anything about, well, anything lol. Rimtism: you ever used a L6 head ? Have to disagree with you - they are not "just for beginners". Do they sound like Mesas ? Or Ampegs? Etc? No. They sound like L6`s, and there is nothing wrong with that. They sound great. But I digress

Edit: Rimtism - hello fellow `Hammer ! Your welcome to come try my L6 rig out anytime !

My intention wasn't to bash the Line6, it was just what I came up with for an example...but I was hoping we would all just see the point.

rimtism123 · #12 03-12-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

Do they get commission? Many of them gave me the impression that they didn't.

sorry for the double post..but yes. I have buds who work at a GC.

puddin tame · #13 03-12-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat The Bassist

I did a bunch of research on compressors, and my local GC had the one I wanted, the Markbass Compressore (Which I now own and love). The pedal comes with its own adapter, but the employee I was dealing with grabbed some random 12 v adapter to accompany it. The pedal starts smoking and a burning smell enters the air. He panics and unplugs it, then goes to get another of the same pedal with the adapter. So I'm standing there and testing the pedal out. He starts asking me questions about compressors.... Are you kidding me? I gave him a half hour lesson on what threshold and ratio mean. GC needs to take a long hard look at its help.

you know how many people probably come in during an average day at guitar centre and ask about compressors?

you. and no one else.

pnut166 · #14 03-12-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rimtism123

My intention wasn't to bash the Line6, it was just what I came up with for an example...but I was hoping we would all just see the point.

I know what you meant - no offense taken; wasn`t trying to be snarky. I just think L6 gear is unfairly stigmatized, and I love showing people just how great it is.

Jim Campbell · #15 03-12-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rimtism123

The thing about GC is this...they're not going to hire people who actually know about the gear that they sell. They want people who they can mold to be pure salesmen.
Because they will make more money selling the Line6 to the aspiring musician than the Mesa and say "Oh yeah..you can sound just as good as the Mesa with this...and is great for beginners." When in actuality...the knowledgable musican employee will say "yeah its good for a beginner rig, but if you want the Mesa sound, then you'd have to save for the Mesa"--which would lead to no sale and loss of commission for the employee.

but this is just my observation.

actually that observation is very astute......successful sales managers will tell you that more often than not,not knowing about a product is better......

prd004 · #16 03-12-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

Do they get commission? Many of them gave me the impression that they didn't.

Oh yeah, it's all commision and it's a tough gig, I worked there many years ago.

Lowbrow · #17 03-12-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopkins

... I'm starting to think that people go into Guitar Center to get a reason to start another GC bashing thread on Talkbass.com.

+1, or something close to this.
Get over it already, folks.

MAC1911A1 · #18 03-15-2011, 12:51 PM

I refuse to make any purchases (Basses, Amps, Etc) from GC. Due to my experience.

I had a Schector Stiletto Extreme 4 on layaway and I was paying it off little by little. Well once I had the Guitar paid Off. the Sale person was bringing it up from from the back and even across the Store I saw that my brand new Bass was covered in Finger prints, dust and the likes. The Sales person then just hands it to me like it was a lump of dead fish. I was very disappointed. I thought their customer service was severely lacking. My opinion was that before even handing me the guitar, they should have cleaned it up so it looked nice. Heck I am paying good coin for it.

A little background on myself as to understand my belief. I work in a Harley Shop. Every bike that rolls out of our building is washed or at the very least wiped down to remove finger prints. Be it a brand new sale bike or a customer's bike that is in for an simple oil change. The only time we don't clean up the bikes is if the customer specifically request that we don't.

I had have people tell me that it wasn't the same. That people expect more from paying 15,000+ dollars for a motorcycle over a 400+ dollars on a Bass. I don't see any difference. Good Customer service is exactly that. Good customer service. Whether i am buying a $150 POS bass or a $32,000 CVO Harley. You need to take care of your customers.

Cause if you don't. Someone else will.

JoeVictim · #19 03-15-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC1911A1

I refuse to make any purchases (Basses, Amps, Etc) from GC. Due to my experience.

I had a Schector Stiletto Extreme 4 on layaway and I was paying it off little by little. Well once I had the Guitar paid Off. the Sale person was bringing it up from from the back and even across the Store I saw that my brand new Bass was covered in Finger prints, dust and the likes. The Sales person then just hands it to me like it was a lump of dead fish. I was very disappointed. I thought their customer service was severely lacking. My opinion was that before even handing me the guitar, they should have cleaned it up so it looked nice. Heck I am paying good coin for it.

A little background on myself as to understand my belief. I work in a Harley Shop. Every bike that rolls out of our building is washed or at the very least wiped down to remove finger prints. Be it a brand new sale bike or a customer's bike that is in for an simple oil change. The only time we don't clean up the bikes is if the customer specifically request that we don't.

I had have people tell me that it wasn't the same. That people expect more from paying 15,000+ dollars for a motorcycle over a 400+ dollars on a Bass. I don't see any difference. Good Customer service is exactly that. Good customer service. Whether i am buying a $150 POS bass or a $32,000 CVO Harley. You need to take care of your customers.

Cause if you don't. Someone else will.

+1

People have to understand that there are those that still want service with a smile. The last time I went to GC, which it was about 4 years since going before this time, the GC rep was super nice. All I bought was a Speakeon adapter. But, it takes a few more good experiences to right the one bad one.

echoSE7EN · #20 03-15-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC1911A1

I refuse to make any purchases (Basses, Amps, Etc) from GC. Due to my experience.

I had a Schector Stiletto Extreme 4 on layaway and I was paying it off little by little. Well once I had the Guitar paid Off. the Sale person was bringing it up from from the back and even across the Store I saw that my brand new Bass was covered in Finger prints, dust and the likes. The Sales person then just hands it to me like it was a lump of dead fish. I was very disappointed. I thought their customer service was severely lacking. My opinion was that before even handing me the guitar, they should have cleaned it up so it looked nice. Heck I am paying good coin for it.

A little background on myself as to understand my belief. I work in a Harley Shop. Every bike that rolls out of our building is washed or at the very least wiped down to remove finger prints. Be it a brand new sale bike or a customer's bike that is in for an simple oil change. The only time we don't clean up the bikes is if the customer specifically request that we don't.

I had have people tell me that it wasn't the same. That people expect more from paying 15,000+ dollars for a motorcycle over a 400+ dollars on a Bass. I don't see any difference. Good Customer service is exactly that. Good customer service. Whether i am buying a $150 POS bass or a $32,000 CVO Harley. You need to take care of your customers.

Cause if you don't. Someone else will.

Unfortunately, the people that work in the Harley shop are probably proficient bike mechanics and detail-oriented people that know the value of the bike in question. GC is the polar opposite. It's a big box store that employs "musicians"....musicians aren't really the most detail-oriented, strong-work-ethic-people in the world. I've had two friends work at GC (both quit). They went to work there for three reasons: employee discount, hang out with other "musicians", and have the knowledge that the doors close at 8:00 on Saturday night for the "gigging musicians".