Surprise! Guitar center employees are idiots.

Just J · #1 05-19-2008, 11:35 AM

Is there a "guitar center stories" thread I'm missing? There probably should be... anyway:

Go to guitar center for a set of strings and to mess around with the new Fender americans (which were setup like crap, and the Jazz had broken knobs). As I'm looking at the wall trying to read the metal type and gauges, a d-bag sales guy notices.

Him: Can I help you with anything?
me: Yea, lookin for a set of bass strings.
Him: what you lookin for?
me: A set of nickle round wounds for a 4 banger.
him: (turning to look at the wall) oh well they're all nickle... I've never seen a set that wasn't
me:

Him: They all sound the same, it's just a matter of which brand you like.
Me: just give me those hybrid nickle D'Adderios and a pack of 9 volts.

Idiots... I think the only guy who knows anything in that particular store is the bass guy. I overheard him giving actual sound wood and instrument building advice to a customer.

invader3k · #2 05-19-2008, 11:44 AM

No, I don't believe there has ever been a thread about Guitar Center before. Nope, never, nadda one...

Jazzman · #3 05-19-2008, 11:49 AM

You want to have some real fun? Go into GC and try to buy some flatwounds.

xshawnxearthx · #4 05-19-2008, 11:50 AM

i could start 50 threads like this.

EBMatt · #5 05-19-2008, 12:00 PM

Not GC, but I walked into a Daddy's Junky Music...

Me: Hey man. You got any 5-string bass sets with a tapered low B?

Guy: Well, all the strings are tapered. How else would you be able to wrap them around the tuners?

Me: Oh. Ok. Thanks.

I then walked out..

jsingles · #6 05-19-2008, 12:02 PM

yea, actually now that you mention that story, i remembered that last time I went to buy strings, the guy at the counter told me theres no such thing as nickel strings, they are STEEL.

invader3k · #7 05-19-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzman

You want to have some real fun? Go into GC and try to buy some flatwounds.

In my experience, this is almost impossible in any music store.

Jazzman · #8 05-19-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

In my experience, this is almost impossible in any music store.

I believe both GC and Sam Ash stock Chromes.

69nites · #9 05-19-2008, 12:14 PM

depends on the location.

To make the experience better for the next guy I always try to educate them. Some listen some don't.

Just J · #10 05-19-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

No, I don't believe there has ever been a thread about Guitar Center before. Nope, never, nadda one...

lol, I meant is there a single thread that's just a compilation of GC (music store?) idiocy.

I actually got a set of flats from GC with little hassle. I was buying a bass at the time, so he didn't bother trying to "educate" me.

Dbassboarder · #11 05-19-2008, 12:49 PM

I've been lucky my last 2 times, when I bought my J the cashier was a bassist and set me up, and when I bought my new amp the salesman was sort of a multi- instrument player.

buzzbass · #12 05-19-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzman

You want to have some real fun? Go into GC and try to buy some flatwounds.

better yet, 5 string flats

I was assured that NOBODY makes flat wound 5 string sets, no such animal...ever. riiiight

**sleepy_monkey** · #13 05-19-2008, 12:59 PM

I mean, you are shopping at Guitar Center...what do you expect? Why anyone supports those clowns is beyond me....Mom and Pop shops are where it's at...plus they usually will give you a better price than GC anyway...plus you are helping out the little man. And if they don't have it in stock, they can get it typically.

If you go into Wal Mart, do you really expect top notch customer service?

rice128 · #14 05-19-2008, 01:04 PM

I went to GC to buy some strings, I asked if they had any extra-long strings b/c my bass was 35 in. scale, the sales guy told me all basses were same scale and there were no shorter or longer.............. He said he was "BLOODY SURE".

All I could say was, "wow............"

RED5 · #15 05-19-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzman

You want to have some real fun? Go into GC and try to buy some flatwounds.

Extra long scale for added fun!

The BurgerMeister · #16 05-19-2008, 01:08 PM

please remember: GC has a LOT of employees. our store does, in fact, stock flats (Chromes, La Bella Deep Talkin', and Rotosound... no 5er sets, though... but we can get them to you quickly). my accessories crew knows the difference between strings, and how metal types affect the sound and playability.

maybe, in all these "GC =

" threads, you could help us out by giving us the location of the GC you visited. then maybe some better training can be offered to the employees of those stores.

in any case: i'm sorry you had a bad experience. i hope you will be more impressed the next time you go in.

**sleepy_monkey** · #17 05-19-2008, 01:14 PM

GC Training 101: These are strings..............

The BurgerMeister · #18 05-19-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy_monkey

GC Training 101: These are strings..............

JehuJava · #19 05-19-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just J

which were setup like crap, and the Jazz had broken knobs

I completely amazes me that these stores have basses on the wall with missing knobs, broken input jacks, etc.

GC: May I help you?
Me: Sure...I'd like to buy the bass without any knobs...the one with the scratched finish.
GC: Which one is that?
Me: Two basses to the right of the one with the warped neck.
GC: This one?
Me: No, that one still has a charged battery in it...the other one.
GC: Oh, ok. Anything else for you today?
Me: Yeah, can you have that high school students that come in after school each day give the bass a good workout while I finish my shopping?
GC: Sure, would you like the punk rock workout or would you like the slap-tastic work out?
Me: Both would be good. And if you could make sure their hands are extra grubby, that would be nice.
GC: No problem. See you in an hour or two.

SwamiRob · #20 05-19-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy_monkey

I mean, you are shopping at Guitar Center...what do you expect? Why anyone supports those clowns is beyond me....Mom and Pop shops are where it's at...plus they usually will give you a better price than GC anyway...plus you are helping out the little man. And if they don't have it in stock, they can get it typically.

If you go into Wal Mart, do you really expect top notch customer service?

Damn straight, there's a shop called soundcontrol just like GC in the UK, they do know a couple of things though, but only stock 3 brands of anything, very dull.