Guitar Center Employees-Aholes!

[Portobello_Road]

Guitar Center Employees-Aholes!
I am just wondering if anyone else feels the same way? Every time I go into a guitar center I feel like all eyes are on me, like I am being judged as a musician. They all talk like they know everything about everything, like it’s a competition of musical knowledge. And they make sure to let you know that they know more than you do…so they think.

I prefer the mom and pop shops, the used shops, the friendly stoners shops who are super supportive and appreciate your business. I’ll only shop guitar center if I need something specific and have no time to order through a local music store, or if I am between paychecks.

Where do you buy your gear? Who would you rather give you money too?

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by Portobello_Road

Guitar Center Employees-Aholes!
I am just wondering if anyone else feels the same way? Every time I go into a guitar center I feel like all eyes are on me, like I am being judged as a musician. They all talk like they know everything about everything, like it’s a competition of musical knowledge. And they make sure to let you know that they know more than you do…so they think.

I prefer the mom and pop shops, the used shops, the friendly stoners shops who are super supportive and appreciate your business. I’ll only shop guitar center if I need something specific and have no time to order through a local music store, or if I am between paychecks.

Where do you buy your gear? Who would you rather give you money too?

I buy online strictly now. Do I take a chance on not "playing" the bass....yes. My experiences have been more positive than negative however.

GC has always been a joke to me. I remember some time ago the EBMM forum had the owner online for a live chat and the thread was closed due to people being rude.

I looked over that thread. People were just voicing legit concerns and questions to the guy. EBMM deemed that rude I guess. They are the largest retailer for EBMM products I believe.

[Phalex]

I but my consumables (Strings and cables) online.

If I'm going to buy a new amp, or bass, I'll go to one of the remaining mom & pop shops that GC hasn't driven out of business yet.

I think my issue with GC is that they hire a bunch of kids. I've been gigging longer than the kid behind the counter has been alive. I really don't care about the strings he uses in his band, or why the product I asked for specifically is no good.

I like the low price point on gear, but I really hate the talent pool they seem to draw from.

[Papa Dangerous]

I really have only shopped at one guitar center and the people there were always 110% professional. Perhaps when I was 14 and bought my first bass, the sales person could of tried to be a bit more helpful... But then again, how is a newbie youngin going to understand instrument jargon? Anyways, I think it depends on the area you are in. It seems to me, that certain areas, such as suburban, urban, rural etc are going to yield certain types of personas in people. Those people then get a job, which happens to he GC. So its hit or miss. I would suggest comparing the people of your local GC to the people of the local specialty shops. Perhaps there is a correlation?

[MakiSupaStar]

I don't really have a complaint about my local GC. It's more environment I dont like - all the kids wanking for hours on end combined with super loud videos blaring all the time. This makes it difficult to hear an amp or bass. I don't do that too often so it's not really that annoying. Like Phalex I buy my strings, cables, mic's, recording stuff, and even pedals online.

[stratovani]

I go to the local GC in Millbury, MA once in a while, and my experiences there have been positive. The staff is very supportive, and they'll generally leave me alone if I ask them to. Then again, I'm probably older than their own fathers! The issue I have with them is their instruments, mostly with how they're set up or not. The guitars are OK, usually out of tune but playable once tuned up, but the basses are badly in need of a setup, some of them are simply unplayable.

[fenderhutz]

Welcome to Talkbass. I would encourage you read the forum rules.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Visited a Sam Ash (and bought a bass from them), when I was in the US, ~8 years back.

Nice folk there, certainly no problems. Walked out happy with a new bass that day.


I have had good and bad experiences from both larger and smaller shops over here. Both seem to have their pro's and con's.

[macaroni tony]

I didn't like the GC in Cerritos; the employees were your typical know-it-all pushy guys. The one in Fountain Valley close to my job is a good one; the sales staff is helpful and courteous.

There's a music store called Jim's Music which is walking distance from my house now; I love that place

[Ursus Tyrannus]

[hover]

Originally Posted by stratovani

I go to the local GC in Millbury, MA once in a while... the basses are badly in need of a setup, some of them are simply unplayable.

Exactly my experience. I, on a few occasions spoke with the manager there about offering to setup their bass stock-on-hand, for a flat rate. Both times declined because they didn't think there were any issues. I know it was foolish for me to be so verbose to offer such a thing knowing they would decline, but they didn't even take the hint.

That and their selection is abysmal. Unless I want import Rays and Squiers, and some Fender peppered in.

I tries a natural finish 70's J (hencho en Mexico) and almost bought it, as I was gonna talk them down as the bridge was a little rusty, and a couple pole pieces as well, and it was being sold as new... until I noticed a crack in the middle of fingerboard from fret 3 to 9. Brought it to their attention, they thanked me for informing them, and then put it back on the rack. Whatevs.

Originally Posted by Portobello_Road

Every time I go into a guitar center I feel like all eyes are on me, like I am being judged as a musician.

Sounds more like your problem than theirs. Ego or confidence, take your pick.

[Popbumper]

If you are looking at GC:
1) as a resource for technical savvy, run away.
2) as a place to drop in and try some instruments without being hassled, it's great.
3) as a place to get the best price, iffy.
4) as a place to find the best selection of everything - run away.

Consider what it is. Most of the employees there are young, untrained non-professionals, so you "get what you pay for". Be an informed consumer and act accordingly. Sadly, all forms of really, really experienced mom-and-pop shops with informed employees are on the way out.

Chris

[MJ5150]

I don't mind the closest GC to me, everyone I deal with is cool and friendly. The local music stores in my town have the people you are describing above, so I don't shop at them anymore. I drive 25 minutes to GC instead.

-Mike

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Portobello_Road

Guitar Center Employees-Aholes!
I am just wondering if anyone else feels the same way? Every time I go into a guitar center I feel like all eyes are on me, like I am being judged as a musician. They all talk like they know everything about everything, like it’s a competition of musical knowledge. And they make sure to let you know that they know more than you do…so they think.

I prefer the mom and pop shops, the used shops, the friendly stoners shops who are super supportive and appreciate your business. I’ll only shop guitar center if I need something specific and have no time to order through a local music store, or if I am between paychecks.

Where do you buy your gear? Who would you rather give you money too?

Poll is invalid. I buy most of my gear online.

Occasionally I'll go into a Guitar Center, or Sam Ash (since its closer) if I need something in a hurry. Never have I had a bad experience in either.

Originally Posted by Quickie

I buy online strictly now. Do I take a chance on not "playing" the bass....yes. My experiences have been more positive than negative however.

Ive bought 2 basses online from rondomusic, and both came ready to play out of the box. Ive bought a few pedals online, and only 1 I didnt really take to. It would have been a great pedal for guitar, so I traded it with my guitarist!

[PSPookie]

The employees at my local GC are ok, but I moderate my expectations whenever I walk in the door.

OTOH, their bass selection stinks. I walked in there the other day with cash in my pocket and could not find a single fretless.

[Ziltoid]

Here there's a long &mcquade (the Canadian GC equivalent) at about 30-40min drive and a local mom&pop, I shop at the mom&pop when I don't order online (in other words acoustic instruments, stuff I need quick, repairs, *other instruments (bongos, cajoon and whatnot)*). L&M is alright but the mom&pop gives outstanding service.

[StKevin]

I live in a kinda rural area 15 minutes south of Dallas, and all the mom-and-pop stores around here are owned and staffed by the rudest people. They cast judgement on any product you buy and act really uninterested in helping you. The Guitar Centers are better staffed, but the customers that attend them are awful. Loud instrument-wanking and the sheer number of them is annoying. It's a compromise: deal with rude staffers for convenient locations or drive half an hour to wade through a sea of fifteen year old "superstars" at a Guitar Center.

[Popbumper]

Originally Posted by StKevin

I live in a kinda rural area 15 minutes south of Dallas, and all the mom-and-pop stores around here are owned and staffed by the rudest people. They cast judgement on any product you buy and act really uninterested in helping you. The Guitar Centers are better staffed, but the customers that attend them are awful. Loud instrument-wanking and the sheer number of them is annoying. It's a compromise: deal with rude staffers for convenient locations or drive half an hour to wade through a sea of fifteen year old "superstars" at a Guitar Center.

Hello from RICHARDSON, StKevin!!

Chris

[TechJunky]

I really have no problem with my local GC. The guys there ask if I need help, but if I say no they leave me be unless I flag them down. When I do need help, they're always nice and never give me any trouble. As for where I buy, I'll buy from whomever has what I want at a price I'm willing to pay. Ebay, talkbass classifieds, local mom and pop, music go round, GC, etc. Doesn't matter to me. I like GC's return policy, and have used it a few times without hassle or issue, I've also bought several things I was very happy with from there.

[thumpbass1]

Sorry, but Omaha has only had it's brand new super GC for a little while now. So far my experience has been all good as far their staff is concerned. I still have my favorite local independents that I still do business with, and will continue to do so. I'll go to GC for the things that I want, that my current favorite guitar and music gear dealers don't carry.
If it should prove down the road that someday I find it intolerable to do any business with GC, I'll vote with my feet and wallet by walking out of their establishment and never buy from them again. It takes more than one incident with a grumpy or unknowledgable staff member to make me stop doing business with someone. I've done this with one local guitar dealer that I did a lot of business with over the years, but that's a different story. It wasn't one incident, but an accumulation of incidents that caused me to stop doing business with that establishment.