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Does anyone else have a Best Buy that sells music gear?

gjbassist

gjbassist

Sep 7, 2005
6,039
3,131
60
Kansas City, MO
#1
I had heard that the newest Best Buy in the area was selling guitars. So of course I assumed they were selling crappy First Act models or something similar. I decided to check it out today and was I surprised! They have a large area in one corner of the store that has a nice selection of gear. Everything from guitars and basses to amps, effects, strings, PA equipment, keyboards and drums. I nice wall of guitars and a decent selection of basses from Fender, Squier, Schecter, Yamaha and even a Gibson Thunderbird. They had some good deals too. A MIM standard P bass for $349 and a Epi Thunderbird for $269. Line 6 and Ampeg bass amps too. I'm not trying to sound like a Best Buy commercial here but I was just pleasantly surprised to find someone other than GC in town with a decent assortment of gear. So I was curious if this was going on all over the country or is this something new that just started in my area?
 
#2
I wish my town is only 50,000 we dont have a guitar center or even a walmart. I have been to best buys in other towns that have music gear......................its just really strange
 
#4
My local Best Buy does, the worst GC in the world is just a couple blocks away so it's nice to see they've got some competition.
 
#5
Old news - though I haven't seen any instruments in my local GCs, you can see what they sell on their website.

J and R, a local (NYC) electronics store and one of the few BB competitors left (though not a chain store) has several buildings on one block, one each for DVD/CDs, AUdio/Video, PC Equipment, Gaming and I believe Cameras/Misc Electronics, opened up a Musical Instrument store last year I think.

Trying to get their "piece" of the pie as well. Nice thing is it's a separate building/store unlike a corner of a store. So it's like a mini-GC.
 
#6
I think they're trying it out at certain stores in certain areas. A pilot program, I think.

There's a Best Buy store like that near me. My boyfriend (who is not a musician) and I walked into the music store section and the guy behind the counter only spoke to my boyfriend. The employee acted as if I wasn't even standing there, and we were the only two customers in sight. It didn't leave a good impression (I realize that it's possible other employees wouldn't be that way, but this was the only guy in that section for our first trip in there).

I was "turned off" and didn't really look closely at the prices to compare with local big box stores. They had some nice instruments and amps, and had a decent supply of strings, etc., but nothing that I wanted to buy.
 
#7
The Best Buy in my area has a very decent music section. Fender, Gibson, Drums, Amps, Keys, accessories, prices are about the same as GC, but the gear is in much better shape and the cases are included in the price.
 
#8
The one here in Gainesville, FL has a music section. Plenty of selection, moreso than any of the "music stores" in town. I like the pedal display they have setup, like a mini wall you just reach out and press whichever you want to hear. Lot of acoustics in their own seperate room along with an amp demo and drum demo room. They didnt have anything for bass music though, all guitar.
 
#9
About a year ago, I was in the Best Buy in Culver City, I was shocked to see a very nice musical instrument section, primarily guitars. Went back about six weeks ago and it was gone. Oh well.......
 
#10
There is a Best Buy in Des Moines that has the instrument section. Otherwise, the other Best Buys that I frequent (Rochester MN, La Crosse WI, Cedar Rapids IA, Waterloo IA, Iowa City IA) only have the standard musical gear.

It would be nice to be able to earn Reward Zone points on musical purchases. The certificates could also be put to good use there. It'd be nice to live closer to one for that reason. I'm fine with the availabilty of gear around here, though. The used market is lame but there are a few places to go just to browse.
 
#11
theory028 said:
It would be nice to be able to earn Reward Zone points on musical purchases. The certificates could also be put to good use there. It'd be nice to live closer to one for that reason. I'm fine with the availabilty of gear around here, though. The used market is lame but there are a few places to go just to browse.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking today as I left the store that I am going to ask for nothing but Best Buy gift cards for Christmas now!:hyper:
 
#12
I bought my Fender Geddy Lee Sig. from the Best Buy in my town way back in Dec. 2006. Hell of deal too, I got it out the door for $580 brand new. Now they are what, over a grand.
 
#14
basschick22 said:
The employee acted as if I wasn't even standing there
Click to expand...

You should be so lucky. I'd rather no salesperson talk to me, let alone waltzing around the store chatting as I'm testing things out.
I know it's a 'guy thing' with salespeople, which is a bad assumption on their part. My boss does it all the time too at the truck repair shop I work at, and he gets suprised when the women stick their necks over say "ahem, it's my truck not his".

I'm in south suburbs from Seattle and I haven't seen stores down here with any. I live three blocks away from one, and if they did I'd probably go in and ask for a part-time job.
 
#18
Yea, I live in Houston, TX and they have one here. It's got a few cool things. They do actually have 'sales' on basses, which if what you're looking for ever does go on sale, it's normally $100-$300 less than Guitar Center. However they do not negotiate on price. Better customer service than GC, also IMO.
 
#19
The one in Tempe, Arizona sells music stuff. They have a very small selection of basses, mostly squiers and they had a gibson thunderbird when i was there.

They sell EB, fender, and D'addario bass strings (Just EXL's No pro-steels or chromes) The only flats they had were fender 9050s
 
#20
just about all the best buys near me have music gear now. their wall of guitars is about 75% guitars and 25% bass, which isnt bad, but its mostly fenders and squiers. cool idea that new musicians would enjoy, but guitar center has employees with actual music knowledge and skill and a way better selection.
 

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