• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Anyone buy from GC used gear online? You must see the pics..

Ler

Ler

Supporting Member
Oct 29, 2007
744
378
Texas
#1
This was my first and most likey last purchase from Guitar Center's online used gear section. This is how this Warwick Corvette Std. showed up at my door.

A way oversized box for a Coffin case, it was standing on the neck when I got it, (probably because the shipping label was at the wrong end) 2 holes in the box, tone knob disappeared, all that was in the box with the bass was air bags. The bass was just flopping around.

Needless to say the next day I took it straight to a local GC and returned it. Nice bass but I couldn't keep it after that. I called the store I ordered it from and got the usual bad customer treatment one gets AFTER a sale.
 
#4
That is so beyond messed up. Atleast they could've wrapped it. That sucks. If I liked the bass regardless, I would show them the pics and ask for a store credit or a free, nice hard case.
 
#5
The knob was there in pics they sent me. I put some fresh strings on, adjusted the bridge and nut and really enjoyed playing it. Paid $611 shipped. Sounded great. I just couldn't get the bad taste out of my mouth after speaking to that store gm. I have another Warwick on the radar.
 
#7
That's unacceptable from a private seller, much less a retail store that's sole reason to exist is to make a profit. I wouldn't have cared what kind of condition it arrived in either, that's totally unprofessional.

If I wanted to buy a bass that looked like it had been packed by Somalian pirates, I would have went shopping in Somalia. :D
 
#11
See, that's where I differ. Regarless of how it arrived, if it's undamaged, and plays fine, and electronics perform fine, then it's in all likelyhood 'fine'.

Any time you buy a used instrument you have no clue what it's previous life or recent treatment has been. All you can go by is the current state of the instrument. Which he said he liked.

If it was undamaged, played fine, and sounded fine... and I wanted the bass enough to order it, I probably would have kept it. Although, I likely would have taken it to a local store and complained loudly about the shoddy packaging, etc and gotten some money back because of the lack on concern. But I would have kept the bass.


.
 
#14
stflbn said:
See, that's where I differ. Regarless of how it arrived, if it's undamaged, and plays fine, and electronics perform fine, then it's in all likelyhood 'fine'.

Any time you buy a used instrument you have no clue what it's previous life or recent treatment has been. All you can go by is the current state of the instrument. Which he said he liked.

If it was undamaged, played fine, and sounded fine... and I wanted the bass enough to order it, I probably would have kept it. Although, I likely would have taken it to a local store and complained loudly about the shoddy packaging, etc and gotten some money back because of the lack on concern. But I would have kept the bass.


.
Click to expand...


+1!
 
#15
stflbn said:
So there wasn't necessarily anything wrong with the bass... you just took it back based on the fact that you didn't like the shipping...

ok. Must have 'really' wanted that bass then.
Click to expand...

Yes I 'really' did want it. I'm tired of being treated all nice when someone is trying to sell you something. It could be a car, swimming pool, etc, etc, and than after the sale they can't help you and appear to not have time for you. Have your bass back!
 
#17
stflbn said:
See, that's where I differ. Regarless of how it arrived, if it's undamaged, and plays fine, and electronics perform fine, then it's in all likelyhood 'fine'.

Any time you buy a used instrument you have no clue what it's previous life or recent treatment has been. All you can go by is the current state of the instrument. Which he said he liked.

If it was undamaged, played fine, and sounded fine... and I wanted the bass enough to order it, I probably would have kept it. Although, I likely would have taken it to a local store and complained loudly about the shoddy packaging, etc and gotten some money back because of the lack on concern. But I would have kept the bass.
Click to expand...
My issue with that is by keeping it, you are reinforcing to the GC goons that it's okay to treat customers in such a way, and potentially destroy THEIR gear. The OP (and that bass) deserve better treatment. I think he did the right thing by making it clear: "this is not acceptable".
 
#18
I got a good deal on a used bass from GC in Atlanta, they threw in a case for it and shipped it properly. I did have to deal with the manager though, the clerk who initially took my information over the phone failed to make up a proper sales ticket and process the order. The manager stepped in and straightened everything out, thankfully.
 
#19
stflbn said:
See, that's where I differ. Regardless of how it arrived, if it's undamaged, and plays fine, and electronics perform fine, then it's in all likelyhood 'fine'.

Any time you buy a used instrument you have no clue what it's previous life or recent treatment has been. All you can go by is the current state of the instrument. Which he said he liked.

If it was undamaged, played fine, and sounded fine... and I wanted the bass enough to order it, I probably would have kept it. Although, I likely would have taken it to a local store and complained loudly about the shoddy packaging, etc and gotten some money back because of the lack on concern. But I would have kept the bass.
Click to expand...

But it is a professional business. They are supposed to go above and beyond what the average bear does regardless of what yahoos they're employing these days. For the profit margin they are trying to achieve, they could have at least spent an extra 5 minutes making sure all the voids were filled and used a box that didn't look like it's been used more than the bass!

I'll admit that if I wanted it enough to buy it and all the electronics worked, the neck was in good shape, and everything functioned as it's supposed to, that I probably would have kept the bass. But I still would have called and sent pictures to GC so hopefully some jerk in their shipping dept. would have heard about it, and maybe fixed the problem for future customers. And still if I was met with the type of customer service that the OP says he faced, I would have returned it based on that in addition to the shipping miscues. They didn't EARN the money so therefore they don't deserve the money.

/novel :D
 
#20
But what he did doesn't effect the store he got it from at all. He took it back to his local GC and they had to deal with his issues. The store it came from learns nothing from this and will continue doing as they currently are.

The entire issue will have no effect what-so-ever on how Guitar Center employees at specific locations handle things.

And... the buyer now doesn't have a bass that he wanted, and liked after it arrived, and I continue to say in all likelyhood will have no problems in the future because it has no problems now.

His need to 'make a point' cost him a bass that he liked the sound of and liked how it played.


:: shrug ::


.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back