Afraid of going to music stores

[sforzato]

If you go into a guitarget (GC) what do you expect? You have a group of Art Institute drop outs who think they know more then they do. They must go in on their day off for sales training if they don't meet their quota. Plus they have to listen to all the local want to be rock stars go in every afternoon and trash their instruments. I walk in and I feel like my ears have just been raped. If you buy an new instrument from them it will most likely be in worst condition then most used instruments.
I started teaching at a very nice music store.about a year ago Everyone there is very nice.
Before I started teaching there I frequented it often. I spent the last 20 years building a relationship with the manager. I have all ways got great service and excellent prices. I never realized how good my prices where untill I started teaching there. Now I can see what instruments cost and can purchase them at cost plus a percentage. I never went in just to jam. Once about 6 months ago 2 kids came in and picked up a couple of $2000-$3000 acoustic guitars and started jamming. A salesman went up to them and asked if he could help them they said " We are just looking". He replied " Well we are just selling". He wasn't rude, however he was to the point. I see new instruments all the time that are scratched because someone didn't treat it right.
I suggest to all the young musicians I know to build a relationship with the peeps at your local store. Most music stores love loyal customers and will give you excellent service if they know you are really looking to buy. They usually will match prices.

 

[Peace Cee]

Easy Music Center. Portland Oregon. Great shop, and I don't even live there.

 

[sturoc]

During the 70s and 80s the local musical instrument shop were our places of worship . The huge Acoustic amp/cabs Marshalls, Ampegs Sunn stacks. Fenders and Gibsons all over the walls. The few that worked as salesmen in these small shops were friendly knowledgeable and were happy to divulge info when asked but also knew our pockets weren't lined with hundreds either.
WE would always hit the stores about once a week and became "regulars".
Fast Forward to the present:
If you aren't spending $$$ the salesmen aren't giving you the time of day. Some don't even know your standing in front of them !
i saw a couple of guys working at the GC Rt 22 New Jersey ( don't ask me why I was there- think i was bored during a trip ) think they were the next great rap -hip hop -breaking the mold artists. I was looking at interfaces and he showed some piece of crap unit that was a cheap knock off and anyone with any recording experience knew it.
All they wanted to do was hang out and boast to each other bout this singer and that producer of this crap they were playing so loud it drove me out of the store.
Next time in a GC ( Colo Springs) I had to buy a string for my nieces little guitar. All I needed was one high E string, Not a whole pack. So I decided to test the guys working there.
Me : "who makes the best strings ?"
Sales Kid: "well you want ..." I can't even remember what off brand he said, I never heard of them.!
I said " how bout D'addarios or GHS ?"
him : "Oh those are okay but these are the best"
me: " But I just need one E string where is your single string box ?" Ooops I had a momentary lapse of time thinking it was 1982 again.
"WE don't sell singles you have to buy the whole set !" and with this he gave a look of 'i can't be bothered anymore '
i bought the cheap set and left never to return again

Gone are the old days for sure !

 

[The Lemon]

he snaps at me. He asks if I'm blind and then proceeds to pull out this box, slams it on the table and continues talking on the phone.

My response would have been simple:

1. Slap the box off the counter
2. Picks Everywhere
3. "**** You"
4. Leave.

 

[sadasar]

My local GC is always helpful and nice. They don't have the greatest selection bass wise but have a decent enough selection of accessories to keep me going back.

A lot of times I've gone in to buy strings or picks and i end up shooting the breeze about music with the sales guys for hours sometimes.

Certain smaller stores we have mostly deal in school rentals so a rock and roll bass player doesn't register as someone to help in their radar and so their stores no longer register on my worth wasting my time in radar.

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

I just had an experience, I got a Roland midi controller from a store, they let me test it out on their in store Mac. real nice. I got it home, couldn't get it to work properly with Reason, so I returned it.

Not only did they let me stay there for hours testing ALL of their midi controllers, the guy even gave me a super discount and was really really nice about everything. Patient and helpful.

And another store real close to that one they let me basically go in, take a guitar off the rail, take it into the testing room, pick an amp etc. I don't know these guys personally, maybe it's just the Norwegian way?

In the US and UK though, I got that feeling of oppression and impatience, not nice!

 

[sforzato]

I was looking for an archtop guitar about 2 years ago. At my local store they let me take the one I was looking at home for about a week. They knew I wouldn't trash it and it was a good way to get me hooked on a $3K guitar. I don;t think you could get that king of service at GC, even if you knew them. Just my opinion.