• 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.

Another GC Rant (SWR content)

#21
Since GC has a store in Missouri they have what is referred to as "nexus" in your state. (Any physical presence, such as a store, wharehouse, distribution center, service center, sales staff, etc.) Since they have nexus in your state they are responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax. Does not matter that the store you ordered from is in a different state. The corporation has nexus in your state and they are supposed to collect sales tax. If you order from a web or mail order-only retailer and they do not have any physical presence (that nexus again) then they do not have to collect and remit sales tax on the purchase. In that case (in Va at least) the buyer is technically responsible for paying the tax directly to the state. Of course no one does.

So if I order from GC then they charge me VA sales tax as they have stores here. If I order from zzsounds.com they do not charge me sales tax as they do not have any physical presence (nexus) in Va.
 
#23
Nev375 said:
I'm not sure where the proper forum for rallying against the corporate retail machines are, so I'll post this here since the subject of purchase was an amp. Mods please relocate as necessary with my apologies if I'm incorrect.

The amp I've been gassing over for a long time is an SWR Amplite. More of a mono power amp really and I'm hoping it will be a good pairing with my Kern IP-777 preamp. Historically, these are pricey little buggers, but since theres a lack of tiny class D half rack width amps... (the only other i know of is Demeter at a much higher price and wattage) Anyway, when I found a used one online for $299.99 at Guitar Center I figured I ought to pull the trigger as they are getting harder and harder to find.

So with such a fair price, what's my beef with GC you may ask?

Shipping. (from Ohio to Eastern Missouri...just a few skinny states away and over the river.)
  • Economy Ground (Approx 4-5 days)$58.07
  • Standard Ground (Approx 3-5 days)$63.06
  • 2 Day Express (2 business days)$122.47
  • Next Day Afternoon Delivery (1 business day)$157.17
This is for a 3lb. box you can slip in a gig bag. Naturally, I assumed someone somewhere had typed in a few extra digits while filling out the shipping estimator online and this would be a simple matter of phoning up the store and getting a reasonable more accurate shipping quote.

But no!

After talking to a nice lady who informed me it was beyond her powers to do anything, but she could transfer me to the actual store who she was sure could help me out.

But NO!

Turns out Columbus GC is equally powerless to reduce the shipping charges. (By now they had figured out this was the only one in the world for sale and I was salivating over it) But the guy told me he could make me a deal. He could knock 10% off the price which should get my total item and shipping down to around $320 or so.

Fine. I started handing out my credit card info then he came back with a total of $381.xx WAIT WHAT??? Taxes. He explained. Taxes? but I don't live in Ohio... He said Well, still there's taxes, what's the tax rate in Missouri then?

I said there's no way in hell i'm getting this for under $350 is there? He said wait a minute... let me check with my manager. Then he came back with "Okay $345 total then!" (I guess he figured 349.99 would be just too obvious.)

--------- end story.

Anyhow... I paid it. It was total utter bullcrap, but I went ahead and paid it, but this is no way to treat a customer. I know some GC employees sometimes post on this board and I'd love to get their opinion on this. I'd also like to tell them that because of the nature of this sale, I'll be buying my new Shallow 2U SKB rack to house my new amp and preamp in from Sweetwater (who will ship it to me free even though it weighs 3 times as much as the amp it will house). I'm also on the lookout for a 1/2 rack compressor to round out my new little rack rig. Guess where I won't be buying it from?

All you really had to do, was negate the ludicrous shipping quotes and I might have even sprung for 2 day delivery if it were under $30. That and not tax me. No other stores do that to me unless its in my state. Oh, but you got me this time. You really got me this ONE time.
Click to expand...

Did you purchase online? I've never had such high shipping quotes when I call the store directly. Most of the time amps ship for about $10 and basses are about $25. Most I ever paid was for a 2x12 combo, and that was $100 ground. Call the store directly next time.
 
#26
Nev375 said:
I'm not sure where the proper forum for rallying against the corporate retail machines are, so I'll post this here since the subject of purchase was an amp. Mods please relocate as necessary with my apologies if I'm incorrect.

The amp I've been gassing over for a long time is an SWR Amplite. More of a mono power amp really and I'm hoping it will be a good pairing with my Kern IP-777 preamp. Historically, these are pricey little buggers, but since theres a lack of tiny class D half rack width amps... (the only other i know of is Demeter at a much higher price and wattage) Anyway, when I found a used one online for $299.99 at Guitar Center I figured I ought to pull the trigger as they are getting harder and harder to find.

So with such a fair price, what's my beef with GC you may ask?

Shipping. (from Ohio to Eastern Missouri...just a few skinny states away and over the river.)
  • Economy Ground (Approx 4-5 days)$58.07
  • Standard Ground (Approx 3-5 days)$63.06
  • 2 Day Express (2 business days)$122.47
  • Next Day Afternoon Delivery (1 business day)$157.17
This is for a 3lb. box you can slip in a gig bag. Naturally, I assumed someone somewhere had typed in a few extra digits while filling out the shipping estimator online and this would be a simple matter of phoning up the store and getting a reasonable more accurate shipping quote.

But no!

After talking to a nice lady who informed me it was beyond her powers to do anything, but she could transfer me to the actual store who she was sure could help me out.

But NO!

Turns out Columbus GC is equally powerless to reduce the shipping charges. (By now they had figured out this was the only one in the world for sale and I was salivating over it) But the guy told me he could make me a deal. He could knock 10% off the price which should get my total item and shipping down to around $320 or so.

Fine. I started handing out my credit card info then he came back with a total of $381.xx WAIT WHAT??? Taxes. He explained. Taxes? but I don't live in Ohio... He said Well, still there's taxes, what's the tax rate in Missouri then?

I said there's no way in hell i'm getting this for under $350 is there? He said wait a minute... let me check with my manager. Then he came back with "Okay $345 total then!" (I guess he figured 349.99 would be just too obvious.)

--------- end story.

Anyhow... I paid it. It was total utter bullcrap, but I went ahead and paid it, but this is no way to treat a customer. I know some GC employees sometimes post on this board and I'd love to get their opinion on this. I'd also like to tell them that because of the nature of this sale, I'll be buying my new Shallow 2U SKB rack to house my new amp and preamp in from Sweetwater (who will ship it to me free even though it weighs 3 times as much as the amp it will house). I'm also on the lookout for a 1/2 rack compressor to round out my new little rack rig. Guess where I won't be buying it from?

All you really had to do, was negate the ludicrous shipping quotes and I might have even sprung for 2 day delivery if it were under $30. That and not tax me. No other stores do that to me unless its in my state. Oh, but you got me this time. You really got me this ONE time.
Click to expand...

I didn't read the rest of the thread yet, but do realize those amps, with some bubblewrap around it, will fit in one of those boxes you can get at the Post Office where you can mail whatever will fit in it anywhere in the lower 48 for like 8 or 10 bucks. :/
 
#29
Each GC is different. I have a great relationship with the closest one to me. They have always waived shipping charges for me on store to store transfers. With that said.......you have to be realistic. You can't expect a deep discount on the merchandise AND free shipping, handling etc. At the end of the day, they are retail, and in business to make money. I have found that if you are fair and realistic with your expectations, the staff at GC, especially the managers, will work with you.
 
#31
That is a pretty rough shipping quote since gc just shipped my bag end 15bd(98lb crate) from California to Massachusetts for 58 bucks. I do agree gc is a horrible company, but they do have some great employees and it seems the sales person did everything in his power to make you happy.

Hope you enjoy the new amp!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back